Christmas Promises at the Garland Street Markets: A feel good Christmas romance (New York Ever After, Book 5)

by Helen J Rolfe

  ‘I’m going to read up on art courses for her, go and visit some universities together and we’ll take it from there. I’m going to remain open to suggestions.’ He made the announcement much like a master of ceremonies telling everyone that this was what was happening.

  ‘I’m glad to hear you’re looking at it from her point of view too,’ she said.

  ‘We’re going to work together while she makes some decisions,’ he smiled. ‘You know, Scarlett and I were worried you and Kyle would hide away after the news about Connie. That’s why we showed up so early at your apartment this morning and dragged you ice-skating.’

  ‘It was the right thing to do.’ Seeing him this morning had been the best Christmas gift she could hope for and she’d relished every second of their time together. She wondered, had he? ‘Connie would’ve been annoyed if I hadn’t come tonight.’

  ‘She’s not the only one.’ But his comment ended there because Mitch joined them, shook Nathan’s hand, kissed Amelia on the cheek before telling her how impressed he’d been with Kyle and his hard work at the markets.

  ‘He’s been an asset to my business, can I hire him next year?’ Mitch asked.

  ‘I’ll let him know you’re interested. But I think he might be embarking on a new career pretty soon. He wants to join the fire brigade,’ she announced proudly. And Mitch was all ears, wanting to hear more. He seemed a man who made friends for life, regardless of their age, their background.

  Nathan was commandeered by the redhead, who was extolling the virtues of Rupert’s latest canapé on offer – golden-crumbed arancini bites.

  Myles grabbed Amelia’s attention next. ‘Thank you for looking after the apartment, saved us having to check on it. I always worry about frozen pipes, water leaks, it’s been good having someone around.’

  ‘I can’t thank you enough for letting us stay there. Honestly, not being cooped up together somewhere dingy and very expensive was a real help, and we’ve felt like proper New Yorkers. Are you still planning to sell up?’

  ‘In the New Year. I need to paint it first.’

  ‘When will you ever fit that in with your work schedule?’

  Darcy appeared at his side. ‘Maybe we should make the announcement now,’ she grinned at Myles.

  ‘What are you two hiding?’ Cleo, astute as ever, had overheard and wanted to know more.

  ‘I’m curious too.’ Holly, Mitch’s girlfriend, had her arms resting on her other half’s shoulder and leaned in to him.

  ‘Here goes.’ Darcy looked nervous, not an emotion Amelia associated with the together, well-groomed hotelier.

  Darcy moved to stand beside the desk in the communal lounge, the fire flickering gently in the grate with stockings lined up along the mantel and a garland strung across the top, the tree dominating the window and shining onto the street. And with Myles’s mischievous encouragement she kicked off her heels and let him hold her hand to help her climb up onto a chair.

  ‘Last time that happened,’ said Dylan, ‘it was me climbing onto a chair at the Little Knitting Box to propose to Cleo.’

  ‘They’re already married,’ said Holly. ‘Wonder what’s going on.’

  Darcy clinked a knife against her champagne glass and almost lost her footing but Myles held her steady.

  ‘That was close,’ Darcy laughed. ‘Right, now I have everyone’s attention, it seems like a very good time to make this announcement. As some of you know, Sofia intended to sell this wonderful inn, and I’m not sure how many of you know that Myles and I have been doing our best this past year to get our finances in order so we might be in a position to buy it.’ She quelled any enthusiasm. ‘Sofia has since decided she can’t bear to part with this place, and I for one am glad, because I think we’ll all agree, it’s gorgeous.’

  ‘Hear, hear!’ someone hollered.

  ‘I was worried someone would buy this place and make so many changes it would lose its character, but that won’t happen now.’ More cheers, but Darcy hadn’t finished. ‘I was disappointed that I wouldn’t get my hands on it, but financially it was never going to be for us without a lot of stress and sacrifice.’ She reached a hand out and Myles took hold of it. ‘Myles and I were both in agreement on that. But, we do have another announcement.’

  ‘Out with it,’ Holly begged. ‘I’m dying to know!’

  ‘Myles and I have bought another inn, one that needs a bit of TLC.’ They were both smiling and Darcy held her glass aloft. ‘You’re looking at the new owners of The Chestnut Lodge, in Inglenook Falls.’

