“Yeah, well, I’d rather reach than be afraid of getting hurt.” The accusation flew out of her lips before she thought it through.
Normally she could tell what Sam was thinking, but as he looked at her, she realized his expression was as blank as a new chalkboard. “Is that really what you think of me? That I’ve settled? That I’m too scared to take risks?”
“I-no, of course not,” Marnie said. This conversation wasn’t going at all like she expected. “Sam, I loved Mom and Dad. But they’re gone and the chapel was their dream, not mine. I’ve spent the last few years feeling…trapped.” Even now she could feel her lungs constrict at the thought of being stuck running the chapel for the rest of her life. “Now I have an opportunity to break free. I would have thought you of all people would understand that.”
“If that’s what you’re hearing me say you’re not listening very closely.” Sam got to his feet and headed toward the stairs, but he hesitated, turned toward her and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Congratulations, Marnie. You’re going to do great in New York.”
“Sam—” She reached to grab his hand, but he moved out of reach.
“I have to head over to the Pine Tree Inn to string more lights on their tree. I’ll see you later.”
“Wait, Sam!” Marnie called, but he didn’t turn around; didn’t stop. He just kept walking leaving Marnie to wish she’d kept her secret just a little while longer.
Chapter 2
Sam parked his truck next to Nick Banning’s old Chevy at the Pine Tree Inn and slogged out, the nightly snow flurry encasing his laced up boots like quicksand. When had Marnie decided she was leaving Christmas Town?
He scrubbed a frozen hand over the side of his neck, his numbed fingers barely feeling the familiar ridges of his scars; his constant reminder of how quickly life could change.
It was one thing to want your best friend’s dreams to come true.
His heart skipped and stalled like an overworked engine.
It was another for those dreams to take away the woman he’d loved all his life.
He could count on one hand the number of times they’d argued. They hardly ever exchanged cross words. But that she thought him so predictable, so settled, so…weak, made him question every decision he’d ever made when it came to their relationship.
Sam hauled his toolbox out of the back and trudged over to where Nick was unraveling the inn’s latest batch of lights. He couldn’t begrudge her this chance; not when the promise of a new start had lit up her face like a treetop angel.
He should have known after Nick’s offer last week to make him a full partner in Banning Handyman it was only a matter of time before his universe shifted on its axis again.
He didn’t want her to leave. His morning climb up those chapel stairs provided more than a brief bout of exercise; it gave him the most beautiful view in all of Christmas Town.
A view that had nothing to do with the scenery and everything to do with Marnie.
“There you are.” Nick kicked a patch of snow clear as Sam joined him under one of the town’s brightest symbols of the season. “I was beginning to wonder.”
“Sorry. I got side-tracked.” Sam bent down and plucked up one of the still unwrapped packages of lights. “Marnie got into some fancy design school in New York.”
“Did she?” Nick angled a look in Sam’s direction that told Sam his friend—and boss—wasn’t too sure how to react. “New York? That’ll be a change, huh? Then again, it will be nice having an interior designer in town. Think maybe she’d be up for working with us once she’s all certified and professional?” Nick grinned.
“If she comes back.” Sam swallowed hard after voicing his greatest fear.
“Marnie’s a Christmas Town kid, Sam.” Nick ducked under one of the untrimmed branches of the tree and jabbed the start of the string inside. “Doesn’t matter how long we’re gone, we always come back.”
“Don’t recall you or any of your family leaving Christmas Town.”
“Mom and Dad now call that motor monstrosity of theirs home, remember? But they always come back. Especially at Christmas. Marnie will, too. You’ll see.”
Sam focused on unknotting thick green cords. He wasn’t so sure. With her parents gone, with the chapel run down and outdated, aside from her sisters, what was keeping her here?
“It’s hard, isn’t it?” Nick said when the silence stretched too thin for them to ignore. “Loving someone who doesn’t know you’re there. Or worse, only sees you as a friend.”
