by Sabrina York
Emily followed Sara to her Jeep. “I’ll show you my checkbook and make sure you can login to my online banking portal so you can pay invoices and bills you receive. I do all of my bookkeeping at home in my office. I use a payroll processing company, and I’ll show you how to submit the timesheets. Remind me to leave you my business credit card for any emergencies. We can go over all of it while we have pie tonight.” Sara smiled and gripped Emily’s hand. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this, Em. Mike and I haven’t been on an actual vacation in years. We’ve been immersed in growing Latte Da and his advancement at the company, so this trip is about more to us than Mike’s business meetings.”
Emily squeezed her sister’s hand. “I’m happy to do it, a little scared, but glad to help.” She glanced at her lap. “I know I wasn’t there for you to help with Mom after Dad died and then when she got sick.” Tears spilled onto her cheeks. “I’ve been afraid to come home.” She wiped at her eyes with her finger. “It sounds ridiculous, I know.”
Sara’s eyes glistened. “We’re just glad you’re here now, and you never need to be hesitant about visiting. Snow Valley will always be your home.” She started the ignition and guided the car back to the highway. Sara turned to Emily and reached for her hand. “Let’s go home, and tomorrow we’ll get an early start at the Mistletoe Lodge.”
Emily eased back in her seat and took in the majestic mountains, already cloaked in a blanket of snow. Despite the gloomy skies always prevalent this time of year, the beauty of the valley wasn’t lost on her. She glanced over at her sister humming along with the Christmas music she had selected. Emily had missed all of this—not just the scenery.
3
After a quick breakfast consisting of leftover apple and pumpkin pies, they left Mike to finalize the trip arrangements and prepare for next week’s meetings. Sara showed Emily how to load Bella into the Jeep and handed her the keys. “You mentioned not driving in a long time, so I thought you better practice.” She winked and added, “It’s a short drive. You can do it.”
Emily’s eyes narrowed. “I remember you teaching me to drive. No screaming this time, okay?” She blew out a breath and checked the mirrors before starting the ignition. With a slight hesitation, Emily nudged the gas and inched her way out of the garage. Sara showed her how to engage the four-wheel drive since she was sure to have to drive in snow over the next few weeks.
As they made their way along the familiar road leading to the resort, Emily’s shoulders began to relax. She turned at the entrance, and her eyes widened as she took in all she had missed during the ride in the dark last night. The road wound through a beautiful golf course, and Sara pointed to side streets that led into neighborhoods within the property. Bike trails, along with hiking and walking trails, looped through the acreage. They reached a roundabout, and Emily followed the sign for the lodge and main resort. They passed by a section of gorgeous custom homes and quaint cottages before reaching the heart of the resort. Sara directed her to the circular driveway in front of the lodge and guided Emily to a narrow strip of asphalt that led to a staff parking lot camouflaged by a border of lofty pine trees.
Emily chose a spot far from other cars, and it took her a couple of attempts to slot the Jeep between the white lines. Sara opened Bella’s door, and the dog bounded out and led the way to a side entrance tucked behind a stone wall. “She seems to know where she’s going,” said Emily with a laugh.
The old lodge, like everything else, stood grander than Emily remembered. It had been through an extensive addition and remodel. The bark-colored wood and stone structure looked like it belonged amid the forest and mountains. Towering trees grew in every direction, and the rich reds and oranges of fall leaves still clung to a few of the hardier shrubs and bushes planted along the walkways leading to the entrance. The front of the Mistletoe Lodge was beautiful and showcased the rustic vibe of a mountain mansion. Upon entering the main lobby area, Emily’s eyes widened as she took in the massive open space with its floor to ceiling windows showcasing a marvelous view of a lake and the lush forests beyond topped by the jagged peaks of the Cascade Mountains.
