Home for the Holidays

by Sara Richardson

  “Hey.” Ike looked at something over her shoulder. “What’s that?”

  Dahlia turned. Beyond the barn, a glow of light and color lit up the aspen trees. “The camper!” Dahlia took off in a jog, her feet and heart light. Being the good sport he was, Ike followed behind.

  “They decorated it!” The entire camper was outlined in twinkling pastel-colored lights. “It’s beautiful.” She and her sisters still hadn’t managed to clean up the outside, but with the bright lights the camper had taken on a new life.

  “Should we take a peek?” Ike tried the door, and it swung open.

  “Yes!” She rushed up the steps and flipped on the lights. She hadn’t seen the inside since Rose had put on the finishing touches. “Look at this,” she breathed. Her sister had reupholstered everything with bright flowery fabric. She’d repainted all the old, ugly wood paneling white. “She made pillows.” Cute fluffy pillows with ruffles. A few of their old stuffed animals and tea sets had been incorporated into the design scheme as accents.

  “It’s pretty cool,” Ike agreed. “But I can’t imagine camping in here.”

  Dahlia laughed. “It’s a little fancy for camping. But it was always so special to us. It’s where we used to play and daydream.”

  He approached her, sliding his arms around her waist, his hands meeting at the small of her back, and it was so good to be held that way—with gentleness and care but also with passion.

  “What did you dream about back then?”

  She slid her hands up his shoulders, wishing her coat wasn’t so puffy so she could get even closer to him. “Growing up to be fancy and successful and beautiful.”

  “You are beautiful.” His smile always had a way of bringing out hers. “Not just tonight, either. I think you’re a beautiful person, and that’s not based on what clothes you’re wearing.” He skimmed his thumb over her glossed lips. “Or the makeup you put on.” His eyes held hers, seeming to see everything. “You’re organized, ordered mind is beautiful. The way you care about other people is beautiful. The way you love your kids is beautiful. Your strength is beautiful.”

  “I haven’t felt beautiful in a long time.” Not until now. Not until him. “You make me feel a lot of things.”

  His gaze shifted to her lips. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” She moved to her tiptoes, bringing her face in line with his. “I want to feel more.”

  The whisper drew him closer, and his lips touched hers, drowning out everything except the beat of her heart, the ache in her lungs. This man was warmth and light—the sunrise after a long, dark, lonely night waking everything its rays touched.

  Somehow the radiance spread all through her, reaching into the farthest corners, ending the lonely twilight that had descended over her heart.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Rose

  Rose hung another bough of holly on the curtain rod she’d made for the camper, belting out a stanza of “Deck the Halls.”

  As had become her custom, Marigold whine-howled along, sounding even more off-key than Rose. “You know something, pooch? You’re the only one in the whole world who can harmonize with me.” To think she’d never had a dog before! In such a short time, Marigold had become her other half, her missing piece, the yin to her yang. She’d had no idea what she had been missing out on all those years, but apparently, she’d been living with a Marigold-shaped hole in her heart.

  The dog jumped onto the dinette bench and put her paws on Rose’s chest, her tail moving the curtain behind her.

  “Deck the halls with boughs of holly,” Rose sang loudly.

  “Raw rooo raw,” the dog took over, jumping up onto the table like she wanted a stage.

  Laughing, she continued the song. “’Tis the season to be jolly—”

  “I’ll say.”

  Colt’s voice startled her into silence. She’d been singing so loudly—and horribly—she hadn’t heard him come in from behind her. “Hi!” She spun, a sudden happiness fluttering through her chest. But it was only because they’d become friends of sorts ever since that day on the ladder. At least she liked to think of him as a friend. He didn’t seem to stew or glare anymore in her presence anyway.

  He walked a couple of steps into the camper, stopping to pet Marigold’s head. “I see you two are still getting along.”

  Rose’s heart seemed to pause right in the middle of a beat. Had he found Marigold’s owners? “She is everything I never knew I needed.” She hadn’t mean to sound so desperate, but she couldn’t give up the dog now. They’d already bonded. They’d shared a bed!

