Philomena James’s official title in the Marshall household was housekeeper, but she’d been more personal assistant and confidante to Candace while Ellery was growing up. After Ellery’s parents died, Phil had supported her decision to start the Marshall Foundation and offered to help in whatever capacity was needed.
“Are you sure Karen is the only reason you decided to stay longer?” Jameson finally asked. “Because as far as the situation goes, nothing has changed.”
Ellery swallowed hard.
Everything had changed.
Liam and Aiden’s appeal to Carter to stick with the plan for the live nativity had blindsided Ellery.
Her brothers were believers.
Jameson would argue that there were dozens of reasons people attended church, that it wasn’t indicative of a genuine faith, but the confident glow in Aiden’s eyes when he’d told Carter the best gift had come from heaven said otherwise.
Ellery had learned something about Carter, too. She’d never imagined he would let his guard down. Let her see the burden of guilt he carried from his brief marriage to Jennifer. The battles still being waged inside him.
And Carter had revealed something else, too.
Something that told Ellery her unexpected, confusing and complicated feelings for a very complicated man weren’t one-sided.
But did that mean he’d changed his mind about her?
The safest thing to do was to get in the car and try to outrun her feelings, but Ellery’s heart had refused to cooperate.
“Ellery?”
Jameson’s voice intruded on her thoughts.
Ellery was glad he couldn’t see the blush that warmed her cheeks.
“Don’t worry.” She hoped Jameson wouldn’t realize she’d dodged his original question. “I’ll keep in touch.”
“Good. Because if you don’t, I might have to drive up there and stay a few days. Make sure you’re really okay,” Jameson warned. “And my no sugar, no carb, no fun diet might not go over well with the other guests.”
Ellery had a feeling the attorney was only half joking.
Her smile faded when she hung up the phone.
For all Ellery knew, she might be a guest again, too.
Carter had gone upstairs after Sunni and her brothers left, so Ellery imagined he’d paid his mom a visit to verify her story. Convince Karen they didn’t need her help.
That was the trouble. Carter didn’t think he needed anyone’s help.
Ellery transferred the pizza onto a tray and tucked a basket filled with warm breadsticks on the side.
The family didn’t eat in the main dining room with the guests, but the large coffee table Ellery had noticed in the center of their private living room would be the perfect place to gather together for an informal meal.
She carried the tray down the short hallway and tapped on the door.
The door swung open and there stood Bea.
“Pizza!” A wide smile bloomed on the girl’s face and Ellery smiled back.
At least one member of the Bristow family was happy to see her.
“I thought you might be getting hungry.” Ellery carried the tray into the room and her eyes lit on Carter.
The man who worried that he would fail as a father sat on the floor, long legs stretched out in front of him, surrounded by plastic ponies.
Carter returned her gaze evenly, his thoughts shielded from view.
Okay, then. Ellery could do that, too. Maybe.
“It’s not Mama Francesca’s,” she said. “But I hope it’s a close second.”
Carter herded ponies onto the rug and rose to his feet. Ellery always forgot how tall he was until she found herself staring at the third button on the placket of his denim shirt.
“I didn’t know what you’d like to drink, so I brought apple cider.” She backed toward the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Bea’s face fell. “Aren’t you going to eat with us?”
“I—” While Ellery was scrambling for an excuse to decline, Carter held out an empty plate.
“Bea’s right. You went to all this trouble.”
“It was no trouble...but thank you.” Ellery dipped her head, suddenly self-conscious. “I...I’d love to stay.”
Chapter Eighteen
For how long?
The question chased through Carter’s mind and he quickly put it on lockdown.
He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that his mom had offered Ellery a job.
You’re the first one to come up with a logical fix for things, Carter, Karen had said when he’d confronted her about her decision to hire Ellery. I’m surprised you didn’t think of it first.
And what was Carter supposed to say to that?
I’ve been too busy thinking about kissing her?
Carter prided himself on keeping his emotions in check, but it was difficult to stop thinking about kissing Ellery when she sat down on the floor next to Bea, her dark hair gleaming in the firelight as she divided up the pizza.
His daughter kept up an animated monologue while they ate, which suited Carter just fine.
The boundaries were changing so quickly, it was hard to keep up. Ellery had gone from registered guest to resident chef to dinner companion in the space of a few hours.
Logical, his mom had said?
There was nothing logical about any of this.
“I’m all done!” Bea announced. “Can we have cake for dessert, El’ry?”
“I don’t think Ellery can whip up a cake...” Carter saw Ellery’s smile and stopped. “Can you?”
“Of course.” Ellery held out her hand. “But I’ll need your coffee mug.”
Carter’s fingers tightened around the handle. “I like my coffee mug.”
“You’re going to like it better when it’s filled with cake.”
He handed it over.
“Can I help?” Bea looked up at Ellery hopefully.
Ellery put her finger to her lips. “As long as you don’t tell anyone my secret family recipe.”
“I promise.” Bea drew a lopsided X over her heart. “Can Daddy help, too?”
