Though Luke had appreciated Dacia’s forthright honesty, Erika hadn’t been as certain since she didn’t want her daughters becoming fanciful. Yet even as infants, Beth and Annie had responded to Dacia far better than the other applicants. In the end, that had counted for more than anything else.
Luke read through the two activities lists. There were carol-singing parties, craft workshops to make Christmas ornaments, holiday scavenger hunts, a nightly parade of lighted historic vehicles and much more.
With any luck, the girls would react well. Otherwise, there wasn’t any point to visiting Glimmer Creek in the first place.
His phone rang and he stepped into a quieter spot to answer. “Hey, Nicole. How are you feeling?”
“Much better. The doctor thinks I can fly Monday. What’s going on there?”
He glanced around the room. “Quite a few things. They call it Christmas kickoff day, which means the entire historic district is being decorated. They surround it with activities and serve hot drinks and snacks at different locations. Last night they even made a production out of starting the snowmaking machines. There were treats and singing. Very...traditional.”
“It sounds like fun,” Nicole said, sounding wistful.
“The girls seemed to enjoy themselves. At the moment they’re making paper chains.”
“How are they doing?”
“It’s hard to tell—with Annie at least. Right now she might be on the verge of tears,” Luke said, worried again. “The activities director is talking to her. By the way, the tutor I hired couldn’t come. I have an interview set up with a retired schoolteacher instead.”
* * *
BACK IN AUSTIN, Nicole pressed a finger to her forehead. She wasn’t great with children, but she certainly could have tutored her nieces. Why had Luke invited her to go with him to California if he didn’t want her to help out?
“Maybe I could do it,” she suggested.
“No, getting someone else will give you time to enjoy yourself. But be prepared. Glimmer Creek is even smaller than I thought. There isn’t much shopping or other services.”
“I don’t have a problem with small towns.”
“You’ve never spent much time in one, either,” Luke retorted. “By the way, they’re setting up an outdoor skating rink today, so bring your skates.”
That was nice to hear about, but Nicole didn’t know why she couldn’t spend a few hours each day going over Beth and Annie’s schoolwork. It might help them get closer. Yet there wasn’t any point arguing with Luke once he’d made up his mind. Maybe she should cancel her trip altogether, but if there was the smallest chance she could do something to help her brother or nieces, she wanted to try.
“Okay. Anything else I should pack?” she asked.
“You may need your ski clothes. They’re also offering a sledding hill when the weather is cold enough. I’ve arranged for skates and sleds to be sent by express courier.”
“Surely the facility has sleds to go with the hill.”
“Probably, but I’m more comfortable choosing ones I know are well constructed. We’ll donate them when we leave.”
“Beth and Annie might want to keep theirs.”
“I can always get new sleds if needed.”
Nicole hesitated. “What I meant is that they might prefer keeping their sleds for sentimental reasons. I realize you and, uh, that you aren’t sentimental yourself, but your daughters might be.” She’d almost said “you and Erika,” only to catch herself. She never knew whether to talk about her sister-in-law or keep her mouth shut.
While Nicole had been fond of Erika, her sister-in-law hadn’t been easy to know, probably because they’d had so little in common. Luke’s wife had grown up in a military household, moving whenever her father was reassigned. From earliest childhood, she’d wanted to follow the family tradition of serving in the military. She’d been brilliant, courageous and dynamic. But having a conversation with her had always stymied Nicole.
“I don’t see any point in being sentimental,” Luke retorted, dragging Nicole’s thoughts to the present.
“It isn’t a crime.”
“Are you trying to start something with me, sister dear?”
Nicole made a face. She wasn’t bold or outspoken and it was rare that she “started” something with anybody, even her brother. On the other hand, this was something she felt strongly about. “No, but I have to defend Beth and Annie’s right to be themselves. They aren’t your clones. They’re little girls.”
A long silence followed until she heard a heavy exhalation through the receiver. “Is that what you think I’ve been doing—trying to make my daughters be like me?”
“I don’t know, but please don’t throw those sleds out before talking to them.”
Nicole was actually more worried about Luke trying to make Beth and Annie into clones of Erika. She couldn’t be sure that was happening, but she also didn’t understand why her nieces were still struggling so desperately with their mother’s death. Fourteen months wasn’t long, but they were young and Erika had been stationed away from Austin for most of their lives. Sad to say, they couldn’t have known her that well.
“If you think it’s important, I’ll ask before I do anything,” Luke said. “I’ve sent the jet back to Austin, so it’s ready for you to fly out. Let the captain know what time you want to take off and he’ll notify the limousine service when to meet the plane.”
“Maybe I should fly commercial and rent a car.”
“Don’t be crazy. This is much more convenient.”
It was convenient, which was part of the problem. Letting her brother smooth the bumps in the road was very easy. Some people didn’t realize how generous he could be. Nicole knew all too well... She also figured she ought to weather more of those bumps without his help.
“I’ll be there soon, at any rate,” she murmured. “Give Beth and Annie my love.”
“Will do. Glad you’re feeling better.”
