The bud of anxiety showed itself, but Tristan pushed it down. He didn’t have anything James would ever want.
They drove in silence for several minutes before his mother let out a long sigh. “Why don’t you tell me about your first week of work? And you never did fill me in on the puppy saga.” Her lips twitched in a smile. “Did his family meet your standards of dog safety and care?”
Tristan appreciated the lighter mood. “That’s kind of a funny story. The family is nice. They were so grateful to see their pup, and I know the girl from high school.”
His mother gave him an interested glance. “Oh? And who might that be?”
“Noelle Foster.” Tristan’s thoughts turned to Noelle. Her beauty wasn’t as flashy as Courtney’s. Or maybe it was just that she didn’t flash herself around. He could still recall the allure of her smile and the searing heat that came from her hand touching his ribs, right where his heart beat. The memory made his chest tight.
His mother repeated the name. “That name doesn’t sound familiar.”
“We weren’t close in high school, but here’s the funny thing. She also works for Sian and George at the Fox Hollow Inn.” The memory of their conversation around their high school days came rushing back to Tristan, and frustration bubbled up to the surface of his mind.
His mother turned to look at him. “Really? I’m in there to see Sian all the time. Is she the sweet young woman at the front desk?”
Tristan brightened. “You’ve met her?”
“I think so. She’s very pretty, Tris. Dark auburn hair with green eyes. Gorgeous skin. She’s also warm and personable. Sian says the clients all love her. Is it the same young woman?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s her.”
“What’s the problem?”
His frustration brimmed. “Knowing someone from high school isn’t always a great memory, you know?”
“Do you have a bad memory with Noelle?”
Tristan shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he recalled his conversation at the inn with Noelle. “No, but her memory of me isn’t so great.”
“What happened?”
Tristan winced. “I basically ignored her.”
“I can’t see you doing that,” his mother said.
Tristan laughed. “That’s because you can’t ever see me doing anything wrong, but I never spoke to her, and I found out that I hurt her feelings.”
“Ahhh. I see.” His mother paused for a moment. Then she said, “She told you all of this?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, kudos to her for being honest. Is what she’s saying true?”
Remorse pinched Tristan. “Kind of. I never did make much of an effort toward her. But she never tried to talk to me either.”
His mother gave Tristan a quick glance. “Do you think you can rise above that?”
Tristan sighed, grateful for the idea of a resolution that would help him reconcile with Noelle. “I should.”
“It can’t hurt.”
Tristan’s voice softened. “You think I should apologize for being thoughtless.”
“Did I say that?”
“Not in so many words, but I think you might be right. She didn’t know about Dad, so my behavior could look insular, maybe even snobbish.”
His mother nodded before speaking. “Then there’s Courtney. That girl took a lot of energy. Are things seriously finished between the two of you?”
“I know you never liked Courtney, Mom, but she had a lot of compassion for me after Dad died.”
His mother pursed her lips. “Maybe so, but you’re right. I didn’t like her.”
Tristan continued, “But to answer your question. Courtney and I are finished.” Tristan became thoughtful. “I’ll always love her, but it’s over between us. All she talks about now is how to get her modeling career started.”
“No big surprise there.”
“Mom.” Some small part of Tristan still felt the need to defend his ex-girlfriend.
“Okay. Let me just say that time changes people, and we can grow apart if we don’t stay together. Is that better?”
Tristan smiled, but his thoughts were with Courtney. Would things have worked out the same way if they would’ve tried to stay together? Even now, Tristan couldn’t help but acknowledge the soft spot in his heart for his high school sweetheart. After all these years, he could still feel the warm silk of her deep blue prom dress underneath his hands and see how it caught the evening spring breeze like ripples in water. Her soft blonde curls brushed against her shoulders and would tumble around her face when she turned to him as an invitation for a kiss. That bright spring evening was just weeks before his father was diagnosed, and nothing could touch Tristan’s happy existence.
