Christmas Ever After

by Karen Schaler

  “I think it sounds great, but if we’re inviting people from town, where would we do it? I don’t think you have enough room,” Riley said.

  Luke chuckled. “Let me show you.”

  Five minutes later, they had walked to a part of the lodge Riley hadn’t seen yet. When they got to the end of a long hallway, Luke opened two massive French doors to reveal a beautiful ballroom.

  “This is where we have the dance,” he said.

  Riley’s jaw dropped as she stepped inside and looked around the beautiful ballroom. It had vaulted, beamed ceilings and a wall of windows looking out over Christmas Lake. “This is amazing,” she said. “Why haven’t you been using this?”

  Luke shrugged. “There’s been no reason to.”

  Riley gave him an incredulous look. “Are you kidding? This space is spectacular. You could have weddings here, parties, corporate events—everything, anything. This view is priceless.”

  “It’s the best view in town,” Luke said proudly.

  “I believe it,” Riley said.

  “So is that a yes to having a Christmas Camp dance?” Luke asked.

  Riley grinned back at him. “That’s a huge, yes. Yes, please.”

  After they made their way back to the lobby and sat down by the fire, Riley actually started getting excited listening to all of Luke’s ideas.

  “We’ve planned everything from your traditional, and always a favorite, baking and decorating cookies and making Christmas crafts to cocktail mixology classes, movie watching, and a special Christmas Camp Bingo,” Luke said. “We’d already posted some of the activities on the website so the Christmas Campers and the media would know what to expect, but we saved spots for any activities you thought would be a good fit.”

  “I think this all sounds great,” Riley said. “You’ve done a fantastic job.”

  Luke smiled back at her. “Thanks. I appreciate that. When it comes to the outdoor activities, it will depend on the weather, so we’ll play that by ear.”

  Riley nodded. “Sounds good.”

  “But on the list of potential activities we have snowshoeing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, and even a snowman-building contest. We also added daily ‘Miss Christmas Author Chats’ so you can talk with the Christmas Campers about the kinds of things they want to see in your book. That was Mike’s idea.”

  Riley laughed. “Of course, it was.”

  “We also made sure to put free time so the Christmas Campers have a chance to relax and do whatever they wanted to do, and the same for you, in case you need to get some work done,” Luke added.

  “I appreciate that,” Riley said. “I have a book outline I need to be working on so this should work out great.”

  Luke looked pleased. “Okay, so we have a plan. Tomorrow’s the big day. The first Christmas Campers should start arriving around three o’clock and the cocktail party welcome reception is scheduled for six o’clock.”

  Riley nodded. “Okay.”

  “And Caylee had an idea about the cocktail party . . . and you,” Luke continued. She thinks, and Maryanne and I agree, that you should make a grand entrance . . .”

  Riley’s smile quickly turned into a frown.

  Luke laughed. “Just hear me out. We know the Christmas Campers are going to start showing up at different times, and everyone is going to want to talk to you. It could get a little chaotic. This way, you can be in your room, relaxing, and then we’ll introduce you at the party and everyone will see you at the same time. Caylee thinks it will create a little anticipation and excitement, too.”

  “You’re serious?” Riley asked.

  Luke nodded.

  She shrugged. “Okay, if you think it’s a good idea, sure.”

  “Great! Thank you,” Luke said.

  Caylee and Maryanne entered the room at the same time as there was a knock at the door. They all looked at one another, confused.

  “Are we expecting anyone?” Caylee asked.

  “No,” Luke said as he got up and headed for the door. “Comet, it’s okay.”

  Comet instantly stopped barking but didn’t leave Luke’s side.

  “Maybe it’s one of the Christmas Campers checking in early,” Maryanne said.

  Riley gave Maryanne a worried look. “I hope not. We’re not ready. I’m not ready . . .”

  They were all standing up, looking concerned, when Luke returned holding a big box.

