Christmas in Angel Harbor

by Jeannie Moon

  “You’ll see. Come on.”

  Before she could say another word, Jane entered a large open space that she realized ran from the front to the back of the house and in it was another beautiful Christmas tree, along with everyone she knew. Everyone.

  The room was bursting. Among the faces she saw Claire, Viti, Robert from the pet store, and Gina. All of the local merchants had gathered, as well as the customers she’d known over the years who had become dear friends. This was her large extended family, here to say goodbye.

  The bookstore meant so much to the town, it was gratifying to see all this love in one place. It was heartbreaking, but to be able to pay tribute to something that had been part of the fabric of Angel Harbor for so long was, indeed, touching. Jane would have thought she was all cried out, but tears started to leak out of her eyes.

  In the crowd she spotted her mother and Tara, and Tracy with her family. Dan’s sister and brother-in-law were there with the kids. Jane pressed a hand to her heart and gazed around the room. Then, through the blur of tears, her gaze settled on a large sign attached to the wall.

  New Home of Harbor Books

  Coming Soon

  “I don’t…I don’t understand.”

  Then it hit her.

  Jane’s breath left her lungs. She dropped Chloe’s leash and bent forward, the reality of what was happening hitting her all at once. He bought the house.

  He bought it for her.

  “I can’t believe you did this. I can’t…”

  Stepping to her, Danny dropped a hand on her back and brought her back to standing. With her hands in his, he smiled, kissed her softly, and to her shock Jane saw the hint of a tear in the corner of one of his eyes.

  “All of this? All the people? I didn’t do that—you did it, Jane. I bought the building, sure. But this is a partnership if you’ll have me, and this is the crew that’s going to help you get your new store up and running. If that’s what you want.”

  “What do you mean? My crew?” The question was sincere. She had less than six weeks to vacate her store. She’d rented a storage unit, but her big plan was to have a company come in eventually, and sell the fixtures after she’d sold off or donated her stock.

  Gina stepped forward and touched Jane’s arm. Her big brown eyes dominated her face, but it was her gentle smile that calmed Jane’s nerves. She was the sweetest person, and she’d been a wonderful friend. Gina was smart and creative, and just as invested in Angel Harbor as Jane was.

  “Jane, if you’re ready to give this a shot, you have all of us to help you. Do you see Dave over there?

  Jane followed Gina’s gaze and she waved. Of course she knew him.

  “Did you know Dave is a cabinet maker?” she asked. “You helped him pick out books for his mother who recently moved to a senior living center and was having trouble adjusting. He didn’t know what she might like, but once a week, you would pick out titles for her. If you saw something come in that she might like, you put it aside, not even knowing if he was going to be back. His mother cherished every book. To thank you, he’s going to build your shelves and storage. All you need to do is get him the materials. Claire is going to help Tracy with decorating. The two of them are going to work with your vision to create a store that feels like home.”

  Jane was overwhelmed. These people, her community, were rescuing her. Just when she thought she had lost everything, her neighbors proved her wrong.

  “The gentlemen from the hardware store are donating all the paint and supplies,” Claire said with her light Irish brogue. “And, bless them, they’re going to come after work to do the painting, install any hardware, and hang all your pictures.”

  Two large men, with black hair and coal dark eyes, raised their hands. “Miss Jane,” one of them said, “I’m Rafe Espinoza, and this is my brother Marco. I don’t know if you remember us, but when we were young and had just arrived in this country, you let us stay at the store after school when our mother was working in the diner.”

  “Oh my goodness! Yes! I do!” She remembered those two sweet, scared little boys whom she’d seen sitting in a small booth at the diner while their mother finished her lunch shift. She was perfectly happy to have them come sit in the children’s room to read or do some homework.

  “I own a landscaping business,” Marco said. “And Rafe is a contractor. We’ll be donating our time and labor to help with the renovation. It’s the least we can do.”

