“I have to. I’m in it.”
“Be on your best game,” Nell said.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” Nell smiled mysteriously.
“What have you done?”
“Me?” Nell gave Emilie an innocent look. “It’s not me who’s taking care of you. I told you, it’s Nathan.”
* * *
NATHAN STOOD AT center ice on Christmas Eve. It was the last show that the Empress Caribbean ice-skaters were performing at Prescott Inn. The stands were completely full. The inn was completely full. And he had invited a stable of VIPs and sat them at a bench at mid-ice for the best view. But right now, he was trying not to think about them.
Instead, Nathan roared out his best Santa Claus imitation. “Ho! Ho! Ho!” he called. Nathan was dressed in a rented red Santa suit, complete with white beard, hat and a belly stuffed with two small pillows, which he thought looked silly but Nell assured him was absolutely necessary for the costume. On his feet, Nathan wore hockey skates.
Gary and Curtis pushed out a small sleigh on runners that Guy had found in the back shed. The sleigh was piled high with presents. Nathan had done his best to make sure that each child staying at the inn—whether guest or resident—had a present with his or her name on it.
Julie and Rosie had wrapped everything. They’d resolved their differences in the spirit of Christmas, as had Katya and Sergei, and Curtis and Lynette.
“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Nathan called the kids forward. One by one, they leaned over the rail and Nathan—with assistance from the skater elves—passed them their presents. Nathan found that he loved playing Santa. He’d financed it all himself, and it was giving him great joy.
The last child that Nathan called up was Jason. Nathan was a bit nervous that Jason would recognize him—the boy believed in Santa Claus, after all—but Jason was so starstruck with his wrapped present that he didn’t notice. There were more presents for the little boy back in Maria’s room, too. Nathan had gone a bit overboard with his generosity for all the “shelter” kids, coordinating sponsors and purchasing bags of clothing and shoes and outerwear.
“You found me, Santa,” Jason whispered before leaving the ice. Of Nathan’s journey during the past year, this child’s happiness was one of the things Nathan most dearly treasured.
“And now for the skaters,” Nathan announced. This was a surprise for them. Nell had helped him out by doing the shopping. He’d assisted by attempting to wrap the packages, even though he was a terrible gift-wrapper. But he’d tried.
Nell had assured him that the skaters would most love to receive gift certificates so they could choose personal items to replace what they’d lost in the sinking. Nathan called each skater’s name, one by one, and they stepped forward to receive a cheer from the audience and a gift from Santa.
Emilie’s present was last of all. Nathan had planned it that way. She hung back from the rest of the troupe, quiet, but he’d known where she was. He always knew where she was. It saddened him that she wasn’t feeling herself these days—she’d been shy and withdrawn—but he wasn’t going to give up on her. Nell assured Nathan that she needed the time to regenerate.
“Emilie O’Shea,” Nathan called out. She skated over to him. She was wearing her skater elf costume, which just made the audience cheer all that much harder. Emilie blushed when she approached him.
They hadn’t really spoken much since the afternoon they’d kissed.
He spoke low, so only she could hear him. “There are two people sitting in the audience for you today.”
Her brow furrowed. “My mom and sister just talked to me before the show. They both said they’re in Florida.”
True. Emilie’s mom hadn’t wanted to fly this year. Nathan had offered her a room, but she’d declined.
Many of the skaters had parents and family in the audience. Emilie hadn’t yet put two-and-two together as to why this was so—Nathan was arranging it—but Nathan didn’t mind. She also hadn’t yet realized who her two guests might be.
“I was speaking of Lynn Bladewell and Donnie Ryan,” Nathan said. The presence of Emilie’s bosses was what she’d most wanted. He understood that.
Emilie’s face drained of blood. Her hand went to her lips. “They’re here for me?”