“I think we’ll let your daddy stay here and clean up.” Ellery grinned at him over Bea’s head. “He has enough classified information in his head.”
Carter wasn’t going to have to practice smiling. It seemed to be happening all on its own.
He tucked his hands into his pockets before he did something crazy again. Like finish what he’d started the last time he and Ellery were alone.
Carter stoked the fire again and had just finished piling the plates and wrinkled napkins on the now empty pizza stone when they returned.
Bea was in full giggle mode as Ellery returned Carter’s coffee mug and handed him a spoon.
“It’s chocolate, Daddy!”
“Chocolate mocha,” Ellery corrected. “I didn’t want to dump out that last half inch of coffee.”
Was there anything Ellery couldn’t do?
Carter dipped the spoon into the cake and chocolate erupted to the surface like molten lava.
“It’s delicious. But how—”
“We can’t tell you, ’member?” Bea said. “El’ry’s mommy showed her how to make it when she was a little girl.”
Once again, it occurred to Carter how little he knew about Ellery. Her background. Where she lived or what she did for a living.
And Carter had never asked. Because it was safer to assume Ellery was a spoiled trust-fund baby like Jennifer.
He’d assumed a lot of things.
“Can we make cake tomorrow, too?” Bea’s spoon clattered against the bottom of the empty cup.
“Christmas cookies are on the list for tomorrow,” Ellery said. “Would you like to help me decorate them?”
“Yes!”
/>
“Bea?” Carter studied his daughter’s chocolate-smeared face. “Did any of that cake end up here?” He tickled her tummy and was rewarded with a giggle. “Run upstairs and get washed up. I’ll be there in a few minutes to read you a story.”
“Ellery, too?”
Carter should have seen that coming.
“There are a few things I have to check on in the kitchen.” Ellery broke the awkward silence and smiled at Bea. “But I promise I’ll pop in and say good-night before you fall asleep.”
Bea’s faith in promises far outweighed Carter’s. She gave Ellery a quick hug and dashed from the room.
The last log in the fireplace collapsed on itself, sending a shower of crimson sparks up the chimney. Carter grabbed a few sticks of oak from the bin to keep it going.
“We’re supposed to get four inches of snow tonight...” Carter glanced over his shoulder, but Ellery had left the room as swiftly as she’d come up with a reason to avoid participating in Bea’s bedtime routine.
So why did Carter feel disappointed?
That wasn’t logical, either.
Neither was deliberately seeking out Ellery’s company again, but Carter turned toward the kitchen instead of the stairs.
* * *
Ellery slipped on her apron again and studied the items on Karen’s chalkboard calendar.
Wondered why she’d thought she could do this.
Lord, I’m going to need Your help.
And not only with her new responsibilities at the inn.
Carter hadn’t said much during dinner, but Bea’s laughter had filled the gaps, brought back sweet memories of what it was like to be part of a family.
Ellery had dreamed about finding her brothers, but it was this little family—Carter’s family—that had worked its way into her heart.
Ellery’s shoulders lifted and fell with her sigh.
“Having second thoughts?”
At the sound of Carter’s voice, the chalk between Ellery’s fingers snapped in half. She’d assumed he’d followed Bea upstairs.
“No.” Maybe. Yes.
Carter sauntered into the room and Ellery stiffened. Now he wanted to talk.
“Are you sure?” Carter eyed the broken pieces of chalk clutched in her hand. “It’s not a crime to have second thoughts about working at the inn.”
Not second thoughts. Doubts about her ability to avoid her brothers until Karen could take over again.
Ellery believed in the importance of honesty, and hiding her identity was becoming more difficult with each passing day.
“There is a lot to do,” Ellery admitted. “But it can’t be much different than hosting a dinner party.”
“A very large dinner party. Outdoors. With sheep.”
“There were animals around the night Jesus was born and a whole lot of other things that didn’t go as planned,” Ellery said softly. “At least not from a human perspective. It’s our expectations that get us into trouble and I’d rather be...expectant. Trust that God has everything under control and give Him room to work.”
Carter stared at her, silent, and Ellery tried not to fidget under the sharpness of his gaze.
Had she overstepped again?
“What else is on the list?”
Okay. Back to business.
Ellery launched into an updated plan to divide and conquer in order to reassure Carter that she was up for the task.
“If you handle the desk and the outside chores, I’ll plan meals for the guests who are coming in and serve breakfast in the morning. I already have some menu ideas for the live nativity, so I’ll do the shopping for that, too...”
Carter held up his hand when Ellery paused to take a breath.
“Not that list.” The smile Ellery had seen in the barn appeared again. Stole her ability to breathe. “Bea’s.”
Hope took wing when Ellery realized Carter was referring to the book his daughter had written.
But as much as Ellery wanted to believe he’d taken her advice about spending time with Bea to heart, only God had the power to truly change one.
But maybe—please, Lord—this was a start.
* * *
The next morning, after hours of tossing and turning, thoughts shifting from prayers to dreams, Ellery looked at the winter wonderland outside the kitchen window.
