He rose and then kissed her forehead. “Tomorrow, we’ll talk. Tonight, just sleep.” She kept her eyes shut tight as he closed the door.
Clara and Amelia got into the car, but Maisie hugged Darryl. “Don’t give up on her.” She leaned away and held onto his shoulders tight. “Promise me.”
The promise was easy. “You have my word, Maisie. The very last thing I’d do is walk away from her.”
Now he only needed to convince Penelope to commit in the same way.
Chapter Ten
On Christmas morning, Darryl felt moody and tired. The plan on his day off was to drive up to the summit and spend the day hiking with Tyson. He needed air to clear his head, trying to figure out his next steps. Last night, he had planned to kiss Penelope under the mistletoe at midnight and make things solid between them.
This wasn’t how he intended to spend Christmas morning.
The worst part was, he had no idea how to fix any of it. He didn’t know the right thing to say to make the rejection with her parents sting less. And he knew he had to get that right. One mistake on his part, and she’d bolt, and he wouldn’t blame her one bit. He also had no idea how to get her to stay. He needed a plan, and he hoped on his hike he’d find it.
“Come on, Ty,” he said after opening the door to his cruiser. The dog jumped in, and Darryl shut the door, only for Tyson to stick his head out the open window and give Darryl’s hand a lick.
Yeah, his mood with shit.
“I’m all right, bud,” Darryl said, giving the pup a well-deserved head scratch.
“You promised me you wouldn’t give up on Penelope.”
Darryl glanced sideways, finding Maisie, her hands on her hips. “I didn’t give up on her.”
She stepped forward, slipped a little on the ice, then placed her hand on the cruiser and frowned. “You must have, because she’s gone, so what did you do?”
This had to be some cruel joke. “What did I do?” he asked, flabbergasted.
“Yes. What. Did. You. Do?” Maisie tapped a furry boot against the snow-covered driveway. “Penelope changed her flight to earlier this morning and left in a big giant mess of emotions. She never gets like that, so you had to have done something to upset her.”
Darryl turned to fully face Maisie now, shoving his hands into his pockets. He had to give it to Maisie. Most people balked at authority. She didn’t even bat an eye. “I’m sorry to break it to you, but I haven’t heard from Penelope since I put her in Clara’s car last night. I planned to go see her after a hike.”
Maisie’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Is that the truth?”
“Yes,” he defended, not blind to how sharp his voice became. “Jesus, Maisie. I asked Penelope to stay here, with me.”
Maisie’s expression pinched. “Hmm…” She nibbled her lip, watching Darryl closely, obviously having more to say.
Darryl waved her on. “You haven’t held back yet. Why start now? What is it?” The Carter sisters weren’t known for being particularly quiet about how they felt.
Maisie’s expression softened as she moved closer to pet Tyson who still had his head resting on the open window. “Okay, so I’m about to do something I would never do.” She hesitated, giving Tyson a quick kiss on the head. “Actually, I’m going to do two things, if we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty.”
“Maisie,” Darryl said, urging her on.
She glanced up, moving away from Ty. “Get on with it, right?” At his nod, she said, “Number one, I don’t share private conversations.”
He hesitated, waiting for her to continue. When she didn’t, he said, “All right, I understand.”
“And you know that I’m only doing this because I think it’s really important, and usually I’m a vault, all locked up tight.”
Understanding what she needed from him, he said, “You’re a good person, Maisie. I know this.”
“Let’s hope Penelope still thinks so after this.” She sighed, folding her arms, leaning a shoulder against the cruiser. “So last night when I was putting Penelope’s drunk ass to bed, she started sobbing, like really sad crying that comes from the gut, you know? When a heart bleeds and just won’t quit.”
“Yes, and…?”
“I guess Penelope called both her parents last night.” Maisie’s eyes saddened, and her voice softened. “They didn’t even want to talk to her.”
Darryl’s chest tightened. He wasn’t surprised. She’d mentioned calling home. “I’m sorry to say it, Maisie, but your aunt and uncle are assholes.”