“Yes. I invited them to come and they accepted. Donnie is here for the holiday with his family, but Lynn is flying home tonight. I told your skaters—so they would be sure to perform extra-well for them, but I wanted to surprise you.” He peered at her, trying to gauge her expression. “Did I make a mistake? Should I have told you about this earlier?”
Her eyes seemed to be tearing up. She blinked rapidly. “No, Nathan. You didn’t make a mistake.” She placed her hand to her heart.
Relieved, he gave her the gift he’d picked out for her. “Merry Christmas, Emilie,” he murmured into her ear. Not even Nell knew what was inside the small box he pressed into her hands.
* * *
EMILIE CLASPED THE red foil-wrapped box with trembling fingers. Nathan had touched her heart with his love and kindness. Lynn and Donnie, here? He’d actually gotten them to agree to come—this could only be good for her! Surely they would want to speak to her about her future now!
And though Emilie had initially been sad that her mom didn’t want to fly, this made her feel better. Nathan was going out of his way to understand her and to show her she was important to him.
And the gift, too, was a surprise. The package was bigger than a ring box—it certainly wasn’t that—but whatever it was, the present wasn’t a boxed gift certificate, either.
Emilie stepped back into line, clutching her gift to her chest. Nathan picked up the microphone and invited everyone back to the inn for a Christmas Eve ball in the evening.
Tomorrow, Christmas Day, the restaurant was open. Through Gary, Emilie had learned that Nathan and Nell were hosting a Christmas dinner for all of the workers at the inn, their families, and the skaters and their family members on hand in the restaurant’s private dining room.
The dinner was scheduled for one o’clock and would be cooked and served by a contracted catering firm. Emilie hadn’t been sure whether she was going to attend or not.
But since Nathan had invited Lynn and Donnie, that meant they were invited to the dinner, too. That still shocked her.
She didn’t have time to think more about it. After “Santa’s” announcement, the audience filled the ice surface. They’d all been told to bring their skates to the performance so they could go around the rink with the cast after the show. There were quite a few kids, and her troupe was kept busy.
Taking advantage of the hubbub behind her, Emilie slipped around the stage curtain. In a place of privacy, she opened the gift Nathan had given her.
On a delicate gold chain was a tiny golden figure skate, and in the center, a great big ruby.
Tears sprang to her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. The pendant was beautiful. Nathan was replacing the special gift he’d given her on their two-month anniversary—the necklace that had gone down with the ship.
Emilie took the delicate chain and clasped it around her neck. With her hand to her throat, she knew at last, to the core of her heart, what it was that she wanted, and what would make her happy.
It was time to let go permanently of her need to take care of her troupe.
She didn’t need another troupe, or even an audience.
She wanted Nathan, who’d given her space enough to learn just how she wanted to choreograph her own life. He respected her dream.
She wanted to go with Nathan, wherever he landed. If he managed to win back his inn, then she would be the Ava to his Philip, if he would have her.
If he didn’t end up with Prescott Inn, she would go where he went. There were all kinds of ice rinks in the world. The world needed self-determined skaters who stayed put, too.
> Then she noticed the note in the bottom of the box.
Dear Emilie,
I hope that all you desire becomes yours.
Best,
Nathan
She found a tissue and blotted the tears from her eyes—thankful she was wearing waterproof mascara—and got herself together. She still had to meet with Lynn and Donnie.
* * *
NATHAN WAS DISAPPOINTED that he didn’t see Emilie later that evening.
Nell went on a reconnaissance mission looking for Emilie, and returned to inform Nathan that she was dining privately with her boss, Lynn.
He’d realized this might happen. He’d flown Lynn in as part of Emilie’s Christmas gift, after all.
“Thanks, Nell,” he said quietly. “I forgot to ask what you’ll do if it turns out the inn can’t be saved.” They still hadn’t heard from B.G. as to whom the inn’s buyers might be.
“I’m a marketing manager,” Nell said. “What did you think I would do?”
“Sorry.” He smiled at her. “You’ve been a fantastic marketing manager for me. I should have known better than to ask.”