  The crowd of people in the communal lounge erupted with whoops of joy and congratulations, there were hugs all round, questions fired their way, and all the magic of another Christmas Eve party at the Inglenook Inn.

  Cleo rushed to Darcy’s side. ‘This is brilliant news. You’ll be near me, I can’t believe it.’

  Holly was next. ‘The owners never said a word about you being the buyer.’

  Myles brought Amelia up to speed. Holly knew the owners already and had been staying at The Chestnut Lodge around the time she’d fallen into Mitch’s life.

  ‘I wanted to wait until it was all definite before I said anything to anyone,’ Darcy confided. ‘I wanted all the paperwork out of the way and then I decided tonight would be the perfect time for the announcement. It’s a nice way to start Christmas, dreaming of our plans.’ She had hold of Myles’s hand and pulled him to her side. ‘And this one is finally getting out of the rat race. Finances are all lined up, we’ll be partners.’

  ‘Are you sure you’re ready?’ Dylan teased Myles.

  ‘Ask me again in a few months’ time.’

  ‘You fully deserve it,’ said Cleo. ‘I assume this is why Myles has been working such long hours again?’ she asked Darcy. ‘You had me worried for a while there.’

  ‘I apologise. And hey, we should be fully renovated by spring so spread the word.’ Darcy was beaming. The decision was so right for them.

  Amelia and Nathan, finding themselves back together again by the Christmas tree, hung back from the crowd. ‘There you go, accommodation sorted for you next year,’ he said.

  ‘Sounds like it.’

  The redhead came over and planted a smacker on Nathan’s cheek, staking her claim with the red lipstick mark she left behind. She extended a hand in Amelia’s direction. ‘I’m Valerie, lovely to meet you.’

  ‘Good to meet you too.’

  But before the conversation could go any further, Mitch ushered Amelia and Nathan to one side. ‘It’s Scarlett and Kyle.’

  ‘What about them?’ Amelia had a bad feeling now.

  ‘They’re at the markets. I had Kyle double-check I’d locked my chalet, but he just messaged me. There’s some kind of trouble down there.’

  ‘What kind of trouble?’ Nathan put his beer bottle down. ‘Is Scarlett OK?’

  ‘I don’t know, but you’d better go, both of you. And quick.’

  Neither Amelia nor Nathan needed any persuasion. Amelia grabbed her coat, Darcy found a pair of trainers and gave them to her to replace the heels, and she kept up with Nathan as they hurtled towards the Garland Street winter markets, which resembled a ghost town now that they were closed and people had moved to where the festivities still continued.

  ‘Where are they?’ Her breath came out cold, the icy wind lifted her dress and she pushed it down again as they walked on.

  ‘I’ve no idea, there doesn’t seem to be anyone around.’ Mitch had sounded so dramatic back at the inn, but Garland street was quieter than she’d ever seen it.

  They kept on going, moonlight guiding them on the way past all the other chalets, now closed up for Christmas. On all the nights they could get into trouble, did it really have to be Christmas Eve? And when everything had been going so well too.

  They reached the chalet but there was still no sign of them and already the snow had started to fall. It would be magical if Amelia wasn’t worrying herself sick right now. ‘Where the hell are they?’ She looked around them
. Nathan was hovering by the door to the chalet, which no longer had trees surrounding it although the scent of pine still drifted in the air along with feathery flakes that landed on her coat and the bare parts of her legs.

  Kyle stepped out from the shadows and made them both jump. ‘Kyle, what’s going on?’ she demanded. He didn’t look as though he was hurt or bleeding, and Scarlett was next to come out from hiding.

  ‘Scarlett?’ Nathan directed his questions to his daughter.

  ‘Go inside,’ she told Nathan and Amelia.

  ‘What have you done?’ Nathan asked but Scarlett merely rolled her eyes and repeated her request.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Amelia asked as they went inside the chalet. ‘What’s all this?’

  Both of them took in the fairy lights strung all around the interior, the table with the bottle of champagne in the bucket, two glasses, the double beanbag she’d seen back at the apartment in Kyle’s bedroom now here with a baby-soft chocolate blanket draped over it.

