Christmas on Mistletoe Lane--Includes a bonus short story

by Annie Rains

  Gina narrowed her eyes. “Now you’re starting to sound like my son.” She pointed a finger in Kaitlyn’s direction. “Speaking of which, you keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t tear into one of these cakes.”

  Kaitlyn grinned. “Maybe I’ll make one more cake just for him. He deserves it after all he’s done here.”

  Gina chuckled, flour dusting the air as she did. “Mitch will always do what he thinks is right. Following Mable’s wishes and helping you fix up this B and B was the right thing to do, no doubt about that. Mitch wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he’d left.”

  “He’s gone above and beyond what Mable asked of him though.”

  “Yep. That’s Mitch’s way too.” Gina lifted her apron from around her head.

  “I suspect he gets all those wonderful traits from you,” Kaitlyn said, smiling warmly at the woman. “Thanks again for coming by today.”

  “I was glad to do it, dear. Call me anytime. But right now, since you insist on sending me away, I’m heading home to shower.”

  Kaitlyn followed her down the hall and through the front room.

  When Gina opened the door to leave, Mitch was standing on the other side.

  He looked between Kaitlyn and his mom. “What’s going on here?”

  His mom went in for a hug. “Now that’s no way to greet the woman who suffered fourteen hours in labor with you.”

  Kaitlyn’s grin fell short at Mitch’s grim expression.

  “You’ve been cooking?” he asked his mom in an accusatory voice.

  Gina pulled back. “Kaitlyn was nice enough to allow me to help with the Hope for the Holidays cakes. I offered, and she did me a huge favor by accepting. I hope you’re not prepared to lecture me on cake baking, because I’m not yours to order around.”

  His eyes narrowed on Gina. “Not my orders. Doctor’s orders. It’s supposed to be your day off.”

  “Doctor, schmoctor. I told you that Dr. Jacobs cleared me to return to my normal activities. A low iron level isn’t going to kill me, Mitch, and I’ve been taking my supplements dutifully. Now stop your fussing. I’m going home to make sure Nettie is behaving herself.”

  “You’re the one who needs to behave,” he said in a less-than-teasing tone.

  Gina hugged Mitch one more time, leaving a thick film of flour on his shirt. Then she waved and headed down the steps.

  Kaitlyn felt an uh-oh tremor through her because Mitch still didn’t look happy for some reason, and she didn’t think it was due to his mom cooking with her for the last few hours. “Your mom really loves being here. She offered to come over and help me bake,” Kaitlyn explained. “I couldn’t tell her no.”

  “Yes, you could have. She’s supposed to be slowing down, not taking on more work.”

  Kaitlyn stepped past him and closed the front door in case Gina was still within earshot. “I made sure she didn’t do too much. Cooking is not exactly strenuous activity, Mitch.” Even though cooking ten cakes had turned the kitchen into a sauna, and Kaitlyn’s arms were already sore from all the batter stirring. “We had a nice time. I love your mom’s company. The guests seem to enjoy her too.”

  He shook his head. “Did you also have her scrub the floors and toilets while she was here?”

  Kaitlyn pulled back. “What?”

  “She’s not going to be your hired help after I’m gone,” he bit out. “Do you understand?”

  Kaitlyn didn’t understand. Not at all. The Mitch she’d gone to bed with last night had been sweet and gentle. The one she was looking at right now reminded her of the burly guy she’d sat down and argued with in this very room a couple of months ago. “I think your mom is old enough to take care of herself. She’s survived just fine without you all these years.”

  Kaitlyn didn’t mean that to come out so harshly but Mitch tensed like she’d tossed a bucket of ice water on his head. “I’m sorry. I know you had your reasons for leaving town before. All I meant was—”

  He held up his hand. “I know what you meant. And I’ll be gone this time next week. I just need to know that Mom will be okay. Not accepting every job offer that comes along. She doesn’t need the money. I’m making sure of that.”

