It Started with Christmas: A heartwarming feel-good Christmas romance

by Jenny Hale

  The ache that developed in her chest whenever she thought about him came back in full force. “Nana, you have a point, but I also need to make a clean break. If Joe’s going to marry Katharine then he needs to get on with it and I need to let him.” The idea had been going around in her head, but she hadn’t made the firm decision until now. “Joe told me that all I have to do is get the wedding party in place at the beginning and the estate staff would take over. I’m going to tell Rhett to try to book our tickets for California the same day as the wedding—I’m not going to stay. I’ll need something to take my mind off everything. With his touring schedule options already coming in, Rhett’s been dying for a solid travel date; he’ll be thrilled.”

  “That’s two days away,” Nana said, thinking. But it was clear that she was willing to let Holly deal with this however she felt she needed to. “I know you’ll do the right thing. I’m proud of you, Holly.”

  Holly’s phone pinged on the counter in the kitchen, interrupting the moment and, when she went over to it, curiosity and fear both consumed her at the sight of the email: “The Boy.”

  “Nana, can I just get this?” she said, waggling her phone, trying to stay low-key until she knew for sure what this was all about.

  “Of course, dear.” Nana went back to her chair and Holly abandoned the remaining laundry and opened the message.

  Dear Holly,

  I can tell you that Joe’s birthday is July 8, 1986. I hope that’s sufficient for verification purposes…

  Holly hadn’t known Joe’s birthday, so it could be anything… She stared at the date, happy to know it if it was true. He was a summer baby like her. July eighth… She ran the date in her head: Seven. Eight. Eighty-six. She paused, inspecting the email address again. 786@hb.com… 786, meaning July of 1986? Then the letters of the address struck her. Harvey Barnes. Her post had been set to public and this could be anyone in the whole world, and there were lots of crazies out there. It could be a hoax—it all seemed too easy. She read the rest of the email.

  I’m surprised Joe wants to meet Harvey. I’ve passed along the message. If Joe’s serious about meeting him, he might consider it.

  Again, no signature.

  Holly needed to tread lightly. She didn’t want to get Joe wrapped up in some kind of wild goose chase right before his wedding. It was clear by his behavior while planning it with her that he was already a little overwhelmed emotionally. Holly needed to be absolutely sure that this person knew Harvey before she got Joe involved.

  She typed back:

  I need something more to convince me that you really know Harvey before we go any further. I’m sorry, I’m just being very careful, because finding him is not something Joe takes lightly.

  She hit send.

  Her phone chimed with a text and she nearly jumped out of her skin. With a steadying breath, she opened it. It was from Rhett. He told her the car was coming to get her tonight at seven thirty and he couldn’t wait to see her. She texted back, See you then!

  Rhett’s text caused Holly’s thoughts to move to tonight, thinking about how good it would feel to see Rhett play, to share in his moment with him. He’d been planning this for decades, and she’d been right by his side all the way. But she didn’t have a lot of time to think about Rhett before another email came through with the message, “The Boy.” Holly’s heart pounded as she opened it.

  Ask him about Rona’s.

  That was the name of the coffee shop in New York. The one Joe seemed to love but hadn’t shared with Katharine. He’d also said he’d never spoken to his dad, so what did Harvey know about Rona’s? Clearly, he and Joe had never been there together. But this person said to ask Joe about it.

  Holly emailed back: Ask him what?

  She set the phone down on the counter and waited.

  “What time are you going to see Rhett?” Nana called.

  “Seven thirty,” she said back, her eyes on the empty screen of her phone.

  “It’s nearly six o’clock now. You should eat something before you get ready.”

  “Mm hm,” she said absentmindedly. Come on, she willed her phone to ping. If this person would just tell her a little more, she might recognize what he was saying and not have to wait to tell Joe. They could go straight into planning a meeting. He’d be so excited to hear the news—she just knew it.