  “It was just Fred, the postman,” Luke said, holding up a big two-foot-by-three-foot package. “He apologized for the late delivery but said it was express mail and needed to get here right away.”

  Riley collapsed back on the couch, relieved. “Thank goodness.”

  Luke walked over and held the box out to her. “And it’s for you.”

  “Me?” Riley took the box and looked confused. “Who’d be sending me anything?” She set the box on the couch.

  Caylee, excited, rushed over. “Open it. See what’s inside.”

  Luke laughed. “Some things never change. You should see Caylee at Christmas. If you don’t open your gifts right away, she’ll come over and open them for you.”

  “People always take too long to open their gifts!” Caylee said, defending herself. “So come on, Riley, open it.”

  Everyone laughed at Caylee.

  “Hold on,” Riley said, fighting with the packing tape. “I’m trying.”

  Caylee leaned in and grabbed a piece of tape and dramatically ripped it off for her. “I can do the rest if you want.”

  Luke chuckled. “See?” he said as he pulled Caylee back. “Let Riley open it.”

  When Riley saw Caylee’s disappointed face, she pushed the box toward her. “It’s okay. Go for it, Caylee.”

  It only took a second for Caylee to tear into the box and another second to open it up to find another box. This one was only a little bit smaller than the first, and it was white and glossy with a big, red satin bow.

  “This looks fancy.” Caylee took out the new box and handed it to Riley. “You should open this one.”

  Riley took the smaller box out and set it on her lap. When she took the top of the box off, the first thing she saw was a bunch of gold tissue paper.

  “Yup, it’s fancy, all right,” Caylee said as she leaned in closer.

  Riley laughed, knowing if she didn’t hurry, Caylee would rip the tissue paper off for her. As Riley pulled the tissue back, Caylee gasped. Inside the box was a spectacular dress covered with red sparkling sequins.

  “Wow!” Caylee said, taking the words right out of Riley’s mouth. But they were both speechless when Riley held up the dress and they realized the box was filled with more clothes.

  There were two more sparkling dresses and three sequin tops, and almost everything was the same color—Christmas red—except for one stunning white dress at the very bottom and a silver sequin top.

  Riley picked up the note card and read it out loud.

  “Making sure you have something festive to wear for Christmas Camp. I’m sending a photographer to cover it. We need good pictures. Mike.”

  Luke laughed. This must be because you wore black for that TV interview.”

  “What’s wrong with black?” Riley asked.

  Luke and Caylee exchanged a look.

  “It’s not very Christmassy,” Caylee said.

  Luke nodded. “What she said.”

  Riley playfully rolled her eyes as she held up another spectacular sparkling red dress. “Wow, Mike really went overboard. This is too much.”

  “What?!” Caylee said, taking a sequin top out of the box. “I’d say this is just right.” She happily held it up to her chest. “I want to know who is this Mike and where can I get one?”

  Everyone laughed.

  “What happened to the tomboy I knew who would have never been caught dead in a dress,
much less sequins?” Luke asked as he took the top from Caylee and handed it back to Riley.

  Caylee never took her eyes off the top. “She grew up. I might be a soldier, but come on, every girl loves a little sparkle, right?” She looked over to Riley and Maryanne for support.

  Maryanne nodded but Riley didn’t.

  “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything sparkly in my life,” Riley said as she closed the box and set it on the couch. “None of this is my style.”

  Luke laughed. “Then it’s a good thing Mike sent all this because you’re going to need to look the part.”

  “What part?” Riley asked, confused.

  “Miss Christmas,” Luke answered. “Everyone’s going to want to take pictures with you, and Mike said they’re sending a photographer so . . .”

  “So you have to look Christmassy,” Caylee finished for him as she grinned at Riley.

  “Exactly,” Luke said.

  Riley gave them both a skeptical look. “I brought clothes that will be just fine.”

  Caylee frowned. “Well, fine doesn’t sound very Christmassy. Fine sounds . . . boring.”

  When Luke gave Caylee a look, she shrugged and looked back at Riley. “Sorry.”

