Christmas in Angel Harbor

by Jeannie Moon

  “Hey there!” she said. “How goes the book?”

  “Not bad. I’m almost done.” Dan surveyed the bakery case under the watchful eye of the proprietor. “What’s good today?” he asked.

  “Duh. Everything.” Viti was not the least bit shy about her skills. In her late forties and divorced, it seemed to him the woman worked twenty-four hours straight five days a week. She had big brown eyes, and dark hair that she always wore pinned up and under a green Sweet Chemistry ball cap.

  “I have apple cider donuts if you’re interested.”

  “Always,” he responded. “I’ll take four.”

  “Four? Bad day in the authoring business?”

  “Why would you think that?” That was unnerving. Was the woman a psychic? He was beginning to think the whole town had the gift. He wasn’t able to get anything by these people.

  “Your books may take people on a wild goose chase, but you’re pretty predictable. You’re either feeling creative, or cranky. Which is it?”

  He wanted to tell her it was a little of both. Knowing the bookstore was already in escrow definitely put him more in the cranky column. Like he told Jane, Dan considered himself a problem solver. Whether it was years ago trying a case or recently working out a plot issue, he was all about focusing on the cause and the outcome of a particular problem. His solution to the building problem was to buy it himself. Jane wouldn’t have to close, problem solved.

  He was frustrated because now he didn’t know what to do. And if he was honest with himself, he knew she was going to be angry, and probably hurt. He’d been sitting on the information about the store for two weeks. He should have told her.

  “Viti, add two chocolate frosted for Jane and a couple of glazed.”

  “Not enough goodies at the bookstore?”

  “I haven’t been there yet, but I know Jane loves the chocolate icing.”

  “There you are!” A booming voice that sounded like it came straight from Brooklyn broke the sweet quiet of the bakery.

  Viti’s eyes widened at the imposing form of Brian Webb, Esquire, his agent. A little younger than Danny, Brian had taken over the agency from his father, Jerry Webb, a legend in the business, who’d taken a chance on Dan when he was a total unknown. Brian was a big, tough-looking guy, with the build of a linebacker and a New York attitude. He’d also graduated first in his class from Stanford Law. He was very good at his job.

  Danny turned around when Brian’s meat hook of a hand dropped on his shoulder. “I was about to go looking for you in the bookstore, but I saw your sorry ass walk in here.” Brian looked around at the bakery with its retro fittings and old-time coffee shop vibe, and uttered a single word. “Cool.”

  “What are you doing in town again, Bri? If you’re going to try to talk me out of finishing my book, forget it.”

  “Absolutely not! I didn’t think it was possible, but there are two publishers ready to go to war over it, and I don’t even know what it’s about. I’ll have to pitch it to a few more. Then it could get interesting.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “I know, right? I never woulda thought it, but it’s gonna be a hot property. Get it done, and you’re looking at a major advance. Probably another movie.”

  “Wow. Okay. I have another ten thousand words or so to write. Then I’ll give it an edit.”

  Brian was bent over at the waist examining the cakes and pastries in the glass case. “I think I’ve gained ten pounds lookin’ at this stuff. Are you the baker?”

  Viti grinned. “I am. Viti Prasad. Welcome. Can I get you anything?”

  “That apple thing looks good,” he said, pointing at the personal apple tart.

  “Put it on my tab, Viti.” She gave a nod before Dan turned toward him. “You didn’t come all the way from the city to tell me that, though. You could have called. Why are you here? I told you not to come back out.”

  “Because Zach told me you wanted to buy some old building out here? So you can keep the bookstore from being evicted? I wanted to make sure you hadn’t been abducted by aliens or anything.”

  Holy hell. The idiot just blurted that out right in front of Viti. This was bad.

  “I beg your pardon?” Viti cut in, her expression frozen and serious. “Evicted?”

  “Zach told you that?” This could not have been worse.