  “I didn’t pay her,” Kaitlyn said. Although she wasn’t sure having Mitch’s mom work for free was any better in his mind. “She did it for charity.” Kaitlyn swallowed back her hurt feelings. “Maybe it’s not about the money. Have you ever considered that? Maybe she likes to work. I know it’s hard to understand for someone like you but maybe your mom enjoys being with people.”

  “Someone like me? You mean heartless? Cold?” he asked.

  Who is this man? She didn’t recognize him. Had something happened this morning? “That’s who you pretend to be, at least. But I’ve seen a different side of you,” she said, softening her voice. She didn’t want to fight, even if it was obvious that was exactly what he was looking for. He was picking a fight with a sledgehammer right now. “Your mom doesn’t want your money, Mitch. She wants you to stay.” As much as Kaitlyn wanted the same. “You can, you know.”

  His dark eyes narrowed. “Can what?”

  “Stay. I know we haven’t discussed it,” she began, suddenly spurting out what she’d been hoping to bring up tonight over dinner. Definitely not in a moment where Mitch was upset and worried. But her words came anyway, almost without her permission. “I can still buy you out of your half of this place. You can pay off your mom’s house. But you can also stay. You don’t have to leave Sweetwater Springs.” She fidgeted nervously with her hands. “I mean, I know the security job is offering a lot more money, but…”

  “Staying was never part of the plan, Kaitlyn.”

  This was not how she was supposed to be bringing up this conversation. They were supposed to be flirting over a delicious dinner and maybe on their second glass of wine. Then she would broach the subject that, in her fantasies, he’d only been waiting for her to bring up. Because staying was what he wanted too. He’d vow to make amends with the ghosts of his past, for his sake and hers. Then, knowing they wanted the same thing, he’d walk around the table, kiss her, and tug her down the hall to the bedroom. That was what was supposed to happen.

  “But plans were meant to be broken,” she said weakly. It sounded like a plea even to her own ears.

  Mitch kept his gaze steady. The warmth she’d seen so many times was gone. He really did look cold and heartless right now. “Not these plans.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Reason one for why Mitch couldn’t stay: He had a high-paying job that would set his mom up for life.

  Reason two: The town may have forgiven him but Brian Everson hadn’t.

  Reason three: If Frank Everson’s threat had any credibility, Mitch had to leave. He’d never forgive himself if he was the reason Kaitlyn lost the Sweetwater B&B. Wasn’t that the reason he’d agreed to the will’s stipulations to begin with? To save this place for a woman he didn’t even know at the time? Now that he knew her, he was willing to do whatever it took to preserve her family’s business.

  Like a fool, he’d gotten too close. He’d allowed himself to have feelings for Kaitlyn. To hope that maybe what she was proposing could be true. But it couldn’t. He knew that, and she needed to know it, and believe it too.

  “This was never meant to be a real thing,” he said, already seeing the shine of her eyes. If she started to cry, that would be his undoing. Please don’t cry, he mentally pleaded. Ending things would be hard enough as it was. But necessary. “We had a good time but we always knew it would end. Time’s up.”

  There is that damn ticking time clock.

  She didn’t respond at first. Her tears stayed at bay as she blinked back at him, a flurry of emotion storming in her irises. “I see,” she finally whispered. “This was a business partnership, and you and I were having a good time on the side.”

  Mitch nodded, feeling like the world’s biggest jerk. “That’s right.”

  “I know that. I was just sa
ying that if you wanted to stay for your mom’s sake, you could. But like I said, she’s a grown woman. She doesn’t need you.” Kaitlyn lifted her chin, and he suspected she was speaking for herself as well. And judging by the coolness of her eyes now, she also didn’t want him anymore.

  “I see. It might be best if I go ahead and pack up my things. I can stay at Alex’s place until the conditions in the will are met.”

  “That’s probably best,” she agreed, refusing to meet his eyes now.

  “Just let me know when Mr. Garrison plans to stop back by, and I’ll be here.”

  She gave another curt nod. “Okay.”

  He started to turn and walk away but then hesitated and looked at her. “Kaitlyn, for what it’s worth…”

  She held up a hand. “Don’t. It’s fine. Obviously, it wasn’t worth very much.”

