“Has anyone seen the mayor?” Cami shouted over the microphone testing. “Anyone?” She had looked in the kitchen and by the sidewalk.

The ballroom was filling up now with the dates of the volunteers and a few early birds. She couldn’t find Evan anywhere. She tried calling him again, but his phone went straight to voicemail.

She smiled when she saw Ben and Hamp stroll in. “Hey guys. Have either of you seen Evan? I can’t find him.”

She was wearing the most beautiful gown she had ever worn. She hoped it made up for her prom dress. She was dying for Evan to see her in it. And more excited for him to turn it into a pile of red tulle on his bedroom floor. It was strapless and hugged her breasts. They felt a little tender, but she smiled knowing now why that was.

She had a surprise for Evan. A huge surprise. She wanted to wait until Christmas morning to tell him, but she didn’t think she could wait that long.

The signs had been there all week, she just hadn’t put it together until this morning. She looked at the calendar for her shipping orders and realized the date was circled two weeks ago for her period. She was two weeks late. And if she counted correctly, that meant they conceived this baby their first night together. In the kitchen. It made her giggle a little.

While she was getting ready upstairs she ripped open the pregnancy test, peed on the stick, and waited the terrifying three minutes. Only, once she saw the two pink lines, she wasn’t terrified. She was overjoyed. She was elated. She was so freaking happy, she couldn’t wait to jump in his arms and tell him he was going to be a daddy.

“Nope. Haven’t seen him,” Ben answered. “But I want him to try this new beer flavor.”

She sighed. “Ok. If you do, will you please tell him I’m looking for him?”

“Will do, Cami.” Hamp squeezed her on the shoulder as they made their way to the cocktail bar.

“Oh, honey. Look at you. Look at this place.” It was Claudine and Geogia. They each hugged her.

“Oh good. I’m glad I found you. Have you seen Evan?” She asked. “I mean, Mayor Jacobs.” She tried to sound formal.

They exchanged a knowing grin. “We know you two are an item. You don’t have to hide it from us,” Claudine whispered. “We can keep a secret.”

“Oh good.” Cami smiled. She wasn’t ready to discuss any details. She needed to find Evan and tell him she was pregnant.

“Remember that first night you moved in?” Claudine continued. “I saw that look in your eye. I knew it was just a matter of time before you two got back together.”

“Great. That’s great.” Cami patted them on the arm. “I really need to find Evan. If you see him, please tell him the girl in the big red ball gown is looking for him.” She ran off before they could trap her in more relationship gossip.

“Where in the hell is he?” she whispered. And then she stopped in front of the punch bowl. No. It couldn’t be.

She recognized the back of his shaggy gray head. “Peter?” she eked.

“There you are.” He turned to face her, juggling a glass of punch in one hand and an envelope in another.

“What are you doing here?”

“If you had answered any of my calls you would know exactly why I was here.” He took a sip of punch. “Doesn’t matter. Just sign this and I can fly back tonight.”

“What is it?” She took the manila envelope from his hands.

He beamed, showing off his gold-capped tooth. “Baby, this is it. The big break.”

“What big break?” She knew she looked as surprised as she felt.

“All right. So I know it’s a small label, but that’s the thing. These small labels are doing a lot for big-time artists. Sign with them and you can become one of their rising stars. It doesn’t matter how you get there, right?”

“This is a contract? Peter, you brought me a contract?” She stared at him. “You’re here on Christmas Eve in Harpers Point with a contract?”

“Yes, ma’am I am.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“Sweet, isn’t it?”

She shook her head. She knew some people milling around were starting to listen. She tugged on his arm, dragging him into the candy shop.

“No. This isn’t sweet. I don’t want the contract. I didn’t ask for a contract. Why are you here?”

He frowned. “To get your signature and so I can get back to Nashville tonight. We need this deal to go through, Cami.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “We do not.”

“You’re not seriously turning this down? It’s two albums. Full studio support with rights to any of your original music. It’s the best deal you’re going to get. It’s the only one you’ve been offered.”

She inhaled, placing her hands on her stomach. It was true, she had only known for less than an hour that she was carrying Evan’s baby, but it didn’t make her feel like any less of a mama bear. She would do anything to protect their baby. Anything. She wanted their children to have a childhood where they could ride their bikes down the street and swim off a pier in the summer. She wanted them to learn how to build gingerbread houses and count down the days until the flotilla. She wanted children who felt loved and safe. And lived in a town where people watched out for them.

“No, Peter. I’m not interested. You shouldn’t have come here.”

He shook his head. “You sound like that guy I talked to.”

Her skin prickled. “What guy?”

“Dark hair. Tux. Looked like a model I could probably sign.”

“Oh my God.” She covered her mouth. “Did you talk to Evan? Does he know who you are?” She looked around frantically for her coat. She had to find him.

“I don’t know who he was, but he left.”

Her long blue coat was hanging upstairs. She didn’t have time to run to the apartment and grab it. She needed to make sure Evan knew the truth.

“Where are you going?” Peter yelled.

“Bye, Peter. I hope you’re not here when I get back. Unless you want to enjoy the Snow Ball,” she added. She started running. She picked up the layers of tulle and ran.