by Susan Hatler
“Don’t make me fall any more,” I said, as he pressed his lips to mine.
With the fall and other skater’s good-natured giggles still fresh in my mind, we decided to take a break. Adam led me off the ice and we found a table outside the Rinky Dink Café, which gave us great views of other skaters.
“Here, wrap your hands around this, it’ll warm you up.” He handed me a mug of mulled wine, the spiced steam making my mouth water before I’d even tasted it. “Thank you for this evening, Faith. I haven’t had this much fun since . . . well, in years.”
“Since you left Christmas Mountain?” I asked hopefully.
“It’s easy, being here with you.” He dropped a kiss on the end of my nose before taking another sip of his wine. “Life is simple and unhurried. I could get used to it.”
My heart leapt. “You don’t need money and fancy restaurants to have fun, Adam. When you strip away all the glitz and glamor, what does Manhattan have that Christmas Mountain doesn’t?” I asked, aware that I was making a pitch for him to stay after only a few kisses and one date. So not like me to fall this hard, this fast.
“My business is in Manhattan, Faith. And I need the cash from the sale of Silver Bells to…”
“To what, Adam?”
“Nothing. Are you ready to go again?” he nodded toward the rink.
“Not yet.” I put my hand on his arm, wanting him to open up to me. “What is it that you need the money for? If you’re in some kind of trouble—”
“No, of course not.” He shook his head, smiling at me. “Let’s not spoil the date by talking business, though.” He took my hand in his and brought it up to his mouth, blowing on my fingers to warm them up. In a way, it felt even more intimate than the way he’d held me on the ice.
“Adam, whatever it is, you can tell me.”
He turned to look at me, searching my face as if for answers. “Okay, I’m pulling the rug from under your feet, so the least you deserve is the truth.”
“Which is?”
“I’ve been given the opportunity to buy into the partnership at the PR firm. This is what I’ve been working so hard for and it’s finally paying off.”
I felt crushed. He didn’t have to sell Silver Bells, he wanted to, which was worse. If it was to save his business, for instance, I could understand that. Or if the money from the sale was to buy world peace, or to save the polar bears, I could’ve understood it. But to sell his father’s business, his father’s dream, just to expand on the job he already has and make more money? I mean, what good is so much money and success if you had no one to share it with, and no time to enjoy it?
“This is why I didn’t want to tell you right now,” he said, after the silence between us became uncomfortable. Then he tilted my face to his, his hand cupping my chin, his eyes full of concern. “When I made the decision to sell Silver Bells, it was an easy decision to make. I had distanced myself from what this place represents and was able to compartmentalize things. But now . . . things are more difficult. I hadn’t planned on enjoying my time here. I certainly hadn’t planned on getting to know you.”
I bit my bottom lip. “I’m sorry to complicate things for you.”
“Don’t say that.” He put his mulled wine down and turned his whole body to me so that we were facing each other. “I’m so happy that I met you. You’ve taught me to let go a little, to see things through a child’s eyes, to wonder at things, and you’ve taught me to believe in magic.”
I lifted my lashes. “Really?”
“You’re right, Faith. This place is magical.”
I wanted to be mad at him for wanting to live in New York, but I couldn’t. It was impossible to be mad at him, even though I would be losing the man I’d fallen for. I would miss him terribly when he left.
“I’m glad you finally understand,” I whispered.
“Let’s enjoy my last week here.” He dropped his forehead to mine. “I have to get this deal sealed when the buyer arrives. If this deal isn’t signed by December 24th, then I’ll lose the opportunity and the runner-up will sign on the dotted line instead.”
I didn’t know what else to say. Now that Adam had explained his reasoning, I could see that he really had no option but to sell, which meant that this Christmas would be my last at Silver Bells. Only a miracle could save it now.
Chapter Fourteen
The next day around noon, I walked along the sidewalk on Main Street, which was lined with the quaint shops, tall and narrow, located in the brick buildings with exposed front windows, stopping at Jingle Bells Bakery to meet Morgan and Ruby for a cup of coffee during my lunch hour (aka: some girl time).