  With nothing coming through on her phone after a few minutes, Holly made a quick sandwich. Then she went off to get ready, wondering what she could say to Joe to get the information from him without worrying him that someone had made contact. Would she have to tell him? Should she?

  * * *

  The streets were already blocked off, every inch of them crowded with masses of people, filling in the gated off sections of the road like herds of sheep, dressed in their hats and thick winter coats, ready to brace the cold to hold the unique distinction of having been on Broadway for New Year’s.

  Rhett had sent the car to pick up Holly right on time, the driver maneuvering through the chaos with relative ease. Holly considered the fact that, with the amount of people here, it was a real possibility that she may not run into Joe and Katharine in this crowd, which was just fine with her—she was still trying to figure out whether or not to ask him about Rona’s and, since she didn’t know if he’d told Katharine anything about Harvey, she had no idea how she’d get Joe alone to ask in the first place. This definitely wasn’t the venue for that type of conversation.

  The driver pulled up to one of the blocked-off areas, behind a large screen for projecting the concerts into the streets, and showed his ID to security, who radioed to someone and then let them through. The car bumped its way down an alley and came to a stop in back of the bar where Rhett was playing.

  A lanyard with her pass swung in Holly’s direction, hanging from the driver’s forefinger. She took it and slipped it over her head, letting it fall onto her coat. Then she got out and her heels wobbled on the uneven pavement. As Holly was contemplating the best way to get into the building, the back door opened and another security guard ushered her inside.

  “Holly McAdams?” he asked, rushed and all business, checking her tag for clarification rather than looking at her face. A band was playing, causing the man to have to shout over the sound of the music and the crowd, even in the back of the place, away from the stage. “Rhett’s been waiting for you. I’ll take you to his room.” If this was anything like his usual concerts, no wonder he’d chosen to build a house in the quiet of the woods at home. Holly knew already that by the end of the night she’d be exhausted.

  She remembered the little room where the security guard led her—it was the one she’d been in with Rhett the last time they were there. The door opened and seeing Rhett’s familiar face in all this was so comforting. He grinned that crooked grin of his, thanked the security guard, and shut the door, which muffled the sound to a manageable level.

  Holly shimmied off her coat, revealing the black dress she’d saved for a special occasion. Rhett’s eyes immediately devoured it. “Wow,” he said before meeting her eyes. “You look incredible.”

  “Thanks. So do you.” He was wearing jeans and a fitted T-shirt, his old boots the only part of his attire she recognized.

  He sat down on the sofa and patted the spot next to him. “Wild out there, right?” He was energized and buzzing with anticipation, totally in his element. Holly was glad to see him so content. This was what he’d dreamed of his whole life, and she couldn’t fathom what it must be like to get up every day and do what she loved most. It had to be amazing for him.

  “Yes. Crazy.” In all the time she’d lived in the area, she’d never been to Broadway on New Year’s. They’d always had parties at home or better yet, popped a bowl of popcorn, opened a few beers, and watched the ball drop in New York on television and then went to bed early due to the time difference between Nashville and the east coast. “I’m glad I didn’t bring Nana. She’d never have made it to the end of the night.”

  “Ah
, she’d have been just fine. I think she secretly likes the sticky floors full of sloshed drinks and obnoxious crowds. She’s missing out.”

  Holly laughed.

  “Will you stay on stage with me? There’s an area behind the wall to the side where you can see out but the crowd can’t see you. I’d love to have you with me,” he said.

  “If you want me to.”

  “I do. I want you right there the whole time.” He put his arm around her.

  “I was thinking,” she said, twisting toward him. “Let’s go to California sooner rather than later. I know your shows might not start for a while, but why don’t we just go anyway?”

  He perked up. “Like when?”

  “Day after tomorrow?”

  Rhett put his hands on her face nearly bursting with excitement. He let out a low growl. “I want to kiss you right now!” He let go and rolled back onto the sofa. “But I’m trying to show you how much I respect your decision. Even though I think it’s totally ridiculous!” He started to tickle her, making her squeal and jump to her feet.