  ‘You both need to talk,’ Scarlett clarified as Kyle turned off the fan heater that had toasted up the interior good and proper.

  And with that they shut the doors and all Nathan and Amelia could hear was them both giggling outside.

  ‘It’s a conspiracy,’ said Nathan, the hint of a grin appearing.

  ‘I think you’re right. Apparently we need to talk,’ she said, repeating what Scarlett had said.

  ‘Are they trying to set us up?’ Nathan took in the romantic atmosphere the teenagers had managed to create. ‘Maybe Paul would appreciate it more, although from what you’ve said, posh hotels are more his thing.’

  ‘Paul’s gone. I haven’t seen him since the night at his hotel when I told him it was over.’

  ‘Right.’

  Was that all he had to say? ‘Just so we’re clear, nothing happened between us at the apartment the night you showed up. And this time, I was the one who ended it, told him to go.’

  ‘You did?’

  ‘Turns out six months and a few thousand miles was what it took for me to realise we were all wrong together.’ Awkward, she reached out and toyed with the stem of one of the champagne glasses. ‘We should go. Valerie will wonder where you are.’ She became aware of him stepping closer.

  ‘She’s probably too busy with Harper to notice.’

  ‘Harper, one of the guests?’ She remembered being introduced to a bubbly woman with a sharp pixie cut at the inn shortly after Darcy’s announcement.

  ‘I work with Valerie in England, we’re good friends, nothing more.’

  She left the glass alone. ‘What, so you and she aren’t…’

  He’d come so close she had to look up to see his face. ‘Harper is Valerie’s girlfriend. Valerie is gay.’ She felt his soft breath against her skin. ‘She and I spend a lot of time talking about our kids, the trials of being a parent in the teenage years. Scarlet adores Valerie, I think she wanted us to get together until she realised that Valerie was already spoken for. And Valerie let me in on a secret tonight.’

  ‘What kind of secret?’

  ‘Scarlett and Kyle had both picked up on something between you and I, and being meddlesome teens thought they’d do something about it.’

  She hesitated, caught out in the moment. ‘So this was all planned?’

  He shrugged, amused, eyes glittering with mischief. ‘Scarlett asked Valerie to flirt outrageously with me at the markets and again tonight. She asked Valerie to gauge your reaction, text her whether she thought you were interested in me.’

  ‘And then they put all this into action. With Mitch’s help too.’

  ‘It seems that way, doesn’t it?’ He laughed and shook his head. ‘I was wondering what was going on. Valerie kept touching me, kissed me on the cheek enough times and left her lipstick there.’

  ‘I noticed.’

  ‘I would’ve asked her what she was playing at but we were accosted to come here.’ His hands reached up to either side of her face as he moved his closer. ‘Do you think we should be furious with Kyle, Scarlett and Valerie for conspiring to do this?’

  ‘That depends.’

  ‘On what?’

  ‘On whether we both feel the same way.’

  ‘And what way is that?’

  ‘You’re not making this easy.’

  ‘Where’s the fun in that?’

  But now it wasn’t time for talking. He bent his head closer to her, moving slowly, making the moment go on forever, until his lips finally met hers. And it was everything she’d hoped it would be. Tender, oozing with passion, and like it was meant to be.

  ‘You need to promise me something, Amelia,’ he said when they came up for air. ‘Promise me you’ll stop putting everyone else before yourself.’

  ‘I can’t.’

  ‘How did I know you were going to say that?’ Laughing, his lips hovered dangerously close to hers again.

  ‘Promise me you’ll be my date to Cleo’s wedding next year. Come as my plus one. There’s nothing worse than turning up at those sorts of events on your own.’

  ‘It’s a deal. But you need to do something for me, he grinned. ‘Lose those trainers the second we get back to the inn. You look like you’ve got clown feet. How did you ever run in a pair so big?’

  ‘Kyle needed me, I knew I had to be there, I just ran.’

  His eyes never leaving hers, he told her, ‘You’re amazing, you know that? Promise me you’ll never change.’

  She smiled, looking up into dark eyes, a hint of stubble on his jaw, as the moonlight managed to sneak in between the tiny crack of the doors to the wooden chalet at the winter markets. ‘Kiss me again, for longer, it’s already getting cold in here again.’