  “He said to make sure you get a good deal on your next book because you’re acting crazy with your money, donating it to the school, buying an old house…”

  “Stop talking.” Dan was so angry he could see red. His head hurt from the rush of blood to his brain.

  “What?” Brian threw up his hands. “I’m not supposed to tell you what I think? That’s my job.”

  Viti had come around the counter and was all kinds of mad. “You can tell me what’s going on. Right now,” she demanded.

  Without taking a breath, Brian snapped at Viti. “Mind your business, honey.”

  “You did not just say that to me in my store.” Viti snarled at him with an attitude that matched Brian’s, and raised him.

  His friend took a step back, obviously not expecting the pint-size baker to come at him for his obnoxious remark.

  “I’m sorry, Viti.” Danny wasn’t just mortified by Brian’s rude behavior, he was so angry he couldn’t see straight. On top of that, he was screwed. He’d lost every chance to tell Jane in his own way.

  “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what he’s talking about. If my friend is in trouble, I want to know about it. I wouldn’t have been able to stay in business if not for Jane. She helped me so much, I can’t possibly repay her, but if she needs me, I will damn well try.”

  “I can’t say much.”

  “Why not? This person knows. He’s a stranger to us.”

  “Yeah, but Jane doesn’t.”

  “What? She doesn’t know? How is that possible?”

  Brian started to say something but stopped short when Viti shot him a look that was like death.

  “Say nothing. Go eat your food.” She sounded like every mother he ever knew.

  Brian nodded and wisely took a step back. “I’ll wait outside.”

  “Good. Now you.” Viti turned her eyes on Danny. “Tell me everything.”

  *

  Jane unpacked boxes of children’s books in the stockroom, loving every story. This was the kind of job that often took way longer than it should because she spent so much time flipping through the old beloved titles that they always had in stock. Today’s shipment brought copies of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Velveteen Rabbit and The Snowy Day. Jane remembered reading The Snowy Day to Tara every day for three months when she was four years old.

  She flipped through a few other favorites, remembering her father reading to the kids who gathered in the store on rainy Saturday afternoons. It wasn’t something that was ever announced. There was no registration, but everyone in town knew if the weather was bad, Mr. Mike would be reading stories at the bookstore at two o’clock. The place was always packed.

  Jane continued the tradition, but in this day and age, with phones and video games, turnout was a lot lighter. However, there were still people who had a long history in town, who wandered in and waited for that story on a rainy Saturday. It reminded Jane of where she came from, and a vast appreciation for the gifts she’d been given washed through her.

  “Jane?”

  The voice belonged to her mother, and rather than its usual lilt, it was solemn and serious, almost like someone had died. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

  “Can you come out here please?”

  Putting down the copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Jane stepped out of the workroom and followed her mother to the front of the store. There, with his briefcase in his hand, was her attorney. Standing next to him was a tall woman with a jet-black bob who had been in last week. She didn’t look quite the same as she did when she’d bought a couple of Christmas gifts, but it was definitely her.

  Today, instead of jeans an
d a chunky sweater, Jane could see a tailored suit under her very expensive coat, and heels that were too high for a cold December day.

  “What’s this all about? Gary? To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  Jane felt like she was in a nightmare going in slow motion, and there was no way to get out of it.

  “Jane, this is Mariel Consuelas. She’s with The Homestyle Group.”

  Was this supposed to mean something to her? “Hello. You were here last week, weren’t you?”

  “Yes. It’s a charming place. Thank you for all your help.” Mariel smiled in that way people do when they’re trying to be friendly, but they’re going to deliver really bad news. For all her polish the woman appeared uncomfortable.

  “What’s going on?” Jane insisted again.

  Behind her, the door opened and closed, and she could hear Danny’s breathing close in behind her. “Janie…”

  Jane held up her hand and waited for Gary to tell her what she didn’t want to know.

  “Jane,” Gary began, “I know you’ve been frustrated about your lease, but I’ve just been informed that Van Velt Realty is in the process of selling the building. Mariel is here from the company that’s buying the property.”