“Don’t be sorry, you’re right. They’re a bunch of dicks,” Maisie agreed with a firm nod. “Our family has been estranged from them for years, but the thing is, when she was talking, she also mentioned you. That you were just playing bad with her this week, but she’s not someone that you could really want. That you deserve better than her. And that just made her sad.”
His gut twisted and his hands fisted in his pockets. “I wish she’d told me that herself.” Then he could’ve done something about it.
Maisie gave a long knowing look. “Yeah, well, would you speak about feelings if you were her?”
He didn’t even have to think about it. “No, I wouldn’t.” How could she? The people who should listen to her, didn’t. “All right, and what’s the second thing that you’d never do?”
She reached into her back pocket, and her boot crunched against the snow on the driveway as she handed him an envelope. “This morning when I realized she had left, I found this in the garbage bin by her bed.”
Darryl Wilson and his old address were written on the front. He’d been through enough investigations to know the ink was old. And that told him in his hands he had the letter that she’d told him she’d written when she was seventeen. “It’s opened.”
Maisie’s shoulders curled and cheeks blushed. “Don’t look at me like that. I feel bad enough about it, but something compelled me to open it, and then I knew I had to bring it to you.” She couldn’t even look him in the eyes. “Okay, so I’ve done my part. Bye.” She turned to hurry away.
Darryl peeled his eyes off the envelope, noting the shaking of his hand. “Maisie.”
“Yeah?” She turned back to him.
It occurred to him that Maisie cared for Penelope a great deal and coming here went against everything she believed in. That stood for something, and Darryl wouldn’t forget it either. “Thanks.”
Maisie gave him a sweet smile. “Welcome.”
He watched her jump into her car and drive off, then he turned his attention to the letter inside the envelope.
Darryl,
I miss you. Is that weird? I mean, I know it’s kinda weird since we didn’t really even know each other, but I do. I miss how I felt that night with you. Don’t worry, I’m not a stalker or anything, but things are so different now. My parents divorced. That’s why I had to leave so fast. It’s only been six months now. They’re both getting married again, and I guess I’m getting stepsiblings. Whatever that means? Truthfully, I just hope they’re nice.
I don’t even know why I’m writing. I don’t even know if I’m going to send this. But I guess all I want to know is…will you come get me? Come bring me back to the lake, to where everything made sense, to that quiet where no one is fighting, and where life seemed so easy.
Penelope. xoxo
“You have got to be kidding me.” The police barricade was the last straw. First, Penelope’s Uber driver said his car suddenly died, when she’d seen him turn off his ignition. Then the cab driver drove stupidly slow. Now this. It took an hour to get to the Denver airport from River Rock, and two hours had gone by now. It started to feel like she was being sabotaged.
With a huff, she got out of the car, thankfully in her winter boots, jeans, and long winter coat. “Is there a problem?” she asked the police officer standing in front of the barricade.
He wore a uniform a little different than Darryl’s but had a similar matching black winter hat that she’d seen Darryl in before
. “I’m sorry to report there’s an accident up ahead. Road is closed.”
Okay, so maybe she was overreacting, and now she felt terrible in case someone was hurt. “Is everything all right?”
“Oh, yeah, all good,” another office said striding up. “There’s a horse loose up there, and we gotta catch him.”
Maybe she wasn’t overacting at all! Penelope crossed her arms, tapping her winter boot against the snowy road. “Really? There’s a car accident and a loose horse?”
The cops gave each other a long look, then the one on the right shrugged at her. “That’s right.”
“Forget this.” Oh, yeah, it became pretty clear what was going on there. Darryl was pulling in favors to catch up with her on the road. Why? To voice how she disappointed him last night? Or maybe that her drunkenness had cost him his promotion? She knew she messed up, and that was exactly why she was leaving.
The last thing she wanted to do was make matters worse. She already felt like shit about it all. And all she wanted right now was to hop on that plane, get as far away from everyone as possible, and then hide under her blanket at the hotel until she had to join the cruise for training.
