'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  “Are you saying you have feelings for me too?”

  “Yes, Noah. I’m in love with you too. I can’t be around you anymore if I don’t get to be yours. And I mean really yours. Not this pretend relationship.”

  “I had no idea. I thought you were still hung up on Dustin.”

  “I’m not. I haven’t been for a while. Maybe I felt a little jealous and hurt that he moved on so fast, but I only reacted that way because it felt like I wasn’t valuable enough as a person to feel sad over. But I was the one who left Dustin. I wasn’t feeling it with him. That’s why I ended the relationship.”

  Noah finished taping up the last gift, and he handed it to Josie so she could label it. She filled out a tag and attached it to the present.

  “So this is it?” Noah asked.

  “Unless you change your mind, this is it.”

  “I’m not changing my mind.”

  “Then we’re officially broken up from our fake relationship.”

  “I’m sad it has to end this way. I hope we can still be friends.”

  “I’m not sure that’s possible. I think that will be too painful for me, Noah.”

  “I understand.” Noah stood up. “I should probably get going.”

  “Okay.” Josie didn’t get up from her spot on the floor.

  “I’ll, uh, let myself out.”

  “Goodbye, Noah.”

  His eyes bored into her own. “Goodbye, Josie.”

  Chapter 12

  Noah was miserable for the next several days. He worked his shifts at the fire department, and then he came home. Sapphire continued to come over like nothing had happened. She was sad that Josie and Noah had broken up, but when she wanted details, he wouldn’t give them to her.

  He’d run out of pranks, and nothing had worked to get rid of Sapphire. He was at the end of his rope. In the meantime, his kitchen stayed constantly messy. Not even a fake roach infestation seemed to deter Sapphire. She hated the bugs, but she was gross enough to be okay with cohabitating with the roaches.

  A few days before Christmas, she was baking cookies again, and she had remembered to take them out of the oven on time.

  “Good job on not burning the cookies, Sapphire.”

  “Hilarious, Noah. I bake without burning things all the time.”

  “Could’ve fooled me,” he muttered under his breath.

  “What was that?” Sapphire asked with a scowl.

  “Nothing.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “How can you cook in here with all these roaches everywhere?”

  “You think I don’t know?”

  “Know what?”

  “That this is all fake.”

  Noah didn’t know what to say to that.

  “I know you don’t want me here, and that you were pranking me to chase me off. I heard you and Josie talking about it.”

  “You knew?”

  “Why do you think I’m still here? It’s sure not for Dustin. He’s not even that great of a kisser.”

  “Dustin would be so hurt to hear you say that.”

  “Like I care. I’m just here for the kitchen. Callie’s place is way too tiny. I can hardly move around in the kitchen without bashing my elbow on something. Plus, her snacks are awful. She never keeps good food in the house.”

  She was the most infuriating girl he’d ever met. “So you think you can just use us and toy with Dustin’s heart and then get away with it?”

  “Dustin would never believe you if you told him this. He’d think you were just jealous because he has a girlfriend, and yours dumped you.”

  “Get out of my house.”

  “You can’t make me leave. Dustin wants me here.”

  “Yes, I can. He’s not here. I’ll just tell the cops he broke up with you.”

  “They won’t listen to you.”

  “I’m close friends with the chief of police. He’ll listen to me.”

  “Whatever.” Sapphire stacked about four cookies and shouldered her bag from the couch. “You’re no fun to hang out with anyway. But you can’t chase me off when Dustin’s here. He’ll let me stay whenever I want.”

  “Not if I have something to say about it.” He shut the door after her and twisted the deadbolt.

  He had to work a night shift that evening. He packed some dinner and headed out the door. The evening passed by uneventfully, just like any other, until just past midnight when he heard strange noises coming from near the fire truck. He crept around the truck and glanced around the corner.

  The first thing he saw was a head of long blonde hair he’d know anywhere. Sapphire was caught up in a passionate embrace with McNeil again. She had him all shoved up against the side of the truck, but she looked like she was way more into him than she ever was with Dustin.

  Noah pulled out his phone and hit record. It was time to capture her constant betrayal to Dustin on video. He was sick of watching his buddy get cheated on. He stood there for some time, recording Sapphire making out with Dustin’s fellow firefighter. He quietly stopped the video and retreated into the shadows without her seeing him.

  He sent a copy of the video to the cloud and emailed it to himself for good measure. Then he stepped from the shadows.

  “Sapphire, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  She turned away from her embrace with McNeil and faced Noah. Her lips were swollen, and her eyes were wide.

  McNeil looked between them and took in Noah’s furious expression. “I, uh, better get back to work. I’ll see you around, Sapphire.”

  “Bye, honey.” Her voice was sugary sweet. Then she turned back to Noah with a sour look. “What do you want?”

  “I want you to break up with Dustin.”

  “And why would I do something like that?”

  “Because you don’t want him. Let him go.”

  “Oh, but I do.” She smiled sweetly. “He’s fun.”

  “You mean he’s fun to toy with.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I didn’t say that.”

