by Cindy Kirk
“Wow.” Stella forked off a bite of coffee cake and brought it to her lips. “You’ve been married a long time.”
“Fifty years next month.”
“Was Kenny always so . . . jolly?”
Norma chuckled. “Kenny loves people. That’s why, about ten years ago when Stan Phipps, who used to play Santa, moved away, Kenny took on the challenge. It’s a perfect fit. He adores the little ones.”
“Do you and Kenny have any children of your own?”
“We have three girls.” Norma took a long sip of her latte and relaxed against the back of her chair. “They’re scattered across the country.”
“Will any of them make it back for Christmas?”
Norma’s smile slipped just a little. “Not for Christmas. They’ll all be back for our fiftieth celebration next month, though. That’s when we’ll have our Christmas with the little ones.”
An image of Holly Pointe in January flashed before Stella. Cold and snowy. “You got married in January?”
Norma laughed. “We did. It was twelve degrees below zero that day, a record that held until several years ago when the entire state was in the deep freeze.”
“Twelve degrees below zero sounds like a deep freeze to me.” Stella gave a mock shiver. “Actually, twelve above sounds cold.”
“You get used to it. In fact, I love snow days.” Norma’s lips curved, and Stella could see that she was thinking back. “There isn’t anything like sitting on the sofa in front of a fire with your special man while snow falls outside.”
The older woman painted a pretty picture of a life well lived with the one you loved. Stella fought a pang of envy.
“I can’t imagine life without my Kenny.” Norma set down her cup. “Not that we haven’t had our ups and downs. I don’t think you can be married for five decades and not experience hard times.”
The comment had Stella realizing that she’d nearly squandered the perfect opportunity to discern whether Kenny really did have a drinking problem. She’d been so caught up in enjoying her time with Norma that she forgot why she was in Holly Pointe.
Stella took a bite of coffee cake and chewed thoughtfully. “When would you say was your most difficult time?”
“When Leslie, she’s our oldest, was diagnosed with diabetes. She was nine.” Norma closed her eyes briefly as if merely thinking of that time brought pain. “Oh, she’s doing fine now, but at the time, it felt as if our familiar world was crumbling around us. Leah was seven and Laura was four. They needed their mom and their dad, too.”
Something in the way Norma said and their dad had Stella pressing when she would otherwise have backed off. “I bet Kenny took it hard. If he’s anything like my dad was, he’d do anything to protect his little girl.”
“It was difficult,” Norma admitted. “He was so sad and worried about Leslie. We’d just purchased the coffee shop, and there was a lot of pressure.”
“Did he bury himself in work?” Stella kept her tone conversational.
“More like the bottle.” The words slipped from Norma’s lips. She blinked as if realizing what she’d just said. “I’m sorry, I don’t why I’m telling you all this.”
Stella reached across the table and covered Norma’s hand with hers. “Sometimes we just need someone to talk to.”
“I don’t want you to think Kenny has a drinking problem. That was a long time ago and very short-lived. It didn’t take him long to realize that alcohol wasn’t the answer.” Norma expelled a breath and appeared to settle. “The doctors got Leslie’s insulin dose regulated, and we went on with our lives. I believe that Kenny and I emerged from that dark time even closer.”
“Sounds as if you’ve got yourself a great guy.”
“I do.” Norma slanted a glance in her husband’s direction and gave him a little wave before returning her attention to Stella. “If you decide to remain in Holly Pointe, I hope you’ll come to our anniversary party. I’d love for you to meet our daughters.”
“If I’m still here, I’d love to attend your party.”
But as the conversation veered toward more inconsequential matters, Stella wondered whether she’d still be welcome once the article came out. Not that what she’d heard today proved that Santa had a drinking problem.
But the fact that Kenny had turned to alcohol before was a red flag and definitely something worth exploring further.
“Took you long enough to get here.” Sam strode from the barn to the truck that had pulled up in the drive, which boasted reindeer antlers and a red nose on the front grill. “You guys working bankers’ hours these days?”
