“Nick?” Joan tried again.
“Sorry,” he exhaled, sitting up straighter. “What?”
“Will you please pass the asparagus?”
“Yeah, sure thing.”
Holly couldn’t help but wonder where his mind had gone. He’d gone from cheerfully poking fun at the Christmas movie industry to closed up, deep in thought. She shouldn’t even care. Why bother getting to know him better? She was here to film a movie, enjoy a cute and cozy town, and then head home in time to spend a quiet Christmas at home in L.A. But the more she tried to remind herself she was a temporary fixture in this place, the worse she felt about it.
Holly woke up feeling more rested than she had in what seemed like forever. She gazed around her suite at the inn, a warm feeling of home settling deep within her. She’d stayed in a lot of hotels over the years, but this was the first time she’d ever stayed at a place so charming.
She eyed the electric fireplace across from her bed. She loved that the inn held an air of old-fashioned elegance, but appreciated its modern touches, too. It was a sign that the Patterson’s weren’t afraid to update with the times in order for the guests to be comfortable. Holly leaned over and plucked the remote for the fireplace off her bedside table, clicked it on, leaned back against the cherry wood headboard and watched the fire come to life. Her bedding was plush and warm, and as the fire heated the room, she had to kick off the covers. It was a perfectly relaxing scene, but she couldn’t help but feel restless. She needed coffee.
Holly slipped out of the cozy bed and into her slippers waiting on the floor beneath her feet. She grabbed her favorite festive robe, the one she brought out when she decorated her house for Christmas, and slipped it over her shoulders. She tied the black belt around the silky buffalo plaid material and tied her long, blonde hair into a messy bun on top of her head. She headed for the door, then spun around and went back to her bedside to turn off the fire. Again, she was grateful for the convenience of an electric fire, since she’d only enjoyed it for about ten minutes.
As soon as she opened her door, she could smell the heavenly aroma of baked goods and coffee coming from down below. She really loved this place. Too bad you can’t live in an inn in Pennsylvania and continue a career in Hollywood at the same time.
She padded down the steps, looking into the parlor to see if anyone was around. Finding it empty, she turned toward the dining room. There was a full spread of cinnamon rolls, donuts, bagels, muffins, and fruit on the buffet table against the wall. Holly’s stomach growled as her eyes took in the scrumptious scene. On another table, she found a single-cup coffee brewing system with a tower full of coffee pods. There were four different creamers for her to choose from, as well as a shelf holding the cutest Christmas mugs she’d ever seen.
Holly chose a cup and a pod, and then was disappointed to find that the pot itself was out of water. She looked around for a pitcher of some kind that she could use to refill it, but there was nothing. Sighing, she freed the water reservoir from its place in the pot and headed towards the kitchen. The double doors had a small circular window, almost like the porthole on a cruise ship, cut into them. She peeked inside before opening it and saw Nick sitting at the counter eating breakfast.
Holly ducked out of sight; her heart suddenly having picked up speed. Why did he have to look so good in just a white t-shirt and jeans? She looked down at her robe. Well, at least it was her favorite. And red was a good color on her ... according to US Weekly, anyway. And she needed water if she was going to be able to enjoy the coffee station with her sugary breakfast. Holly squared her shoulders and pushed open the kitchen door, ready to greet the grumpy guy with some Christmas cheer.
“Good morning, Nick,” she said brightly.
Nick looked up from his breakfast and stuttered out a muffled reply. He’d clearly just taken a bite of food, so he swallowed it and tried again. “Good morning.”
“Just came in for some water,” Holly explained, holding up the water reservoir. Nick started to get up to do it for her, but Holly waved her hand. “Oh, no, sit. I can do it.”
Nick sat back on his stool and nodded, taking another bite of his breakfast. Holly walked to the fridge and began filling the container with the water on the outside of the door. She turned back to look at Nick’s plate while she waited for it to fill up. He had an egg white omelet with what appeared to be peppers and onions mixed into it, paired with a bowl of yogurt and granola. Holly raised a brow at his choices then looked back at the water level to make sure she wasn’t about to make a huge mess. When the water reached the fill line, she turned to Nick.