Those days were innocent and free, and some small part of Tristan wished to recover those times. To somehow erase the last few years of staggering loss, mistakes, and bad decisions so he could reclaim his younger self when love was easy and life was simple.
Chapter 8
Several days later, Tristan’s heart was slamming in his chest as he walked into the inn. Noelle was already at the desk, but she didn’t see him. She was dressed in a forest-green sweater that set off her auburn hair perfectly. Even the curve of her profile could take his breath away.
Swallowing hard, he closed the door behind him and moved behind the front desk.
“Hey there,” he said. “Are you ready for the afternoon shift?”
Noelle studied him before nodding. “The check-in crowd usually begins a few minutes early. Most hotels check in at four o’clock, but we like to give our guests an extra hour, so we check in at three. We’ll start seeing guests arrive as early as two or two-thirty.”
Tristan nodded. “Do we let them check in early?”
“If their room is ready, yes. Here, let me show you.” She moved to the computer and bent over the desk as she began clicking through screens.
Tristan moved beside her, and the smell of orange blossoms and vanilla came over him. He tried to ignore the stirring aroma as he placed his hand over hers. “Noelle.” His voice turned soft.
Noelle looked up in alarm. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry about what happened all those years ago.”
Noelle stood but kept her fingers against Tristan’s palm. “I’m sorry, too,” she said. “I was an idiot last week, and you’re right. I’m just as responsible as you are about what happened all those years ago. I was so shy that I almost always kept my head down.” She rushed on. “And I shouldn’t have pulled all that stuff from the past into the present moment. You were so kind to return Sampson, and I completely dismissed that kindness.”
Tristan gently clasped her fingers, taking delight in her touch as her hand relaxed into his. “Is all forgiven?”
“I hope so.” She returned the squeeze before withdrawing her fingers. “Now, I should probably show you how to work through a guest check-in.”
Tristan was torn. He didn’t want this sweet moment to dissipate. He still had one more thing to ask, but he vacillated. He didn’t want to be told “no” again, but he wanted more time with Noelle now that things were patched up. He decided to risk it. “I’m going to try this again. Will you come with me after work and get a cup of coffee or some cocoa at the Creamery?”
Noelle opened her mouth.
Tristan’s hopes began to dwindle.
“I-It’s more complicated than you may think,” Noelle said.
Tristan’s heart became heavy. “Are you seeing someone?”
Noelle looked down as she shook her head before raising her eyes to meet Tristan’s. “I’m not seeing anyone, and yes, I’d be happy to go out with you after our shift. Thank you for asking.” She offered him a timid smile.
The air left Tristan’s lungs as he took in her smile and gazed into her sweet summer-green eyes. He reached down and took her hand once again. The warmth of her skin both excited and soothed him as he returned her smile. “Maybe you can tell me about that complication,” Trista
n said. “But either way, I can promise you won’t be sorry.”
Noelle broke out into a teasing grin. “If you order me hot chocolate with extra whipped cream, you’re right.”
“Consider it done.”
Tristan heard someone behind him clear her throat. He turned to see Sian grinning with a smug look. “I’m glad the two of you are getting along so well.”
Tristan blushed as he heard the delicate sound of Noelle’s laughter beside him.
“Wait a minute.” Tristan focused on Sian. “You planned this, didn’t you? Is this why you hired me?”
Sian’s eyes continued to smile while she began to protest. “Of course not. George needs your help, and as Christmas grows closer, you’ll see how much you’re needed around here. But if you and Noelle become friends, I’ll just consider that my Christmas bonus.” Sian pulled her purse close. “I’m off to Costco,” she said. “Beth and Joy are finishing up their rooms, and George is around here somewhere. I expect the two of you to hold things together.”
A fragile beam of newfound happiness heartened Tristan as he waved Sian off.
* * *
Noelle spooned the whipped cream from the steaming chocolate and placed it in her mouth, savoring the flavor of heavy cream gently whipped with sugar as it melted against her tongue.
