Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans Page A

guitar, the blanket, the full moon, it was all just a setup?”
    â€œI didn’t have much to do with the moon, but besides that—yes.”
    She smiled. “Good.”
    We looked into each other’s eyes, then simultaneously leaned forward and kissed for the first time. I don’t remember the sequence of events after that, but it was all a pleasant blur. The softness and warmth of her body against mine, the happy sighs. The feeling of perfect contentment. An hour later our fire was dead and the temperatures had fallen well below freezing, too cold even for our body heat. So I started the car, and while Macy warmed up inside, I shoveled snow onto the fire pit. Then we drove back down to the valley. On the drive back I said, “Salt Lake has such great canyons. You and Joette must come up here all the time.”
    â€œNo, we never come. Jo had something terrible happen up here.”
    â€œIn Big Cottonwood Canyon?”
    â€œHer little girl fell into the creek and drowned.”
    I turned and looked at her. “Where we just were?”
    â€œNo, it’s a campsite a little ways up.”
    â€œHow long ago was that?”
    â€œAbout five years ago. Just before I met her.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I should have asked before I took you there.”
    â€œNo, it’s okay. I’ve been up there before. I just don’t come up with Jo, and I won’t tell her about us coming here tonight. It’s not like she’d be mad or anything, it would just remind her.” She turned to me. “So if she asks, tell her we went to Liberty Park.”
    â€œLiberty Park,” I repeated. “ Will she ask where we went?”
    â€œMost definitely. You should know she’s very protective of me. She’ll be waiting up. That’s just the way she is.”
    â€œThat’s nice,” I decided.
    â€œYeah. It is.” She turned to me. “I’ve been meaning to ask you—what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
    â€œWatching TV. Probably eating a TV dinner.”
    â€œThat’s pathetic. Come have dinner with us. It’s going to be great this year. This is the first year in ten years Joette has the holiday off.”
    â€œPeople eat at Denny’s on Thanksgiving Day?” I asked.
    â€œThanksgiving’s a big day at Denny’s. They have a turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing special with a piece of pumpkin pie for just $7.99. It’s not bad.”
    I thought Macy sounded a little like an advertisement. In spite of her glowing review, I found the idea of eating Thanksgiving dinner there a little depressing. Of course someone who was planning on spending Thanksgiving at home with a Hungry-Man turkey dinner shouldn’t cast stones. Or, at least, cranberry sauce.
    â€œWill Joette mind if I crash your dinner?” I asked.
    â€œOf course not. She likes you.”
    â€œShe doesn’t know me.”
    â€œBetter than you think. I tell her everything.”
    It was past midnight when I pulled in to Macy’s driveway. The lights were still on inside the house. I killed the engine.
    â€œThank you for taking me out,” she said. “It was fun.”
    â€œThank you for going. It was fun. Especially the kissing part,” I added.
    She smiled. “That was fun.” She looked into my eyes. “May I ask you something personal?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œWhen we first met, you told me your girlfriend had just dropped you. Were you serious about her?”
    â€œI don’t know.” I looked at Macy and smiled. “I guess that’s the answer. If you don’t know if you’re serious, you’re not. She wanted to get married.”
    â€œAnd you?”
    â€œWe talked about it. We’d dated forever, like four years. I just didn’t know if she was the one. You’d think after four years you’d know.”
    â€œI think after four years you would have left if she wasn’t. So