“The phone rang off the hook, but in between the calls, I cooked, cleaned, made beds, and wrapped a few last-minute presents.”

“You sound good.”

“I feel good.”

“Well, I just wanted to check on you.”

“I’m glad you did. Now don’t let this go to your fat head, O’Malley, but I miss you. It’s awfully quiet around here without you banging and crashing about.”

“Lordy, Ms. Scarlet,” he said in a dramatic Southern drawl. “You sure know how to make a guy feel special.”

She laughed. “Thanks for calling.”

“I miss you, too. I’ll see you soon.”

Clare clicked off the phone and held it against her chest for several long minutes. She’d meant it when she said she missed him, and suddenly she couldn’t wait for him to get back.

In Rhode Island, Kate was counting the minutes until she could return to Nashville. She’d spoken to Reid twice during the day, but it was no substitute for being with him. It was nice to see her family, but in six short weeks, Rhode Island no longer felt like home. Two nights away from him felt like an eternity. She couldn’t believe how quickly he’d become as essential to her as air and music.

Kate was lying on her bed at her dad’s house talking to Jill late on Christmas night when someone knocked on the door. “Come in.”

“I just wanted to say good night,” Andi said. “Do you guys need anything?”

“We’re fine,” Kate said. “Thanks. You must be beat.”

“I am. I’m going to bed now. Is everything all right, Kate? You’ve been so quiet since you got home.”

“I’m zonked from working nonstop the last couple of weeks. We had Christmas parties almost every night.”

“What’ve you got there?” Andi asked with a nod at the locket.

Kate hadn’t realized she’d been playing with it. Unable to bring herself to take it off, she had kept it hidden under her clothes during her trip home. “Oh, just something the band gave me to thank me for the hard work over the last month.” She was startled by how easily the lie rolled off her tongue.

“It’s lovely. Well, I’ll see you in the morning.” Andi turned back when she reached the door. “You know you can talk to me if you need to, right?”

Kate nodded. “Thanks, but I’m fine. Really.”

“Good night, then.”

“Merry Christmas,” Kate said.

“You, too, sweetie. Night, Jill.”

“Night,” Jill said. When the door closed, Jill looked at her sister. “Dad will kill you if he ever finds out about this, Kate.”

“He won’t.” Kate rolled onto her side and clutched a pillow. It was a lousy substitute for what she really wanted.