Lorelei moved on to the next display area. “Well, Jodi proposed the idea of Mary Ann and me moving into the two spare rooms above the practice.”
“What a fabulous idea.” Kim touched Lorelei’s arm. “And you think you might like to stay for good, as our doctor?”
“I’d love nothing more, but I haven’t discussed it with my parents, and I must speak with my uncle about his plans.” Lorelei smiled slightly when she spotted a framed Norman Rockwell on the wall. In the painting, a man sat on a ladder, scratching his head, staring at the Christmas tree.
“It’s not an original.” Kim pointed at the painting. “But in my book, a print of it is better than not having it at all.”
“It’s perfect.”
“For . . .?” Kim tilted her head, staring at it with Lorelei as though trying to find the answer.
“For the reindeer contest thing.” Lorelei placed her finger on her lip. “Do you have some classic Christmas lights? The big colored ones that burn your fingers when they’re on and if you dropped them, they shatter?”
“Oh, yes, let me think.” Kim carried Mary Ann up and down the narrow aisles peeking around. “You know, I think they’re upstairs.”
“I can go look, if you don’t mind.” Lorelei touched Kim’s arm as she moved past her.
“Be my guest. I’ll be here with Mary Ann.”
Lorelei took the stairs two at a time. When she reached the top of the landing, she paused, thinking of Tyler. In the daylight, the upstairs didn’t seem as mysterious as it had been in the dark. And it didn’t feel as cozy without him. She spotted the Christmas lights on a hook near the windows.
After taking the light strand into her hand, she peered out the window at the town below, blanketed in last night’s snow. The Christmas tree lights were on, and the cloud cover made it dark enough that the lights could be seen rather well. Left of the tree, she spotted a person leaving Once Upon a Book and waving at a person over by Don’s Conveniences.
Wrapping her hand around the window frame, Lorelei continued watching the town in motion below. She spotted Jodi exiting the office and hurrying across the street to Sharon’s Café, all bundled up. Uncle Steve emerged from Oakvale Pizza Pie, holding the door for a couple who hugged him and waved before getting into their car.
The entire town, warm and friendly even on the coldest of December days, gave Lorelei goose bumps of joy. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a BMW without a single snowflake on its custom navy-blue paint, rolling into the center of town.
“No,” Lorelei whispered. “It can’t be. It’s not the twentieth.”
She removed her cell phone from her purse and checked the date. “No, no, no! They’re early.”
With the Christmas lights in hand, Lorelei rushed down the steps and halted at the cash register. “I’m leaving these here. I’ll be right back.”
She jogged past Kim and Mary Ann. “Can you watch her for two more minutes, please?”
“Sure thing,” Kim’s voice confused. “Is everything alright?”
Elvis’s voice sang out “Santa Claus is Back in Town” through the store.
“No! My parents are here!” Lorelei pushed the front door open and headed toward the shiny BMW.
Chapter 25
It was a miraculous sight to see a car without any snow on it pulling into a parking spot in Oakvale, and Tyler took notice, especially since it was a fancy vehicle.
“They must be lost,” he told Cider as he threaded on his jacket.
The BMW eased into a parking spot in front of Tyler’s office window. A man with ash-blond-and-gray hair stepped out from the driver’s side and rubbed his arms over his thick ski-worthy coat. The passenger window eased down, and a woman with blonde hair as straight as a book page said something and pointed at Tyler’s office door.
He hurried outside, leaving Cider behind. “Hi, I’m Tyler. Can I help you? Do you need directions?”
The woman had already rolled back up the window.
“Hi there, yes, actually, we are looking for 8778 West Spruce Lane.” The man walked over and reached out his hand. “I’m John.”
Tyler took it gave it a firm shake. “That’s the Norths’ place. You know they’re out of town his month?”
“Yes, we’re here to visit our daughter and granddaughter. We arrived early since we were worried about her being in this tiny town all alone.” John glanced around Tyler at his office behind him. “A bowling alley and a real estate office in one? You don’t see that every day.” He rocked on the heels of his wing-tip shoes.
“Yeah, wait,” Tyler paused. “Are you Lorelei’s parents?”