  Riley smiled back at her as she stood up. It was impossible to be mad at Caylee. “That’s okay. Everyone has different taste. These clothes just aren’t mine. I’m going to go have a little chat with Mike, set a few things straight, and make sure he doesn’t have any other surprises for me. I don’t like surprises.”

  When Riley saw Luke and Caylee exchange a look, she frowned. “What was that look?”

  Luke feigned innocence. “What look? There was no look.”

  “No look at all,” Caylee chimed in.

  Riley’s eyes narrowed as she studied Caylee’s grinning face. She knew something was up and just hoped that Luke and Caylee weren’t planning any surprises for her. She really didn’t like surprises. All she wanted to do was follow the plan and get through the weekend.

  “I’ll see you guys later,” Riley said as she left the room, reluctantly taking the box of clothes with her.

  “See you later, Miss Christmas,” Caylee cheerfully called after her.

  “Bah humbug,” Riley said under her breath.

  Comet barked. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw he was right on her heels. She knew he’d heard her bah humbug, and she felt like her new, furry, four-legged friend was doubling as the Christmas police.

  She couldn’t help but laugh a little as she thought about how Comet was a watchdog all right. He was watching her like a hawk, making sure she had Christmas spirit. But then her smile faded.

  If I can’t fool a dog, how am I going to fool the Christmas-loving Christmas Campers?

  When she got to her room, she immediately called Mike on FaceTime.

  He picked up almost instantly. “Riley? He shouted over all the noise. “Where are you?” He laughed. “You look like you’re in Santa’s workshop.”

  Riley, embarrassed, looked behind her and saw all the Santa figurines were in the shot. She quickly moved over, but this only got her bed and all the Santa pillows in the frame.

  She gave up. The Santas were everywhere. There was no avoiding them. “I’m in my room at the lodge,” she said.

  He laughed. “Nice background. We’ll have to get some shots of you in that room. That’s gold! Did you get the clothes?”

  “Uh, yeah, that’s why I’m calling,” Riley said as she started to pace the room. “Look, while I appreciate you trying to help me with my wardrobe, I brought some really nice things to wear during Christmas Camp.”

  Mike put his face close to the screen. “Christmas things? You have a red cocktail dress?”

  Riley struggled to keep her patience. “No, I don’t have a red cocktail dress, but my black one is designer. I just bought it, and it’s great.”

  Mike shook his head. “Nope. Won’t work. We need you in red. Red is the best for photographs. Red is Christmas. I told you I’ve set up for a photographer to be there, and we have to sell you as Miss Christmas, and that means you have to look the part.”

  Frustrated, Riley picked up one of the red sequin tops. “I did not agree to this. I’m not a Vegas showgirl.”

  When she looked down at Comet for support, he wagged his tail as he gazed up at her. Riley smiled at him.

  “You’re a romance author that’s about to write her first Christmas novel,” Mike said. “You need to look the part. You need to sparkle, glitter, dazzle, all that stuff. You need to bring the romance.”

  Riley picked up another top. “You’re trying to tell me wearing sequins is . . . romantic?”

  “I’m trying to tell you it’s Christmas,” Mike said impatiently. “Besides, you have to wear it. A friend of mine is the designer. She gave me the clothes as a trade-off for the publicity you’ll get her. So you’re welcome, and I have to go.”

  “Wait, Mike!” Riley shouted.

  But it was too late. He’d already hung up.

  “Unbelievable,” she said as she continued to pace. Everywhere she looked the Santas were staring at her. She ran around and turned all the Santa pillows upside down so she couldn’t see the grinning Santa faces, then felt foolish.

  “What? Am I twelve?” she asked herself. “I need to go for walk.”

  At the mention of the word walk, Comet ran over and sat almost on top of her feet. He barked.

  “Oh boy, now I’ve done it,” Riley said. “I said walk.”

  Comet barked again.

