by Susan Hatler
“This is different . . .” I dipped the paintbrush into the paint and tried to get a nice even coat of the blue at the bottom of the bulb. It bled and ran downward. “It’s hopeless, just like this globe seems to be. Yikes!”
Emma applied the cloth again, blew some air across the globe and said, “You know what? This one’s wet from the turpentine. Try a fresh one.”
I lifted another globe, spreading the paint nicely. I turned to see Emma carefully affixing silver stars above her line of paint. Huh. Good idea. I grabbed some stars and glue.
“Thanks for your support,” I said, twisting my lips to the side. “But Adam is selling Silver Bells Luxury Tours and nobody can stop him. It’s a done deal. He knows how important the business is to me and to this town. But he doesn’t want it. That’s all that matters.” I set the globe down and frowned, and then shook my fingers. The stars were stuck, right there on my fingertips. Ugh. How had that happened? I tried to wipe them off on a cloth. Then the cloth stuck to my fingers. What the . . .?
“It’s pretty strong glue.” Emma bit back a laugh and then grabbed some funky smelling stuff and squirted it onto my fingers. I wiped and the stars fell off, landing on the table.
“You can’t change his mind about the business?” she asked.
I gave her a quick summary of the prospective buyers that had come through and what had happened there. “Our best bet is that whoever buys the business keeps it as is.”
She winced. “I can’t imagine it as a day spa.”
“Me, either.” I sucked in a breath and then dipped my brush into the paint again. “I wanted to help save Mr. Kline’s business, but Adam’s going to sell it.” My vision blurred. “And I did the tests to see if I was a match for a donation of marrow to Ms. King, but I wasn’t. Nothing seems to work out, but I wish Adam and I could stay together.”
“I’ve never heard you say that about a guy before,” she said, smiling as she brushed the excess glitter off my globe. “You know, one of the best things about you is how much you care about people. Tell me why you like this guy, I’d love to know.”
I lifted my lashes. “He’s kind, smart, funny, and he gets me. Sometimes he kisses me like he’s giving me a lifeline just when I’m about to drown.”
A shiver rolled through me at the memory of his kisses.
“Sounds like something special between you two that’s meant to last.”
“I know,” I admitted, wishing he wasn’t so perfect for me. “But he lives in New York, Em. And he’s selling the business. I just don’t know what to do. He asked me to dinner tomorrow night. I’m scared it will end up as a farewell date.”
She set my completed globe down carefully on a plastic sheet so it could dry. “I thought you said he’s a good kisser.”
“He’s a great kisser. I wish I knew how this could all work out.”
She set her finished globe next to mine. “You could try asking him.”
“I could . . .”
“What would Ms. King say?” Emma asked.
I smiled. “Nothing ventured means you’re stuck in the same spot.”
She squirted orange paint onto the paper. “I guess you’d better get to venturing then, Faith.”
I couldn’t think or speak. “I don’t know how.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re a guide. You’re a leader. You didn’t start doing that for no reason at all. You know how to venture. You know there are risks in every single thing in life. And you know how to navigate those risks. Why are you so afraid with this guy? I’ve never seen you like this.”
“I know. Normally I’m—”
“Fearless,” Emma supplied. “But not with Adam. Why do you think that is?”
I took a deep breath. All the things I wanted to say stuck to my tongue. I had to tell her the truth. I had to tell myself the truth. “I think he’s the one.”
“Then why don’t you tell him that?”
“You know the reason.” I stared at my badly painted globe. “My mom thought my dad was the one. She went for it. He thought she was the one. He went for it. They fell in love and had a marriage and that didn’t work out. What if I think Adam is the one but we end up being all wrong for each other?”
“You’re getting way ahead of yourself, girl. Maybe you should try being with him, long distance or not, to find out if he is the one.”
“Good point. But what if he is—and it doesn’t work out between us anyway?”
“Nobody wants to get hurt.” Emma grabbed my globe and wiped a blob of paint off the little silver hook at the top. She blew on her globe so the paint would dry faster. “But what if you never ask? Can you live with just letting him go and not trying at all?”