  * * *

  Mitch was walking away from the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he knew it. Kaitlyn was the first person to make him feel whole since the accident. She’d filled this huge crater in his soul. How the hell was he supposed to turn away from that and never look back?

  He got into his truck and drove to Alex’s house. Tuck’s Jeep was parked beside Alex’s police SUV in the driveway. Between the two of them, Mitch was sure he could find a place to stay tonight. His mom didn’t have room and he didn’t feel like fielding questions from her or Aunt Nettie about what had happened between him and Kaitlyn anyway.

  Mitch walked right inside, not bothering to knock on the front door. “I would think a police chief would know to lock his front door,” he called as he cut through the living room.

  Alex turned to look at him with surprise from the kitchen. “I would think anyone stupid enough to break and enter would know not to do so at a police chief’s house.”

  “Hey, Mitch,” Tuck said before biting into a sandwich at the table.

  “Hey, man,” Mitch replied.

  “Want a PB&J?”

  “No, thanks.” Mitch pulled out a chair and sat down, feeling fifteen years older suddenly. Like he’d been served his own jail sentence. “Do you think one of you could put me up for the next couple of nights?”

  “Uh-oh. Did you and Kaitlyn get in another fight?” Alex asked.

  “I wouldn’t say fight. I just broke up with her.”

  Both Alex and Tuck looked at him as if he were crazy.

  “I thought you were smarter than that, buddy,” Alex said. “I never would’ve offered you the job at the police station had I thought you were that dense.”

  Mitch lifted his gaze. “And I’m not taking the position with the SSPD.”

  Alex cast a grim expression. “Why is that?”

  “I have my reasons.”

  “I doubt any of them are good ones,” Alex said.

  Mitch was so tired of defending himself. He wasn’t even sure if he believed his own reasons anymore. “All I know is I can’t stay. So, back to my question. Which one of you is going to let me stay with them tonight?”

  “We’re going out,” Tuck told him, wiping a smear of purple jelly from the corner of his mouth. “Why don’t you come with us? And whoever doesn’t get lucky is the one that gets to bring your sorry butt home.”

  Mitch looked between his friends. Alex didn’t mind dating but like he’d told Mitch when he’d offered him the job at SSPD, he wasn’t ever going to get serious with anyone. His career was too important to him. Tuck talked a good game, but whenever they went to the bar, he typically just drank his beer and watched everyone else. He didn’t hit on the ladies, even though Mitch was sure Tuck could have anyone he wanted. Perhaps, once you’ve experienced a love like Tuck and Renee’s, your heart stalled. Is that how it would be for Mitch? Now that he’d been with Kaitlyn, no one else would ever compare?

  “Fine,” Mitch said. “I’ll go out.” A night of drinking sounded like a good idea right about now anyway. And between his two friends, it was a good bet he would have his pick of where he wanted to stay tonight.

  * * *

  Kaitlyn listened for the front door to close. The guests were all gone. Some had gone to dinner, others to the Hope for the Holidays Auction, where Kaitlyn had planned to be herself. Claiming she was sick, she’d asked Gina and Nettie to go in her place. Gina had sounded undone with excitement.

  Tears slipped out of the corners of Kaitlyn’s eyes as she lay back on the couch. For the last two months, she’d wanted nothing more than a full inn but tonight she was glad she was all alone here. It would be unbecoming of a host to bawl her eyes out in front of the guests. Grandma Mable would surely agree with that.

  Kaitlyn felt like she’d been discarded along with the table scraps. Her own fault. Mitch had always been up-front about his intentions. At least with his words. His actions had offered her a glimmer of hope that she’d recklessly grabbed on to though. She’d allowed herself to fantasize about something more between them, and in her wildest fantasies, she and Mitch had created the ultimate partnership.

  She grabbed a box of Kleenex along with a large bag of chocolates because if you were going to have a pity party, you needed to do it right.