“Does your mom make you eat that?”
Nick chuckled. “No.”
“You’re eating that because you want to?” Holly asked incredulously.
“Yes, why wouldn’t I?”
Holly gestured to the dining room. “Hello? Have you seen what’s in the dining room?”
“Oh, trust me. I know exactly what’s in the dining room. If I ate like that all the time, I would look a little too much like Saint Nick and not enough like this Nick. Know what I mean?”
Holly tilted her head at him. “Did you just make a Santa joke?”
This earned her a real, genuine smile. “Yeah, I did. Pretty lame now in hindsight.”
“It’s okay, I forgive you.”
“Here you are,” Jack said as he entered the kitchen.
Holly jumped slightly, sloshing some of the water out of the reservoir that she still held in her hands. “Oops, hi. I was just refilling this.”
Jack took the container and Holly went for some napkins, cleaning the drips off the floor.
“You don’t have to do that,” Nick said, already having stood to help.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind. Sorry, I’m a little clumsy.” Holly threw away the napkins and made a face at Jack. “It’s your fault for sneaking up on me.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “I swore I’d find you wherever the cinnamon rolls were, but when you weren’t there, I thought maybe you’d finally gotten kidnapped for ransom.”
“Very funny,” Holly said back. “I needed coffee, and to do that, I needed water.”
Jack looked at Nick and then back at Holly. “Alright, well, let’s go. I’m starving.”
“You go, I’ll be right there. I just want to grab some of that yogurt and granola. Pretend to be at least a little healthy.” Holly held up her thumb and pointer finger about an inch apart.
“Psshhh. There’s a ton of carbs and sugar in granola. Trust me.”
“Jack.” Holly nodded toward the door to the dining room and gave him a look as if to say, go away.
“I’ll get the coffee.”
Holly laughed softly as she watched her brother exit the kitchen with the water reservoir, then turned back to Nick. “Sorry, sometimes I feel like Jack and I spend a little too much time together.”
“What made you decide to hire your brother as your bodyguard?” Nick asked, having finished his omelet and was working on his yogurt.
“When he got out of the Marine Corps, he planned to apply to the L.A.P.D. He’s always wanted to be a cop. But by the time he got out of the Marines, my career was really taking off. At first, he stuck around just to help with the paparazzi, but then it just made sense to officially hire him. He was an MP in the Marines, too, so it’s not completely out of his wheelhouse.”
“MP?”
Holly chuckled. “Sorry, the military loves their acronyms. Military Police.”
Nick nodded. “Ah, gotcha. Well, that’s cool. But still, I see what you mean about working with family.”
“Your mom seems like a dream. I barely know her and I already love her. And dinner last night was fantastic.”
“She can definitely be a lot to handle ... but yeah, she’s pretty great. Her cooking is what keeps our regulars coming back, that’s for sure.”
“Regulars? As in, people who aren’t just here to shoot a movie?”
Nick scrunched his nose. “
Yeah, the rest of the year we cater to a more relaxed crowd.”
“I’m relaxed,” Holly said, gesturing to her PJs and robe.
“Yeah, that’s what they all say.”
Holly struggled not to react to the twinkle in his eye. “Anyway, so this ‘more relaxed crowd’ … what kind of vacationers do you get at the Snow Hill Inn?”
Nick shrugged. “Well, the Pocono Mountains are a great draw any time of year, so the more outdoorsy folks come out in the warmer months to hike and fish. We see a lot of road trippers. The occasional writer looking for a quiet place to finish their manuscript.”
“And this time of year, it’s pretty much just film crews?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah.”
“You don’t really seem pleased about that, Mr. Patterson.” Holly narrowed her eyes at him.
“Well,” Nick started, crossing his arms across his chest and leaning back in his seat, “no offense, but I do kind of miss when this town was obsessed with Christmas, not Christmas movies. It was … I don’t know … simpler.”