  “It’s a good thing because I still haven’t found her owners.” Colt took a seat on the bench and continued to give the dog some love. “Even with the signs we posted around town. So, unless something crazy happens, my guess is you’ll get to keep her.”

  “Forever?” She plopped down on the bench across from Colt, leaning to the left so she could see him past the dog.

  “Yeah. If you want to, that is.”

  How could he even question her? “I want to. I really want to.” But…she still hadn’t figured out what her life would look like next week. How could she go back to Savannah and marry Gregory when every part of her wanted to be here. How could she walk into a marriage when she didn’t feel the same kind of passion Sassy had felt for Larry and Robert? Worry started to crowd in, dampening her hall-decking capabilities.

  Colt didn’t seem to pick up on her emotional swing. He glanced around the trailer. “This place looks amazing. You’re really talented Rose. You’re good at making things look nice.” She’d never seen his face look so boyish. Relaxed but also a little unsure. “You could do a whole lot with the inn.”

  Oh, the inn. She’d love to get her hands on all of it—to work on each cabin and Sassy’s main house, to bring out the original charm. There was a problem though. “I’m not sure Mags, Dally, and I will be able to hold on to the inn.” A crack split through her heart when she said it, but there was the truth. Dally had her kids back in Minneapolis. Mags was expecting a baby now, and well, Rose had a lot of details to work out in her life. She glanced up at Colt, doing her best not to sigh. “You should have it. Or at least a part of it. I feel like it belongs to you, too.” And he lived right in town. He could likely do a lot more with it than she ever could.

  “I have good memories here.” He peered out the camper window, which was facing the pond. “I’m grateful to Sassy for giving me a place. She didn’t have to. A lot of people turned their backs on my dad after he got arrested, but she never did.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me at all.” Sassy had never cared much what people thought. Doing the right thing meant more to her than appearances. Rose would like to think she could be that way, too. “Were you upset with your father?” she asked, trying to gauge the emotion in his eyes. This was the most Colt had ever said about his past. He obviously didn’t like talking about it.

  “Yeah.” He nodded slowly, as though taking his time to consider the question. “I wasn’t mad he’d robbed a bank though. I know why he did it. Hell, I’d probably do the same thing for someone I loved.” His thoughtful stare grazed hers before lowering back to the table. “I was mad he got caught though. As stupid as it sounds. I blamed him for getting caught.”

  “That doesn’t sound stupid.” She reached over the dog and brushed her hand over his. “I think I would’ve felt the same way.” Colt’s whole world had likely changed when his father had been taken away. It was normal to direct that anger somewhere. “You wanted him with you, that’s all.”

  “Yeah, I did.” Colt cleared his throat as though he’d gotten uncomfortable. “Anyway. Let me know what you and your sisters decide about the inn. I’d be interested in buying it.” Rose didn’t have to remind him Sassy would likely give it to him. She could see the determination in his eyes. He wouldn’t allow that.

  “I have to talk to Dally and Mags.” Neither of whom she’d seen yet this morning. She’d done her best to wait up for their older
sister so they could debrief the big date, but by one o’clock in the morning, Rose had fallen into bed. After putting centerpieces on all the tables in the barn and setting out the poinsettias they’d purchased from the flower shop and giving Betty one final cleaning, she couldn’t keep her eyes open. When she’d woken up and gone to Dally’s room this morning, the bed was empty, but it looked like it had been slept in at some point. She planned to voice her staunch disapproval that Dally hadn’t spent the night with Ike to her sister later.

  “I don’t see any of us being able to put in the time or effort to keep this place up.” She hadn’t meant to sound so sad when she said it. “It doesn’t seem to fit in with any of our lives.”

  Colt shrugged. “Maybe take some more time to think on it. Seems to me you can fit whatever you want into your life.”

  “Sure,” she said, even though it wasn’t that simple. “We’ll talk through things before we leave.” They had another four days here after Christmas. Could that be right? Only five days left with her sisters?

  Colt nodded and rose from the bench. “Everything ready for tonight?”

