Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber Page A

enough to find out.” She went to the telephone and punched out her own number in Washington State.
    The line was picked up almost right away. “Hello.”
    â€œFaith?” Emily shrieked. “Faith? Is it really you?”
    â€œEmily?”
    They both started talking at once, blurting out questions and answers, then each explained in turn. Even then, it took Emily a few moments to discern what had actually happened.
    â€œOh, no! You came to spend Christmas with me and I’m not there.”
    â€œYou went to Boston to be with Heather and now she’s in Florida?”
    â€œYes, but I can’t think about it, otherwise I’ll get too upset.”
    Faith was sympathetic. “I felt so badly for the way I brushed off your disappointment.”
    â€œAnd now you’re trapped in Leavenworth.”
    â€œThere are worse places to be this time of year,” Faith said. She seemed to be in a good frame of mind. “Charles and I have reached an agreement,” she went on to say. “I’m staying untilafter Christmas, and in exchange, I’ll keep out of his way and cook his meals.”
    While her friend put a positive slant on the situation, Emily realized Faith had to be miserable. Alone—or virtually alone—at Christmas.
    â€œWhat about you?” Faith asked.
    â€œI’m stuck in Boston, but it’s really a lovely town.” Still, none of that mattered now. “Oh, Faith, what a good friend you are to go to all this trouble for me.”
    â€œWell, I tried.”
    Emily wanted to weep. Despite everything, it seemed she was destined to spend the holidays by herself. Still, she’d had a wonderful evening with Ray and felt attractive and carefree in a way she hadn’t in years.
    They talked for several minutes longer, making plans to call each other again. When she finished, Emily replaced the receiver and looked over at Ray, smiling.
    â€œI take it she’s someone you know?”
    Emily told him what had happened. “I was lucky I caught her. Faith was on her way outside to go sledding with the neighbor kids. She’s so good with children.”
    â€œFaith sounds like a fun-loving person.”
    â€œShe is.”
    â€œShe’s staying, then?”
    Emily nodded. “She and Charles have worked out a compromise.” Emily felt guilty about the whole mess. Poor Charles. All he wanted was to escape Christmas and have time to work without interruption. But, between Faith and the Kennedy children, Emily figured the poor man wouldn’t have a moment’s peace.
    Ray drank the rest of his coffee and set his mug aside. “I guess I’d better head back to New York.”
    Emily knew it was too much to hope that he’d stay on. “I can’t let you go without breakfast,” she said brightly.
    Ray seemed almost relieved at being given an excuse to linger. “Are you sure I’m not disrupting your plans?”
    â€œPlans? What plans? I’m here for another week and I don’t know a soul in town.” She opened the cupboard, looking for ideas, and found an old-fashioned waffle iron. She brought it down, oiled it and plugged it in.
    â€œI wondered what happened to Mom’s old waffle iron,” Ray said as he leaned against the counter. He watched Emily assemble ingredients.
    â€œAre you hungry?” he asked.
    She shrugged as she cracked an egg against the side of the bowl. “Not really… The truth is, I’m just delaying the inevitable.” It probably wasn’t polite to be this truthful, but she was beyond pretense. The minute Ray walked out that door, she’d be alone again and she’d enjoyed his company.
    â€œActually, I’m not hungry, either.”
    â€œYou aren’t?” The question came out in a rushed whisper.
    Ray shook his head. “I was looking for an excuse to stay.”
    He and Emily exchanged a grin.
    â€œDo we actually need an