Before the man could answer, Tyler spotted Lorelei jogging as quickly but as safely as one could through the snow-covered street over to them.
“Dad!” Lorelei called out. “Dad, what are you doing here?” She halted to a stop, nearly sliding into Tyler and John. Her hand wrapped around his arm for support, and he reached out his opposite hand and grabbed ahold of her. Once she regained her balance, she straightened up and let go.
Tyler’s eyes widened with the realization that Lorelei and he had yet to finalize their plans for Operation Assert Independence 101.
Lorelei hugged her dad, but when she glanced at Tyler, he noticed she looked anything but happy. She looked more like she was in shock, and he understood why. If his parents showed up early, especially if they were against his choices, he would be flustered too.
“Dad? Is everything alright? Is Mom with you?” Lorelei glanced over at the BMW.
Before John could reply, the car window rolled down, and a lilac-and-cashmere-covered arm reached out. “Hi, Lorelei. Come over here and hug me. I’m not getting out in my heels. Do they plow the roads here?”
“Dad, this is Tyler. Tyler, this is my dad, John.”
“We met,” Tyler mumbled.
Lorelei stepped off the sidewalk and went over to the passenger side of the BMW. She reached inside and gave her mom a meager hug. “And this is my mom, Joanne.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Tyler.” Joanne waved from inside the car. “I believe we’ve seen all there is to see, and this seems like a good little town. Small but cute.”
Tyler shook John’s hand and waved at Joanne. “Thank you?” He could not believe her mom wouldn’t get out of the car for a proper hug, and Tyler reminded himself not to let his face show disapproval. How could she judge a town she’d only been in for ten seconds? His mind spun with concern. Convincing Lorelei’s parents might be more challenging than he’d thought if they already disapprove of the town.
“Is Mary Ann at day care? Shouldn’t you be at work?” John asked, stepping toward his daughter.
“I’m on lunch, and Kim is watching Mary Ann.” Lorelei shoved her hands inside her coat pocket. “Why are you here early?”
Tyler noticed Cider had brought her lamb to the window, eager to meet new people.
“We were getting things ready for Christmas and received your voice mail about your stocking.” John glanced over at Joanne.
“Yes, Lor, we figured why not come early and keep you company. Not sure there is much to do here.” She held a hunter-green stocking with Lorelei stitched in red ribbon. “We bought one for Mary Ann, too. And I’m glad we did. It doesn’t look like they have much of a selection of anything around here. But, honey, if you’re working, why aren’t you wearing scrubs?”
“First, there’s more than enough to do here.” Lorelei sighed a laugh and shot dagger eyes at Tyler. “Second, the work attire here is different.”
“Moving on, your mom and I thought it best to come early, see if we could talk some sense into you, and have you back in the city by Christmas. Spend Mary Ann’s first Christmas at home.” John glanced around at the town before him. “We have tickets for The Nutcracker at the Orpheum Theatre and can catch a carriage ride there, too. Does this place even have a movie theater?”
Tyler took a step back toward the office door. Lorelei’s folks managed to put the tow
n down every time they opened their mouths. “I’m going to let everyone catch up. It was nice to meet you.” As the words left his lips, he saw Lorelei tense up and stepped forward.
“Thanks for bringing the stockings.” She all but lunged for Tyler, turning him toward the office and shoving him at the door just as he opened it. “Tyler, I needed to ask you something for a . . . patient. Be right back.”
“What’s going on?” he whispered once inside. Panic rose inside of him at the thought of how intense the last few minutes had been.
“I can’t believe they bought Mary Ann her first stocking.” Lorelei’s lips dipped at the edges. “What am I saying? Of course, they overstepped. They always do. I wanted to be the one making or buying her first stocking.” She turned to the window, faked smiled, and waved at her parents. Turning her head back toward him, her brow creased. “You’re supposed to be helping me,” she said, her voice taut.
“I froze up. I’m sorry. They’re here early, and we have yet to formulate a plan. Besides, I didn’t think I needed to be prepared to defend Oakvale. Are they always that sharp-tongued?”