After saying goodbye, Nicole looked around her condominium. While it was attractive, she had to admit there wasn’t a whole lot of individuality except for the shelves of old movies in her spare room. There hadn’t been any point getting fond of belongings as a kid. Her parents’ roving lifestyle hadn’t lent itself to saving stuffed animals and dolls or other childhood mementos.
Nonetheless, she was a closet sentimentalist. She adored lemon drops because they reminded her of summer. Daffodils were also special. Her father had given her a bouquet of sixteen perfectly made sugar daffodil blossoms for her Sweet Sixteen birthday party. They’d been so pretty she couldn’t bear to eat them, though it hadn’t taken long before they’d crumbled into piles of yellow and green sugar.
Luke hadn’t been kidding about his own lack of sentimentality. He loved his family, but Nicole doubted he’d kept private mementos of Erika, such as receipts from restaurants they’d visited or his boutonniere from the wedding. He and Erika had been alike in that way—too practical to invest emotional value in an inanimate object. After returning from her honeymoon, Erika had even donated her wedding gown to be used by military brides.
Nicole, on the other hand, had carefully dried the roses from her maid of honor bouquet and hung her dress in a protective garment bag in the back of her spare closet. She’d done it reasoning that Luke and her sister-in-law might have children someday who’d want a few keepsakes.
But no matter what she’d told herself, the truth was that the dress and dried flowers were reminders of a day when her brother had looked perfectly happy for the first time in his life.
* * *
CARLIE MANAGED TO slip away from the concert hall fairly soon, though not before she’d seen how differently Annie and Beth each approached making their paper chains.
Beth’s were wild, gaudy with glitter, made with any color that
took her fancy. Annie’s color choices were green, red and white in a creative arrangement that included larger and smaller rings. Her sister had pestered her, declaring it needed more color and glitter, so Annie had begun carefully applying a dot of silver glitter to each ring, probably to stop her sister’s nagging.
But she hadn’t looked happy.
Around Poppy Gold, groups of Victorian-garbed carolers were out in force, singing carols such as “Good King Wenceslas” and “Jingle Bells.” It added a lovely mood to the day, spiced by the fragrance of hot cider and other tasty snacks at the treat kiosks.
Poppy Gold didn’t need guests to actually do the decorating, which meant they were all free to enjoy the benefits of kickoff day. Everyone would also receive one of the specialty gift ornaments, which were being placed in their suites.
“Carlie, I need to check with you about something,” called a voice.
She turned and smiled at Gideon Cartwright, the new veterinarian in Glimmer Creek. He’d volunteered to coordinate the farm animals and help set up the living nativity scene they were having every Friday and Saturday night until Christmas. It would be staged in front of the small white church that served as Poppy Gold’s travelers’ chapel.
“What can I do for you, Gideon?”
“I just got a call. Thaddeus Baxter won’t be able to bring his sheep tonight—he’s got pneumonia. I’m going to see if any of my other clients have sheep they’re willing to loan for the evening.”
Carlie was instantly concerned. They’d lost Aunt Meredith from pneumonia. “I hope Thad will be okay.”
“It’s just a mild case and his wife tells me this has convinced him to get the pneumonia vaccine,” Gideon assured her quickly. “But I’m not sure how long it will take to make the calls to other livestock owners in the area and I’m supposed to start my health exams of the VC cats at 10:00 a.m. I haven’t been able to locate either Liam or Tessa to let them know I’ll be late.”
Traditionally Dr. Chevalier had come to the Victorian Cat to give the resident felines their quarterly health checkups, but he’d retired earlier that year. When Gideon had bought the practice, he’d continued the custom, saying it was easier for everybody to spend a morning at the VC examining the cats one after another than to do it at the clinic.
“I’ll tell them,” Carlie promised. “Another Saturday might be better, in any case. The cats must be stirred up with everything going on here.”
Gideon looked rueful. “Probably. I hadn’t realized kickoff day was such a big deal. I’ll do my best to find another pair of sheep for tonight.”
“I appreciate it.”
The living nativity was Carlie’s brainchild. It was the first time they’d had one at Poppy Gold, but she figured everyone would enjoy the event. Even if Gideon couldn’t locate replacement sheep, it would be a nice tableau.
* * *
GIDEON WALKED QUICKLY toward the Poppy Gold parking lot where he’d left his car. He was thoroughly enjoying his move to Glimmer Creek, though after eight years of veterinary practice in Beverly Hills, he’d had to reacquaint himself with horses, cows and sheep. Not to mention llamas, pigs and a small, cantankerous herd of buffalo.
Yet even as pleasure went through him, his mouth compressed. He’d never wanted to live in the city, but had made an agreement with his wife. After qualifying, he would go to work at her father’s exclusive Beverly Hills veterinary clinic for eight years. Then, if he still wanted to be a small-town vet, they’d pack up and move. But when the time came, Renee had flatly refused. Apparently she’d made the agreement never thinking she’d have to keep it, figuring nobody would choose to live anywhere else once they’d had a taste of Los Angeles.
In the end, Gideon realized they’d grown so far apart they really didn’t have a marriage to save.