  And when he kissed her this time she melted into him, the dizzying feeling of falling in love in Manhattan. Their own holiday romance, their own happy ever after.

  Epilogue

  On Christmas Eve Nathan and Amelia had eventually gone back to the Inglenook Inn, where the champagne was flowing and the party was still in full swing. They danced together and kissed when they thought nobody was looking, at least until Kyle did his impression of Nathan and dragged them apart. Thankfully Nathan saw the funny side.

  The snow that started on Christmas Eve had carried on until every inch of pavement and street was covered, making for a magical Christmas Day dinner at the Inglenook Inn. And now, on Boxing Day, here they all were in Inglenook Falls to take a look at the Chestnut Lodge. Darcy and Myles led the way from the station towards their new guesthouse, Holly and Mitch had been waiting at the top of the track that led down to the Christmas tree farm and Cleo and Dylan had just arrived to meet their friends.

  ‘Inglenook Falls is kind of special,’ said Amelia as she stood next to Cleo. ‘It’s got the small-town charm I never knew existed anymore.’

  ‘It really has.’

  ‘Would you think about getting married here?’

  Cleo began to smile. ‘I’ve already put in a request to book a venue.’

  ‘That’s amazing, where?’

  Cleo tapped the side of her nose. ‘Not telling, at least not yet, not until it’s one hundred per cent confirmed.’

  ‘Spoilsport.’

  Holly agreed. ‘I’m desperate to know too, but I’ve already been hounding her and she won’t give in.’

  With the snow giving Inglenook Falls that magical feel, they gathered in the small parking lot out front. Despite its proximity to Main Street, close to a little library and an Italian restaurant, the guesthouse was well hidden and would make a wonderful escape.

  Nathan kissed Amelia before joining the other men to talk building plans as they walked to the side of the lodge, inspecting it from all angles as though they were structural experts.

  ‘Are you going to keep everything mostly the same?’ Cleo wondered. ‘The porch is delightful, really wonderful in the summer months.’

  ‘It is,’ Holly agreed. ‘I’ve sat up there drinking homemade lemonade with the previous owners. You can see
enough of Main Street to feel part of it all, but it’s still so quiet and a great place to relax. Not that you two know how to do that,’ she added, looking at Darcy now.

  Darcy smiled. ‘I’m hoping that even though we’re as busy as ever, it’ll be busy together rather than running our lives on separate tracks. Does that make sense?’

  Cleo put an arm around her friend. ‘Perfect sense, and I’m so happy for you both.’

  ‘What about the name?’ Amelia asked. ‘The Chestnut Lodge is quaint, I like it.’

  ‘Actually, we have a new idea for the name,’ Darcy admitted.

  ‘Tell us!’ Cleo did a shuffle on the spot to keep warm and rubbed her hands together as the snow began to fall again, dusting the porch rail in front of them and the roof of the soft-grey colonial home with its matching grey sign depicting its name hanging from a white post on chunky silver chains that groaned in the breeze.

  ‘What do you think to…The Inglenook Lodge?’

  ‘Love it,’ said Holly.

  ‘Perfect, given it’s in Inglenook Falls,’ Cleo agreed.

  ‘From the Inglenook Inn to the Inglenook Lodge,’ Amelia smiled. ‘You’ll make it wonderful, I’m sure.’

  ‘I have so many ideas,’ Darcy beamed. ‘I can’t wait to get going.’

  ‘I’m desperate to see it,’ Cleo urged.

  ‘Then shall we go inside?’ Darcy had the keys in her hand and anyone could see she was aching to step within the walls of her new home and business.

  ‘Lead the way,’ Holly encouraged, following after her along with Cleo and Mitch, who’d reappeared to join them and was already recommending having a wood store built at the end of the porch.

  Amelia was about to step up to the entrance to see how beautiful this place was inside when Nathan wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her neck. ‘Not so fast.’

  She turned, nestling into his chest. ‘You finished talking structure with the men?’

  ‘I’ve left Myles and Dylan talking websites.’ He pulled her onto the porch as the snow began to fall more heavily.

  ‘I wonder how Kyle and Scarlett are doing.’

  ‘Making plans when I left.’