Derek jumped out of the pickup’s cab. “Yep. Me and Zach, we don’t like to start our day much before ten.”
Zach, who’d already exited the passenger side, called over the hood. “Then we have to get our scone and latte at the Busy Bean.”
Sam snorted out a laugh. He knew that Derek had likely driven over to nearby Maple Grove on snow-packed roads for the lumber before heading out to his place. Sam was actually surprised they’d gotten here as early as they did. Because it was difficult to know exactly when they’d arrive, he’d decided to work from home today.
He moved to the back of the truck to check out the lumber. “These are some nice pieces of cedar.”
“Only the best for you,” Derek said with a grin. “Speaking of the best, we ran into Stella.”
“She’s a beauty.” Zach appeared to warm toward the topic. “She seems nice, too. Real friendly.”
Sam shot him a sharp look.
“Sam has his eye on Stella.” Derek informed Zach with exaggerated patience. “Which means hands off.”
Zach raised his hands. “I only looked, I didn’t touch.”
“I don’t have my eye on her,” Sam insisted.
“He’s lying,” Derek told Zach, his tone matter of fact.
Sam pretended to further inspect the cedar planks. “What was she doing?”
“Getting a coffee.” Derek glanced at the barn. “That door looks worse every time I’m out here.”
“That’s why you’re here,” Sam reminded him.
“Wow. I never thought of that.” Derek grinned and punched Zach in the arm. “Did you hear that, Zach? That’s why we’re here.”
“I wondered why we were driving all the way out here.” Zach grinned. “Now that I know why we’re here, I guess we better get to work.”
“You two should do stand-up.” Sam rolled his eyes.
“I’ll keep that in my back pocket for when business is slow,” Derek said with a straight face.
“You do that.” Sam opened the rotting barn door the men would be replacing and stepped into the building.
It didn’t take long for Derek and Zach to get down to business. While saws whined and tape measures snapped, Sam put out fresh water and fodder for the horses that had once been Kevin’s pride and joy.
His brother had loved Icelandic horses and had stabled his three at Sam’s farm. Kevin had fallen ill shortly before purchasing the horses, so the care of the hearty and spirited animals had fallen almost entirely on Sam.
He hadn’t minded and had actually grown quite fond of the animals that his Christmas-loving brother had named Dasher, Dancer, and Vixen. Even when Kevin hadn’t been feeling the best, he’d come out to ride.
Sam and his brother had taken many long rides. Known for their surefootedness and ability to cross uneven terrain, the horses had taken them across meadows to the neighbor’s blueberry farm. Each time Sam looked at the horses, it comforted him to know that he was caring for something that had given his brother such pleasure in the last months of his life.
Once Sam finished with his chores, he stopped to check on the construction progress. To his surprise, he found that Derek and Zach had one door ready to be hung and the other nearing completion.
“You guys work fast. Next time I’ll pay you by the hour.”
“Next time,” Derek responded without missing a beat, “we’ll be slow as molasses.”<
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Sam laughed. “Seriously, I appreciate you making time for this. I know it isn’t a big job but—”
“Hey, big or small, we do ’em all.” Derek flashed a smile.
That might be true, but Sam knew it was the big jobs that paid most of the bills.
“Have you had lunch?” Sam asked. “I’ve got some leftover pizza from last night.”
“Thanks, but once we finish here, we’re headed to Hank Nilsson’s place. He called this morning. Apparently he discovered his toilet’s been leaking for some time. When he pulled up the vinyl, he found the subfloor was rotten.” Derek watched as Zach expertly measured a board and cut it. “Since he’s just down the road, we thought we’d try to get you both done this afternoon.”
“Makes sense.” Sam paused. “Did you have any trouble getting out here?”
“If you’re asking if the road was open, the answer is yes. Obviously, because we’re here.”
“But—” Sam prompted.
