Chapter 109

Later that night, Taren looked into the full-length mirror in his room, adjusting his bowtie once again. Then he smoothed a hand over his tux and pulled the vest down into place. Although he had given her a ticket, his heart sank, knowing that Kiki probably wouldn't be there. After brushing his hair into place, he laid the brush down onto the counter.
"Well, I guess this is as good as it's going to get."
If it wasn't for the fact that he was obligated to go because it was his turn to host, he wouldn't be going. He just hoped that Scarlett wouldn't make too big of a scene. Although his friends and coworkers knew what kind of person she was, he still didn't want her to embarrass him in front of them. He sighed, knowing it was inevitable. But this time, he wasn't going to let her hold his daughter over his head to get what she wanted.
"Daddy!" Abby ran to him when he walked into the living room and he scooped her into his arms. "You look nice! Are you going to see Kiki?"
Pain gripped his heart at the mention of her name. "No, darlin'. I probably won't."
Abby wrapped her arms around her father's neck. "It's too bad. I like her."
He gave her a weak smile. "Yes, I like her, too." Then a broad smile spread across his lips. "But you wouldn't mind if it was just you and me, would you?"
"Us and Grammy," Abby replied.
Taren looked over Abby's head to his mother and she smiled, listening.
"And Grammy," he agreed.
Abby shook her head. "Nope! But I like Kiki. And if you see her tonight, promise me that you'll ask her to dance."
Taren laughed, amazed at how beyond her years she sounded.
"And be sure not to step on her toes. Girls don't like that."
One corner of his lips curled into a smile. "You never cease to amaze me. You know that?"
Abby sighed. "I'm just growing up, Daddy."
Taren chuckled. "Yes, but promise me you won't grow up too fast."
She smirked. "Dad, I won't make promises I can't keep."
Abby always made him smile. No matter how many lemons life threw at him, she had always been the light in his life.
"Okay. Enough of that," his mother said. "Give your daddy a kiss goodbye. He has to get going."
"Believe me. I'm not in any hurry to go." Taren picked his daughter up under her arms, kissed her forehead, and then let her down.
Evelyn took a step closer to him. "Son, just promise me you'll stay open to the possibilities." She placed her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. "The only thing I've ever wanted for you was to be happy."
Taren pulled her in for a hug. "Thanks, Mom." When he pulled back, there were tears in her eyes. "Hey, now-." He reached up and wiped a tear away from under her eye. "Let's have none of that. Everything's going to be fine. I promise."
"I know." She nodded, dabbing at the corner of her eye. It was strange to see tears in her eyes. His mother was one of the strongest people he knew.
"What's wrong?"
She smiled as she shook her head. "Nothing, son. Just go and enjoy yourself. You need more moments like this."
He smiled, grateful to have her as his mother. "I promise I won't be late." Taren slipped into his dress overcoat.
His mother placed her hands on Abby's shoulders, standing in front of her. "Stay out as long as you like. Abby and I are going to have fun. We're going to do girl stuff like bake--"
"And we're going to watch the ball drop!" Abby shouted, jumping up and down.
Evelyn laughed. "If you stay up late enough." Turning to Taren, she added, "How much you wanna bet she'll fall asleep on the couch first?"
"No I won't!" Abby chanted as she ran into the kitchen. "Let's make cookies, Grammy!"
"Well, I guess my alarm is going off," his mother teased. She pulled him in for a last hug. "Have fun, son. Knock 'em dead!"
He laughed. "Hopefully not."
"But not literally."
He laughed as he buttoned his coat and hurried out the door. It was cold out and the snow lay in drifts against the house and over the land, covering the ground in white. But it seemed that the snow had stopped falling for a bit. He hoped it stayed that way for the evening. He didn't want people to chance getting into an accident to go to a ball.
On his way to The North Pole Lodge, he couldn't get Kiki out of his mind. If Scarlett hadn't come back, hadn't gotten involved, maybe Kiki would still be in his life. But then again, he couldn't blame Scarlett entirely. He should have gone to Kiki and begged her to take him back, but then again, they were never together in the first place- not really.
It was over between them before it had even begun.
Now, he was left to pick up the pieces yet again. He had only given his heart twice, and both times, it ended badly.
He passed through town and it seemed as if even the living Christmas tree was mocking him, telling him that he was an idiot for not asking Kiki to go. But he pushed the thought aside as he pulled the car to a stop in the packed parking lot. Determined to stop feeling sorry for himself, he found a parking spot and locked up his car. Bracing himself from the cold, he hurried up the stairs, but when he walked in, Scarlett was waiting for him in the lobby.
"May I take your coat, sir?" asked a coat man, dressed formally in a tuxedo.
"Yes, please." Taren slipped out of his overcoat and handed it to the man, who walked discreetly behind the counter.
"Hello, darling," Scarlett beamed as she slipped her arm in his, as if no time had passed between them.