I really needed a break from thinking about Adam and work and missing Ms. King, and also from being sad about not getting to be with my parents for Christmas. I entered the bakery and looked around for my friends, but it didn’t look like they were here yet.
The place was packed but I spotted one last table so I hurried over and snagged it. Made sense that tourism was picking up, though. Only a little over a week until Christmas, so shoppers always took full advantage of our town’s festive feel and our wonderful independent stores to pick up unique gifts for their loved ones.
By the looks of it, they were also taking full advantage of Jingle Bells Bakery’s delicious pastries, too—a joy I was happy to partake in. Yum.
“What’s going on with the rush of people?” Morgan asked, sliding into the seat opposite me right after I’d gotten seated. She dumped her shopping bags under the table and glanced around the crowded café. “Looks like all of Montana and its mother have been buying up the stores.”
I tilted my head. “I didn’t realize states had mothers.”
“Fun fact,” Morgan said, chuckling. “Hopefully she’s not driving her daughter crazy like my mom is.” She raised both palms when I opened my mouth. “I can’t even talk about it.”
“Avoiding your mom with a shopping binge?” I gestured at the numerous bags she was still trying to stuff under the table.
“There isn’t enough shopping in the world for that.” She reached across the table for the menu and began perusing the items. “Thanks for arranging this. I really needed some girl time.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling,” I said, glad I could relax with my besties and forget about all of my problems for a while. I rubbed the condensation from the window and peered outside, waiting for Ruby. It was lunchtime and the day was gray, thanks to the thick, heavy clouds hovering above the town. It gave the town a wonderfully cozy feel, though.
I gazed out at the downtown shops, which were festooned with fairy lights of every color stretching from one side to the other. The trees lining the sidewalk twinkled with what looked like a thousand fireflies, and every store window had a different display. Play it Again, Sam, the toy store, had a wooden train set chugging around a Christmas tree displayed in its window. Morgan’s C.M. Salon had mannequins with fabulous hairstyles at a party scene.
Suddenly a face appeared on the other side of the glass and I jumped in my seat, thrust a hand to my heart and then smiled as Ruby stuck her tongue out at me before pushing the door open and coming inside. Such a jokester.
“It’s a madhouse out there today.” Ruby pulled her beanie hat off and her blond hair tumbled around her shoulders as she slid in next to me. She gave me a side-hug and the cold air that clung to her coat tempered the warmth inside the café. She nodded toward the now-depleted trays in the display case up front, which were usually full of cakes and pastries. “Please tell me there are some cinnamon rolls left that I just can’t see.”
“Trust me, I was taking no chances.” I tapped the side of my nose and winked. As I said this, Tabitha, the teenager who worked here, arrived at the table and set down a tray with a smile. “Three cinnamon rolls and three lattes, per your call-in order, Faith.”
“Thanks, Tabitha,” I said.
“We should never have doubted you.” Morgan set her menu down and clapped her hands together. “These look d
elicious.”
“Okay, so . . . Adam Kline?” Ruby went straight to the point, as usual. “What’s going on between you two? We know about the mistletoe kiss. Anything new since then? I’ve left you two messages since I saw you at the Inn and not one return call. What gives?”
“I’ve been busy.” I sighed, sounding like the little train in Sam’s toy shop. Okay, I may have been avoiding talking to Ruby about my love life. But I just wanted to forget about all of that right now and have a break. “How’s shopping, Morgan? Get anything good?”
“Uh-uh.” Ruby wagged her finger before picking up a cinnamon roll. “Don’t try and get out of talking about Adam. You two looked pretty cozy at the Sugar Plum Inn Friday.”
Morgan’s pear-green eyes widened. “Um, what?”
“Adam and I were just talking about work. I’ve been trying so hard to save Silver Bells for Mr. Kline, but Adam still plans to sell the business.”
“My brother’s obnoxious behavior didn’t drive all of the buyers away?” Morgan asked, reaching for a latte. “Is this mine?”