“I was glad for the four-wheel drive.” Derek shook his head. “If we’d gotten another inch last night we wouldn’t have gotten through. I could see the plow had gone through, but it had drifted pretty badly.”
“That’s what I thought.” The farm where Sam lived had originally belonged to his parents. They’d purchased it as a retreat against city life.
The farm was located far enough from Holly Pointe to be private, but close enough that a drive into town normally took only fifteen minutes. Except for particularly snowy days when the wind blew the road shut.
That had only happened a handful of times and wasn’t a big deal. He had a freezer full of food and kept a backup generator in case the power went out.
“Well, I’ll let you guys get back to work. If there’s anything you need, let me know.” Sam leveled his gaze on Derek. “Stop by the house before you leave. I’ll give you a check for your labor and the materials.”
Derek waved a hand. “I can send a bill.”
“You could, but you had to pay for the materials up front. And the work will be completed. I want you to have the money today.”
“Sure.” Derek nodded. “Thanks.”
He’d just pushed open the side door when Derek called out. “Zach was right. She looked mighty pretty this morning.”
Sam turned back. “Who?”
“Stella.” A half-smile pulled at Derek’s lips. “She had on these skinny jeans and heels. Very sexy.”
Sam inclined his head. “Why are you telling me this?”
“You might want to invite her out to dinner sometime.”
“Yeah,” Zach concurred. “You’ve got all these Christmas lights up. Women go crazy for that kind of stuff.”
Sam shrugged.
Derek grinned. “And when she’s out here, if I were you, I’d pray for snow.”
Chapter Eight
Stella left the Busy Bean determined to explore the downtown area. She’d barely gone a half a block when she returned to her apartment and exchanged her heels for a pair of wool socks and Ugg boots. While the sidewalks had been cleared and salted, the air held a crisp edge.
Crisp? Heck, who was she kidding? She could see her breath.
Minutes later, she stepped out into the cold air dressed for the season in a red ski parka with a striped scarf wound around her neck. A chunky knit hat with a faux-fur pom-pom kept her head warm. Stella felt positively festive in her winter attire.
She paused on the sidewalk, not to reevaluate her shoes as she had earlier but in amazement. In the midst of yesterday’s snowstorm, Christmas had fully arrived in Holly Pointe.
The business district was decked out and ready for the upcoming holiday. Every storefront boasted lights, and each window held Christmas displays. She wondered whether there was an official directive prohibiting hawking Christmas goods until after the Thanksgiving weekend.
If so, Stella heartily concurred. But she was just as glad that the community had turned that corner.
Overhead, piped-in Christmas music filled the air, and Stella found herself humming along. There was just something cheery about Christmas songs.
“I love your hat.” A young woman tossed the compliment over her shoulder, accompanied by a friendly smile as she and her friend hurried past Stella on the sidewalk.
“Thanks.” Stella wondered if the woman had read the same article she had about the value of random compliments. Then again, this was a friendly community.
People looked you in the eye and smiled when they met you on the sidewalk. They spoke with you as if you were friends instead of complete strangers when you stood in line. The entire town seemed to subscribe to the notion that strangers were just friends you hadn’t met.
When the woman with the compliment opened the door to Dough See Dough and the smell of sugar and yeast floated out, Stella was oh-so-tempted to follow her and her friend inside. But she kept walking, reminding herself she hadn’t yet had a chance to work off the calories from the coffee cake.
Besides, she was on a mission to see the business district.
The antique store called to her, especially when she saw a Furby in the window. Stella adored the electronic pet she’d received for her eighth birthday. Her hand was on the shop’s ornate brass door handle when she saw Melinda step inside Rosie’s diner.
Stella hadn’t spoken with Mel since Saturday at Star Lake. Now that she had more information on Kenny, she might be able to gather more details from Melinda. After looking both ways, Stella jaywalked across Birch Road, dodging a huge snow pile near the far curb.