“What?” Sam felt his cheeks warm as he stared wide-eyed at his friend. “Nick, I don’t know—”
“I do,” Nick said. “I was right where you are last year, wondering if Gina was ever going to accept the fact I loved her. That scar of hers ran deeper than even I realized.” Nick’s eyes grazed over the side of Sam’s face. “But it’s something I don’t see. Never have. Trust me, man.”
“Marnie’s always said they’re my badge of honor,” Sam said. It was one of the reasons he loved her. “And that’s easy for you to say now that the two of you are married.” And hadn’t that summer wedding at the gazebo in the town square been a community event? He remembered most of that day. He also remembered the monster hangover he’d had to deal with the next morning.
“Never took you for one not to rise to a challenge,” Nick said in his typical matter-of-fact tone. “You’ve always rolled with the punches, Sam. One of the things I’ve always admired about you. I’m not saying it was easy for me and Gina. That girl of mine put up one heck of a fight. What I had to decide was whether I was willing to take a chance and go after what I wanted or let the rest of my life pass me by. Trust me, my friend. Take a chance. Tell Marnie the truth. You might think the worse that can happen is that she leaves, but honestly? The worst thing in this world is to live with regrets.”
Nick’s words of advice hovered long after their work was done. He begged off joining Nick for lunch at Posey’s and instead, drove back home, determination settling inside him like a hibernating albeit restless bear.
Nick was right. He’d let his comfortable relationship with Marnie rob him of the possibility of there being more. Was he so afraid of risking a lifelong friendship that he’d done exactly what Marnie accused him of and settled? Had he remembered how exhilarating it could be to take a chance? To risk his heart…
Risk his heart…
He climbed out of the car and headed inside his house that was still seriously lacking in Christmas spirit. He closed the front door against the winter chill. Marnie didn’t think he liked taking risks, huh? Fine. Challenge accepted.
Tossing his keys on the table, he headed toward the closet in the guest room and pulled down the sagging cardboard box he’d dragged out of a dumpster more than a decade before. His hand hovered over the lid as his heart hammered in his ears.
Maybe it wasn’t quite the right time to tell Marnie how he felt about her.
Maybe it was time to show her.
~*~
“Tell me you’re making more progress in here than I am in the office.” Chloe ducked her head around the door frame of the sewing room late that same afternoon, her long, curly copper hair falling around narrow shoulders, blue eyes slightly accusing even as they twinkled in post-nuptial happiness. “Oh.” She straightened and moved inside, stepping over endless boxes of sewing and craft supplies, containers of photos, and more bobbins of thread than the town quilting bee would require. “This room is just Mom, isn’t it?” She stooped down beside Marnie and grabbed a selection of fat quarter folds of fabric, brought it to her face. “I can smell her perfume. Lilac and vanilla.”
Marnie uncurled her legs from under her butt and stretched out, grateful to have a break from the silent memories roaming through her mind. The old Victorian farmhouse that had been their childhood home was as much a part of her as the blood that ran through her veins. This room in particular chimed childhood as they’d spent most of their free time at their mother’s knee trying to kn
it, crochet, sew, and, in a few disastrous instances, paint. The silver-grey walls had been painted a nice satin finish so stains and splatters could be easily cleaned. Tables and cabinets lined the wall. By the lace-curtained windows, an old Boston rocking chair with one of their mother’s hand-stitched pillows sat waiting for a new occupant.
“Remember the Christmas tree dresses she sewed for us in fourth grade?” Marnie reached over and plucked up the familiar albeit hideous green and gold fabric. “The three of us must have looked like a tree lot on parade on our way to the annual pageant.”
“Hey, I rocked mine like a runway model.” Chloe laughed and ran a reverent hand over the material even as she smiled softly at the thin gold band on her finger. “I don’t think Noelle was as thrilled.”
“More tinsel might have done the trick,” Marnie laughed. “I remember you tried to braid it into your hair.”