“Do you always do that with the whipped cream on your hot chocolate?” Tristan asked.
Noelle laughed as she held up her next spoonful. “Yep. It’s one of the reasons I even order hot chocolate. I love cream.”
“You could stir it into your chocolate,” Tristan suggested. “It makes for a richer drink.”
Noelle popped the spoonful of cream into her mouth, luxuriating in the hint of sweetness and soft texture. “This is coming from the Creamery. It’s rich enough. The cream is just a bonus.” She shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter. I’d eat the cream off the top if I was at Denny’s.”
Tristan laughed and shook his head.
Noelle grinned. It was nice to inspire cheer in someone. Kendall rarely laughed.
After finishing her third tablespoon of cream, Noelle looked at Tristan as a bud of affection rose within her heart. “I’m so glad for the opportunity to start over with you. Thank you for that.”
“We both needed a second chance,” Tristan said.
Noelle grinned as she reached over with her spoon and took a divot out of the cream left on Tristan’s cocoa. “So, what brings you back home to Icicle Creek?” she asked before Tristan could comment on her theft.
Tristan hesitated for a beat, and Noelle noticed a haunted look come into his eyes for a brief moment. “It was just time,” Tristan said. “I wanted to see how Mom was doing with the orchard and make some decisions around my future.”
Noelle put her spoon down. What track should she follow? Would it be best to talk about Tristan’s mother or his future? “How is your mom?”
“She’s doing well,” he said. “She handles the orchard as well as my dad, but …” His voice trailed off.
“I’m sorry. Where is your dad?”
Tristan looked away for a moment. “He passed away at the end of my junior year.”
A sliver of distress mingled with sorrow in Noelle. “Oh, Tristan. I had no idea. I’m so sorry. I should’ve known. Maybe I just don’t remember. I can be such a dunce sometimes.”
Tristan shook his head and touched the back of Noelle’s hand with his fingers. “No, please. There’s no way you would’ve known, unless you stalked the obituaries. I never told anyone, except Courtney. I swore her to secrecy, and she respected that.”
Noelle’s heart contracted with delight at the touch of his fingers against her skin, but the earlier sorrow stayed with her while she tried not to read too much into his touch. After all, he’d been taking her hand for several days now. Perhaps this was his way of trying to comfort her in a moment of feeling dumb. It worked. She squeezed Tristan’s hand and calmed down. “How was it to go to school after that?”
Tristan removed his fingers, and Noelle immediately missed the brief warmth of his touch. “It was weird. I couldn’t believe everybody’s life went on when mine had been so permanently altered. I felt different from everyone else. Some classmates had parents who were divorced, so they didn’t live with both parents, but at least they were around. I can remember feeling very isolated.”
Shame filled Noelle over her earlier judgment of Tristan. Maybe he wasn’t a stuck-up jerk. Perhaps he was just a high school kid trying to survive a devastating loss while navigating the day-to-day difficulties of everyday life, and she was so caught up in her resentment of him that she hadn’t even considered reaching out. “I had no idea,” she murmured.
“Well, I guess that’s good. I worked hard at putting on a good show.”
She gazed into his eyes that reflected the colors of Icicle Creek, reminding her of their shared history and a sense of familiarity that revealed itself through their love of home and family. It settled in her heart and warmed her like one of his flannel shirts. She wanted to understand what made him tick all those years ago. “Why would you feel the need to put on a show?”
“I wanted to be strong and macho in front of everybody. But Courtney knew. I shared everything with her.”
A ping of surprising jealousy pricked at Noelle, but she refused to entertain it. Whatever she thought of Courtney didn’t matter. She ignored the peevish envy. “And what about college?”
Tristan hesitated again before he answered. “My mom was insistent that I go where I wanted. We’d already chosen Arizona, so I went ahead and left.”