  “Shh! Comet. Okay, fine. You win. We’ll go for a wa—”

  When Comet looked like he was about to bark again, she stopped herself.

  “See? I’m learning,” she said as she grabbed her coat.

  He ran to the door and waited for her.

  An icy gust of wind swirled around them as she and Comet stepped outside. That’s when she realized she’d forgotten to wear her hat. For a moment, she debated going back upstairs to get it but she wasn’t going to be outside for very long. She’d be fine.

  Before she knew what was happening, Comet was leading her down to the lake. Not that she really needed any encouragement. She was mesmerized by the Christmas Lake Christmas tree lit up in all its glory. It was even more magical in the moonlight.

  She stopped to get out her phone and take a picture, but the photo didn’t even come close to capturing the dreamlike image. She frowned and tried to take several more pictures.

  “I see Comet has talked you into to another w-a-l-k,” Luke said, coming up behind her.

  Startled, Riley jumped. Her hand flew to her heart. “You scared me.” She had been concentrating so hard that she hadn’t heard him approach.

  “Sorry, I didn’t want to disturb your picture-taking,” Luke said. “Get any good ones?”

  Riley frowned again as she scrolled through her photos. “No, not really. Nothing that captures how special it really is.” She looked back up at Luke. “What are you doing down here?”

  Luke reached into his own coat and pulled out a red-and-white-striped stocking cap that had a big, red puff ball at the end. “You forgot your hat.”

  When he held it out to her, she laughed and backed away. “Oh, that’s not my hat. That’s gotta be one of your mom’s.”

  “I’ll tell you what this is,” Luke said as he looked into her eyes and walked toward her. Riley held her breath as Luke got so close to her that she could see his breath turn into a white cloud.

  “It’s going on your head,” Luke added with a smile as he carefully put the hat on her and “We can’t have our star author catching a cold before her Christmas Camp.”

  When their eyes met, her heart beat faster. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to kiss her. She leaned in.

  And that’s when it happened . . .

  C
hapter Twenty-Three

  A giant snowball hit Luke in the arm, sending snow flying everywhere. When they both spun around and saw Caylee about to fire another snowball at them, Luke instantly sprang into action.

  “Get her!” He laughed, scooping up a bunch of snow and making an even bigger snowball to hurl at Caylee. She jumped to one side just in time to dodge the hit.

  Riley was still standing there watching, laughing.

  “Come on,” Luke said to her. “I could use a little help here.”

  Riley hesitated. She’d never been in a snowball fight before, but when one of Caylee’s snowballs hit her on the leg, she followed Luke’s lead and started making her own snowballs to hurl at Caylee.

  When her second snowball surprised her by hitting its mark, tagging Caylee on the arm, Riley jumped for joy. “I did it!”

  Luke gave her an enthusiastic high five. “Nice job!”

  “Thanks!” Riley laughed. “I learn from the best.”

  Luke gave her a funny look. “What? You’ve never thrown a snowball before?”

  Riley was saved from answering when Caylee ran up behind Luke.

  “Watch out!” Riley shouted, trying to warn him.

  But it was too late. Caylee had already stuffed some snow down the back of Luke’s coat.

  He grabbed Caylee before she could escape. “Now, that’s just playing dirty,” he said as he lifted Caylee up and spun her around. “Looks like it’s time for a reindeer bath.”

  Caylee was kicking and screaming. “You wouldn’t dare!” Caylee shouted while still laughing. “Luke, you put me down right now! I mean it! I’m not a kid anymore.”

  “Really?” Luke laughed. “Because you sure act like one.”

  Seconds later, Luke was dumping Caylee in the snow and covering her with more snow.

  “No!” Caylee shrieked, but you could tell by the huge grin on her face that she was loving every minute of it. “Riley, help me!”

  Riley ran over, and Caylee reached out her hand. “Help me up, please . . .”

  Luke was on the other side of Caylee, down on his knees, still trying to bury Caylee in the snow—or as he’d called it, giving her a reindeer bath.