“Ugh.” Chloe collapsed back and crossed her ankles. “Don’t remind me. I was still finding strands of it at Valentine’s Day. If you don’t mind me saying, this doesn’t look like your normal plan of action.”
“Sam reminded me of something this morning.”
“Did he?” Chloe grinned. “He’s always so thoughtful when it comes to you. What did he remind you of?”
“Stop it,” Marnie wanted to laugh, but hers and Sam’s conversation in the tower this morning still weighed on her and instead of a smile tilting her lips, she frowned. Chloe had gotten it into her head years ago there was more to her and Sam than just being friends but Marnie always dismissed the idea even as she wondered when those tingles of hers had started.
Was that why he’d reacted the way he had this morning? Was it possible he didn’t want her to go because…because he cared?
Marnie shook her head, dismissing the idea. Cold feet. That was all this was. Clinging to Sam was familiar, secure. Sam was home. Just like this house. And yet… “I’m looking for inspiration for my design project.” It had taken years for her to get over the regret of tossing her idea books away, but there was nothing that could be done about it now.
Chloe pouted. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d take you leaving town now that I’m back very personally.”
“Look at it this way,” Marnie proposed. “You have Ted now and soon you’ll have a home of your own. And you and Noelle will have someone to stay with if the two of you come to New York.” Just as soon as Marnie found a place to live. All the practicalities she’d been happy to ignore while she basked in the excitement of the acceptance letter began to pile up inside of her. Brick by brick, walling her up.
“Mmmm. Maybe.”
“You know,” Marnie hedged. “Now that things are settled with the mill you could—”
“Nope.” Chloe held up her hands and pushed back up to her feet. “Sorry, the chapel is your baby, Marnie. It’s the least I owe you after I almost lost everything Dad left us thanks to my less than stellar business decisions. Put that money I gave you to proper use. Noelle and I will support whatever decision you make just as you guys did with me.”
“And if I decide I want to sell the chapel?” That money would go a long way to setting her up in New York not to mention paying a good chunk of the first year’s tuition. Which reminded her, she needed to send in that application for financial aid. Chloe had been more than generous giving her—and Noelle—a portion of the money she’d received from selling the mill to her new husband’s family, but it wasn’t going to go far.
“We’ll deal with it together.” Chloe wandered over to the window and pushed the lace curtain aside. “You’ve always had more of an emotional tie to the chapel than us and after all you did for Mom and Dad over the years, it’s not our place to interfere. If you want to walk away, I’ve got your back.”
“And Noelle?” Marnie asked.
“Noelle is Noelle. She will support whatever you want to do. Just like she did me. She loves you. She wants the best for you. Speaking of what’s best.” Chloe clicked her tongue. “Sam’s here.”
“He is?” Marnie shoved up off the floor, wincing as her twenty-eight years protested in new ways.
“He’s got a box. No bow though, so I guess it’s not a present. Too bad.”
“Hopefully not more stuff to go through.” Marnie headed downstairs and pulled open the front door as Sam was about to push it open. “Hi.” Her entire body warmed at the sight of him. The man had to have chill resistant blood. The lightweight jacket he wore couldn’t keep a draft out of a window let alone the winter air of Maine at the holidays.
“I thought you could use these,” Sam said as he hefted the box. “Consider it a peace offering and an apology.”
Marnie stepped back and waved him inside. “An apology?” She led the way past the lighted tree by the foyer window, down the hall to the kitchen where he set the box on the table as she stacked the last of the breakfast dishes in the sink.
“I should have been more supportive when you told me about New York. This is a great opportunity for you, Marnie. I think you should go for it.”
“Oh.” Marnie turned in time to see him shove his hands into his pockets. “Thank you.” As if she hadn’t been dwelling on their talk for the last few hours.
“I’ll admit it. I was being selfish, thinking about losing my best friend.” He shrugged. “And, well, I didn’t react the way I should have. I am excited for you, Marnie, and I’m going to do everything I can to help. Beginning with giving these back to you.”