  “But that’s what you’re doing.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say, Noah.”

  “So break up with him. Let him find someone who actually loves him. Or let him be single in peace. Whichever. Just stop playing with someone’s feelings like it’s a game.”

  “What makes you think I’m going to listen to anything you have to say?”

  “I have a video of you making out with McNeil.”

  Her face went white. “I don’t believe you.”

  He hit play on his phone, and the video started. He held it up toward her so she could see it. “Believe me now?”

  “You can’t do this.”

  “Yes, I can. Break up with him, or I’ll send him this video right now.”

  “Fine, I’ll break up with him.”

  “Tonight.”

  “He’s probably asleep. It’s past midnight.”

  “Send him a text.”

  She pulled out her phone, and her hands trembled. He almost felt bad for her. Almost. But then he remembered how she’d stolen his Doritos, and he hardened his resolve.

  Her fingers moved over her screen for a moment before she paused. “Okay.”

  “Show me.”

  She turned the phone around so he could see it.

  Dustin, I’m going to have to end things between us. This is it. I’m officially breaking up with you. Good luck to you and your future endeavors.

  She crossed her arms. “Is that good enough for you?”

  “That’s good enough.”

  She gave him a bored look. “Can I go now?”

  “Go home. And don’t come to my house again.”

  The next evening, he went to Dixie’s Tavern for a burger and some onion rings. He found a booth and took a seat by himself. A glass of Jack Daniels sat in front of him, and he planned to stay there all night, washing his sorrows away. He may have gotten rid of Sapphire, but he hadn’t been able to fix the gaping hole in his heart. He couldn’t move
on without Josie, but he couldn’t move forward with her either. She deserved better than a guy like him, who was broken from a previous marriage.

  “Noah, how’s it going?”

  He looked up to see Will and his fiancé, Layla. “Want to sit down?” he asked.

  “Sure,” Layla said, sliding into the booth across from him with Will just behind her. “What’s wrong? I’ve never seen you like this.”

  “It’s nothing I haven’t done to myself.”

  “What do you mean?” Layla asked.

  “This wouldn’t have to do with Josie, would it?” Will asked. “You’ve been glued to each other’s sides lately, and now she’s nowhere to be seen.”

  “You’re an observant guy.”

  “I have to be. I’m the chief of police.”

  “So why isn’t Josie here having fun with you tonight?”

  “Because I pushed her away.”

  “Why would you do something stupid like that?”

  “Because I’m an idiot.”

  “Well, stop being an idiot.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “I don’t get it.” Layla scrunched her brow in confusion.

  “What’s keeping you from being with Josie?” Will asked.

  “My last marriage was a disaster.”

  “I know it was,” Will said. “I was right here watching that disaster. What does that have to do with Josie? We both know she’s nothing like Sophie. You can’t base every relationship on what happened in the past.”

  “I’m just not ready to try another relationship.”

  “How’s that working out for you so far?” Layla asked.

  “It’s not working out at all. I’m miserable.”

  “So you can either take a risk with Josie or be miserable while she’s miserable right along with you,” Layla said.

  “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

  “You think she’s doing much better?” Layla asked. “I just went to her coffee shop this morning, and she looked like she hadn’t slept in days. And we both know Josie is usually the perkiest one at her shop.”

  “Josie isn’t sleeping?” Worry lanced through him. He hadn’t thought about how his decision might hurt Josie.

  “It sure didn’t look like she’d been sleeping.”

  “Well, that changes things.” It was one thing for him to be miserable and suffering, but he couldn’t bear the thought of Josie hurting because of his decision. He thought she’d move on easily from him. Not struggle like this.

  “So go after her.” Will grinned at him.

  “I’m not sure I can anymore. I may have already messed things up.”

  “That’s just a risk you’re going to have to take.” Will really wasn’t going easy on him tonight. But when did Will go easy on anyone?

  Chapter 13

  Josie handed off the last cup of coffee to the customer who had shown up for the morning rush. She wiped her brow and took a deep breath.

  Callie came inside. “Can I get a latte?”

  “I got it,” Rachel said. “You go sit down for a minute. You’re long past your break.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course.”

  Josie took a seat at the corner table and leaned back, stretching out the soreness in her back. Since she and Noah had last spoken, she’d thrown herself into her work, and she hadn’t stopped to take a breath. It was bad enough that she’d been tossing and turning in bed all week. But when life slowed down, she remembered that Noah didn’t want to be with her.

  When Callie got her drink, she took a seat next to Josie. “Are you okay?” Callie asked. “You don’t look so good.”

  “I’ve been better. Noah and I broke up.”

  “Oh, no! That’s awful. You guys were so cute together. You seem like you’re taking it hard.”

  “Actually, it’s a lot worse than I’d expected. And it feels like the longer we’re apart, the worse I feel. I’ve had Noah in my life for so long that it feels like a vacuum without him around.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  “He says he’s not ready for a relationship since he went through his divorce. I guess we were getting too serious for him. We told each other we loved each other. It was just playful before that.” That was an understatement, but Josie didn’t let on how playful their “relationship” had actually been. Josie stared down at the table.

