A Sweethaven Christmas

by Courtney Walsh

  Slowly, she brought her eyes to his and found his intent stare unnerving. What had gotten into him? Had Ronnie’s death caused him to examine his own life? They had been friends growing up.

  “Henry, you don’t have to say anything.” Adele heard the slight shake in her own voice and realized how nervous he made her.

  He took her face in his hands and leaned down, drawing their lips together. For a brief moment, Adele startled at the nearness of him. She’d never kissed anyone before, and his lips on hers felt soft and warm. She inhaled the scent of him, freshly showered after a full day on his daddy’s farm. She pulled back and met his eyes, and her awkwardness melted away at the acceptance she found waiting for her there. Was it possible for her to love Henry after only a few short weeks?

  She didn’t know, but she knew he made her feel unlike anyone else in the world.

  She leaned against him then, as he drew his arms around her and welcomed his kisses and the way they made her feel—like she was someone special. Because to Henry, she was.

  “I still don’t know what got into him that night,” Adele said now, closing the book in her lap. “But I suppose there will always be something special between the two of us.” She stilled. “I guess you could say he was my first love.”

  Jane smiled. “I had no idea, Adele. I always think of you with Teddy.”

  At the mention of Teddy’s name, Adele straightened. She shouldn’t let herself wander down memory lane like this. How unfair it was to Teddy.

  As if she read her mind, Meghan leaned forward and put a hand on hers. “Teddy doesn’t want you to be alone. You know that, Mama. He wants you to be happy—to live all the years you have.”

  Adele quieted. Teddy had always been the most selfless person she knew, and he wouldn’t want her to be lonely. He would want someone to take care of her.

  “Just think about it,” Jane said, standing. “Graham’s taking the kids back home first thing. I’m staying to ‘focus on myself.’” She tossed a glance toward the kitchen. ‘Though I’m not sure I have the willpower to be in your house. I’m already terrified to be here for Christmas.” She tossed a glance toward the kitchen. “Though I’m not sure I have the willpower to be in your house on Christmas.”

  Adele’s heart fell at the thought of everyone returning to their lives. She loved sharing her home with the people she loved, serving them her latest dishes, hearing their laughter fill the house. When Tom and Lila appeared on her porch the night before, she’d barely been awake, and yet her heart leaped with joy that she could offer solace in their time of need.

  When everyone left, it would be quiet again, and the thought of it brought the loneliness back.

  “I’m so happy you’re staying until Christmas,” Adele said as she followed Jane toward the front door, Meghan close behind.

  “Me too.”

  Adele pulled her into a hug, then she turned to Meghan and gave her a squeeze too. “Thanks for helping me today, girls.”

  Meghan nodded and followed Jane out onto the porch. “Mama,” Meghan said, facing her. “Think about Henry’s invitation. For what it’s worth, I think you should go.”

  “I will, darlin’. I promise.” Adele waved as they walked down the steps toward Meghan’s car.

  Back inside, the quiet of the house haunted her. For someone as social as she was, the emptiness of that home was something of a curse.

  She stood at the doorway of the dining room and stared at the computer for too many minutes, her mind spinning with ancient thoughts of Henry’s touch—his kisses.

  Then, without giving it another thought, she clicked open his message and hit Reply.

  Dear Henry, she wrote, I think getting together for coffee sounds like just about the best idea I’ve heard. . . .

  Campbell

  The Monday night composition class would only meet for a few more weeks and then they took a break until after the New Year. With only six students, Campbell had been able to test her teaching skills, praying regularly that her mom’s ease in front of an audience had transferred to her.

  By now, months after that first nerve-racking class, she’d settled into her own groove and found that she enjoyed sharing what she’d learned about photography with her students. Most were hobbyists or young moms who were tired of their boring photographs. She’d grown to love them. Even Jed, whose camera was likely twice as old as Campbell.