  “I think so.” This morning she’d panicked that Betty wouldn’t look festive enough. Hence the boughs of holly. Though now she wasn’t singing or humming anymore.

  “I have to admit, I can’t believe you pulled it off.” She still hadn’t gotten used to seeing his smile. He had a shallow dimple in his left cheek.

  “We pulled it off,” Rose reminded him. “We make kind of a great team.” When they finally started working together everything fell into place.

  “Yeah. I guess we do make a good team.” There was that shy look again. “I guess I’ll see you later. I’ve got to make sure the sleigh is all ready for flight tonight.”

  “I can’t wait to—”

  “Hello?” The door popped open, and Rose froze mid-sentence. That voice. It couldn’t be…

  Gregory stepped inside the camper.

  Still sitting up on the table, Marigold barked.

  Rose calmed the dog with a scratch behind the ears and blinked her eyes furiously, but each time she opened them, her fiancé still stood there. Her heart fell. This is not what she’d envisioned. Having him show up like this. How could she break up with him the day before Christmas? “What’re you doing here?”

  Gregory’s million-dollar smile fell away. “Hello to you, too.”

  Colt stood between them looking silently back and forth.

  “Sorry.” Rose shook herself free from the shock. “I’m just…surprised.” And sad. Seeing him standing there made her heart heavy.

  “I couldn’t do it, babe.” Gregory inched forward but there wasn’t enough space for him to get around Colt. “I couldn’t spend Christmas away from you. I thought I’d surprise you. So, I flew out on the jet, and your aunt told me I’d find you down here.” He spread out his arms like he wanted to pull her into them. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas.” Rose didn’t move. She wasn’t sure how. Colt still stood between them. But that wasn’t all that stood between them.

  “I should get going.” Colt lurched toward Gregory, and they man-danced around each other so Colt could get past.

  “I’m so sorry.” Rose came to her senses and rushed to them. “Gregory…this is Colt. He’s a friend of the family.”

  “Ah.” Her fiancé gave Colt a quick appraisal. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Yeah. Same.” Colt shot a quick glance at Rose. “Let me know if you need anything else before tonight.” He headed for the door, and Gregory watched him go with an eyebrow cocked. “Aren’t you taking your dog?”

  Colt paused. “Uh…”

  “Marigold isn’t Colt’s dog.” She walked back to the table and hugged the dog to her. “She’s mine.”

  “Yours?” Her fiancé laughed. “But you hate dogs.”

  “I’ve never hated dogs!” What kind of person would hate dogs? “I was afraid of them, but Marigold helped me see the error of my ways.” Really, it had been Colt who’d helped her get over her fear, but she didn’t say so. “We found her outside. She’s a stray. And she’s absolutely the sweetest dog in the whole world. You’re going to love her.” She wasn’t sure why she said it. To keep up appearances, maybe? Because she couldn’t face the thought of breaking Gregory’s heart on Christmas Eve…

  Gregory laughed again. “She’s not coming home with you.” He glanced over his shoulder at Colt shaking his head as if to say Rose is nuts.

  Heat rose from her neck to the tips of her ears. “Yes she is.”

  “I should go.” Colt darted out the door. “See you tonight,” he called behind him.

  “Right! Yep!” She tried to keep her voice chipper, but the second Colt disappeared, her embarrassment boiled over. Rose marched to Gregory. “She’s my dog. She loves me. She follows me around everywhere. I can’t leave her here.”

  “Come on, babe.” A sigh signaled his waning patience. “We don’t have time for a pet. Especially a dog. We’re way too busy. And she’s too big for condo living.”

  “I don’t like being busy.” These last three weeks had been heaven. She’d hadn’t spent all day every day running. She’d wandered. She’d watched movies. She’d actually had time to bond with her sisters. The rest of the words stalled in brain. I’m sorry. I can’t do this. Why couldn’t she say it? Because it would be best to wait. Until after the holidays. Until they were back in Savannah. Until she could warn her mother.