I couldn’t. I had to try. I studied my globe. “If I’m in need of a shoulder to cry on and a buddy who’s willing to buy the pancakes, will you be there?”
“You know I will.”
“Then I’m going for it.” I nodded, resolving to let him know tomorrow. We had to work since the potential buyers would be there this weekend, so maybe we’d get a chance to talk before our date.
I was going to go for it with Adam. I was going to tell him I wanted to be with him, no matter what that looked like. I was going to spill my heart, give him one terrific kiss, or maybe two or three kisses, and then hope it would all work out for us.
Chapter Nineteen
Rap-rap-rap!
I jumped, pulled abruptly from a dream in which I was chasing all of the elves out of town. I’d been running after them but they were fast, always escaping my reach. Head pounding, I sat up in bed, trying to figure what time of day it was.
Rap-rap-rap!
“Faith, open the door!” came a familiar male voice.
Wait, was that . . . Adam? What was he doing at my place? I’d called Harmony to bring me supplies in my weakened state thanks to the elves giving me the flu. Adam could not see me like this. No-no-no. Besides, I should be at work. Today was a big day with the potential buyers coming back for a second look at Silver Bells Luxury Tours.
That thought made my sickness feel even worse.
“Now I’m getting worried, Faith. Please open the door!” Adam called.
“Just a minute,” I said, feeling like my stomach was going to come up my throat. I struggled out of bed and made it to the door by holding onto the furniture along the way. I opened the door a quarter of an inch and peered through. “S’up?”
Adam’s eyes widened. “S’up? What, are you from Brooklyn? Let me in, Faith. Harmony called and told me you were sick. I’ve brought lemon and honey.”
Right, first job when I get back to the office is to fire Harmony. I looked at the bag he was holding up and smiled weakly. “Thanks, Adam. Just leave it there and I’ll grab it in a sec.”
“Let me in, so I can make you some hot lemon and honey.” He leaned one hand against the doorjamb. As I began to protest again, he said, “I know you don’t have anyone here taking care of you. So, if you won’t let me in then you’ll force me to get your mother’s phone number from the employee files back at the office and give her a call. I’m sure she’d be delighted to fly out and—”
I opened the door wide. “Okay, come in. Just don’t look at me. I feel like my head might explode and that can’t be an impressive look for anyone.”
“Thank you,” he said, steering me to the living room of my apartment. “Now, lay down and get some rest and I’ll make you some hot lemon. Then you can sleep.”
I rested on the couch as Adam sang softly to himself in the kitchen, smiling despite feeling so ill. I thought about how nice it would be if this were our home, which promptly made tears come because I knew he was going back to New York soon.
“Faith, your phone is flashing with a message.” He brought my cell phone to me and I pressed play:
Hello, I was looking for a woman named Faith. She used to be my daughter, but I’m assuming from her silence that she has moved away, joined a convent, or found a new mommy. CALL ME!
Oh, no. I still hadn’t returned my mom’s call. So not going to happen today, though. I dropped my cell phone on the coffee table and put the back of my hand to my forehead.
“Here you go.” Adam sat on the couch and handed me the concoction to drink. I took a sip and the sweet honey soothed my sandpaper throat. He gently took the cup from my hand and placed it on the coffee table, examining a Christmas ornament, which was lying there.
“I painted that last night with my friend, Emma,” I said, sitting up suddenly. “Oh, no. I hope I didn’t get Emma sick!”
“Who’s Emma?”
I told him about my evening spent painting Christmas ornaments with Emma, to get ready for The Christmas Extravaganza. “Emma’s one of my oldest friends, who was also in Ms. King’s choir.” I held up my wrist to show him my friendship bracelet. “We all wear one of these. I’ve never taken mine off. Morgan has one, too,” I said, and swung my legs around and stood up.
“Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”
“As much as I’m sure you love my bird’s nest mess of hair, my Rudolph nose, and the too-big pajama look, I don’t. So, I’m going to shower and . . .” My voice trailed off as the room began to spin. I felt myself falling until strong arms caught me and guided me back to the couch.
The cough medicine he’d brought was also making me feel woozy. “You caught me.” I sighed happily. “You know who we could be? Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara.” I jabbed my finger lightly in his chest. “You are my leading man.”
He laughed. “Well, right now this leading man is asking you to rest.” He tucked the blanket my grandma made up under my chin before picking up my mug and going back into the kitchen.
“I bet Scarlett O’Hara never did as she was told,” I mumbled under my breath. “How are things at Silver Bells?” I asked, standing up, going to my room, and searching for my jeans. I slipped them on and narrowly avoided disaster as one foot got caught in the leg. Hopping around was not doing my poor head any good. Those elves had a lot to answer for.
“Don’t think about work, Faith. We need to get you better.”
“Mmhmm,” I said, and shrugged my arm into the sleeve of my shirt. I started to brush my hair, which was a painful, root-pulling task. I decided on a messy bun instead. Not intentionally messy, but it was more respectable than the dragged-through-a-hedge-backwards look I currently had.
Adam walked out of the kitchen and found me dressed in the living room. “I thought I told you to rest. Look, I’ve heated up some soup for you.”
I shook my head, and then immediately regretted it as my head started pounding. “I need to get to work,” I said, noting the word had come out berk.”
Adam’s face softened as he took in my appearance. Walking towards me, he set the bowl of steaming soup down on the coffee table and stood in front of me, hands on my shoulders.
“Faith, your shirt is on inside out.”
I looked down and saw the label on the outside of the shirt. “Oops.”
“And you have two different shoes on your feet.”
I looked down again, vertigo making me feel sick. “In my defense, I have several pairs of boots, which look similar.”
“Yes, but you’re wearing one black and one tan.” He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand, making my belly warm in a good way this time. Then he took my hand and helped me settle on the couch before lifting the bowl of soup.
Holding a spoon up to my mouth, he held my gaze. “You’re so sweet, Faith. I’ve never met anyone like you before. You’re always doing so much for everyone else, from looking out for my dad’s business, to a missing reindeer, to charity work. Just once, let someone look after you, let me look after you,” he said, in a whisper.
“Adam Kline, I’m a grown woman, and I don’t need looking after. I’m all about girl power.” My little speech lost its credibility, though, because: a) my nose was totally blocked and it actually sounded like I said something about gorillas, and b) as I had said girl power, I’d raised my hand in a superhero gesture, knocking the bowl out of Adam’s hand and slopping some soup onto the floor. “Okay, maybe you’re right.”
I settled back on the couch, my head resting on his shoulder as he stroked my hair gently. As I relaxed and gave up my determination to work, I felt Adam pull the blanket over me.
My eyes flickered open. “Will you read to me?”
“I don’t have a book, sweetheart,” he said, stroking my cheek before pulling out his phone and searching for something. After a moment or two, he began, “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring . . .”
A peaceful feeling overcame me, making me feel safe and loved as I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Twenty
“Faith, you’re back!” Harmony was looking particularly festive when I came into work on Sunday after a terrible twenty-four hour flu. She was wearing a crown of tinsel and reindeer earrings complete with flashing red nose. “How are you feeling?”
I smiled. “I’m feeling a lot better, thanks to you sending Adam over.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” she said, but didn’t look in the least bit sorry. “I’ve shown Mr. and Mrs. Johnson to Adam’s office. They arrived about half an hour ago.”
I looked at my watch. “I thought they were coming yesterday.”
“Adam asked me to reschedule since you were sick,” she said, giving me a knowing smile.
“He did? Oh, wow.” My heart warmed. I couldn’t believe he’d risked the sale of his business when he was on such a deadline. I picked up the mail from Harmony’s desk and made my way to Adam’s office. I could hear the deep rumble of his laughter before I had even turned the corner. I sighed, thinking about how much I loved hearing that.