“Connor was sweet to try to help me, but no,” I said, nodding to her raised latte. I tore a chunk off the cinnamon roll and popped it in my mouth, the sweetness seeping into my taste buds. Oh, yum. “Truthfully, I’m feeling guilty about trying to sabotage the sale.”
“Why?” Morgan asked. “Sounded like a good plan to me.”
“It was for a good cause,” I conceded, but then remembered my conversation with Adam. I sighed, knowing the girls weren’t going to let me talk about anything else right now. “You know how hard I’ve been working to save Silver Bells. But, now? I’m just . . . not sure it’s fair to Adam. Stopping the sale would mess up his plans.”
“And what are his plans?” Ruby asked, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.
“Oh, please,” I said, my cheeks heating. I’d told them about my spontaneous kiss under the mistletoe but nothing more yet. Mostly because my feelings had built like a whirlwind. “Adam has a window of opportunity to buy in as a partner at the New York firm where he works. It’s an incredible opportunity for him. He needs a big cash injection to be able to do that.”
“Selling Silver Bells,” Morgan said, wrinkling her nose.
“Exactly,” I said, my stomach tightening.
Morgan gave Ruby and me a long look. “It sounds like a great opportunity for him, but what about Christmas Mountain? I hate to sound selfish, but I toured Santa’s Grotto last weekend and it’s a treasure. I can’t imagine what we’d do without it. Does he have a buyer yet? I still can’t believe Plan Sabotage didn’t work.”
“It kind of backfired, actually, but it wasn’t due to Connor playing the part. He played it a little too well, if you ask me. I have no idea how I kept a straight face. Look . . .” I picked up my phone and opened the photo gallery. “Some covert photos I took.”
I scrolled through the photos. Morgan and Ruby snickered at the sight of Morgan’s brother “asleep” in a chair, cuddling Harmony, and even waltzing with one of the potential buyers as she tried to write in her notepad. He looked like a major goofball.
After a good laugh at the photos, I wiped my eyes and took a sip of my coffee, which had pretty bells swirled into the creamy frothy top. “I love how they decorate the foam like that. Always seems like such a shame to ruin it.”
“Mmhmm, but it tastes even better than it looks,” Ruby said, sprinkling brown sugar on hers. Then she scooped it all off with her spoon and put it into her mouth, closing her eyes as she did so. She crunched on the sugar and then looked from me to Morgan as we wrinkled our noses at her. “What? It’s my thing. Let it go.”
Ruby was always so health conscious that we teased her every time about her peculiar eating-coffee-froth-and-sugar habit.
I laughed before turning to Morgan. “So, really, how’s your mom? Which reminds me, I still haven’t called my mom back from the other day. She wants me to go to Florida for Christmas. Don’t worry,” I added hastily, seeing their horrified faces, “I’m not going. I told her about the tribute to Ms. King. Plus, it’ll be my last Christmas at Silver Bells.”
We sat in silence for a moment before Morgan lifted her gaze to mine. “I had another go around with my mom yesterday.”
We groaned, although it was par for the course with Mrs. Reed. “What about this time?”
“I told her I’m toying with the idea of cutting my hair short,” she said, twisting a long lock of her dark hair. “I’m not thinking of chopping it, anymore. I was just having a really bad hair day, you know? But she went wiggy on me and told me that I’d never attract Mr. Right if I looked like a boy.” Morgan made a cross-eyed face.
Ruby looked at me, puzzled. “But, you’re already with Mr. Right . . . Dallas!”
Morgan nodded. “Right? And she knows that, but sometimes she forgets that she likes him, I think, and reverts back to her ‘you need to marry a banker/lawyer/stuffed shirt’ mentality. What can I say? I’m still the disappointment,” Morgan said, without a hint of bitterness. At one time Morgan had believed that of herself after her sister died from a terrible fall. But when Morgan had an accident last year, she’d realized—after some wise words from Ms. King—that her mom was merely scared of losing her other daughter, too. “It’s a lot more fun being the black sheep,” she said with an impish look on her face.
“And how is the dashing Dallas?” I asked.
