“Your love is all I need.”
Sira blinked away tears as she thought about the single phrase that had caused her so much pain. It was in the past but she still couldn’t forget. Daren had been her fiancé for two months before he cheated again. No matter what he said, she couldn’t excuse his behavior.
Pushing through the throng clustered at the base of the stairs, Sira took a winding route to the gardens. Her breath coalesced as a white puff of frozen water and air but Sira ignored the cold, tugging her shawl closer before slipping out the glass doors of the ballroom.
Tiny golden stars and silver bells adorned the bare trees, tinkling softly in the breeze that sprang up as Sira hurried past. If not for the scandal surrounding her broken engagement, she would have been in a warmer place this winter.
“So you came.”
Sira heard the smirk behind the simple acknowledgment of her presence and ignored it. “I want this over with, Crissa. You have Daren, isn’t that enough?”
“Not when all he can think about is you.” The other woman glared at Sira, her green eyes flashing with jealousy. “I may have his body, but his heart is still yours.”
* * *
The sleigh slid over the frozen road silently, drawn by a pair of matched bays.
“I never meant for it to get out of hand, Sira. Truly.”
Meeting Daren’s eyes, Sira cursed her inability to speak. She had fallen for him in a single night, disregarding all of her friends’ warnings. Apparently, they had been right.
“What are you talking about?”
“I was with Crissa Lockhart last night.” Daren fell silent. “I’m sorry.”
Shaking her head with a wistful smile, Sira stared down at her hands. “I trusted you, Daren. The one who’s sorry is me; I should have known better.”
As the sleigh stopped in front of the family townhouse, Sira glanced back at Daren. He could only take her hand and help her to the door in silence.
“I will never forgive myself for hurting you, Sira.” Lifting her hand to his lips, Daren kissed the back of her gloved hand before walking down the steps.
* * *
“What are you talking about?” Sira stared at Crissa, shaking her head in disbelief. “He left me for you.”
“That was only because I convinced him he had slept with me. But, fool that he was, he came to my townhouse – drunk. It was easy enough to take off his clothes and slip into bed before he woke.” Crissa made a disgusted sound. “But he’s still infatuated with you.”
“Why did you wait so long to tell me?”
“Because I wasn’t sure you would believe me.”
Hearing a familiar voice, Sira turned around, watching as a shadow detached itself from the surrounding garden to come closer.
“I meant what I said that night, Sira. But do you forgive me?”
Nodding silently, Sira lifted a hand to wipe away the tears that slid down her cheeks. This time his words made her smile.
So, I hope "Santa" left you lots of presents so that the morning was filled with goodness.
~Jen
