The applause of the crowd washes over me as Simon finishes, passing out cookies like some goth elf dressed in a black sweater and a Santa hat, adorned with a black skull and crossbones.
Heath and Tracey slip through the crowd to meet us as the staff begins to herd the customers toward the exit, each trying to get close to Simon for selfies and autographs.
"Are you ready to go?" I ask as Lori weaves her way through the crowd and Simon finally breaks free.
"Sure thing," Simon replies. "Thanks for the back up, mate." He high fives Marco. "See you next month when I return, yeah? I've got some new material for you."
Marco's smile could light up a city as he swings his guitar over his back, bumping shoulders with Simon in that weird half hug that guys do.
"The band will be ready. Let me know when to book studio time."
"Good deal. Let me see how many more tracks I can put together by then. This one," he pulls me in for a quick hug, "has been distracting me lately."
Slinging an arm over my shoulder, we turn to where Lori chats with Heath and Tracey.
"Hey, Lor. Are you joining us?" I ask.
"Wouldn't miss it." She pulls Tracey close. "We'll meet you at Lulu's."
Heath grabs my hand as he, Simon, and I wave goodbye to everyone, and wish them a Merry Christmas.
"Nate, we'll see you at the restaurant," I call, waiting for his wave before we all head toward the entrance where two customers argue over the last three Hello Pussy Christmas salad plates. Shaking my head, I acknowledge there's no accounting for taste.
* * *
As parties go, I consider it a success. This will be the first Christmas in ages that I won't be with Emma or my family, but I'm giddy with anticipation.
"Are you excited?" Emma asks. Her voice is cheerful, but something's been off with my friend lately. My gentle questions are continually deflected. She thinks I don't notice, but I'm just not ready to push. If things don't change by the time I return, we're going to have a bigger discussion.
"Yes, although I feel guilty about taking this much time away from writing."
"You'll be fine. You have your laptop. You're so close now, maybe you'll be inspired to write your ending." This time, her smile is genuine. "Where are you all meeting up?"
"Simon and I are going to Lancashire to visit his parents first. Heath is going to meet us in Hampshire to visit Jane's house and then go to Bath. After that, we'll all travel to London together to catch up with Mark where they're filming next week."
"I can't believe they thought this up together."
"Well, Simon was nervous about flying alone. I think he felt guilty about asking me to leave the guys for our first Christmas together. Heath's mom was thrilled to be able to send him to check in on her brother. I gather he's been having some health issues. It was just a bonus that the network decided to send Mark to do publicity there for his launch."
"Did Lori give you any flack about Heath not being with Tracey for Christmas?"
"Not at all. He's been great about taking Tracey every time she and Shana go away. I think she's happy to see us spend some time away together. It's only two weeks."
As if sensing that we're talking about her, Lori smiles at me from across the room, where she and Shana chat with Josh. Searching for Nate, I find him giggling in the corner with Tracey and wonder what they're up to.
"Who wants dessert?" Mark calls, stepping from the kitchen to join our small group. The restaurant is ours alone tonight. Mark closed early so that we could have our own celebration of just family and friends. Only a few line cooks and Salvatore keep Mark from being stuck in the kitchen all night.
Everyone moves as a unit back toward the tasting counter, where plates are being set out with glasses of champagne. Reaching for what looks like a beautiful chocolate pots de creme, I pout as Mark smacks my hand.
"That's not yours," he says teasingly. "This is yours."
Pulling a plate from beneath the counter, everyone laughs as Hello Pussy Christmas stares up at me in all her cutesy Christmas joy. Groaning, my eyes narrow in on the small wrapped present sitting in the center of the plate.
Lifting an eyebrow, I reach for the gift as Heath and Simon step up to flank me on either side and Mark grins at me from across the counter.
Shaking it gently, I untie the ribbon, slipping a fingernail between the tape and vivid paper to uncover a small box.
Glancing uncertainly at each of them, I hesitate to open the box until Tracey urges me on. "Hurry up. I'm dying here!"
Assorted laughter scatters through the room like promises on the wind as I slowly open the lid.
It's so delicate. A long, silver filigree chain anchors a circular pendant the size of a silver dollar. Spiderwebs of silver filament wind around the perimeter of the circle before criss-crossing back and forth to hold the four small diamonds that nestle within the threads.
My breath stutters as I stare at the beautiful dreamcatcher while Tracey squeals with excitement and the others clap. Heath's hands reach out to lift the necklace from the box as Simon sweeps my hair aside, allowing him to fasten it around my neck.
Clearing my throat, I look first at Heath, basking in the warmth of the love that shines in his eyes. Simon gives me a naughty wink and a grin, until finally, I turn to Mark's knowing smile.
Leaning across the counter, his lips reach for mine before whispering quietly.
"That's all of us—holding dreams for each other." His lips caress softly against my own as catcalls pepper the air behind us.
Pulling back, my eyes sparkle wetly with emotion.
"I don't know what to say."
Stepping up behind me, Emma's hand squeezes my shoulder as she admires my new treasure before whispering in my ear.
"What would Jane do?"
The End
* * *
If you’re wondering—What Would Emma Do?
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Acknowledgments
Dreams are funny things.
I'm not certain why I don't dream the way that others do. It was never about grand visions of what I could be, or how I would change the world. Instead, they were always subconscious prompts, peeling back the layers of things I was unwilling or afraid to see in real life.
They say that many of life's failures are by people who didn't realize how close they were to success when they gave up. In Josie's story, I wanted to explore how often we unconsciously sabotage our desires because we're afraid of what happens next.
* * *
I couldn't have done it without you!
First and foremost, Thank You to my amazing alpha, doubt wrangler and First Reader, Alicia Frost, who listens to me whine and embodies the spirit of Emma in never letting me give up, no matter how hard it gets. Even from the other side of the world, I never lack for virtual hugs and encouragement.
Special thanks to my Hungry Harlots betas: Annie Lina, Becky Dandle, Christina Farrell, Jessica Feeney, and Lesley Collis, who generously offe
red their time and allowed me to string them along with the teasing promise that the wait would be worth it. Thank you for believing in Josie, even when the characters didn't show up quite the way you expected. I hope you enjoyed Quill along with her.
To Jess R: who never fails to slide into my DMs at exactly the right moment with lavish words of encouragement. You are magical.
To my Rainy Day people: thank you for the Gold Star amusement! You never fail to make me laugh.
And to You, my readers and Mercynaries: yes, this was meant to be a love story. But, in so many ways, this was more about the love of our friends who sustain us when romantic love fails, or is not in the picture. Friends are the family we create for ourselves, something I never take for granted.
My greatest hope is that everyone can relate to Josie's story, whether you’re in your 20's, 30’s, 40's, or 50's. Never put an expiration date on love and desire; and it's ok if the love of your life is currently of the furry variety. Love and affection comes in all shapes and sizes.
About the Author
Have Mercy!
Mercy DeSimone is the pen name of a champagne drinking, book-loving, music-humming, caffeinista, beauty junkie, fluent in Schoolhouse Rock and useless trivia.
A New Jersey native, Mercy tapes videos called CarTalks every Tuesday for Instagram on her way to work. She has been known to sneak the names of her cats—Mercy, Simon, Jasper, Daisy, and Rory—as well as friends and readers into her stories.
When not writing and listening to music, she can be found whipping up cocktails and contributing pins to her Pinterest boards for FoodPorn and Great Wines For Wine Snobs On a Budget.
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