Marnie gasped as he pushed off the lid to the banker’s box and exposed the familiar color-coded binders and notebooks. She took a shaky step forward, hand to her throat, daring not to believe…“My scrapbooks? You had them? But how? I mean why—”
“I told you. A guy doesn’t forget the day his best friend tried to throw away her dreams.” He pulled out a hot pink and black binder marked “Bells are Ringing”. “I went back to the dumpster after you went home that day and rescued them. Look through this one first.”
Tears burned the back of her throat. All she could do was nod as she flipped open the cover and leafed through the plastic-covered pages of collaged pictures, articles, instructions, and notes. All those ideas she’d spent endless hours detailing for years flooded back. All the thoughts and plans…
“I think you should make redesigning the chapel your application project,” Sam said.
Marnie’s chin shot up and she blinked. “What?”
“You want to get into that school? Let’s get you in with a bang. Whether you want to admit it or not, that chapel is a part of you; it has your heart even if you don’t see it. Show this school of yours what’s inside you, Marnie. I’ve talked to Nick and he’s willing to let me readjust my schedule at Banning Handyman so I can help.”
“You want to help me redesign Bells are Ringing?” Marnie echoed and turned stunned eyes on her sister as Chloe bounded into the room.
“Hello, Sam,” she practically sang as she bee-lined for the coffee maker. “What brings you by?”
“An offer for Marnie,” Sam said. “I mean, I had a suggestion.” He coughed and Marnie grinned at the sudden tint of pink in his cheeks. “What do you say, Marnie? I’m yours for however long you need me. For whatever you need me for.”
“What girl could say no to that?” Chloe batted her lashes at Marnie.
“Sam thinks I should redo the chapel for my application project,” Marnie said, trying to land on an excuse to refuse. Except she couldn’t. With the binder in her hands, the box on the table, and the encouraging smile on Sam’s face, there wasn’t any other answer she could give except to nod. Her heart tipped. He’d saved her binders. Her notebooks. Her dreams. “Yeah.” She cleared her throat of tears and hugged the binder against her chest. “Yeah, I think I can come up with something to make this work. It’s the perfect solution.”
“Great.” Sam let out a sigh as if he’d been holding his breath. “Let me get together with Nick and reorganize my schedule. I’ll be here first thing in the morning to get s
tarted.”
“Tomorrow?” Marnie gasped. “But—”
“You’re the one who said we have ten days. That gives us until the 20th.” Sam walked around the table and grabbed hold of her shoulders. “You’ve got me for that long. So start making new notes, Marnie. I’ll expect to go over plans right away.” He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss on her stunned lips. “Let’s get you to New York.”
Marnie clutched her binder against her chest and tried to remember how to breathe. Her mouth was warm, her lips tingled. He’d kissed her. Sam Collins had kissed her.
“That Sam,” Chloe said after he’d left. “He’s always been a stand-up guy. Reliable, devoted, and, if that expression on your face is any indication, definitely full of surprises. I can’t believe some lucky girl hasn’t snatched him up.”
Marnie’s smile dipped. “Me, too.”
“If you ask me, it’s only a matter of time before somebody realizes what they’re missing out on.” Chloe waved her hand in front of Marnie’s face. “Yeah, I’d definitely say that clock was ticking. I’m meeting Teddy in town for an early dinner, but I’m going to finish those bookcases in Dad’s office first. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Later.” Marnie lifted her fingers to her lips, torn between smiling and worrying. Sam had kissed her. Why? Or more importantly, why now? Her life was already heading into deep flux territory. She didn’t need any more confusion muddling her plans. Except…
Sam Collins had kissed her.
The smile won.
Chapter 3
Sam got out of his truck in front of Bells are Ringing early the next morning as the light inside clicked on. Part of him couldn’t help but smile. He’d bet Marnie had spent most of the night tossing and turning because she couldn’t turn off her brain.
When he’d seen that spark of inspiration ignite her brown eyes at his suggestion of giving the chapel a makeover, he knew he’d made the right choice. And that he was on the right track.
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