Morgan’s face lit up as she smiled. “He’s wonderful, as always. You know, I thought we’d get fed up with working alongside each other all of the time, but we don’t.”
“And to think you wanted him to give up the lease and go elsewhere with his business,” Ruby teased. “Anyway, back to you, Faith. Adam seemed nice in the two minutes I got to size him up. And after the duds you’ve dated since you’ve been back, it’s nice to see you with someone decent. Do you remember that guy with the false teeth?”
We all laughed. “Tooth. Just one tooth, and it wasn’t false, it was his own . . . just modified.”
Ruby started laughing a little too loud, drawing amused glances from the other diners.
“But remember how you told us he tried to kiss you at the end of the night?” Morgan asked, bursting out laughing just as loud as Ruby.
I shuddered. “Can you imagine?”
“Thank goodness I’m wearing waterproof mascara.” Morgan wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “So, you really like Adam, huh?”
I looked at my friends and nodded. “I really do. Which is why I’ve decided to stop trying to ruin his plans. If he needs to sell Silver Bells, then so be it.”
“But, what about your job?”
I told the girls about the call Adam had from Bernice at It’s All Downhill From Here. “I called her back and she offered me the chance to manage the place. I mean, it’s not Silver Bells but it would mean a steady income and it’s a nice resort. Maybe I could bring some of Mr. Kline’s magic to Bernie’s place.”
The three of us sat in silence for a moment, each taking a sip of coffee at the same time. Failing all else, I supposed we could make money as a synchronized coffee-drinking team.
Ruby put her cup down. “You know, I think you’re doing the right thing, Faith. If Adam is going to sell, he’s going to sell, with or without your blessing. If you keep fighting him, the chances are you’re going to lose whatever you two have together.” She looked at Morgan, who had opened her mouth. “Maybe she needs to lose Silver Bells to find wedding bells?”
“Oh, that’s cute,” Morgan said, turning to me. “Do you like him enough to give up Silver Bells?”
I nodded slowly. “He needs to do what’s right for him.”
Morgan narrowed her eyes at me. “You really think so?”
I took a deep breath, then blew out through my mouth slowly before answering. “Yes, I do.”
Morgan gasped. “You’ve fallen in love with him.”
Two expectant faces looked at me, waiting for me to go on.
“Which presents me wi
th another problem,” I said, looking at each of them as I admitted my feelings for Adam to my besties (and to myself). “If the sale goes through, then he’ll have no reason to stick around Christmas Mountain anymore.”
If the thought of losing Silver Bells had felt like a knife going through my heart, then the thought of losing Adam felt like that knife was being twisted and turned, too. I couldn’t bear to lose both of them. But it looked like that was exactly what was going to happen. Soon.
Chapter Fifteen
Despite the big wooden doors to Silver Bells being so heavy, a gust of wind whipped them out of my hands with a bang as I arrived back to work. Well, as Morgan’s mom always says, a woman should always make an entrance. Although, in this case, it was more like ripping the entrance off its hinges. Harmony looked up from her computer, noting the snow I’d accidentally tracked in during my rush to get out of the elements.
“Good afternoon, Faith. Are we offering indoor skiing now?” she asked, walking over with a handful of paper towels.
“Here, give them to me, I’ll do it.” I dropped them on the floor and used my foot to mop up the rapidly melting snow, before balling them all up and handing them back to Harmony. “Don’t say I never give you anything.”
“Gee, thanks.” Harmony took the wet bundle and walked back to her desk, tossing them into the trashcan before sitting back down.
I picked up the mail and leafed through it, casually asking about Adam.
“Oh, yeah, I meant to tell you when you came in, but your Snow Queen impression threw me,” she said, batting her eyelashes as the phone at her desk rang. “Adam is gone. . . Hello? Silver Bells Luxury Tours, Harmony speaking, how may I help you?”
My entire body went numb. Adam was gone? What did that mean? Had he sold the business while I was out to lunch? He hadn’t been in this morning, but I figured we’d see each other this afternoon. What was going on? I waited while Harmony finished up on the phone, all sorts of scenarios running through my mind, and none of them good.