“Even the Raven Kingsley’s of the world deserve a chance,” Emily said. “I’m sorry if you feel like I’ve betrayed Harry, or even that I’m letting myself and my family down, but I simply cannot stoop to that level, to trash someone’s dream like that.”
Amy stared at her, still incredulous, like her words just weren’t registering. “I think you’re going to regret that. Once Raven drives you out of business.”
“How about when that happens, you can say ‘I told you so,’” Emily said, the comment halfway between a joke and a dismissal.
Amy shook her head, looking beyond disappointed. It was painful for Emily to have her best friend so mad at her, but she wasn’t going to back down under the pressure. She knew what was right in her heart and that was the only thing was going to let that guide her actions.
“I’m going home,” Amy said.
“No, Ames,” Emily said, reaching for. “It’s the tree lighting ceremony. Your first one in Sunset Harbor. Come on, let’s just put this behind us for the rest of the night, okay?”
Amy shook her head again. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I don’t feel like watching a stupid tree ceremony when our livelihoods are in danger. Doesn’t feel like much to celebrate.” She looked around her, searching for Harry.
Emily felt crushed. She and Amy had had their fair share of spats during their years of friendship but this particular one felt very raw and painful. Amy’s rejection hurt.
Harry appeared then, moving away from a very solemn looking conversation with the Bradshaw’s who owned a restaurant in town. He came over, his usual boyish grin completely absent, and placed his arm around Amy.
“Shall we go home?” he asked her, his tone morose.
Emily’s heart sank. “Harry, come on,” she said. “It’s the tree lighting. Come over to the Inn for mulled wine, then we can all go together.”
But Harry shook his head. He was hardly looking at her. “I think we want a quiet night in.”
Amy didn’t raise her eyes again either. Instead, the two of them shuffled off, heads bowed, leaving Emily alone on the steps, watching them go with a downturned mouth.
* * *
After her spat with Amy, Emily couldn’t help but approach the town tree lighting celebration with an air of trepidation. What if everyone decide to give her a piece of them mind as Amy had? The thought of the tense atmosphere that had built during the meeting spilling onto the streets and poisoning the joyful celebration was a real concern.
But when they arrived and climbed out of Daniel’s truck – Chantelle clipping leashes onto the dogs before hopping down from the back seat – Emily quickly realized she needn’t have worried. All she saw were the same old friendly faces, smiles and greetings. Whatever feelings the locals felt about her speech at the meeting, it appeared as if they were going to put them aside for the rest of the evening. Unlike Amy, they seemed willing to leave their animosity towards her within the four walls of the town hall.
In typical Sunset Harbor tradition, the tree lighting wasn’t just a tree lighting, but instead a street party, an excuse to celebrate. Emily looked around at all the stalls that had been set up, selling an assortments of winter-themed items from Christmas decorations to candles, flavored liquors and ugly Christmas sweaters. Chantelle, of course, was immediately drawn to the sparkly, garish sweater stall.