It was breathtaking, and Sara had to jostle Emily’s arm to get her attention. As she followed her sister, Emily gazed upon the roaring fire in the huge stone fireplace towering over the seating area near the windows. Chandeliers crafted from antlers provided soft lighting, and workers were installing a massive fresh wreath above the mantle. She spotted a baby grand piano in an alcove off the lobby.
Emily caught up with Sara, who was talking to a young blond woman behind the deep semicircle of a counter that formed the heart of Latte Da. Copper and glass pendulum lights hung over the counter, and a few small tables were scattered about the area beyond. A bakery case displayed today’s offerings, and a menu board designed to look like a blackboard showcased the beverage lineup. While the space was compact, it had a posh vibe, as did the entire resort, and was perfect. It was a bit of a contrast to the cheerful, almost eclectic, ambiance of Sara’s downtown shop.
Sara motioned Emily closer and put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Marcy, meet my sister, Emily Bishop.”
Marcy wiped her hand across the black apron she wore before extending it to Emily. “Wonderful to meet you. Sara has been so excited you were coming home for Thanksgiving. You’re all she’s talked about these past weeks.”
“Great to meet you,” said Emily. “Sara’s been singing your praises.”
Sara blushed and said, “I told Emily you’ll be able to hold the fort and let her concentrate on the party plans.”
“No problem. You’ll love it here. It’s such a special place for the holidays.” Marcy glanced at the counter where a customer stood. “I better run but will chat with you later.”
Sara showed Emily her cubby of an office in the back. “Most of our sales here are on credit cards or charged to guest rooms, so Marcy usually only has to make a deposit once a week.” She pointed to a small safe in the corner. “We keep the cash in the safe until it gets to a point where we need to deposit.”
Sara tapped keys on the computer, and Emily recognized the same system she had seen at the downtown location. Sara took her through a few screens. “It’s easy to manage. I’m sure you won’t have any problems.”
Emily concentrated on the screen. “Tell me more about this Christmas Tree Party. How did you get started doing that?”
Sara chuckled and logged off the computer. “Let’s get something to drink and sit out in the lobby and go over my binder with everything you’ll need.” She plucked a thick red binder from a shelf.
Sara made them each a cappuccino topped with a bit of grated chocolate and cinnamon and joined Emily at one of the larger tables near the windows in view of Bella lounging on her bed next to the fireplace. “Right after I opened the store downtown, Mayor Bob—you remember him, don’t you? He started coming in every morning for coffee and a snack. We chatted all the time, and he explained that he wanted to start a new tradition and open the lodge to children, especially those who needed a little extra happiness at Christmas, so they could have a huge Christmas party and decorate trees throughout the building.”
Emily held the warm cup in her hands and smiled. “Bob was always so kind. Nice idea.”
Sara agreed and explained she volunteered to help him the first year and coordinated it. He asked her to do it every year since, and when he retired and the new mayor took over at the beginning of the year, he continued the tradition. “The whole community gets involved and supports it, with the Johnsons doing the heavy lifting and going above and beyond to make it a reality. Lydia still likes to play Mrs. Claus. You’ll see her name in my notes.”
Sara opened the red binder, and they spent the next two hours going through the details connected with the event. Trees, decorations, refreshments, all the logistics and suppliers had been arranged months ago. “The event is Saturday, and the lodge will be emptied of guests Friday morning to give you time to set up and get things
ready for when the party kicks off at noon on Saturday.”
Emily studied the lists and looked at the photos from past years to get an idea of what she would be trying to replicate. “Wow, I am beyond impressed, Sara. It’s gorgeous.” She sighed and added, “I only hope I can live up to all this.”
“I’ve got a rough schedule here on this calendar page. It will help you plan next week, and if you keep to the schedule, things should go smoothly. Outside of coordinating and making sure everything is done, your biggest job is to gather all the donated gifts and get them wrapped. You’ll start on Monday, and the staff at the lodge likes to help. Sometimes even the guests enjoy pitching in, and we set up a wrapping station in the library.”