  “Let’s not fight about this right now.” Gregory seemed to dismiss the whole discussion. “We can talk about it later. Why don’t you go pack up your stuff and we’ll go find a good hotel?”

  “Hotel?” Now it was her turn to laugh. “I’m not leaving the inn.”

  A tic worked its way through Gregory’s jaw. “We don’t want to stay here. It’s too crowded. And where am I going to work out?”

  “In the woods?” she suggested. “There are no luxury hotels in town.” She’d been looking forward to Christmas here. With her sisters. And now Gregory had walked in and was trying to change everything.

  “I know there are no luxury hotels here.” He eased his hands onto her shoulders, giving her a gentle massage. “I was thinking we could spend a few nights in Aspen. We would come here to spend Christmas Day with your sisters—”

  “Aspen is two hours away.” On a good weather day.

  “So?” he argued. “We have a driver.”

  “I’m not leaving.” Rose backed away from him. This was supposed to be her calm Christmas before the storm. “I like it here. I like the calm and the coziness. I like being with my sisters.” Maybe that was selfish. But that’s all she wanted for Christmas. To stay here.

  “I came all the way out here to spend time with you…”

  Her heart raced with panic. This was not supposed to happen. “I know. But we can spend time together here. Please. It’s such a beautiful place. I know you’ll fall in love with it the way I have.”

  “Fine. We’ll stay here.” He brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “I need to go check in with work. Where would be the best place to do that?”

  “Aunt Sassy has an office in the main house. I’m sure she’d be fine if you used it.” Rose prodded Marigold to hop off the table. “Come on.” She led him out of the camper. Together, they tromped through the snow up the hill. “See.” She smiled over at him. “You can get a great workout hiking through the snow.” Keep things light. That was the only way she would get through this.

  He smiled back, but it seemed tighter than normal. “I guess I’ll have to give it a try.”

  The rest of the way back to the house, Gregory chatted about all of the events he’d been forced to attend over the last three weeks, and once they stepped inside, they shed their winter coats and hung them up on the coatrack.

  Rose led him into the kitchen where Dahlia and Mags were seated at the table. “There you are.” She studied her sister’s face for any hints about how last night had gone with Ike. “I was hoping
to see you this morning, but you were already gone.”

  Her sister smiled mysteriously. “Hello, Gregory,” she said, instead of offering any information. “How are you?”

  “I’m okay.”

  Rose noticed he didn’t say great. They had that in common right now.

  “How’s Jeff?” he asked politely.

  Rose gasped and elbowed him. “They’ve been divorced for a year! You knew that.” Seriously? Didn’t he listen to her?

  “Oh right.” Gregory shrugged. “Sorry about that.” He turned his attention to Mags. “What about Eric? How are things at the fire department?”

  “Things are great,” Rose said before her sister broke down in tears. Poor Mags. One mention of Eric and her bottom lip started to tremble. “Didn’t you say you have some work to do?”

  “I do.” Gregory pulled out his phone right on cue. “The service isn’t great right here. Not sure I can use my hot spot. Where is that office you were telling me about?”

  “Down the hall, off to the left of the living room.” She all but pushed him in that direction. Once Gregory was gone, Rose dragged Dahlia back to the table. “I need details. How was the date? What happened? Why weren’t you home when I went to bed?”

  Mags laughed. “Geez. One thing at a time.”

  “The date was great.” Dally couldn’t seem to stop smiling. “Ike is…well, he’s different than anyone I’ve ever met.”

  “Ohhhh.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her sister look so happy. “Did he kiss you?”

  “Oh, he kissed her,” Mags answered for her.

  “There was a lot of kissing,” Dally admitted. “Amazing wonderful kissing. We walked down to his cabin, and he made me dinner. Then he played the guitar for me, and we sat on his couch in front of the fire talking and kissing until he walked me home.”

  Rose let out a squeal. “I knew you’d have a great time.” She reached over to squeeze both of her sister’s hands. “You deserve it.”

  “She deserves it,” Mags echoed, looking a little teary. Rose removed one of her hands from Dally’s and put it over Mags’s hand. “How’re you feeling about everything today?”