“Any one,” Amanda promised. “Come on, let’s take a look at what we have.”
Bluebell rushed through the trees, looking at each one and talking excitedly about how pretty they all were. Eventually, she stopped by a beautiful, tall pine with thick needles and a couple of pinecones.
“This one!”
“Are you sure? It’s a very important decision, you know.” Amanda smiled down at Bluebell.
“Yes, I’m sure! This one.”
“Very well.” Amanda pulled out a notepad, wrote Snow’s name on one of the sticky notes and stuck it to the trunk of the tree. “I’ll have my guy cut it down and deliver it to you by tonight.”
“Thanks, Amanda.” It warmed Snow’s heart to see how happy Bluebell was.
“Can we talk, Snow?”
Snow glanced at Bluebell, who was bouncing excitedly on the spot. “Yeah, I guess so. Shall we go inside?”
“Let’s do that.” Amanda led them inside and set Bluebell on the lounge floor with a couple of dolls that Snow suspected she had bought specially for this. They certainly looked new and unused.
Amanda and Snow went into the kitchen. “Do you want some tea?”
“Yes, please.” It was cold outside and Snow could use some tea to warm up.
It felt a bit awkward. They were quiet as Amanda made the tea. Snow sat down opposite Amanda, her eyes on her mug.
Amanda took a deep breath. “Snow, I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am. How I acted was wrong, and I’m not trying to make excuses, but I’d like to explain it to you, if I can.”
Snow shrugged. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear this, but it was too late to back out now.
“My parents argued a lot when I was younger. I was always the one to break up the arguments. I think that’s why, whenever there’s a fight going on, I find it very difficult to focus on anything except the subject of the fight. I should have defended you when Nicole said those awful things about you, but I didn’t, and I’m so sorry for that. I had tunnel vision, and by the time I could see clearly again, you were gone.”
Snow took a moment to digest this. She supposed it made sense. After all, Amanda had also been in shock when Nicole had stormed in. If this was something she had struggled with before, it was no wonder that she wasn’t at her best in the moment. It still hurt that Amanda hadn’t defended her, but at least Snow could understand it a little.
“You never told me you and Nicole weren’t properly divorced yet.” Snow couldn’t keep the accusing note out of her voice.
“I know. I’m so sorry, Snow. I’ve been divorced emotionally from Nicole for a long time now. The practicalities don’t matter so much to me, but I should have realized that they would matter to you. It just never felt like the right time to tell you, and I figured that Nicole and I would be properly divorced soon anyway, so it wouldn’t make any difference.”
Snow sighed. She wished what Amanda was saying didn’t make sense, but it did.
“You hurt me, Amanda. I understand your reasons, but you still hurt me. You made me feel like nothing more than a sex object.”
Amanda reached across the table, taking Snow’s hands. “You’re so much more than that, Snow. I love you. I’m in love with you, and I want to be with you more than anything. Please, give me another chance. Forgive me? I can’t bear knowing that you hate me.”
Snow’s heart rose into her throat. Amanda was saying everything Snow needed to hear, and Snow’s doubts were melting away like snow before a fire. She could practically feel her heart mending. Amanda loved her.
“I love you too, Amanda. I want to be with you. I could never hate you. Of course I forgive you.”
Amanda came around the table and wrapped her arms tightly around Snow. “Thank you,” she whispered. “You’ll never regret it, I promise you.”
Snow believed her.
The two of them went to the living room and nestled on the couch together, watching Bluebell play.
“What did Nicole want?” Snow asked.
“She wants half the value of the Christmas tree farm in the divorce. If I don’t pay up, she’ll take the matter to court. The farm will probably have to be sold.”
“No!” Snow gasped. “Isn’t there anything we can do? Is there anything I can do? I could try to help raise the money…”