Chapter 20

Iris's face was blank. She remained quiet, just staring at Hugh. 

"Iris, sorry," Hugh said when Iris didn't speak. He placed his hand on her arm and crumpled his face. "Extremely sorry, it just slipped my mind." 

"Ummm...Ya... No.." She tried to find the words to speak. "Okay!" 

"You know what? You can join us. It's not fair. We can celebrate with them and then return in the morning." Hugh sounded hopeful. 

Iris scoffed and looked down. "It's not possible. I don't really wish to celebrate New Years' with a house full of strange men." 

"Iris, I'll be there. They are not bad people. Two of them have their families back in Middleham and one of them has got his wife here. I can ask him to bring her." 

Iris shook her head abruptly. She was disappointed and heartbroken. All she could think of right now was being left alone. 

"That's okay Hugh." Iris fake smiled at him. The same fake smile that she used while dealing with the rude customers at the Cafe. "You deserve to celebrate New Year with your friends. We celebrated Christmas together after all." 

Hugh sighed. "And who are you planning to celebrate New Years' eve with?" He asked. 

Iris pressed her lips together and mused. "Some friends from work." She said while looking at the Christmas tree. She couldn't look into Hugh's eyes while lying. 

"Iris, I know you have never celebrated Christmas and New Years' eve with anyone. Don't lie to me now. Just come, okay? I'll make sure you're comfortable." 

Iris was hating it that Hugh wasn't suggesting that they celebrate New Year’s alone. He wanted to keep up his plan with his friends. She knew it was selfish of her, but she did not want anyone around. She had grown used to Hugh's company. 

Iris was very introverted. She was not used to having people around. She felt that she didn't fit in. All she wanted was Hugh. 

"I don't want to interfere," Iris said. 

Hugh exhaled and shook his head. "Iris! You are not inter..." 

"It's okay Hugh. Really." 

"Well, let me know in case you change your mind." 

"How?" 

Hugh smiled. "I'll come to your Cafe in the evening." 

"Don't trouble yourself for me. I'm sure I don't want to come. I'll make the Pork Ribs and eat it all by myself. Just like I eat turkey." She chuckled sadly.

Hugh shook his head again while looking at Iris. 

Iris folded her hands and said with a gloomy smile on her face, "You have a great time and a Happy New Year." She looked into his eyes. 

Hugh stared at Iris without a smile for a while and then sighed. He walked out the door without saying anything further. 

Iris closed the door and stood frozen. As his footsteps receded, Iris's eyes got watery. She heard his car's engine roar and then it slowly fades. 

Iris sat on the couch and rested her forehead on her knees as she sobbed. 

“Jesus! I'm so stupid. This isn't even a reason to cry.” And yet she continued to sob. 

After when she felt a little better, she changed into her nightclothes and went to bed. “This is the price you pay to get too attached to someone. How could I even think that Hugh would stay with me always? That he won't ever drift away? I keep my distance from people, doesn't mean he does too. He has friends, a family. He can't be around all the time. How can I be so selfish? I am really stupid. Someone as handsome as Hugh can never fall for someone like me. God, what was I thinking? Just because he spent time with me doesn't mean he likes me as much as I like him.” 

Iris couldn't fall asleep that night. All she kept wondering was if she was a fool to think that Hugh was someone who was going to stick around. Even as a friend. She was right to keep her distance from people. She was right to never get attached. When you expect too much from someone, they often disappoint you.