Instead of rushing inside, Stella took a moment to appreciate the exterior of the diner. A green-and-white awning stretched out over a large plate glass window where the words “Rosie’s Place” were etched into the glass. A white wooden bench sat in front of the building. Stella could almost see the bench flanked by bright pots of flowers during the spring and summer months.
Holly Pointe would be pretty in the spring, she thought with a sigh. Regardless of what she’d intimated about staying here, Stella knew she’d be gone long before the snow melted and flowers filled the pots.
Stella pulled open the door of the diner. Sounds of laughter and conversation immediately spilled onto the sidewalk along with the tempting aroma of fried meat and grilled onions. Stella’s stomach gave one enthusiastic thumbs-up.
For a period of time in her early twenties, Stella had flirted with being a vegan, but being a carnivore came much more naturally, and she’d made the switch back without much of a fight.
Inside the toasty-warm eatery, Stella spotted the sign on a metal stand requesting that patrons seat themselves. After a second’s deliberation, she chose a booth by the window. The seats were upholstered in burgundy with a V-shaped insert of white in the backs. The tabletop was gray Formica with silver edging.
Though nothing fancy, the place had a homey vibe that Stella found appealing.
Based on the people streaming in through the front door, it appeared the lunch rush had left the starting gate. The waitresses, both in their late teens or early twenties, appeared to have the dining area divided into two sections.
Wearing jeans and red shirts emblazoned with the Rosie’s Place logo, the girls moved from table to table with well-oiled efficiency.
At the moment, Melinda was nowhere in sight.
“Hi. I’m Fauna. What can I get you?” The young woman with spiky blonde hair cocked her head, a pencil poised above her notepad.
“Shauna, do you have a menu?”
“It’s Fauna, like Shauna only with an f.” The girl, er woman, pulled the plastic-coated menu from the tabletop holder and handed it to Stella. “I’ll give you a few minutes to—”
“No. I can decide.” Stella flipped open the menu and scanned the items. “I’ll take a Green River and a hamburger, hold the onions.”
“Got it.” Fauna spun on her heel.
“Wait.”
The waitress turned and lifted a pierced brow. “Something else?”
“My
name is Stella, and I’m a friend of Mel’s. If you see her, tell her that if she has a minute, to stop out and say hello.”
Curiosity filled the girl’s gaze as she studied Stella. “Will do.”
Stella had eaten most of her burger and drank half her Green River—which she discovered was a bright-green lime-flavored soft drink—before Melinda made an appearance.
The redhead’s face brightened when she spotted Stella. She hurried across the shiny hardwood floor and took a seat opposite Stella.
“I was hoping you were still here.” Mel absently brushed back a curl that had come loose from the hair pulled back in a severe knot. “I’m training a new cook, and he didn’t understand that— Well, no matter, he’s doing great now. How are you?”
There was such warmth and gladness in Mel’s voice that Stella fought a wave of guilt. She reminded herself that she genuinely liked Melinda. She was not simply using their burgeoning friendship to get information for her article.
“I’m good. Just exploring the town this morning. Faith texted that there would likely be sledding on the big hill north of the high school this afternoon. I thought I’d head over there once school gets out and get a few pictures.” Stella smiled. “Hopefully, there will be lots of colorful coats, hats, and sleds to make the scene appear festive and inviting.”
“I have no doubt.” Mel yawned, covering her mouth with the tips of her fingers. “Sorry. I’m exhausted.”
“I have trouble with insomnia sometimes, too.”
“The only trouble I’m having is that I could sleep all the time.”
“Which means you must need the rest.” Stella wondered if her friend’s lack of sleep had to do with worry over her mother’s recent surgery. “How’s your mom coming along?”
“Doing better every day. Thanks for asking.” Mel glanced around the diner. “It’s driving her crazy not being here, but I told her that’s why she had kids. We’ll keep the place going until the doctor clears her to be back.”
“How long has she had the business?”