With a fake smile remaining on her face, she talked to him through clenched teeth. “I know they’re rough around the edges, but once you get to know them, it’s not so bad, kind of, I guess. What are we going to do?”
He tugged at his ear. “We must show your parents how great Oakvale is. Because clearly, they already dislike this town. I don’t know why, they just got here. Maybe you need someone who can whip up a better plan than me. I mean, wow, your folks.”
“Did Jodi tell you we figured out a place for Mary Ann and me to live?” She grabbed his arm. “I was going to tell you yesterday, but I didn’t have a free moment. Well, we did, but I was working on reeelaxxxinnng.”
“No, but Sharon did.” Tyler’s brow furrowed.
Lorelei snorted a laugh. “More about that later. Look, I need you. We’re a team. Let’s not forget, we pinkie swore.”
“Your parents frazzle me. Do you feel frazzled? I’m for sure frazzled. They. Are. Early.” His eyes widened. “I feel like I’m losing before we’ve even begun.”
Lorelei let go of his arm, and Tyler ran his hand through his hair. “Let’s take them to Oakvale Pizza Pie tonight,” he suggested. “I can meet you there after work. We’ll immerse them into the town with food. Everyone loves food, right? And pizza?” Tyler paused and placed his hand on his chin. “They like pizza, right?”
Her face scrunched. “They like Italian dishes.” She sighed. “Here’s what I’ll do. I’m going to have them follow me to my aunt and uncle’s house. They can watch Mary Ann while I finish up my day at the office. Then, we’ll meet up at Pizza Pie at six.” She glanced back over her shoulder towards the window.
The BMW was there, but it appeared as though John had climbed back inside the car.
“Perfect.” Tyler gave his hands a firm clap. “I’ll spread the word around town that your parents are already here, and we need to—I need to—we . . . no ‘me.’”
Lorelei lowered her head. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“You can, and we can.” Tyler placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head. Their eyes met, and it took a great deal of strength not to pull her closer, hug her. Loosen the worry from her face. “We can’t let them frazzle us. It doesn’t change the goal. It’s a blessing, a Christmas miracle.”
“How is this, them arriving early”—she used her eyes to point at her parents—“a Christmas miracle?”
With his hand still on her chin, he said, “Because the sooner you talk to them, the sooner your dream starts.”
A smile warmed on Lorelei’s face, but he saw doubt lingering behind the blue of her irises. As he lowered his hands, she stepped back, adjusted her scarf, and headed outside. He watched Lorelei as she said something to John, when he rolled the driver’s side window down. She pointed in the direction of the Norths’ place. As the BMW backed out of the spot, Lorelei headed back over to Kim and Diane’s store.
Glancing down at Cider, Tyler bit his lip to keep the doubt he’d developed from dropping out. When he looked outside, the reindeer decorating contest flyer taped to the office window caught his eye.
“That’s it! We can move the contest up. Nothing shows a community coming together like a good old-fashioned contest, right, Cider? If they see how happy everyone is to have the doctor—their daughter—here, then maybe they’ll be open to accepting Lorelei as a small-town doctor.” His hands moved up slightly into the air as though displaying a banner that read, Small-Town Doctor Lorelei Parker. He could see it.
Moving to his desk, he took out a notepad and wrote down all that Oakdale had to showcase.
By the time he finished, the snow had begun to fall. Gathering up Cider’s leash, he pulled the wool hat over his head and made his way to his first stop, Uncle Steve’s pizza place.
Chapter 26
The drive back into town with her parents sitting on either side of Mary Ann’s car seat dragged on. It seemed to last five hours not five minutes. Going home to change might have been a mistake. But she didn’t want to show up for supper in clothes she’d worn to the office because her parents would indeed have a comment about it. The last thing she needed was to add more fuel to her parents’ fire. Plus, with the continued snowfall, the BMW would not do well driving in it. She fluttered her eyes as she thought about it and parked her sedan in front of the Oakvale Pizza Pie.
“Are you sure there’s not someplace else you would like to eat, Lor?” her mom asked, her seat belt still on. “Your father and I passed several in the town before this, Boone or Bone. It’s a might bit bigger.”