Four inches of new snow, as glossy and smooth as a layer of white chocolate fondant, softened the landscape and frosted the branches of the trees and the outbuildings near the pond. The thick batting of gray clouds overhead was beginning to thin, allowing the sun to peek through the seams.
A movement near the barn caught Ellery’s eye.
Carter.
Much to Ellery’s chagrin, he’d been awake before her. Ellery had come downstairs to start the coffee only to discover he’d gotten there first. The carafe was full and over the Christmas carols—Christmas carols—playing on the radio, Ellery could hear the scrape of a shovel against the walkway outside. He’d been expanding the path to the barn, every movement crisp and efficient, a reflection of the man she’d gotten to know over the course of the week.
And yet...
Ellery glanced at the chalkboard wall again.
If the words skating rink weren’t written in tiny letters in the next square on the calendar, Ellery might have convinced herself she’d dreamed the whole thing.
Carter had retreated to the family wing, but his smile had lingered in Ellery’s memory long after she’d gone to bed.
“What are you looking at, El’ry?”
Ellery hadn’t heard Bea enter the kitchen. She backpedaled away from the sink, hoping Carter hadn’t caught her staring out the window, too.
“The snow.” It was true. And much safer than admitting your father.
“Can I go outside and play after breakfast?” Bea scrambled onto a stool at the island. “I don’t have school today.”
“That’s up to your daddy, sweetheart,” Ellery said. Carter hadn’t said when he planned to convert the pond into a skating rink, but she didn’t want to spoil the surprise for Bea. “What would you like for breakfast? French toast or waffles?”
“French toast, please.” Bea hadn’t changed out of her pajamas yet, but Carter must have fixed her hair before he tackled the outside chores. One of Bea’s pigtails was longer than the other and several golden curls had already popped free from the rubber band holding them in place.
Carter’s valiant attempt sent a wave of tenderness washing through Ellery.
This was the man who was afraid he would fail his daughter.
Ellery stole one more glance out the window but Carter had disappeared from sight.
Time to focus on the task at hand.
Ellery whisked the eggs and milk in a bowl and let Bea dip slices of bread in the mixture and sprinkle them with cinnamon before they went into the pan.
Remembering what a patient teacher her mom had been in the kitchen, Ellery’s thoughts drifted to Carter’s ex-wife again.
Did Bea’s mother realize all the precious moments she was missing out on? Did she regret her decision at all?
It was incomprehensible to Ellery that Jennifer had placed all the blame on Carter before she’d left for another man. And heartbreaking Carter thought he somehow deserved her scorn.
“May I have another piece, El’ry?” Bea held up her empty plate.
Ellery feigned astonishment. “What did you do with the first one I gave you?”
“It’s right here!” Bea patted her rounded tummy.
“Mmm. I’ll try to keep up.” Ellery winked and slid another piece of French toast onto the little girl’s plate.
While Bea finished eating, Ellery pulled up some photos of appetizers on her phone. Christmas cookies were a staple for large gatherings like a live nativity but popcorn was portable, too, and
she could ask Karen about setting up a hot chocolate bar in the small outbuilding adjacent to the barn.
It occurred to Ellery that although Carter’s mom wasn’t well enough to do all the prep work, Karen would be the one overseeing the event.
Even if Ellery stayed, she’d be a guest once again...and a cordial stranger to her brothers.
It didn’t feel like enough anymore.
The back door opened and a burst of cold air preceded Carter’s entrance. The crop of goose bumps that rose on Ellery’s arms was the product of the look he leveled in her direction.
Carter hadn’t acknowledged what had happened between them the day before, but there was a change in the air now. An invisible, fragile connection that Ellery was afraid to name.
Bea sat up taller, her blue eyes wide with curiosity, when he set a large plastic bin on the floor.
“What’s in there, Daddy?”
Carter beckoned her over. “Take a look.”
Bea abandoned what was left of her breakfast, dropped to her knees in front of the bin, and peered at the contents. Her rosebud mouth formed an O of wonder. “Skates!”
“I knew these were collecting dust somewhere.” Carter pulled out a pair of skates and held up them up in front of Ellery. “I wore these when I was about fifteen, but with insulated socks they’ll probably fit you.”
“Me?” Ellery squeaked. “Those are hockey skates.”
“Afraid they won’t coordinate with your pink scarf?”
No, afraid she was going to fall flat on her rump in front of witnesses.
“Black is neutral. It goes with everything...and I haven’t skated in years.”
“You have to, El’ry!” Bea chimed in. “Don’t you want to see if my new skates work?”
There was only one answer to that question.
“Definitely.”
“I’ll be right back, Daddy! I’m going to get dressed.” Bea dashed out of the kitchen and Ellery heard the thump of her feet against the stairs.
“You don’t mind, do you?” Carter asked.
“Of course not.” He’d made clearing a spot on the pond a priority. Ellery was the one who’d given Bea the skates. It seemed only fair that she supervised while Carter finished his work outside.
The Holiday Secret (Castle Falls Book 4) Page 14