  “Excuse me?” She was stunned. She hadn’t seen these men since they were in high school. That had to be at least ten years ago.

  Big and handsome, the Espinoza boys shared the same broad smile. “We’ve never forgotten how nice you were to us,” Rafe said. “You helped with our homework, and with our English. You made us feel like we belonged, and we’ll never forget it.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” she gasped. “I don’t deserve this.”

  One by one people came forward to tell her how they would help, and why. Stories of what Jane had done for the town, of how she’d helped people came flooding out. Donations of materials and labor, free advertising; those who couldn’t do anything else volunteered to help her pack, move, and unpack. One customer owned a large warehouse, and he offered to store everything for her until she could reopen in the new location.

  Finally, Tara brought an easel forward, and Tracy and her husband came with her. Her daughter, more beautiful by the day, had grown into an incredible young woman. “Now you can see what’s been planned. Uncle Greg did some drawings.”

  Tracy’s husband was an architect, but he specialized in urban design and planning. Jane didn’t see a lot of glass and steel on the North Shore, but when the first rendering was revealed, Jane was sure he’d missed his calling. It was a gorgeous sweeping panoramic view of the inside of the shop as he imagined it. Bright, with large windows, shelves along the walls, and a central information counter in what was currently the foyer created a perfect environment. The space was open and airy, utilizing the high ceilings. It took Jane’s breath away. The second drawing showed how the kitchen of the house would be turned into the café, as well as elevations of the renovated porch. Finally, a third showed the backyard, which included a parking area and a green space with an outdoor classroom and story area.

  “These are your dreams, Jane,” Tracy said. “All the things you’ve wanted to do over the years. There’s going to be a meeting room for book clubs and writers’ groups, and plenty of square footage to host book signings. This will be the destination bookstore on the East Coast.”

  Danny smiled, and Jane wondered when she was going to wake up. This had to be some kind of dream.

  “The basement will be outfitted as a stock room and workspace, and you see that big guy over there? That’s Bob. Bob?” Danny called. “Give a wave.” A large balding man with a broad chest and powerful arms put his hand up. “Bob owns an elevator company. He’s going to put in an elevator that goes from the basement to the second floor. No more hauling boxes, and the building will be fully ADA compliant.”

  “I don’t know what to say. It’s too much.” Her voice was barely there, and awed didn’t seem to cover all the emotions rushing around her insides. Nerves, excitement, gratitude, and love filled every inch of her until she didn’t know where she would put any more. As Jane surveyed the room, it seemed perfect it was decorated for Christmas. It was called the season of giving, and Jane had never felt more fortunate than she did at that very moment.

  “Nothing is too much for you.” Danny was standing so close he smoothed the hair away from her face. “This is proof of how much you’ve lifted everyone up. You amaze me. Your goodness, your caring heart, the love you have for everyone in your orbit. You’ll help anyone who needs it. Now it’s your turn.”

  His declaration filled her with hope, and once again showed her why she loved this man with all her heart. He was generous and kind. An artist who painted with words and a philosopher who left a trail of wisdom behind him. Never in her life
did she think she would ever find the love of her life, but here he was. The man who was perfect for her. “You saved me, Danny. You…”

  “Shh.” He laid a finger across her lips. “Like I said, I just bought an old house. You saved me. And all of this? The love in this room? That’s all you. We believe in you, Jane. All you have to do is say the word.”

  “I love you,” she whispered just for him. Then turning to the gathering, she flashed a watery smile, so grateful for all she had. “I love all of you. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’ve thought of everything.”

  “Merry Christmas, Mom,” Tara said, her girl crying happy tears as she held on to her grandmother.

  Kathleen, also tearing up, didn’t have to say a word to show how proud she was, but she did anyway. “When word got out that you needed a hand, we couldn’t keep up with the flood of offers. You are much loved, my daughter.”

  Tracy gave her a hard hug, ever the sister of her heart. “You deserve this, my friend. Every bit of it.”