  The old man had proven to be a quick study, though—an artist who’d never blossomed, Campbell called him. Now, as she prepared to close the class and give them their assignment for the following week, the door at the back of the gallery opened and Luke walked in. Her students followed the distraction and her eyes in time to see Luke lift his hand in a slight, apologetic wave.

  Campbell had been putting him off since the night of their dinner. The night her snooping had led her to the discovery of a ring she was not meant to see. At least not yet. He’d likely want to know why she’d been so distant. Her stomach turned at the thought of having the conversation.

  She didn’t want to jeopardize what they had, but something was stopping her from letting go completely. She couldn’t even tell him how she really felt about him.

  What was she so afraid of?

  Campbell scanned the faces of her students. “Your assignment is to shoot low light at one of the community events this week. I’m planning to participate in this assignment myself.” She could hardly wait to experience a Sweethaven Christmas for herself. Events like the Luminary Walk through downtown and the outdoor Christmas Concert in the Park promised to usher in the magic of the holidays.

  “Which one will you be shooting, Miss Carter?” Jed asked from the back row.

  “I’m going to try to get to all of them,” she said, “but I’m most looking forward to the Christmas Concert in the Park.”

  “Then that’s where I’ll plan on going,” Jed said, winking at her.

  Campbell glanced at Luke, who raised an amused brow.

  The others laughed and Campbell wished them all a wonderful week. As they left, her students chatted about their assignment, a few of them thanking her for such an enjoyable class.

  She locked the door behind the last student and turned to find Luke leaning against the brick wall in the back. “Hey, stranger,” he said. “I think I’m going to take this class next session.”

  She grinned. “Sure you are.”

  “You seem to be pretty comfortable in front of them.”

  “They’re a good class.”

  “You’re a good teacher.” His eyes found hers and she could see the question that lingered there. Had her absence, her distance, hurt him? Regret twisted in her belly, especially remembering how his absence, his distance with his consulting back in Chicago had affected her at first. It had been unfair of her to react without any explanation, but the truth could do far more harm than good.

  “You’ve been hiding away over here,” he said.

  She gathered her class notes and stuffed them in a manila folder. “It’s been busy. Trying to get ready for next year’s classes before the holiday break.” She had to schedule everything to publicize the gallery in the local newspaper, and that had been time-consuming. But not nearly as time-consuming as she made it out to be.

  He followed her over to the counter, where she filed away the class notes in the bottom drawer underneath the register.

  “Looks like you’ve got a good system here.”

  She turned to Luke. “It’s coming together, but you were right. It’s a lot of work.”

  “Cam, is everything okay?” The pleading look in his eyes pierced her heart. Hurting him was not an option.

  She put on a smile. “Of course, why wouldn’t it be?”

  “You tell me.”

  Her mind spun. What could she say? I saw the ring and I don’t know what to say if you propose to me. Sometimes honesty wasn’t the best policy, no matter what they taught you in Sunday school.

  “It’s just hectic, and, you know, it�
�s the first Christmas without my mom.” As soon as the words were out, she regretted them. How dare she use her mom’s death as an excuse for her behavior? It should’ve been the reason, but it wasn’t, and the idea shamed her.

  His shoulders slumped then, deflating almost, and she imagined having a reason for her weird behavior had come as a relief to him.

  She rationalized the thought and told herself that Mom had been on her mind a lot lately, though not because of the holidays. Because right now, she needed someone to talk her off the ledge—to tell her what to do, and she didn’t have that anymore. Not really.

  Still, had she deceived Luke by claiming Mom’s absence as the reason for her own?

  He sighed. “Cam, I’m sorry. I’ve been so insensitive about that.” He took her hand and pulled her into a hug. “Do you need anything?”

  She melted into him, wanting to stay there for the rest of the night, the warmth of his embrace all the comfort she needed.

  “No, I’m fine.” She pulled back and looked at him. “But thank you.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Listen, I have something I want to ask you.”

  Campbell’s heart jumped. Oh no. Not now.