That town! “Booth. The town you passed was Booth. It’s nice, but it’s not Oakvale. Mom, you’ll love Steve’s cooking, trust me.” Lorelei stepped from the sedan.
John lifted Mary Ann from her car seat and hoisted her over to Lorelei so he could safely climb from the car. Taking Mary Ann from her dad’s hands, she led them to Oakvale Pizza Pie’s front door. As she was about to reach for the handle, it opened, and Tyler appeared with a beaming smile.
“Why hello, perfect timing, Uncle Steve set us up at an excellent table.” Tyler held the door while everyone entered.
“Is it next to your picture? I still need to find it.” Lorelei winked. She needed something to take her mind off the nervousness and stress from her parents.
“You wish it were that easy.” Tyler placed his hand on Lorelei’s back, and it sent shivers through her.
Lorelei’s cheeks flushed from the touch. Maybe all the distraction she needed from her parents was Tyler’s company. No, because she liked him—and that only complicated her dream of staying in Oakvale. She knew if her parents thought she wanted to build a life here because of Tyler, it would be a high school lecture all over again. She was an adult now. She could make her own decisions.
She buckled Mary Ann into the restaurant’s high chair as Tyler pulled out her chair. Simultaneously, John pulled out a chair for Joanne. With everyone seated, Uncle Steve strolled over.
“Welcome, Lorelei, wonderful to see you and your daughter again.” Grinning, he turned to her parents. “We love having regulars here and new guests. You must be Lorelei’s parents. I’m Steve.” He reached his hand out and shook John’s hand and then Joanne’s.
“Thank you, Uncle Steve. Yes, this is my mom, Joanne, and my dad, John. They arrived early to spend some time with Mary Ann and me.” Lorelei took a menu from Uncle Steve and immediately buried her face behind it.
“Nice to meet you both. May I start you off with some beverages?” Uncle Steve asked.
Mary Ann fussed. In her haste of rushing home after work, and her parent’s early arrival flustering her, she’d forgotten to shove some toys into the diaper bag. “I don’t have anything to entertain her with.” She glared at Tyler.
“Here, I don’t need one.” Tyler handed his menu to Mary Ann, who took it and squealed with delight at the new toy.
Lorelei s
miled shyly and noticed that the dimple on the left side of his cheek appeared in Tyler’s return smile. Why did his smile make everything anxious inside of her melt away? That only happens in the movies. Her mind traveled to those classic Christmas movies she loved and the nostalgia of a small-town as a backdrop in a movie, particularly when it snowed at the perfect moment. Oakvale gave off that exact vibe, friendly and cozy. Like home sweet home. She’d bet it’s even cozier in the summer. She thought of the lush green grass of a backyard, ice cream while strolling the town’s street, and fireflies during a walk around the pond.
“Come here often?” John asked, directing the question at Tyler without looking up from his menu. His voice shattered Lorelei’s idyllic daydream.
“Yes, several times a week.” Tyler folded his arms and leaned back in the chair as Uncle Steve remained at the table.
"Why are you calling him uncle, Lor?" John asked.
"Because everyone calls him that."
“Do you serve red wine? A good quality red wine?” Joanne eyed the owner over the top of her menu.
“Yes, I like to think it’s a delightful wine.” Uncle Steve moved his pen over the pad. “I’ll bring you a glass. And for you, John?”
“Red will also be fine,” John said, still focused on the menu.
“I’ll have some of your chilled apple cider.” Tyler folded his hands together.
“I will as well, Uncle Steve. And would you mind—” Lorelei started to remove a bottle from the diaper bag on the floor.
“I’ll bring out some warm water, too.” Uncle Steve pivoted and hurried off to the kitchen.
“I do hope the wine is good,” Joanne remarked as she observed the restaurant with a tightened jaw.
Lorelei rolled her eyes at Tyler, and he pushed his lips together as though to keep from winching with distaste. She glanced around the restaurant and noticed that for 6 p.m. it was not as busy as she’d assumed it would be. Only two tables were occupied. Before Lorelei could think anything of it, the door opened and along with a chill of outside air, Sharon and Jodi swept in.
The Christmas Rental Page 17