  “Thank you. Thank you all for being in my life.”

  Danny was standing behind her, his warmth and presence seeping into her. Since the day he walked back into her life, she thought about what she would do when he left again. Now she’d never have to find out. Without warning, Danny held a large white mylar envelope before her eyes. When she took it from him, Jane noticed the contents shifting inside. The weight moving in her hands. “What’s this?”

  He smiled down at her, dropping a kiss on top of her head. “It’s my book. Your book, really. I wrote it for you.”

  “For me? Danny…”

  “I found my words again, my passion for writing, because of you. Coming home was exactly what I needed, but only because of you. You’re my heart, Janie. You always will be.”

  Jane opened the envelope he’d given her, not knowing what she was going to find inside. When she pulled out the stack of paper, she smiled. All this work, his soul was in this book, and as she ran her hand over the title page, she shivered.

  The Harbor Light

  By Dan Gallo

  “I love the title.”

  “It suits. There’s a lot of me in this book, but more than that, there’s a lot of you. You’re the light.”

  Clutching the pages to her chest, Jane had no idea how much that simple declaration would mean to her. On a night filled with so many extraordinary gifts, the soft affection in Danny’s eyes was the only one that mattered at that moment. How did she ever get so lucky? “This makes me so happy. It’s going to be a hit, I just know it.”

  “I hope so. My editor loves it. That’s got to mean something, right? He’s a mean old SOB and he said he cried.”

  Jane didn’t realize she was crying, again, until a tear dripped on the cover page. “Thank you. It’s perfect.”

  “You’re my home, Jane. And like I said, you are the light, just like the angels. You helped me find my way back.”

  He rested his head against hers and sighed, and Jane let out a similar shaky breath when the cover page slipped away and she saw the dedication.

  For Jane.

  A beacon of hope in the darkness.

  Thank you for keeping the light on.

  Jane held the book close and reveled in the feel of Danny’s arms as he pulled her in. Resting her head on his chest, she could hear his heart beating, strong and steady. Then, she looked to the side and saw the sea of people who were there for her when she most needed them. For years Jane had worried about her dreams going unrealized. She wasn’t unhappy, but she let the question of “what if?” take up too much space in her head. Now, the past was firmly in the past, and all she could see was the road forward.

  It was times like these, sacred moments that came unexpectedly, where we found the greatest clarity. Where we found love and joy and peace. Jane felt all those things—all those and so much more. Her life was rich beyond measure. Real gifts, the ones that mattered, were never found under the tree, but were found in the people who became part of our lives.

  “I promise to make every Christmas better and better,” Danny whispered. “Merry Christmas, Jane.”

  “Merry Christmas.”

  Epilogue

  Change was a beautiful thing. Especially when the changes brought so many riches to your life.

  Sail House had been completely transformed from an elegant residence into an equally elegant store. It was more than Jane ever believed possible, and it was special because so many people had a hand in it. One year ago, Jane was facing a life in total upheaval—she never could have dreamed an outcome that had made her happier than this.

  With deep gratitude, this Christmas Harbor Books would start something new. Instead of closing up shop early on December 24th, they were hosting their very first Christmas Eve open house. It seemed fitting that new beginnings required new traditions.

  The staircase in the two-story foyer was draped with pine garland, glittery ornaments, and lights, which reflected off the freshly painted gray-blue walls. More ornaments hung from the ceiling, glass globes of varying sizes in gold, green, red, and silver. It was a festive constellation of color and light, and hanging from the center, directly over the customer service desk, was a crystal angel, watching over them.

  The ornament was a gift from Danny. Made of artisan blown glass, with gold tips on her wings, he’d given her to Jane on their wedding day this past August.

  “She’ll watch over us, and our families,” he said. “Just like the angels who brought the sailors home, I was brought home to you.”