“Well, I might need a glowing recommendation letter from you, and soon, so don’t go too far,” she joked.
He laughed. “I almost forgot. Here’s your Christmas present.” He passed Nell a box he’d wrapped himself. “As you can see, I couldn’t figure out how to put a ribbon on it properly.”
His niece laughed adoringly. “May I open it?”
“Please.”
She ripped it open like a little kid and then lifted the lid on the antique velvet jewelry box.
“Ooh, this is so beautiful! You shouldn’t have, Uncle Nathan.” With awe, she lifted one of the jeweled earrings from the box. “I swear, no one can ever call you Scrooge again.”
He laughed good-naturedly. “Actually, Nell, those belonged to your grandmother. I found them when I was cleaning out a dresser in the attic. Maybe Ava set them aside for repair and then forgot about them. In any event, I had some missing stones replaced and the earrings cleaned and polished.”
Nell fastened them in her ears and then ran to a mirror to admire them. “They’re stunning!”
“I wish you’d met her.”
“I feel like I have met Ava, thanks to Emilie’s ice show.”
Emilie. Nathan’s smile faltered. He had to wait for her to come to him. If there was one lesson he’d learned, it was to give her time to decide what she wanted.
In the meantime, there was a ball to attend. “Nell, will you host the Prescott Inn Christmas ball with me tonight?”
“Of course I will, Uncle. And Christmas dinner tomorrow?”
“Actually, I’m serving as a waiter tomorrow. The caterer needed help, and I feel it’s the least I can do.”
“A waiter?” Nell blinked at him, but Nathan just shrugged.
“It’s part of owning an inn. Besides, this will be our last official day open for business as Prescott Inn. I may as well savor every moment of it before it’s gone.”
“Are you sure it’s not going to work out with the inn?”
“I still don’t know who the buyers are. If you can think of a way to make that work, then please, by all means, let me know.”
But it was Rob himself—Nathan’s major investor—who stopped by the Christmas ball to let Nathan know.
Nathan saw Rob in the vestibule shaking snowflakes from his cap.
“You came,” Nathan said, approaching the bank president and escorting him into the lobby.
“You invited me,” Rob replied in a low voice.
“Yes, and it’s my personal money I’m spending for the night’s entertainment,” Nathan informed him.
“Yes, I understand.” Rob bent his head. “I wanted you to know that the deal to sell Prescott Inn has been finalized. The new owner represents a large chain of hotels. They plan to change the name of the inn and rebrand the public rooms.”
Nathan sucked in his breath. He shouldn’t have been surprised by the news, but still, it hurt. Try as he might, it was difficult to see how he could continue to influence or advocate for the good of the townspeople with this decision.
“So, the facility will definitely be kept open as a business?” he finally asked.
“Yes, Nathan.” Rob cleared his throat. “B.G. Richards will be working with the new CEO on the transition process. You’ll hear more about it in the coming days.”
Nathan relaxed somewhat. It was best to remain optimistic and trust that B.G. would keep his eye out for the community’s and the kids’ best interests.
Still, Nathan wondered what would happen to him and Emilie now? Was this really the end?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Christmas Day at Prescott Inn
EMILIE READ THE title of the dinner menu that the waitress had passed her. She was a temp waitress, hired for the day, and Nell had whispered to Emilie in greeting earlier that this was the last day the inn would remain open “as it was,” at least for the foreseeable future.
Emilie felt choked up. It was a sad day for Nathan and also for Nell, the staff and the shelter families. Prescott Inn would be no more.
From her position at a dining table with Donnie, his wife and two well-behaved preteens, Emilie had the perfect view across the dining room. A large group of twelve had just vacated, and Nathan—Nathan!—was bent over, clearing the dirty dishes from the table into a plastic dishwasher’s bucket.
Donnie caught her gazing at Nathan. “Who is he?”
“Nathan Prescott,” she murmured.