  “You’re gonna mess up my dress,” she said as she tried not to laugh.

  “Fine by me!”

  “Stop.” She took a step back. “You promised, Rhett. Just friends. When you do that it makes me have second thoughts about going. I want to spend time with you. I don’t want this to be some sort of constant battle over what we are.”

  “It’s not a battle,” he reassured her. “It’s a lifelong commitment to making you realize that I’m perfect for you!” He grinned, knowing he was pushing it. He stood up abruptly. “But I’ll have to convince you later. I’ve got two minutes till my cue. Let’s go.”

  He led her down the hallway, the noise like static in her ears, drowning out everything else. There was a chair just off stage with a view of the entire band. They’d taken their places to the roar of the crowd. The drummer was rapping on the center drum, raising the anticipation with every thump. Lights flashed in her eyes and then away, as the guitars started in.

  “Wish me luck,” Rhett said and then kissed her cheek.

  “Good luck,” she said, but he’d already run to the front of the stage, the crowd in an uproar. Girls were pressed against the barriers in front, their hair swinging around their glittery “Happy New Year’s” headbands as they waved their hands in the air; the mass of people turned into a sea of cell phone lights, all of them trying to get the best view as Rhett took his place in front of the microphone, the band revving up.

  “How are we doing tonight, Nashville?” Rhett shouted into the microphone over the noise, and the crowd went wild. He looked so natural up there, like he’d been in front of crowds this size his whole life. “It’s New Year’s! Y’all ready for a good time?” he called. Another thunder of cheers came his way.

  Holly took her seat on the small barstool by the wall that hid her from the crowd, thinking about how unrecognizable Rhett’s life had become. It wasn’t bad, just different, a sort of surreal existence. Just when she thought she’d seen a glimpse of what it was like in his shoes, she was surprised by something bigger, more massive, and his popularity stunned her.

  Holly was so busy thinking about it that she almost missed the fact that Katharine and Joe were in the front row. They couldn’t see her because of the angle, but she could see them. Katharine was smiling, nodding to the music, and Joe was still—that was how Holly noticed them. He was the only one not moving. His expression was pleasant, but his eyes were fixed on Rhett.

  Katharine leaned over and said something into Joe’s ear, and he nodded, his expression lifting into a polite smile. Just that small exchange sat like a bag of sand in Holly’s stomach, and she let her eyes blur the image before turning back to Rhett.

  But as Rhett went through his playlist, Holly stole tiny glances at Joe and Katharine against her will. Mostly, there was nothing to see, but occasionally, they’d share a chuckle or Katharine would look up at him, forcing Holly’s eyes back to the stage. A few times, Rhett had taken breaks, allowing other bands to play, and he’d jogged over to her, occupying her attention. It was so loud that she and Rhett couldn’t have any real conversation, but she liked to see how much fun he was having.

  Joe went off through the crowd a few times and returned with drinks for him and Katharine, and after he’d had a little to drink, he started to sway to the music. It made Holly think about when they’d had all that champagne, the way he’d leaned back, how relaxed his expression had been. In the middle of her memory, before she knew what was going on, Rhett was pulling her to the front of the stage! The crowd started counting down in unison, the numbers blasting in her ears.

  Just as she made eye contact with Joe, Katharine wrapped her arms around his neck, demanding his attention, and, coupled with the fact that the spotlight was on Holly, it was more than she could handle. She tore her eyes off them and focused on Rhett as he called into the microphone, “Five! Four! Three! Two…”

  There was an eruption of cheering and just as the New Year arrived, Rhett clearly relented in his restraint, the atmosphere obviously giving him courage and hope in the new era that stretched out in front of them like a clean slate. He pulled Holly toward him one more time, his eyes meeting hers before he kissed her like he’d never kissed her before. At first, she wanted to resist—how many times had she told him not to? But then she wondered: why should she resist?