Back at the office he unlocked the computer and did a search for clients with sheep. Dr. Chevalier had disdained computers, keeping detailed paper records instead. One of the huge jobs still ahead was getting those files entered into the system, but at least Gideon’s office manager had finally gotten the basic data input done on all their current clients. It would have to do for now.
He’d hate to disappoint Carlie. Her enthusiasm about the living nativity was refreshing.
Gideon made a couple of calls and found a teenager involved in the 4-H club who was thrilled to have her two sheep in the living nativity.
He’d just hung up the phone when a handful of mail was dropped through the slot on the door. He sorted through the envelopes until he reached one from Los Angeles.
Inside was his final divorce decree.
CHAPTER FOUR
LUKE WAS CONCERNED how the girls would react to the paper-chain-making contest, but since every kid won a prize—for one reason or another—it turned out all right. Beth was triumphant over getting “most colorful,” while Annie appeared quietly pleased with “prettiest use of traditional Christmas colors.”
Every award was “the best” or “the most” or another superlative, and he wondered how long it had taken Carlie or her staff to come up with enough prizes to be sure each child received an accolade of some type.
Once the ceremonies had been completed, the paper-chain-making supplies were moved to a single table and other crafts were set out.
“Look, Carlie is back,” Annie cried and ran across the room, followed by her sister.
Luke watched, wishing his daughters would greet him with that much enthusiasm. They immediately grabbed the activities director by the hand and dragged her to where he sat with a cup of coffee.
Carlie’s cheeks were pink from the cold air outside and he had to admit she was pretty with her blue eyes and long, golden-brown hair. Wholesome. Like a character from a Christmas film where true love triumphs. It wasn’t any wonder the twins gravitated toward her, though Annie’s instant attachment was unusual.
“What are you doing now?” Carlie asked the girls.
“I want to make origami birds,” Annie said, pronouncing the new word with care. She pointed to a table where a woman was demonstrating how to fold paper into different shapes.
“No. That’s dumb,” Beth declared. “Let’s go see how much snow there is.”
Carlie looked at him. “Maybe Annie could learn to do origami while the two of you go out to the sledding hill. There are volunteers here to watch the children.”
Luke hesitated. While marginally quieter now, the room was still busy with kids and adults coming and going. He couldn’t see letting Annie stay by herself, even if someone was specifically assigned to watch her. “Maybe another time. I saw on the schedule that Poppy Gold has another holiday craft workshop next Saturday.”
“Yippee,” Beth cried.
Annie was still hanging on to Carlie’s arm, and Carlie was talking to her in a soft voice. He only caught a few words. “Only if you go, too,” Annie said finally. “But I don’t want to squish my chain.” She held up the gift bag the children had been given to carry their paper chains and other belongings.
“You can put it in my office and come back for it later,” Carlie offered.
“Let’s just go,” Beth implored, hopping impatiently from one foot to the other.
Carlie smiled at her. “It won’t take long and this way you don’t have to carry your bag around.”
“Oookaaay.”
As they stepped outside, Luke asked why the building used for Guest Reception had the words City Hall impressed above the main doors. Was it to add to the village atmosphere?
“It was Glimmer Creek’s original city hall,” Carlie explained when he asked. “James Connor purchased the town’s historic district during the Great Depression, including all the civic structures except the Carnegie library.”
“Sounds like the Connors are one of the early robber-baron families of California.”
Carlie looked annoyed. “Actually, James Connor paid top dollar, donated a boatload of money to the town and allowed residents to live in their homes rent-free for five years. He didn’t buy the property for profit. He did it to preserve history and help Glimmer Creek get through the Depression. Personally, I don’t think the town was properly grateful—they called it Connor’s Folly for decades.”
“Oh.”
“Why did you assume he was out for himself?” she asked.
Luke made a noncommittal gesture, though he couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t questioned people’s motives. Growing up, he’d seen too many people taking advantage of others, his parents included. It had made him determined to make a different life and to take care of his sister. Nicole kept saying she needed to take care of herself, but that was nonsense. She was independent. While he’d paid for her college expenses and given her a job, she worked hard and was a terrific computer specialist, in her own right. Nobody could accuse her of being a freeloader.
* * *
CARLIE UNLOCKED HER private office. It was quiet in this part of the building; on such a busy day all available staff members were out, handling various responsibilities.
“Just put your bags on my desk,” she told the twins, who’d gone instantly to look at the decorated tree in the corner, seeming to forget everything else.
The branches were adorned with white lights, delicate crystal icicles and the wild-animal ornaments she’d collected since she was a little girl. Raccoons, squirrels, mountain lions, rabbits, foxes, birds of every variety, mice, deer and other animals adorned the branches and she loved them all. They sat on beds of “snow” as if in their mountain home.
“It’s the bestest tree ever,” Annie said solemnly.
Beth nodded, but Carlie suspected she normally preferred something flashier. That was okay. Sometimes Carlie enjoyed flashy, too, though they tried to keep the decorations at Poppy Gold restrained.
Christmas with Carlie Page 5