No one had helped her get to where she was. That wasn’t going to change today. She headed back for the cab. “Can you open the trunk?” she asked the cab driver after he rolled down the window.
“Ah, yeah, sure,” the young guy said.
The trunk was open by the time she got back there, and she took out her bag, releasing the handle then dragging it along. “We’re all squared up, right?” she asked as she walked by the guy again.
“Yeah, it goes on your credit card. Wait. Ma’am, where are you going?”
She was already way ahead of him. “Getting my ass to the airport myself.”
When she reached the barricade again, the cop folded his arms, lifting his chest. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Oh, yeah? Stop me, then.” He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.
The cop suddenly laughed softly and shook his head. “I get why Wilson’s putting up such a fuss over you.”
She ignored both his comment and that Darryl had arranged all this, and she strode past the barricade. She knew from the drive into River Rock that there was another crossroad up ahead that led to the airport. Hell, she’d hitchhike there and put all this behind her.
Yeah, right…
She internally rolled her eyes at the little voice that got her into this mess in the first place and stomped her way down the road. She shouldn’t have ever let any of this happen. Now, she was a mess, feeling emotional and raw, and all the things she hated feeling. Because caring about people sucked. It was never easy.
Off in the distance, she heard sirens, making her walk just a little bit faster. Dammit. By the time she made it halfway up the hill, dragging her suitcase behind her, she was huffing and puffing and ready to keel over.
“You really need to work out more.”
She gasped, spun around, and found Darryl standing behind her, with Tyson there too, wagging his tail. “It’s you,” she managed.
“It’s me.” He smiled.
Her nostrils flared as she inhaled the crisp air. “Seriously? What’s wrong with you? You did all this to what? Confront me?”
“Confront you?” He snorted, shaking his head. “I told you before, when Tyson wants someone as part of their family, he’ll find them. That’s why we’re here.”
She blinked, processed, and blinked again. “But last night…”
“You got completely shitfaced.” His warm gaze pinned her to the spot, as he reached into his back pocket then held up an envelope. “I’m ten years late, but I came for you.” He leaned in, bringing all that heat and strength in close, stealing away the chilliness in the air, and then winked. “Even though you are a gigantic pain in my ass and wouldn’t stay in one place, fighting your way to the airport, as if you thought I’d ever let you go.”
She stood there a moment, thinking she could contain herself.
Then the dam opened, and there was no stopping it. She dropped her head into her hands and burst into tears.
Darryl’s arms were around her in less than a second. Tight. He said nothing. She couldn’t even think about talking. It felt like ten years’ worth of tears got dumped right there, and for reasons unbeknownst to her, he stayed with her for all of that.
When she finally managed an ounce of control, she found her voice again, and she noticed it had begun snowing, small flakes fluttering all around them. “How did you get that letter?”
“Maisie.”
“She went to your house?” she asked, surprised.
He nodded. “She loves you and wants you to be happy.”
There were a thousand things to say. Questions to ask. Answers to give. But what came out was, “I’m going to mess up sometimes,” she admitted. “That’s what I do.”
“We all mess up, Penelope. Cut yourself a break.”
“Not you.”
“Well, I’m perfect.” He grinned.
She snorted, giving him a light tap on the arm.
He chuckled, cupping her face with his one leather-covered hand. “Of course, I mess up. I have a failed marriage in my rearview and most of the town things I’m an uptight fuddy-duddy. But that’s life. And that’s why I had your back last night, as did your cousins, and got you in the car before anything happened.”
She felt the heat of embarrassment creep up into her face. “But I danced on the bar like an idiot.”
“So what? You looked great up there. The mayor was smiling and clapping along. The captain thinks you’re a saint, so nothing you could do would tarnish that.”