Noelle raised her eyebrows. “I remember that.”
Tristan looked heavenward. “I’m sure everybody remembers that. It was one of the things that made me mad at Courtney. She tried to use my dad’s death in order to keep me tied to Washington State while my mom was encouraging me to go to Arizona.”
Noelle grimaced. “Are you two …?” The question hung on a high wire in her mind.
“We’re not a couple anymore,” Tristan said. “We dated for about eighteen months when I came home, but we both recognized we’d grown apart. It’s been a good six months since we’ve spoken.”
Cautious relief trickled through Noelle. She was about to ask another question, when Tristan turned the conversation around.
“So, how’s the pup?”
Noelle relaxed into the conversation about her dog. “Sampson? He’s completely recovered from his snowy journey.” She put her cup of cocoa down. “I can’t thank you enough for bringing him home.”
“I’m just glad he found his way into our barn. We keep the door open just a smidge for the barn cats, and he was able to wiggle inside. He found a nice hay bale to snuggle in, although I’m not sure he was there very long.”
“I know. Six miles is a long way for the little guy. It must’ve taken him all night.” She paused. “We’ve fixed the fence. I hope he never gets out again.”
“He’s welcome any time, but I hope he doesn’t get out again, too—for your sake. That must’ve been hard for you.”
Noelle recalled that dark and desperate night with a shiver. “It was a very bad night.” She took a sip of cocoa to offset the coldness that came with the memory. This was nothing like the conversations she shared with Kendall. When she was with Kendall, she’d always spent at least half of her time wondering what he was thinking. That wasn’t the case with Tristan, and she delighted in his open conversation.
Tristan continued, “I should probably know this, but what university did you attend while studying hotel management?”
“I went to the Vancouver campus of Washington State University.”
“It sounds exciting. What made you choose to work at the Four Seasons in Hawaii?
Noelle looked down into her cocoa. “I thought it would be a good place to start my career.”
Tristan gave her a soft look. “Is this where things get complicated?”
Noelle swallowed. How much should she tell? Something abo
ut Tristan unclasped all of her defenses, and she longed to tell him everything: her excitement around her first job in Hawaii, and how she met and fell in love with Kendall. But she pulled back the desire to share her story. Memories of Kendall were better off in the locked vault of her heart. “I worked at the Four Seasons in Hawaii for a couple of years, and … well … it didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped. I’ve been home for around nine months.”
“But you’re working here at the Fox Hollow. I mean, I know it’s not the Four Seasons, but there are plenty of small inns and hotels in Icicle Creek.”
Noelle nodded. “Sian and George are great. I love them dearly …”
“But …”
Noelle sighed. “Let’s just say it’s a long way from the Four Seasons in Hawaii.”
“The Four Seasons isn’t for everybody, you know. Some folks prefer the homey atmosphere of a privately-owned inn with its warm fireplace and cozy comforts. There isn’t just one way to do hospitality.”
Noelle appreciated Tristan’s perspective. It was nice for him to recognize that the Fox Hollow Inn offered something of value, even if it wasn’t five-star accommodations and dining. Kendall was never able to appreciate the beauty in Icicle Creek’s rustic inns and shops. Could it be that she was looking at the world through Kendall’s eyes, instead of creating her own vision? The thought sent a shock wave through her. Was this what happened by keeping Kendall locked up in her heart? A new kernel of freedom seeded itself as she smiled at Tristan. “You’re right about that. Point taken.”
Noelle noticed a faraway look come into Tristan’s eyes. She remained quiet, hoping he would share.
Tristan continued slowly. “When I lived in Arizona, I did some traveling, and I’ve stayed in places like the Four Seasons. In fact, I’ve stayed at the Four Seasons on Maui, and …” He shook his head. “It wasn’t a good fit for me. I prefer something cozy and warm, and people deserve good service wherever they stay.”
Christmas In Icicle Creek: Home For The Holidays Page 6