14
Taylor
My brain was so mixed up and twisted that it felt like a Cuisinart blender up there. On one hand, it had been twenty-four hours. If I was going to walk away, now was the time to do it because I could already feel myself becoming attached to her. If it was this painful to walk away now, imagine how it would feel in a month… in a year… intwoyears.
I had twenty minutes to decide. Well, actually more like fifteen. Because she was right—if I was going to leave, I needed to do it before she came back. With her here in front of me, I don’t know if I’d have the strength to walkout.
I sat down at the table, ignoring the card and tore open the two presents, chuckling at her gifts to me. They were perfect. A DVD ofGuys and Dolls, which she now knew I hated, and a hideous Christmas pajama onesie. I chuckled, holding the adult onesie up against my body. It was designed to be a reindeer and the hood even had antlers that flopped off thetop.
I sighed and opened up the card from her. On the front was a picture of a dog that looked just like Maisey wearing a Santa hat. If Paige could be summed up in one card, this was it. Goofy. Adorable. Sweet. Inside, a folded print out paper fell into my lap. In the Christmas card, her neat cursivewrote:
Taylor,
Because you’re now officially part of the family—the tradition expands. A “terrible” movie (that for the record is not terrible at ALL) and hideous pajamas that I can’t wait to see youin.
As for the letter tucked inside here…well, that’s your real gift. Or rather, it’s actually your gift tome.
Because you make me braver than I’ve ever been in mylife.
MerryChristmas,
Paige
I smiled. I make her braver. And she softens my hard edges. I carefully unfolded the note and saw that it was an email chain she had printedout.
From:[email protected]
Subject: January 8thAuditions
Dear Mackmatac RepertoryTheater,
My name is Paige Williams and I would love to schedule an audition for the January 8thopen call. I’ve attached my headshot and resume for your review. I realize the timing is less than ideal, being so close to Christmas and a little over a week away from the scheduled auditions. If you can squeeze in one more appointment, I look forward to meeting you soon. If not, I would love to be considered for nextyear.
Sincerely,
PaigeWilliams
From:[email protected]
RE: Subject: January 8thAuditions
Dear Ms.Williams,
Thank you so much for your email. You’re one lucky lady… we actually had a cancelation yesterday. If you would like the audition, it’syours.
Sincerely,
JustinPacely
Mackmatac CastingCoordinator
She did it. She actually did it. I swiped my palm against my cheekbone, brushing away the moisture falling down my face. She actually made the appointment. And in that moment, I wanted nothing more than to be the one holding her hand through it. To keep my promise and drive her down to that audition and any other audition she might need emotional support goingto.
I looked at the clock. Time had passed quickly. I had seven minutes before she said she’d be home withMaisey.
Seven minutes to make up for a complete and utter panic attack and almost walking away from the best thing that had happened to me in twelveyears.
