Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses(56)

She thought about what it might be like to be with a bunch of very rich people, eating food she didn’t recognize, talking about things she’d never experienced in her life, and then imagined it the other way around.

“Yes,” she answered honestly.

“Why?”

“I’m afraid you won’t have anything in common with them.” She began pushing the cart toward the bread aisle to get the few remaining items that weren’t on her list. Max jumped on the back of the cart, taking a ride.

“You and I don’t have a whole lot in common—apart from the fact that we both play piano, mind you—and I enjoy being with you.” She remembered the day that she’d played “Chopsticks.” It seemed like ages ago.

He’d been kidding just now, but one fact hung in the air between them. He’d admitted to enjoying being with her. He must. Why else would he be hanging out at the grocery store with her and her son? She reached the shelf with the dried stuffing and grabbed a bag. Didn’t he realize what he was doing? He’d said he didn’t want to get her hopes up but he was.

He’d flat told her that he didn’t want the kind of future she wanted and she wasn’t in any position to play games. He had to be careful about the relationships he was building because, if he didn’t want a family, eventually, he’d let them down.

“I’m not trying to persuade you,” he said. “I’m not going to invite myself. I’d never put you in that position. I’m only kidding with you.”

She smiled.

She still hadn’t given him an answer when they’d checked out, and it was clear that Nick knew there was a reason. She was falling for him, and it scared her to death. He pushed the cart full of bags while Abbey grabbed Max’s hand. The ice had gotten really bad since the sun had gone down, the air so frigid that it made her skin hurt. She picked up the pace to get Max back into the heat of the car.

The car ride was quiet, Max clearly getting tired. Abbey had a lot on her mind. She had a millionaire in her old, dirty car, and he was coming to her apartment. He hadn’t followed her in his car. How was he planning to get home? Would someone come and get him? He surely wouldn’t plan on staying. She didn’t have a guest room…

It took Abbey a minute to register what she was seeing once they pulled up at her apartment and parked. Nick had gotten out of the car and was standing outside, a ton of grocery bags in each hand. Max was standing beside her, looking up at the building with her. Before she could say anything, her neighbor, an elderly woman named Ms. Johnson, came out with a small suitcase.

“There’s no power,” Ms. Johnson said. “It went out a while ago—the ice got to the power lines—and it’s freezing inside with no heat. With the big storm coming, I wonder how long it will take them to fix it. The newsman said it could be up to a week.” She shook her head. “I’m going to my daughter’s house for the time being.”

Abbey was unsure of what to do next. She had all the food for Adrienne’s party that would have to be refrigerated, and now, her refrigerator wasn’t working; she had electric heat in the apartment, so that meant no heat; it was dark outside—no lights. She wondered if her mom had enough room in her fridge for all the food. She and Max could sleep in her old bedroom.

She turned to Nick who was typing like crazy on his phone. “Richard will be here in less than five minutes,” he said, still looking at his phone. “He’s in the area running errands anyway. Tonight’s his late work night.” Nick read what looked like an incoming message and then typed again. Finally, he looked up. “We can put all of this in my refrigerators at home. You and Max are welcome to stay at my house if you’d like until the power comes back on. You might as well pack a large suitcase for the both of you and we can move Caroline tomorrow. There’s a large flashlight in the trunk of my car. We can use it to pack you up once Richard gets here.”

A shiny black Lincoln town car pulled up, and Abbey spotted Richard in the driver’s seat. He must have been closer than he thought. Ms. Johnson, who had been opening the door to her own car, stood gawking at the Lincoln, not bothering to realize that she’d stopped still, her mouth slightly open, her eyes roaming the gleaming surface of it. Abbey looked back at Nick. She thought about all those bedrooms, the fresh, clean linens, the space. At her mom’s, they’d be tight. She probably didn’t have room in her small refrigerator for all of the things that Abbey had bought. Staying at Nick’s would be easier.

“Can we stay at Nick’s, Mama? Please?” Max asked, his eyes pleading.