“But I was drunk—”
“You’re young. We get drunk. That’s what we do.” He took her by the shoulders and dropped his eyes level to hers. “And in case you think everyone is a Goodie Two-Shoes around here, don’t. Mrs. Evans from the Christmas breakfast you met runs through her back yard during the full moons naked. Jason, the guy that runs the homeless shelter, was a drug addict for a long time.” His mouth twitched a little when he added, “And your ever-so-perfect cousin, Clara, has had a few nights that I’ve driven her drunk ass home. No one is perfect, Penelope. You’re a good woman. That’s all that matters.”
“My family…” She couldn’t even get the rest of the words out.
“They hurt you, and you reacted to that hurt.” He placed his arm around her neck, tugging her close, and kissed her forehead. “I’ve been there. I know that pain.” When he leaned away, he dipped his chin and said softly, “But don’t let their shit ruin you. You can’t change them, but you can change how you interact with them. You’ve got your cousins, me”—the side of his mouth curved—“the entire town of River Rock who has fallen in love with you. Pick us. Pick here. Pick this life, not the life with people who can’t see this amazing woman in front of them.” He paused to wipe her tears, snowflakes covering his hair. “Ten years ago, there was a spark. One that was instant then, and lasted this past decade, always staying with me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the mistletoe, holding it up high in between them. “Penelope Carter, will you stay and let me love you?”
“You want to love me?” Her voice cracked.
“Yeah, about that…um, I already do love you,” he said, “but I can hold that in, in case that makes you want to trudge down the middle of the road again with your suitcase.”
She laughed through the tears, then rose on her tiptoes. “No more running away. I love you too.” She moved closer and stopped just before meeting his lips. “And just so you know, I happen to be a hundred percent certain you are not an uptight fuddy-duddy. Oh, Darryl. I can’t believe you came for me.”
His eyes filled with emotion. “I can’t believe you kept the letter all these years.” He closed the distance, pressed his mouth to hers, and kissed her, meaningfully, deeply.
Tyson barked.
Darryl broke off the kiss with a laugh.
“Oh, I won’t
forget about you,” Penelope said, dropping down to kiss Tyson’s head too.
Darryl took her suitcase in one hand, and twining the fingers of his free hand with hers, he led her back to River Rock.
Sometimes life pointed you in the wrong direction, she realized. But then sometimes it led you right to where you belonged. With a good man, a cute dog, and a very grumpy cat.
Epilogue
Fate finally got things right. A week had gone by since Darryl and Tyson found Penelope trudging through the snow along the road, and she still had no little flicker in her gut telling her to hit the road. She was staying in River Rock, which was what brought her to the kitchen table with her cousins. She sat next to Maisie, glancing from face to face, hoping to hell she didn’t mess up somehow. She thought back over the week, sure she hadn’t done anything wrong. When their expressions revealed nothing, she broke the silence. “Okay, I know I ate the last piece of caramel apple pie, but come on, it was taunting me at two o’clock in the morning. What’s a girl to do?”
Maisie giggled.
Amelia smiled.
Clara said, “That’s not why we called a family meeting.”
Penelope blew out a loud, relieved breath. “Okay, so what’s up, then?”
Amelia turned to face Penelope fully. “I wasn’t joking when I said I didn’t want to do the beer tours anymore. I’m the dreamer, the creator, and I want to put my focus into creating some new beers for us to market.” Amelia had graduated from the Brewmaster and Brewery Operators program in Denver.
“And I’m going on the road with our beer to try and win some of the big tasting contests,” Maisie said.
Clara nodded at her sister, then said to Penelope, “You’re good with people. We’re all so proud of these amazing things you’ve done lately. So, the tour job is yours, if you want it. The pay isn’t great, but you get free room and board here with us, and free dinners, of course.”
Penelope parted her lips, but nothing came out, so she shut them again. She’d been wondering exactly what her next steps were. This last week had been all about heading back to the room in the Airbnb in Southern California that she’d been renting this last month and moving her stuff out to River Rock. She’d only arrived back an hour ago after Maisie picked her up from the airport since Darryl was working a shift, without much of a plan of where she would be living. “Are you all really sure about this?” she asked, a little speechless.
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe Page 11