  Holly had filled her night with thoughts about a man whom she could never have when she had someone right there who wanted to be her whole world. She tried to relax into Rhett’s kiss to see if there was any possibility of her life being easier. She should feel lucky to have Rhett’s affection. She kissed him back, giving it this one, real moment, their lips moving together, his hot breath in hers.

  Fireworks cracked in her ears, the thousands of people in the streets cheering for the opportunity to start anew once more.

  When Rhett pulled back, he looked down at her before leaning into her ear. “Happy New Year,” he said. “And I won’t kiss you again until you’re the one to initiate it.” He put his arms around her and pulled her close, and it was clear that he knew he’d given it everything he had for the last time. Rhett turned back to the crowd, and his soft demeanor that she knew so well morphed back into the stage-Rhett that she’d seen all night.

  Holly couldn’t help but think how wrong that kiss had felt. Rhett was like a brother to her. Why didn’t he feel the same toward her? But then she thought back to the tobacco he’d said he should keep in his back pocket to remind him of the people who really knew him… She couldn’t deny anymore that he might not be in love with her but rather in love with the familiarity of her and the fact that she’d never betray him. In time, she hoped that he’d see that she could still be there for him as a best friend. They didn’t have to be a couple. She hoped that spending time together traveling would help him realize this.

  Holly looked back at the crowd to find Joe, but when she scanned the faces, they were all unfamiliar. Then at the rear of the mass of concertgoers, she found him, facing away from her, heading out the door with Katharine.

  Thirty-One

  “Rhett kissed me again,” Holly told Nana, shaking her head as they sat over coffee the next morning. She pulled her knees up in the kitchen chair, wrapping her arms around them while the coffee steamed in her new Leiper’s Fork mug that Joe had gotten her. Holly turned the side that read “Someone’s thinking of you in Leiper’s Fork” away from view.

  “He can be full of himself sometimes,” Nana said, but her affection toward Rhett was clear. “He adores you, you know. He wants things to work between the two of you.”

  “I thought things were working. Why does he have to complicate everything by having those kinds of feelings for me?”

  “We can’t help who we fall for,” Nana said, giving her a knowing look.

  Her comment silenced Holly.

  Nana leaned into view. “You don’t have to have it all figured out. Go with Rhett to California and s
ee where life takes you. You never know how your world might change.”

  Holly looked into her coffee in Joe’s mug, contemplating Nana’s words. She was so wise, and Holly knew that she was probably right.

  “Are you ready for the wedding rehearsal tonight?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Just know that it takes the difficult times to appreciate the easy ones. This will pass, and you’ll be stronger because of it. In the end, when you’re my age, you’ll look back and it will all make sense.”

  “I trust you, Nana.”

  “I’m glad.” Nana set her coffee down. “Now let’s play a game of cards and forget about it all for a little while.”

  “That’s the best idea I’ve heard.”

  * * *

  Holly passed the time playing games with Nana and searching online to find furniture boutiques that might be interested in the dresser she refinished. She found a few strong leads and wrote them down, leaving them messages by phone. Afterwards, she went out to the barn and took photos of the dresser, and loaded them onto her computer. She also looked up some ideas for website development just for fun. When she’d procrastinated long enough, she finally got ready for the rehearsal. She’d dressed up again, wearing a navy blue dress that fell just below the knee. Her hair was styled, and she’d added a little more eye makeup than usual.

  “You look lovely,” Nana said from her chair in the corner.

  “Thank you, Nana. Will the fire last while I’m gone?”

  “Yes, child. I wouldn’t want you ruining your dress getting wood anyway. If I need something, I’ll call Buddy over.”

  “Okay. I’ll just be a few hours.”

  “Try to enjoy yourself.”

  “I will,” Holly said, knowing it would be impossible to have a good time. She was torn between wanting to stay as far away from Joe as possible and needing to find time to be alone with him to ask about Rona’s.