“I see. So, the Christmas spirit in this town came long before the film crews.”
He nodded. “It’s how I grew up. Seemed a lot more authentic than it does now.”
“Well, I can see that. Either way, I love this town. From what I’ve seen. Seems like it was a great place to grow up.”
Nick pursed his lips as if he were processing what she’d said. Then he shook his head slightly and leaned forward on the counter. “Anyway, what about your parents? Do they live in L.A., too?”
Holly looked down at her hands. “No, they passed away about six years ago. It was around the holidays, so that does kind of explain why Jack doesn’t love Christmas.”
“I’m sorry,” Nick said, his voice a little above a whisper.
“Thanks. And to you, too. I know your mom said she and her ‘late’ husband built up this inn.”
Nick smiled slightly. “Yeah, thanks. It was over ten years ago, now. And not at Christmas. I can understand why Jack hates it ... so, why don’t you?”
Leaning forward on the counter facing Nick, Holly thought about it for a moment. “I guess it’s because it’s always been kind of my thing. I was born in December, my mom named me Holly, and she always called me her best Christmas present ever. We celebrated it like crazy growing up, and I honestly just think that my mom would hate it if her death took away that joy for me. It’s like she named me Holly so I had no choice but to keep that holiday spirit. And, it makes me feel close to her. You know?”
“Uh,” Nick cleared his throat. Though it was barely there, a thin layer of emotion shown in his eyes. “Yeah, I mean. My mom named me Nicholas after St. Nick.”
“Really?” Holly stood up straight.
“No, I was born in April. Sorry.”
Holly couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Ugh, of course you have the perfect Christmas name and hate Christmas. The worst.”
“I have to ask ... what’s the deal with your assistant?”
“What do you mean?”
Nick scratched his head. “Seems like there’s something off about her. And I don’t just mean because of how ‘snooty’ she is.”
Holly rolled her eyes at the use of that term from him once again. “She’s really not like this at home. I have no idea what’s gotten into her. My mom hired Harriet a year into my run on Jemma’s to manage my finances. My parents were both English teachers. They had no idea how to do that kind of thing and we were shocked by how quickly the show got took off. I’m so glad I have her, especially after my mom died. She keeps me on track in every way ... I have no idea where I’d be if it weren’t for her.”
“Maybe she was just having a bad day yesterday,” Nick said, putting his dishes in the dishwasher. “Oh, hey, did you want me to get you some of that yogurt and granola? I totally forgot, I’m sorry.”
Holly shook her head. “I can manage. Thanks anyway.”
“Okay. I have to get to work on the Gingerbread Ball. Bowls are over there, spoons in that drawer, yogurt’s in the fridge, and the granola is in the pantry.”
Holly watched as he pointed out the locations of each item and nodded to show she understood. “Got it, thanks. It’ll go well with all of the cinnamon rolls I’m about to pig out on.”
“You know, you really aren’t as ... stuck-up as the rest of them,” Nick said, tilting his head.
“Why, because I’m down here in my robe and slippers about to scarf on carbs for breakfast?”
He shrugged. “Pretty much, yeah. That and you seem a little more self-sufficient than most.”
“Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You can...” Nick said with a wink, before turning on his heel and heading out the back door.
Before Holly could process that little interaction, Jack popped his head through one of the doors behind her. “Boo.”
“Very funny,” she said, turning to face him.
“Harriet’s in here ready to go over the schedule for the day. I see you spent all that time getting yogurt and granola.”
“Shut up, Jack Frost,” Holly teased and pushed passed her brother into the dining room. “Morning, Harriet.”
“Morning,” Harriet replied without looking up from her planner. “Bill and Julia arrive today.”
“Julia is coming?” Holly asked incredulously.
