Backstage Romance: An Austen-Inspired Romantic Comedy Box Set by Gigi Blume (ebook reader with highlighter txt) 📕

“I’ve never seen so many luminaries,” she exclaimed, pointing at the flickering lights in paper bags. “They make the snow look like it’s glowing.”

“Those aren’t luminaries,” Mom corrected gently, “Those are called farolitos. Luminarias are small bonfires...like that.” She nodded toward the middle of the street where a small crowd formed, singing Christmas carols.

“Far-oh-lee-toes,” Georgia intoned with a thumbs up. “Got it.”

I snapped a photo, savoring the moment. The golden hue of the farolitos alighted the fringes of her honey locks fanning out from under her knit cap. Santa Fe agreed with her.

Mom spotted Palanca by the luminaria and ran to greet her, dragging Vicky along.

“I have to warn you about my sister,” I said as we followed at a slow pace. “She’s happily married and thinks everyone else should be too. She’s gonna assume...ya know.”

“That you brought a girl home to meet the family?”

“Yeah. So I apologize in advance.”

Georgia gave me a side grin and fluttered her lashes. “I’m cool with that.”

She brushed past me to introduce herself to my sister while I hung back with my jaw hinged open. Just as I suspected, Palanca’s eyes formed into giant wedding bells and looked from Georgia to me with a toothy grin. Steven welcomed Georgia with a friendly handshake and then she bent to greet Sophia in her umbrella stroller, bopping her on the nose.

Palanca formed an instant connection with Georgia and hooked arms with her as we began our trek down Canyon Road. Vicky found her teenage friends five minutes in and traveled the rest of the way in a giggling cluster. They were never too far away at any given moment and Mom kept a keen eye on Vicky even though they were good kids.

The Farolito Walk was every bit as magical as it was every year, but seeing it for the first time through Georgia’s eyes gave me goose bumps. I snapped more candid shots of this small group of people I called my family—and of Georgia who fit in as though she’d always belonged. A pang shot in my heart—wanting her to feel the same but knowing after tomorrow, I might never see her again. Even our plans to return for the RV seemed too far-fetched. Her brother would never approve of me. I was fully prepared to make the trip solo.

We stopped at almost every house, gallery and shop along the way despite Mom’s warnings earlier. She was the quintessential grandma, spoiling Sophia with candy and sweet sopapillas. In one of the shops she bought Sophia a plush Guadalupe doll and defended her purchase to Palanca by pointing out how Sophia should have something religious to occupy her little hands at church.

After that my sister put her foot down and banned Mom from any more stops. She hurried Mom along to the Cathedral claiming she was cold and tired and wanted a place to sit, and told Georgia and me to take our time.

“I’ll let Sophia spread out across the pew,” she said conspiratorially, “Just text me when you get there.”

Alone at last. Or at least as alone as two people can be with hundreds of strangers around. The crowd had thinned out considerably by this time, most people enjoying the farolitos at dusk before heading to their Christmas Eve celebrations. Still, the street musicians were in full swing, playing their jazz Christmas songs and the hot chocolate carts were still out, offering free drinks to everyone. Georgia soaked up every sight, smell, and sound with awe, marveling at the spectacle around us.

“Do you have a gift for your mom?” she asked as we passed a small store.

“I, uh...” The truth was I had planned to pick something up for Mom in California after my gig. A sickly feeling clawed at my stomach. So much had changed and now there was no way I could crash the Darcy wedding for a cheap story. I had to find a way to tell Georgia the truth—preferably without her hating me for it.

“Come on.” She tugged me inside the shop and we browsed for a while before she found a beaded chain of turquoise and coral. Mom would love it.

“Use the tip money,” she said, and went off to window shop on her own. I took the opportunity to pick up a few other gifts, all the while wondering how I could tell Georgia my feelings. Hoping she felt it, too.

“I like your family,” she said as we returned to the crisp night air, walking past the string of shops to a quieter portion of the road. We stopped to warm ourselves close to a crackling fire. “And you were right about your sister, Palanca. She reeeeally loves weddings.”

“I’m so embarrassed.” The last thing I needed was for my sister to scare Georgia away. I was perfectly capable of doing that myself.

“It’s fine. She just wants to see you happy. I used to tease my brother all the time.”

“I am happy,” I said. “I’m like...the poster child for happy.”

“Are you? Really?”

I met her gaze, studying her features in the flickering firelight. “I am now.”

Her eyes flashed with awareness and she parted her lips ever so slightly before clearing her throat and turning her focus on the flames.

“Palanca said you’ve never brought a girl home to meet the family. Why’s that?”

Wow. I was either going to squish a banana in Palanca’s hair or send her a thank you card. Which one remained to be seen.

I let out a deep breath. “Because nobody ever mattered enough to me.”

“No one?” She chuckled. “Not even evil rich girl?”

“Nobody,” I whispered, nudging her chin toward me with my fingertip so I could fix my eyes on hers. “Until you.”

I ran my thumb gently along her jaw, drawing myself closer. Her cheeks were warm from the fire yet I felt her shiver under my touch. Her breath hitched, a tiny sputtering of air catching in her chest. She was so incredibly lovely with