Free Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews Page B

they’re putting him up in. I’m thinking … I’m really sorta wondering if maybe I should go up there and take care of him.”
    “Of course you should!” I cried. “That’s what I’ve been telling you! You’re unhappy, he’s lonely. It makes no sense for you not to go.”
    She shook her head. “This is crazy. Buying a plane ticket so late like this—and it being the holidays? I probably can’t even get a flight—and if I could, it’d probably be way too expensive. I hate to spend the money when we’re going to Paris in the spring.”
    But I was already out of my chair, retrieving my phone. I scrolled through my contacts until I found the number I wanted, and touched the icon.
    “What are you doing? BeBe—no! I’m not letting you do this.”
    I waved away her objections while I was on hold with the airline. “You can’t stop me. I’ve got enough Delta frequent-flier miles to fly around the world. Twice. I’m not buying you a ticket, I’m just loaning you my miles.”
    The operator came on in a surprisingly short amount of time. I made the reservation, gave the operator Weezie’s phone number and email address, and clicked off.
    “This is nuts,” Weezie started.
    “Hush! Listen. You’re on a direct flight to LaGuardia. You better go home right now and pack, because your plane leaves at six forty in the morning. I’ve got you returning at eight forty p.m. next Friday. Now. Clothes. You don’t actually own a real winter coat, do you?”
    “Just a sort of vintage car coat I bought at an estate sale. It’s black cashmere with dolman sleeves…”
    “Cashmere is not going to cut it in New York in December. Especially vintage cashmere, which probably has vintage moth holes to match. Am I right?”
    “Maybe a few. Just around the hem…”
    I sighed and handed her a room key. “You’ll have to go unlock unit six—the little studio efficiency? I’m using that as a closet until they finish with the new house. Take my long black camel-hair coat. There are some wool scarves on a hook near the door. My slacks will all be too short on you, but help yourself to some of my sweaters.”
    “I can’t just take off and fly to New York like this,” BeBe said. “You don’t understand. This is our busiest time at the shop…”
    “Which is why you’re going to call Courtney and tell her she can have all the extra hours she wants this week. You did say she was looking to make some extra money over the holidays, right? And what about those SCAD kids who’ve been working part-time? Why couldn’t they come in to help Courtney?”
    “Ellie and Alex did say they aren’t going home for Christmas this year,” I admitted. “But what about the wedding? Mama will want to do one more fitting for my dress, and I’m still not sure about the cake. I baked some more layers this morning, but I can’t decide on the frosting. I don’t even have a cake topper yet!”
    “Weezie! Stop with the excuses. You told me earlier your mama fitted the dress on you yesterday. She’s been sewing for you her whole life. The dress will be fine. And as for the cake, I don’t get why you have to bake your own cake when Daniel has an amazing pastry chef at Guale. You can pick up a cake topper in New York. They have stores there, in case you haven’t heard.”
    “I don’t know,” she repeated. “I want to go. I’m dying to go. But it’s so … irresponsible to just drop everything and take off at the last minute like this.” She gave me a long, searching look. “What about this thing with Richard? Plus I wouldn’t feel right, taking off so close to your due date. What if the baby comes early?”
    “I’ll call your uncle James first thing tomorrow. As for the baby, it might never come,” I said. “You know I want you right here when the time comes, don’t you?”
    “I’ll be right there, with a big ol’ thermos of frozen daiquiris, the minute that baby is safely delivered,” Weezie pledged.
    “Well, my time