Sara finished the last of her cappuccino and slid a notepad and pen over to Emily. “Speaking of, let’s take a tour so you can see all the rooms and get a feel for how you want to decorate. You can make any notes you want as we go. It’s sort of fun because you can be creative and come up with different themes for the trees. You’re only limited by your imagination.”
As they walked through the lobby, Sara pointed out the various locations they had used to display trees. “We like to place a massive one here next to the window in this tall corner, as sort of the main focal point. The maintenance staff at the lodge and from the city tackle it because of the height. We let the kids add a few ornaments on the lower branches.”
She showed Emily the library, and in addition to being a wrapping station, the space could handle two trees. Emily squinted as she scanned through the sheets in the binder. “I see the Clark Family Tree Farm supplies the trees. Do they bring a variety of sizes?”
Sara nodded, “Right, they’ve been doing this for a long time, and Scott is great at estimating the heights. He always has plenty and brings a whole crew to set them up. The older kids can use a stepladder to help with the taller trees, but anything higher, we leave to the staff.”
Each of the eighteen guest rooms would also get a tree, and Sara led the way upstairs so Emily could take a look at a few of the unoccupied rooms. The rooms along the rear of the building had incredible views of the mountains and alpine forest and the river meandering through the property, while those in front had a view of the golf course.
All the rooms were equipped with fireplaces and balconies with sturdy Adirondack chairs and wooden rockers. Each was done in neutral tones with dark wood floors and tiled bathrooms. The larger suites had a separate living area with a small kitchen, while the others were outfitted with a mini-fridge and microwave, plus a small sink. The use of different color palettes for accent pieces and the variety of leathers and fabrics used on chairs and couches gave each room a unique atmosphere. Fresh flowers and plush comforters provided a cozy feel.
As they meandered back toward the staircase, Emily stopped and stood at the balcony overlooking the lobby offering its own stunning view through the huge windows. “I can picture this all decorated with a huge tree below.” She turned to Sara, “I’m actually starting to get excited about this.”
Sara giggled. “I’m glad. It is fun and a highlight of the season. I’m truly sorry to miss it but can’t wait to see Paris and London decked out for the holidays.” She pointed at the wooden banister. “They’ll drape fresh garland along here and put some wreaths across the balcony. You can also put a tree at each end. Just make sure they don’t interfere with the flow of traffic or the view.”
Sara gestured to the small sitting area off the balcony with a view out the front of the building and told Emily a spot in the corner could use a tree. Emily scribbled another note and followed Sara downstairs.
Sara led the way outside through the main entrance. “The staff here decorates all the shrubs with twinkle lights, and we always place two trees at the entrance to the breezeway from the portico. They’ll also wrap all the columns with lights, so it will be quite festive when the guests arrive.”
Emily turned her attention to the driveway. “I saw in the notes Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by horse-drawn sleigh out here, right?”
Sara nodded. “Yes, Clive owns the horses and will transport them via sleigh or carriage, if there isn’t enough snow. The kids love to watch the arrival from the windows. It’s always magical.”
After a quick walk around the perimeter, Sara introduced Emily to Carol, the manager of the lodge, who exchanged cell phone numbers with Emily and encouraged her to call her with any issues, day or night. After a quick visit with Carol, Sara collected Bella. “Let’s run downtown, meet Jackie, and have a bite of lunch.”
Emily gripped the red binder in her arms and wandered behind Sara, savoring the view from the lobby one last time before hurrying to catch up with her sister.
With Sara’s directions, Emily steered the Jeep along a winding route through several neighborhoods of townhouses, cottages, and larger custom homes. They traveled to the far end of the property and passed by the outdoor pool facility next to the wildlife preserve and petting zoo, all popular family events in the warmer months. Markers for hiking trails leading through the hills and meadows dotted the roadway in this less populated area.