  Behind her, she could hear his low, steady baritone filling the large entry. Glancing over her shoulder, she found him laughing with his sister and brother-in-law, so much more at ease than when he walked back into her life over a year ago. He’d gone through his own sea change, moving back to Angel Harbor, chucking his lucrative career writing crime thrillers and instead, writing what came from his heart.

  His newest book—Jane’s book—The Harbor Light, hit the bestseller lists at number one when it was released in November, and it hadn’t budged from that spot, becoming this season’s feel-good read. There’d been some talk show interviews that focused on how he’d done a complete pivot, and a few local tour stops, but nothing too extensive. Unlike his other books, this one didn’t require a publicity tour, and he didn’t want one. Danny had hit every note, writing a beautiful holiday tale about love and family that would be revisited by his readers every Christmas. Early reviews were stellar, and word of mouth carried it the rest of the way.

  The movie would be out in time for next Christmas.

  Jane glanced at the table filled with signed copies of the book, and couldn’t help the pride and love that welled up in her chest. At times it felt like there was no room for all the love she had for him. He’d taken what could have been one of the darkest moments in her life and shined a light on all the riches hiding in the background. He made Jane see what she meant to everyone in Angel Harbor.

  “Mom?” Jane turned and saw Tara rounding the corner from the café with a plate piled with goodies. “You have got to try these.”

  “Mmmm.” Looking at what her daughter offered, Jane eyed the small flaky puff pastries. Pinching one in her fingers, she brought it toward her mouth. The smell of the crust, combining with garlic, wine, and beef was heady. “Is this the beef Wellington?”

  “Uh-huh.” Tara nodded. “It’s so good. Taste it.”

  Jane sank her teeth into the hors d’oeuvre, and felt a burst of flavor across her tongue. The seasonings were blended perfectly, the meat tender, the sauce rich and flavorful. It literally warmed her insides.

  “That looks good.” Jane felt Danny’s warmth slide across her back. One of his large hands settled at her waist, while the other reached out and took a Wellington from the plate. This time, it was Danny’s turn to be impressed. She could see it with the first bite.

  “Oh, wow. That’s incredible.” The bliss rolled across his face. “Please tell me there are more of th
ose.”

  Tara smiled. “Plenty. There’s enough food to feed the entire town. Twice. This is going to be an amazing party.”

  Tara went off to offer her grandmother a taste, and Jane happily leaned back against the hard wall of her husband’s chest. “I’m glad she made it home.”

  A snowstorm that sped across upstate New York and New England had dumped feet of snow near Tara’s small college in Vermont. “Did you think I’d let her miss this?” he asked.

  “No. Thank you for making the drive.” He’d rented a big SUV to retrieve Tara and two of her friends from their snowbound dorm.

  Her girl had decided against school in Dublin…for now. There was always the chance she would study abroad, or head to Europe for graduate school, but for the foreseeable future, she’d be four hours away. Tara was happy, and so was Jane.

  Friends started to arrive, filling the store with all the people Jane cared about. Viti, Claire, and Gina had been the best cheerleaders. Truly, she couldn’t ask for better friends. And Tracy? Well, her old friend took Jane’s vision and made it happen. Working with Greg on the renovations, they put their heads together and created a magical space that wasn’t just about books, but about celebrating their community.

  There were antique maps, framed nautical artifacts, newspaper articles, and histories of people and places that Jane had pieced together through research. She had an entire area dedicated to the indigenous tribes that lived in the area before the land was sold to Dutch and English settlers. She found great joy putting her skills as an archeologist to work in her hometown, and it didn’t escape the attention of the local university who was now sponsoring an archeology lecture series in the store every month.

  “You are glowing,” Danny said, dropping a soft kiss on the side of her neck.

  “It’s what happens when you’re happy, I guess.” It was the truth. Never in her life had Jane felt this content. Always on edge, wondering what bump in the road was coming next, had consumed her for so long. It was a new thing to feel such peace.