“Did you know, he wrote you the most glowing review I’ve ever had a client give an employee?”
“Did he?” Emilie asked, surprised.
“He convinced me.”
“Convinced you of what?”
Donnie patted her shoulder. “Today is Christmas. It’s not the time or place to talk about job offers for top-shelf choreographers.” But he gave her a wink as he picked up his fork and knife and tucked into his turkey dinner.
Emilie could only stare at him. He was offering her a choreographer’s job? Two weeks ago, she would have done anything to have heard those words. And Nathan had helped make it happen.
Emilie dabbed her lips with her napkin and nodded to Donnie as she stood. “Excuse me,” she said, reaching for her small purse and tucking it beneath her arm.
She’d waited too long to go to Nathan. But now it was time.
“Shall we order you anything else?” Donnie’s wife asked her.
“No, thank you.”
“How about coffee?”
“No, I’ll just finish my water when I return.” She smiled gratefully at them—how could she not? They’d just given her a generous offer. Her dream had come true, actually.
But her mind was on Nathan. She made her way over to the table where he worked.
She placed her purse down and began to help him, picking up a dirty water glass and placing it in the bucket.
He saw her and blinked. Emilie caught a wave of hope that passed over his handsome features.
“Merry Christmas, Emilie,” he said warmly.
“Merry Christmas, Nathan.” Her voice caught, and she touched her fingers to her lips. “I’m sorry.” She waved her hand. “It’s just emotional to me that your family inn is closing.”
He smiled sadly, but resumed clearing the water glasses. “I had a last-ditch plan, and we did our best, but it didn’t quite work out the way I’d hoped. Still, all might not be lost.”
“What about the kids?” she asked.
“They had a nice Christmas. Go upstairs after dinner and look at all the stockings hanging by the fireplace.”
“Jason’s, too?”
“Jason’s, too.” Nathan smiled. “The boy is in heaven. It was worth it.”
He pointed
to a table in the corner. Jason sat with his mom, and the boy had a smile that went from ear to ear as he played with a Lego set. Prescott sat at Jason’s feet and was lapping at a bowl of milk.
Emilie’s voice caught in a sob.
“Hey!” Nathan reached over and touched her hand. “Buck up! We haven’t given up hope that the new owners will work with the homeless shelter to give the families a place.”
“You...completely surprise me, Nathan.”
“Because I’ve decided to embrace optimism?” He smiled at her. “I find I rather like it.”
She swallowed. “I’m sorry I’ve been holed up in my hotel room for the past two weeks.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I needed the time to think about what was important to me.”
Nathan’s hand stilled. “And what did you decide, Emilie?”
She wiped her eyes with a tissue. “May we go upstairs, please? I’d like to see the Christmas stockings by the fireplace.”
He grinned at her. “Of course.”
He took her hand and they went together upstairs.
There, in the lobby of what would always be Prescott Inn to her, by the great stone fireplace beside the trimmed Christmas tree sparkling with lights, were a row of Christmas stockings tacked up along the mantel.
Emilie saw Jason’s stocking, plus five other stockings with different children’s names. She also saw a battered old stocking that read “Nathan,” and a newer one for Nell. And at the end was a stocking that read “Emilie.”
“You put one up for me!” she said.
“Of course we did. You’re part of our family.”
Crying, she took it down and saw that inside were candy canes and a chocolate Santa, along with some colorfully wrapped packages that were a total surprise.
She went to Nathan and let him enclose her in his arms. “I love you, Nathan,” she said, snuggling against his broad chest and inhaling the scent of his soap.
“Wait a minute.” He gazed into her eyes. “Did you just say you love me?”
“I certainly did.” She reached up and touched his slightly scratchy cheek. “These past weeks, I’ve thought a lot about myself and where my home is and what I want in my life. It’s not my job to make everyone happy. I’ve realized that. I need to make myself happy first before I can begin to help anyone else. And being with you, Nathan, makes me happy.”
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