Bill Winters was her co-star and love interest in the film they were shooting in Snow Hill. He was probably five times richer and more famous than Holly, and there was just something about him that made her never want to be like him when she grew up. Julia, his wife, was also an actress. She’d been moderately successful before him, but Holly figured their marriage had been the thing that really catapulted Julia into success. But she wasn’t there to judge, maybe it was just a happy side-effect of a great love story. Or, maybe she married him for the fame, who knew.
“Seems strange to me, too. We’ll only be here a month. But apparently, she insisted and even turned down a role so she could come,” Harriet answered.
Jack and Holly shared a look.
“Well, I guess that’s going to double the amount of paparazzi who show up,” Jack figured. “How’s the security here?”
“We’ve been assured it’s just fine,” Harriet replied. “But we should leave early for the set each day just in case it gets congested out there.”
Holly fixed her gaze outside, the adorned windowpane making the scene outside look even more dreamy. She wondered what it would be like to live in a small town like Snow Hill. She pictured herself living in a house like the ones on this street, taking her kids to the little red schoolhouse in the town square, and doing her shopping at the country store on Main Street. Ordinarily, this kind of daydreaming would be unproductive, but in reality, Holly was about to play a woman just like that in this movie. So really, she was just working on getting into character.
“Holly?” Harriet called out impatiently. “Did you hear a word of that?”
“No, sorry,” Holly answered.
“Jack will fill you in. I need to make a couple of calls. We’re leaving in an hour, so hurry up and get ready for hair and makeup.”
Holly held up a hand. “Wait, Harriet. I wanted to ask … is everything okay?”
“Okay?” Harriet tucked her planner tightly against her chest. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m not sure, I guess I just think you’ve been acting kind of weird since we’ve gotten here. Is it because of the traveling?”
Harriet furrowed her brow. “I suppose so, yes. I have a lot on my mind. Managing your career isn’t for the faint of heart, you know. Things are busier than ever right now and I’m just trying to keep all of the plates spinning.”
“Right,” Holly replied, shifting her eyes to Jack to see his reaction to Harriet’s words. His face was a total mask.
“Anyway, have Jack fill you in on today’s schedule and I’ll meet you in the foyer in about an hour.”
Holly wat
ched Harriet go before she turned to Jack. “Do I actually need to hear whatever it is?”
“Probably not,” Jack answered. “I got you.”
“Did you think Harriet’s answer was weird?” Holly whispered, in case Harriet was lurking in the hall.
Jack shrugged. “Kinda, yeah. But who knows, maybe she’s just overwhelmed.”
“Things are really going to get crazy around here when Bill and Julia show up, aren’t they?” Holly sighed. “I just would never want to be that famous.”
“Don’t let Harriet hear you say that,” Jack said with a chuckle. “She wants to make you more famous.”
“Excuse me, kids. Did I hear you say Bill and Julia are coming?” Joan said from the doorway to the kitchen. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I poked my head in earlier to see if you needed anything and I heard Harriet mention her.”
Holly nodded. “Yes, ma’am. That’s Bill’s wife.”
“Oh, I know who she is, dear,” Joan replied with a wink.
“That’s right, sorry, I guess everyone would.”
Joan’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Indeed.”
4
Nick
“Knock, knock,” Joan called from the porch of Nick’s cottage. “Are you home, sweetie?”
Nick turned off the game and got up from the couch to let his mother in. He’d just sat down to relax after a long day and a hot shower, but he always made time for Joan. When his dad was really sick, he’d made sure to tell Nick how important it was for him to not just help her run the inn, but also to be her person, for as long as he could be. Nick had promised to do that, and it was a promise he took very seriously.
“Hey, Ma,” he said as he let her in.
“You look tired. Long day?”
Nick ran a hand through his hair and then massaged a sore spot at the back of his neck. “One thing after another, all day.”
“I’m sorry,” Joan bustled into the kitchen of the small cottage and set down the basket she was carrying. “Hopefully this cheers you up. I brought you dinner.”
“Ah, thank you, you didn’t have to do that. I could have come up and made myself a dish.”
A Movie Star for Christmas Page 3