Emily looped back toward the central resort and took the road that wove through more neighborhoods and the second golf course. She shook her head in awe as they neared the exit and the sign for the resort’s own fire station. “I can’t get over the expansion of this place. I barely recognize anything.”
Sara’s brows rose. “Some of the locals were less than thrilled since it attracts so many tourists and visitors, but overall, it brings most of our tax revenue. Nowadays, most people have gotten used to it, and the initial objections have calmed down. But each time they break ground on a new neighborhood, there’s a bit of a scuffle at the planning meetings, but it blows over quickly.”
“The traffic is definitely heavier than I remember on this road,” said Emily, taking the turn for downtown.
“It’s nothing now. You should see it in the summer when it’s the height of the season. Around the holidays, it’s also busy with people on winter breaks. They have a whole Snowfest celebration going on at the resort. Ice skating, craft fairs, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, campouts, snowshoeing—you name it, they do it.”
“It’s quite lovely. I can see why it’s so successful.” Emily stopped at the one traffic light on Main Street.
Sara tapped Emily’s hand. “I forgot to mention, Mike and I have passes to the resort to enjoy all the amenities. We have extras for guests or the kids to use, so be sure and take advantage while we’re away. No golfing now, but you could snowshoe or ski this time of year. They have a wonderful indoor swim center and a lovely spa with mineral baths, saunas, salt rooms, and relaxing spaces. It’s all included, and you can book one complimentary treatment a month, so use it. It’s up at the big hotel where we had dinner. They always have things to do, so you won’t be bored.”
Emily guided the Jeep between two cars and rolled her eyes at her sister. “I think all the things in your red binder will keep me from being bored.”
Sara waved her hand in the air. “That’ll be over next weekend. Then you’ll still have a week by yourself before Jake and Sophie get here. We’ve got an account at the resort, so feel free to grab meals and put them on our tab. I added your name, so you’re all set. The kids love it there, so they’ll want to go.”
Sara led the way through the door of Latte Da, where she greeted customers by name and waved a hello to the woman at the counter wearing a bright turquoise apron. “Jackie, I want you to meet Emily.”
The woman turned her blue-gray eyes to Emily and instead of shaking her hand, embraced her in a firm hug. “I’ve been dying to meet you. Your sister has been like a kid waiting for Santa, looking forward to your visit. She tells me you’re going to watch over things for her while she jets off to Paris.” She fluttered her long lashes at Sara.
Emily laughed, feeling an immediate connection to Jackie. “She tells me you have this place under control and I won’t have to do much. I’ll be sp
ending most of my time at The Mistletoe Lodge.”
Jackie raised her brows. “I know that’s where all the action is, but this is where you’ll find the authentic Snow Valley.” She wrinkled her nose. “And all the juicy gossip.”
A few people came through the door, and Jackie turned her attention to them, calling them by their first names, making their drinks before they ordered, and asking about their work and families while she delivered their beverages with a smile.
The resort may be busier, but this little shop exuded warmth and friendship. Emily understood why Sara’s heart belonged here, and she knew she’d be spending as much time as possible downtown.
4
Emily spent the evening studying the red binder, sipping another chai tea latte, snuggling with Bella, and peppering Sara with questions. Bright and early Saturday morning, Sara tasked Emily with Latte Da so she could get her clothes organized and packed for the trip. Emily jumped at the chance to practice while Sara was still in town to help her through any problems.
She loaded Bella into the Jeep and checked in at the Mistletoe Lodge first. The parking lots were packed with cars, and the lobby was bustling with people when she arrived. Upon stepping inside, Emily saw the lodge had been sprinkled with greenery, holly berries, and accents of red bows and wreaths. Bella marched to her bed and flopped down, while Emily surveyed the traffic at the counter. Two young men and Marcy, wearing bright red aprons and elf hats, were behind the counter, moving through the line of early morning customers.
When the last person was served, Emily stepped forward and waved at Marcy. “I see you’re in the holiday spirit already.” She pointed to the top of her head and laughed.