  Twenty minutes later, once all her tears were dry and the box of Kleenex and bag of chocolates were empty, Kaitlyn showered and headed into the kitchen to pour herself a healthy glass of red wine—just what the doctor ordered for a broken heart. Climbing onto the couch in the living area, she turned on the TV. She was hoping to find a Hallmark movie and live vicariously through the actors and actresses on-screen. Their problems could be fixed in a two-hour time slot on television. Hers couldn’t.

  Halfway into a lighthearted tale of two fated lovers, the doorbell rang. Kaitlyn froze. The guests weren’t expected back anytime soon and they were free to walk in.

  A new guest?

  She did have one vacancy in the Pride and Prejudice room.

  Thank God, she’d showered after her crying episode. The mascara streaks were washed away and hopefully some of the puffiness of her eyes had gone down too. She didn’t want to scare off any potential guests.

  The doorbell rang again, and she realized she was taking too long to answer. Jumping up from the couch, she ran over to the door, opened it, and froze. “Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?”

  Her parents stood on the porch with luggage in hand.

  “We needed to see if you were okay,” her mom said. She was dressed in a bright-red parka, black leggings, and boots all the way to her knees. Even so, her slight frame trembled in the cold.

  “You could’ve just called,” Kaitlyn said.

  “I did. You didn’t answer.” Her mom gave a sheepish smile.

  “You didn’t have to come all the way down from New York. What about your Bahamas cruise?”

  “It’s Christmas, darling. This is where we should be this year.” Her mom stepped over the threshold and wrapped Kaitlyn in a tight hug. Then her father let go of his luggage and wrapped them both in his wide, encompassing arms. It was surprising, and it felt really good. So good that Kaitlyn almost dissolved into tears for a second time tonight.

  “Come in, you two,” she finally said, sniffling. A second box of tissues was in order.

  Her parents retrieved their luggage off the porch and brought it inside.

  “Wow, sweetheart. This place is amazing.” Her mom stared in awe at the front room, her gaze falling on the large Christmas tree, sparkling magically in the sitting area. “Did you do all this by yourself?” she asked, turning back to Kaitlyn.

  “Um, no. I had help.” Kaitlyn didn’t want to get into the details of her last two months. Not tonight.

  “Your decorating skills really shine in this place,” her father agreed.

  A compliment from him was akin to gold. From her mother, platinum. “Thanks.”

  Both of her parents looked at her with serious faces.

  “I’m sorry I questioned you,” her mom said quietly. “You would never invite such negative attention—I know that. Are you all right? Did that man hurt
you?”

  Kaitlyn swallowed. “Yes. No. I’m fine.”

  “We can threaten your former employer with a lawsuit,” her father said, looking for a solution as usual. “You were sexually harassed by a client, and Beautiful Designs wrongfully terminated you. That’s unjust.”

  Her mother nodded in agreement, her entire expression pulled down by the gravity of her sadness. “We’ll pay for a lawyer, dear. We’ll fight this. Bradley Foster can’t do this to you or your career. You’ve worked too hard to be knocked down like this.”

  Kaitlyn had only worried about defending a lawsuit against herself. She’d never considered filing one against Bradley or her former employer. She didn’t want to get wrapped up in legal battles though. And she certainly didn’t want her old job back. “I don’t want a career in New York. This is where I want to be now.”

  She waited for her parents to argue and rattle off what was best for her the way they always had. When she’d chosen electives in high school, they’d always vetoed the ones she wanted most and strongly advised the ones they said “would take her further in life.” When she’d chosen a small college off the grid, they’d told her in no uncertain terms that she’d be attending the top college in New York state for interior design. One of the best in the country.

  Instead of challenging her now though, her mom wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly once more. “I think this is the perfect place for you.” She pulled back and looked at Kaitlyn with shiny eyes that caught the twinkle of all the Christmas lights in the room. “And I can’t wait to see the rest of the inn.”

  “Your grandma would’ve been so proud, honey,” her father added. “Your mom and I are proud too.”

  Kaitlyn hadn’t thought she had any tears left to cry but several streamed down her face suddenly. “Thank you.”

  He cleared his throat. “Now the big question is, Do you have a room available for us tonight?”

  Kaitlyn laughed as she wiped her cheek. “You’re in luck.”

  * * *