  “I heard you say you’re going to the Christmas concert?”

  “Of course.”

  “Do you want to go together?” Luke grinned. “For me, it’s the true beginning of the season, I think, hearing them play all the Christmas songs, and this year Meghan’s even singing at it—part of that special they’re filming.”

  Her nerves quieted, though she couldn’t explain the emotion that took their place. “Oh yeah, that sounds fun.”

  “You’re up for it?”

  “Of course.”

  He slipped his arms around her. “Good. I think you’re going to love spending Christmas in Sweethaven.”

  Christmas at home had always been magical. Mom seemed to have so many friends without family nearby, and they’d all get together and feel less lonely, more like this was just as it was meant to be.

  Would Sweethaven adopt Campbell the same way?

  “I’m sorry you’re missing your mom,” Luke said. “I still miss my dad around the holidays.”

  His eyes melted her and for the briefest moment, she imagined herself letting go of these insecurities, of finally telling him how she felt. What if he did propose? What if she said yes? Maybe this was what she really wanted but was too scared to admit to herself.

  “Thanks, Luke. I’m really looking forward to making some new traditions.”

  He smiled. “I’ll pick you up here before the concert. We can walk over to the Square together. Dress warm.”

  “You don’t want to keep me warm?”

  He grinned. “Oh, I’ll keep you warm. I promise it’ll be the most romantic night of your life,” Luke said, his eyes dancing in the dim light of the gallery.

  She waited for more of an explanation, but none came. Only kisses—kisses she stopped herself from getting lost in.

  Because in the back of her mind, she’d already started obsessing over Luke’s words. The most romantic night of her life would surely include a proposal—in public, at the Sweethaven Christmas concert. Luke’s way of adding to the holiday magic?

  With every passing moment, and every threat of being swept away by his kiss, Campbell pulled herself back to earth with the reality that at this time the next night, she could be wonderfully engaged . . . or horribly single.

  Lila

  Even after a heart-to-heart with Adele, their night at the Whitmore hadn’t brought any peace. Lila awoke with Tom at her side, the memory of the night before crashing back. The words she’d said to her parents had certainly put her out of their good graces, and while they weren’t exactly in hers either, she imagined she took it to heart far more than they did.

  “You feel like getting breakfast?” Tom asked when Lila turned off the hair dryer.

  She couldn’t sit around the hotel room all morning. “Sure.”

  After they got dressed, they walked down Main Street until they reached the café. They found a table in the back and one of the waitresses took their order. Lila hadn’t been able to drink coffee after about a month into her pregnancy, and even now she wondered if the smell of it might upset her stomach.

  “You okay?” Tom must’ve seen the green color of her face.

  “Fine. Just need to eat something, I think.”

  Their food arrived and Lila had no problem eating her entire egg sandwich with a side of American fries. “I can’t believe I spent so many years not eating this food.”

  Tom smiled. “You’ve been missing out.”

  They finished their meal, and just as they were getting ready to leave, her mother strolled in. Lila could tell she hadn’t expected to see her there, but Mama quickly regained her composure and sailed through the maze of tables. She stood in front of Lila in a matter of seconds. Lila stared at the table.

  “I wondered when I’d run into you,” Mama said. “We need to talk. Tom, would you excuse us, please?” Mama glared at Tom, but Lila clapped a hand over his.

  “If you want to talk to me, you can do it in front of my husband.”

  Mama drew in a long breath. Lila tried to brace herself for whatever Mama had planned.

  “Fine.” She sat. “I’m sure Tom would much rather remove himself from all of your drama, but if this is the way you want it, I suppose I can’t change your mind.”

  “Say what you need to say, Mama. And then I have to go. We’re looking at cottages this afternoon.” She knew it would irk Mama if Lila bought her own cottage. They’d discussed the day the lake house would officially be passed down to Tom and Lila, but in light of recent events, Lila had no intention of receiving anything from her parents. When they outgrew it, her parents could put the lake house on the market—she didn’t care anymore.