  She felt herself wobble a little, and Danny’s hands landed on her shoulders. “I see. I doubt I need a committee to tell me I have a new landlord.”

  The silence was thick, ominous. Gary looked down, Mariel looked up, but no one was speaking.

  “Tell me,” she demanded firmly.

  Mariel took one step forward and drew a deep breath. Jane was curious about her. Was she the woman shopping for Christmas gifts, or the one who was trying to look like she owned the world? “Ms. Fallon. The Homestyle Group will be taking control of the property, and we aren’t going to renew your lease. I’m very sorry. Since this is unexpected, the company will work with your attorney to compensate you for any loss of business while you relocate. We want to be good neighbors.”

  “Relocate? There’s no place to relocate.”

  Viti was there now, and so were Gina and Tracy.

  “Good neighbors?” Gina whispered. “Are you kidding?”

  Tracy was pacing she was so angry. “This is outrageous. How can you do this to her? To the town?”

  “It’s not personal,” Mariel said with a glance around the room. “We’re putting in a beautiful restaurant, and we will help you make the transition. The property is perfect for what we have in mind. We’re going to combine it with the building next door.”

  “It’s been perfect for the bookstore and has been for eighty-five years.” Jane’s voice shook and she fought the tears that were building in response to her anger. “Why here?”

  “I don’t know what went into making the choice, but the property is in escrow. We will be closing on it by Christmas.”

  Jane felt a huge weight settle on her chest.

  “This is tragic,” Gina said, her voice cracking as she spoke. “The bookstore is the town’s anchor. Jane is the anchor. This is unconscionable.”

  From the expression on her face, Mariel wasn’t expecting this kind of backlash. “I’m sorry. Like I said, we will help you. I can write you a check today. Maybe this is an opportunity to downsize. I mean, who goes to bookstores anymore?”

  “How can you be so tone deaf?” Viti retorted. “You don’t know anything about us.”

  Jane leaned into the desk. Closing her eyes, she wanted to drown out the noise in her head, but all she could hear was the noise of people talking around her. The outrage from Viti, Gina, and Tracy pulsed through her, but it was her mother’s gentle hand dropping down on hers that brought her back. Opening her eyes, Jane saw wisdom and strength in her mother’s eyes. “You’re made of strong stuff, Jane Mara Fallon. Don’t let this beat you. You have always controlled your story—don’t stop now.”

  “I don’t know what to do.” The words caught in her throat, choking her.

  “You don’t have to know.” Danny, who was standing behind her, leaned in. “Let them sweat a little. Give yourself time to think.”

  It was good advice. She didn’t want to be pressured to make a decision when she felt so blindsided.

  “Stand up tall,” Mom said. “Show everyone what you’re made of.” Kathleen Fallon was a force to behold, whether she was in the classroom or tending to her family. Jane needed to remember that she had as much of Kathleen in her as Mike.

  Straightening her back, Jane surveyed the scene. Elisa, the owner of the local pub and the president of the Chamber of Commerce came rushing through the door, and Viti and Gina intercepted her. There was too much going on. Too much chaos.

  “Everyone stop!” Jane never raised her voice, so when she did, it got people’s attention. “Gary, Ms. Consuelas, you need to leave.”

  Mariel looked distressed. It seemed she was starting to understand this wasn’t going to give her company the great optics they were hoping for. “Can we talk privately? We will work with you.”

  “Yes, you will. But I’m not discussing this now.”

  Gary, who’d dropped the ball in a hundred ways, nodded. “I’ll call you later, Jane.”

  “No. You won’t. I’ll be hiring someone else to negotiate with Homestyle. We will not be in touch about this, or anything else.”

  “You can’t be serious. You’re firing me?”

  “Do I look like I’m not serious? Get out.” Jane walked to the door and pushed it open. “Mariel, leave your card. Someone will reach out in due course.”