  “Speaking of breakups, I heard that Sapphire ended it with Dustin.”

  Josie snapped her head up. “What?”

  “Yeah. She came home and told me late the other night.”

  “Did she say why?”

  “She just said she’d ended things. She didn’t give a reason.”

  Josie wondered if Noah had anything to do with it. Had their pranking paid off after all?

  “What are you going to do about Sapphire stealing away your inheritance?”

  “I haven’t figured out what I can do. As long as my grandma is letting her take these books, Sapphire can do whatever she wants.”

  “I have an idea. Can I come over to your place after work?”

  “Sure.”

  Josie knocked on the door to Callie’s townhouse and Sapphire opened it. “Well, hey there,” Josie said.

  “Hi. What are you doing here?”

  “I came over to talk to Callie. Is she home?”

  “Yeah. She’s in her room. Come on in.” Sapphire stepped aside so Josie could walk past her into the foyer.

  She jogged up the stairs to the bedrooms and knocked on Callie’s door. “Callie?”

  Callie opened her bedroom door. “Hey, what’s up?” She opened the door wider and led Josie into the room.

  “Mind if I shut the door?”

  “Go for it.”

  Josie shut it behind her. “So about Sapphire.”

  “Keep your voice low. That girl likes to listen in. She’s super nosey.”

  That was new information for Josie. But she should have known. It fit with her personality. Josie got the impression that Sapphire was smarter than she looked.

  “We need to get into her computer and find proof that she’s been selling the books. Then we take the proof to your grandma and tell her the truth about Sapphire.”

  “That will make my grandma sad. She thinks of Sapphire as another granddaughter. I don’t want her to die of a broken heart.”

  “Then we need to convince Sapphire to stop taking the books and leave town,” Josie whispered. “Why did she move here, anyway?”

  “I have no idea. But it seemed specific. Like why Maple Creek, of all places? We’re not exactly a bustling metropolis.”

  “So how do we get into her computer without her noticing? Doesn’t she keep it password protected?”

  “Yeah, so unless she’s just been on it, the system will be locked down.”

  “Well, you saw it before, so you know she’s been selling these books. Maybe we just do some bluffing and act like you have a printout.”

  “That’s risky, but it could work.”

  “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

  “We let Sapphire know we’re onto her, and she covers her tracks before we can catch her for real.”

  “Maybe we should scout around her room and find some proof first.”

  “I’ll distract her downstairs. You go in her room to look for evidence.”

  Callie looked over the banister and then came back into the room. “Actually, she’s just watching tv. I’ll sit here and be a lookout, and I’ll say something loud to her if she heads in this direction.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Josie headed into Sapphire’s room. The entire place was a disaster. Dirty clothes littered the floor, and a stack of sweaters was draped over the back of the desk chair. Josie searched Sapphire’s room for a good ten minutes but couldn’t find a scrap of evidence that Sapphire was planning to sell the books. And she hadn’t sold all the books off either. They sat in a stack in the room's corner. She had five of them left. The Cou
nt of Monte Cristo was missing. It broke Josie’s heart to think of that dear book being sold off. She probably didn’t get a fair price for it either. Sapphire might be conniving, but she didn’t have the reputation Mrs. Ellison had. She wouldn’t have been able to get the same price. It would also explain why she’d been able to sell the books quickly. Josie felt horrified to think of how much of Mrs. Ellison’s money had been wasted.

  She opened the book on the top of the stack, and a slip of paper was inside. She was expecting to see a sales receipt, but what she found instead was unexpected.

  It was a handwritten letter from Mrs. Ellison, dated November fifteenth of that year. She thanked Sapphire for a pleasant visit and was inviting Sapphire to come work for her. Beneath the letter, a picture fell out. It was a picture of a younger Mrs. Ellison, an older woman, and a little blonde girl. It looked like it was about twenty years old if their clothing was any sign. She turned the picture over. For Sapphire was inscribed on the back.

  Had Sapphire grown up going to that bookshop with a grandparent like Josie had? There was something familiar about the blue dress Sapphire was wearing in the picture. Josie remembered seeing a little blonde girl who would go to that store with her grandparents. Was that Sapphire? Did she used to come to visit grandparents in Maple Creek? Josie studied the picture again. She couldn’t remember the older lady with Mrs. Ellison.

  So many unanswered questions. But if Sapphire grew up going to Mrs. Ellison’s bookshop, then she would know how valuable the books were. That would explain why Sapphire wanted to take the job and move to Maple Creek. She must have realized when she came out to meet with Mrs. Ellison that the woman was going senile and decided it was worth taking advantage of the opportunity to swindle her.

  It wasn’t too late to get Sapphire to admit to selling the books. They just had to act like they already had proof of it. They could say they had screenshots from when she left her laptop open.

  Josie left Sapphire’s room and motioned for Callie to join her in the master bedroom. She showed her the letter and filled her in on her suspicions about Sapphire visiting the bookshop as a kid.