Hot Flash Holidays by Nancy Thayer Page B

were shining. “Shirley, I’ve never had anyone love me this much. I don’t know what to say.” He stood up and paced the room, walking like a man in a dream.
    Then he came back to the sofa, knelt in front of Shirley, and took her hands in his. “All right. I’ll do it. I’ll take your money and publish my novel. On one condition: every cent I make from it comes back to you, until I pay this debt off.”
    “It’s not a debt, silly, it’s a present,” Shirley reminded him.
    “I’m serious, Shirley. I’m going to put it in writing. Any profit from my novel goes to you.”
    God, she loved this man! He had such integrity! “All right,” she agreed.
    He pulled her down to him and kissed her passionately. “I love you, Shirley. I love you so much.”
    “I love you.”
    Rising, he said, “God, this is so exciting! I’ve already investigated several self-publishing presses, but now
I get to choose.
I’ve got to make a list, and actually, I’d better get some information off the Net. I’ll want to go to their offices, meet these people, see what they propose to give me for my money.”
    Shirley pulled her knees up and hugged them against her, watching Justin in his excitement.
    “Oh!” Justin said, stopping midpace. “I haven’t given you your present yet.”
    Justin reached into his pocket and brought out the small black velvet box. Returning to the sofa, he sat next to Shirley and put the box in her hand.
    “This is nothing compared to what you’ve given me,” he told her somberly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t afford something bigger. I’d like to give you a diamond as big as the Ritz.”
    “Silly,” Shirley said, kissing him lightly on the lips. It was, after all, the thought that counted. She didn’t care if the diamond was the size of a grape seed; it was still an engagement ring.
    She opened the box.
    And gasped.
    Inside, tucked into a slot in the black velvet, lay two tiny diamond ear studs.
    She couldn’t help it. Tears leapt into her eyes. Ear studs, and she’d thought it was an engagement ring! For a moment, a terrible bitterness filled her mouth like an acid. She felt like such a fool for assuming it was a ring!
    “Don’t cry, darling,” Justin said. “You’re worth it.”
    7
    COOL, ELEGANT CAROLYN’S CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS were all silver and white.
    “It’s rather like entering a spaceship,” Hugh remarked, as he and Polly went into the house.
    “Polly, Hugh, lovely to see you! Merry Christmas!” Carolyn, elegant in a red cashmere dress, air kissed them both before pulling them into the living room, where a bartender offered them flutes of Champagne.
    The large, airy rooms were already crowded. Hank’s aristocratic and rather daffy mother, Daisy, was there, carrying her pet Shih Tzu, Clock, everywhere in her arms and talking to the dog more than to the human beings. One of Hank’s sisters, Evelyn, was there, with her husband and their three young children. Ingrid, Carolyn’s new au pair, drifted through the room with baby Elizabeth in her arms.
    Faye was ensconced on the sofa, her legs stretched out and one ankle elevated on a cushion. Her neck brace made it difficult for her to turn her head easily, so anyone talking with her had to sit on the coffee table facing her.
    Polly made a beeline for Faye. “Merry Christmas, Faye! How do you feel?”
    Faye managed a smile. “Awful, to tell the truth. If I don’t use painkillers, I’m in agony, and if I do use them, I’m in the Twilight Zone.”
    Now that she was close to her, Polly could see how pale Faye was. Wanting to cheer her up, she said, “Well, you
look
gorgeous!”
    A chiming noise vibrated the air.
    Carolyn tapped a glass with a knife until she had everyone’s attention. “Dinner’s served!”
    Aubrey leaned over the back of the sofa, placing an affectionate hand on Faye’s shoulder. “I’ll bring you a plate.”
    “Thanks, Aubrey.” Faye made a little shooing gesture. “Go on, Polly, fix your own plate.