“Good morning, everyone.” I pushed open the door and smiled my most professional smile, but Mrs. Johnson jumped up and grabbed me, hugging me tight. “I am so excited about this adventure, Faith. You have no idea.”
“I’m so glad,” I said, wishing I’d been brought up to speed. I shook hands with Mr. Johnson and then sat down, my gaze locking with Adam’s.
“How are you feeling, Faith?” he asked.
“Better, thank you.” I smiled at him and then turned my attention to the Johnsons.
“We hope you don’t mind, but we wanted to have another look around before we make a final decision,” Mr. Johnson said, to which his wife punched him playfully on the arm.
“Who are you kidding, Walter?” She turned to me and grinned. “We’ve got our hearts set on this place. It makes Christmas magical and we love it.”
I bit my lip to keep from smiling at her excitement. Mrs. Johnson had clearly never heard the term “poker face.” Her enthusiasm was infectious, though.
As I led them through the lobby, Mrs. Johnson giggled. “I remember that guy who was here before. Do you remember, Walter? He was so funny and quirky. Such a small town feel.”
Adam raised his eyebrows and I realized I hadn’t told him about talking Connor into playing that crazy role, so I just smiled and held the door open for them to walk outside. I stood back to let them pass and Adam held the door for me when he came up. Mrs. Johnson was chattering away again, exclaiming about the sleigh and the horses, and the snow, and the trees. This lady was off the scale happy and as we walked around Silver Bells, my spirits began to rise.
For the first time, I felt that there was light at the end of the tunnel. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson’s plans for the business were simple: keep things exactly as they were. If this all worked out then we could all get what we wanted. Adam could sell the business and buy the partnership he was desperate for; Mr. and Mrs. Johnson could buy the business of their dreams; and I could stay in the job I loved and keep it just the way Mr. Kline had created it. The only but, and it was a big but, was that a sale would mean that Adam would be moving back to New York. I didn’t want to think about that part just yet.
“Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, would you like to take a sleigh ride? The horse
s are ready, and there’s no tour expected for another ninety minutes.” This brought forth another bear hug and an ear splitting squeal from her, and an apologetic look from him. I grinned as I got the couple settled and took the reins, waiting for Adam, but as he stepped up into the sleigh, his phone rang.
“Sorry, please excuse me,” he said, walking a few feet away. He returned with his hand over the mouthpiece. “Sorry, something has come up and I really must take this call. May I leave you in Faith’s capable hands and meet you back here in about an hour?”
“Of course,” I said, glancing back once as we set off in the direction of the forest, but Adam had already disappeared from view.
Mrs. Johnson’s enthusiasm was infectious, and even I, someone who loves Silver Bells, saw everything with a fresh eye as she pointed out things—an elf hiding here, a glimpse of Santa’s Grotto there, and even a reindeer foraging in the snow for some moss.
Adam was waiting for us after the tour as we drew the sleigh to a stop at the front of Silver Bells. “You look like you’ve had fun,” he said, helping the Johnsons down before reaching both hands out to me, holding onto my waist and lifting me down. Memories of the first time his hands had been there while decorating his office came flooding back, making my smile even bigger.
“We had a great time,” I said.
As the Johnsons headed inside, Adam held me back. “I’ve got something to tell you. I didn’t know about this earlier, but—”
“Adam, darling!” Tiffany’s clipped voice cut through the air as sharply as a crack through ice. Dressed in a black fur coat this time, she sashayed her way from a sleek car to Adam, wrapping her arms around him and planting a kiss on his cheek. Without removing herself from him, she looked at me. “Hello, Fiona.”
“It’s Faith,” I said, my eyebrows coming together.
Adam stepped away from her. “Tiffany took the jet in, bringing Miles Wilson for a second look.”
Tiffany looked over her shoulder at the man behind her and rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry you had to see this, Miles. This is exactly what we were just talking about. Sleigh rides and snowmen, very tedious and so yesterday. But this is a prime location for your day spa.”