  Doing her best to exit gracefully, Mariel did what Jane asked, leaving her card before making her exit. Gary was a little slower, but he also made his way out.

  Jane was wrung out. How had she been so blind? Signs had been thrown at her left and right, and she’d ignored them. The wobble in her legs finally dropped her into the big chair by the front window. Bending slightly, Jane hugged her dog, who had faithfully come by her mama’s feet, exactly where she was needed. Her Chloe. Her sweet Chloe, who didn’t offer any advice, leaned in quietly while Jane clutched her fur and wept.

  *

  Once Gary and Mariel left, Jane lost it, and Dan went to her immediately. He’d tried everything to spare her this pain, and he’d failed. He couldn’t protect her.

  “God, Janie, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  Her eyes, red and puffy from crying, focused on his. “I told you something was wrong. I knew it.”

  “Well, so did he,” Viti snorted. He had to admire Viti’s loyalty, but her timing sucked.

  “What?” Jane rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands. “He who? What are you talking about?”

  “Viti, please…” Dan said, hoping she would let him ease Jane into what had happened. But he had no such luck.

  “Your boyfriend. He knew the building was for sale. How long have you known?” she asked him. “Weeks?”

  Jane’s face froze. “I’m sorry. You knew and you didn’t tell me?”

  Dan didn’t even have the chance to answer. Viti kept going.

  “He was at the bakery this morning with his agent. The agent guy was talking about this one’s new book, and when he was going back to Hawaii, you know, agent–author stuff. But then he started getting on Dan’s case about how he tried to buy this house so you wouldn’t go out of business. Dan knew when the bigmouth said something in front of me, it was a problem. I didn’t let him leave until he told me the whole story.”

  “You tried to buy the house without telling me?” Jane was listening to Viti, but she was looking at him.

  “Yes. But I was too late.”

  “How long have you known?”

  This was what was going to finish him off, but he couldn’t lie to her anymore. “Since the Harbor Lights festival.”

  “So, two and a half weeks. Two and a half weeks, almost THREE, that I could have been working to save my store.” Rising, she shook her head. “I should have trusted my instincts. I shouldn’t have let anyone tell me it was going to be fine. It’s not fine,
is it?”

  Sadly, Dan knew that question wasn’t just for him. Her mother and Viti had said the same things he had. Kathleen had laughed off Jane’s worries more than once.

  Tracy went to her longtime friend and wrapped Jane in a hug. “How did this happen? I just got off the phone with Elena, and she was shocked. There was no listing.”

  “It wasn’t listed,” Dan said. “It was a private contract and sale. Flew right under the radar. I guess the Van Velts had a connection with Homestyle.”

  “But you knew. And instead of telling me, you tried to play the hero.” Jane’s expression was flat, completely without expression.

  “I wanted to help. You were going through so much with Tara’s colleges and your mom retiring, I didn’t want you to have to deal with this too. That’s all.”

  “We could have done something if we’d known,” Tracy looked right at him. “Protested, brought it to the zoning board…something.”

  Jane held up her hand. “It’s my fault. I had my head in the sand for weeks.”

  “We can go to village hall right now,” Viti offered.

  “No. I don’t think so,” Jane responded quietly.

  “But Jane…” Tracy was ripping mad, but it didn’t matter. Nothing did. “You have to fight.”

  “No, I don’t.” Pressing her fingers into her temples, she finally. “I can’t do this right now. I just can’t.” Her tone was sharp, wounded.

  That hurt Danny was hearing in her voice? It was his fault. All his.

  “It was bad enough I-I—” she stuttered. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry if you think we should storm the village hall, but you’re going to have to do it without me.”

  After heading into her office, Jane emerged with her coat and bag. “I’m out. Keep the store open, close it, whatever you want. I need to get out of here.”

  “I’ll take you home,” Dan said. It was the only thing he could think to do. He didn’t want her to be alone.

  “No. I’m going to take a walk.” She clipped on Chloe’s leash and went to the door. “I need some time to think.”