  “Why would you do that?”

  “I don’t want to get into it here.”

  Mama sighed. “You were always so obstinate, Lila.”

  Lila’s jaw went slack. Mama had always been cold, but with this latest development, it seemed to have gotten worse.

  “I just want you to know that this is as much a shock to me as it is to you,” Mama said, her eyes stony, her jaw tense.

  Lila studied her mother for any sign of emotion but found none.

  “When I saw that woman in the restaurant, I assumed, like you, that she was another one of your father’s mistresses. He has a way of flaunting them around town, but I thought he’d have the decency to keep them out of our holiday celebration.”

  Mama pressed her lips together. “When I found out who she really was—that he’d been lying . . .” Mama brought her gaze to Lila’s, then quickly looked away. “I’m just sorry any of this had to happen.”

  Lila had never seen her mother vulnerable. Would this be the thing to finally help them see eye to eye? With Daddy as a common enemy, the two of them could move past this, start over.

  “So what will you do?” Lila resisted the urge to reach out and take Mama’s hands. She didn’t know where to begin to comfort her mother, but she was quite sure Mama wouldn’t accept any empathy from her.

  “Same thing I’ve been doing for years, darling.”

  Lila frowned. “How can you do that? How can you turn a blind eye over and over?”

  Mama’s eyes darted to Tom. “I would think you of all people would understand, dear daughter.”

  Lila felt Tom’s hand on her knee, but she ignored it. “How dare you, Mama.”

  Mama’s brows sprang upward and an innocent look washed over her face.

  “Don’t compare Tom and me to you and Daddy. Daddy’s a chronic cheater.”

  “Once a cheater, always a cheater, my darling.” Her glare hung too long on Tom, and Lila shifted in her seat.

  “I think you should go, Mama.”

  “I understand the truth hurts, but eventually you get used to it. You accept the fact that men are not made to be faithful. And when something like thi
s happens—something like Campbell happens—you learn to accept it and move on. It does me no good to leave your father.”

  Lila couldn’t make sense of Mama’s behavior. What if Mama really didn’t care? Stopped believing she deserved a loyal husband?

  The older Adler stood, smoothed her jacket and looked down on the two of them. “We all have our disappointments, Lila. But the important thing is that you’re honest with yourself about them. I simply wanted you to know I had no part in this.”

  Lila watched her mother walk out the door.

  “Hon, let it go,” Tom said. “You know you can’t listen to your mother. She’s obviously a miserable person who doesn’t love anyone but herself.”

  “Is she right, Tom?”

  Tom stopped midsentence. “About what?”

  “Once a cheater, always a cheater?”

  He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. “Don’t let her do this to you, Lila.”

  Lila’s mind spun with all the overnight trips Tom had taken over the years. Sometimes he’d be gone for a week or more. How did she know he’d been faithful? All those years they had problems—had he even once ignored the gold band on his finger?

  She turned to face him. “Tell me the truth. You’ve had plenty of opportunity. Flight attendants, women you’ve met on planes. Tell me you’ve never slept with anyone else.”

  Tom held her eyes. “I’ve never slept with anyone else.”

  “The entire time we’ve been married?”

  He brought a hand to her face and brushed away a tear. “Lila, I made enough mistakes before we were married. I wasn’t going to keep making them afterward. I knew how it made me feel to have to keep a secret from you.”

  She wanted to believe him, but Mama had seemed so sure.

  “I’m not your father. And you’re not your mother. Thankfully. Don’t take on their problems. You know me.”

  Lila let him hold her as she regained her composure, determined not to let herself fall apart in the middle of the café.

  Mama wanted to believe that everyone else’s marriage was as miserable as hers, but the old woman didn’t know everything. She hadn’t spent any time around them, so what could she possibly hope to do by casting aspersions in their direction? Finally, Lila had what she wanted, a happy marriage, a baby on the way—and Mama was determined to ruin all of it.