“Jolene, dear!” She scurried over to Jolene’s driver’s side door, grabbing the handle to help her open it as though Jolene wasn’t moving quickly enough for her liking. “You’re finally here!”
“Morning, Martha.” Jolene stood from her vehicle. She wrapped Martha in a hug. “Like I said on the phone, I’m not sure what help I can be, but I’m happy to offer it.”
“Of course. Of course,” Martha spoke over Jolene’s words in a rush. She took her by the hand like a mom taking hold of a child. “Right this way. Right this way.”
Jolene’s feet planted on the curb. “Are you okay, Martha? You seem a little out of sorts. Maybe you should stop and take a breath. Should I be worried about you?”
“No, no. I’m just fine. Just fine. Concerned that permit won’t come through, that’s all.”
“Do you mind me asking what type of establishment Devon plans to put in here? That might be good information to have before I meet the officer from the county,” Jolene suggested. Something just didn’t feel right about Martha’s level of both distraught worry and visible eagerness to get Jolene into the building.
Martha gave Jolene’s hand a firm squeeze. “I think it’s better if I show you, rather than tell you.”
Dragging her forward, Martha pulled Jolene across the pavement and up to the door. She looked over at Jolene. “Maybe close your eyes first.”
“Close my eyes?” This was all sounding suspicious to Jolene. “Martha, why would I need to close my eyes?”
“Because it’s an absolute mess inside. Pigsty.”
“And closing my eyes will help with that how?”
“I’m not sure. It just feels like the right thing to do.” Martha was reaching, clearly. “I’ll close mine, too.” She slapped her free palm over her face. Not knowing why, Jolene followed her lead and did the same. “One…two…three!”
Martha dropped Jolene’s hand and tugged the door open by its handle.
Jolene half expected to be greeted with the roaring shout of the word Surprise! but even though that didn’t occur, it didn’t lessen the shock that fell over her the moment the inside of the shop came into view.
At first she couldn’t take in the space in it’s entirety. What she did see, however, were the beaming faces of her dearest friends. Roger stood immediately in front of her, his frail arm draped over Mildred’s shoulders. He smiled so brightly Jolene saw reflective tears welling in his eyes. And next to Roger and Millie was Gary, a tray of coffee cup shaped cookies in his hands, all lined up and iced to look like red mugs with dollops of whipped cream on top. To the left of Gary was Ivy. Her smile shone so brightly and she clasped her hands in front of her like she was trying hard to hold in her excitement. Next to Ivy was Devon. His eyes connected with Jolene’s and he tipped his chin in a courteous nod. Thomas stood behind him. He shot Jolene a quick wave. Her cousins Hank and Tilly were in the back row, holding up a phone with the image of her sister, Rose, waving on the screen. Cat and Tanner and Vick stood up front and they had their arms linked together, hugging one another to their sides.
Jolene could see Travis, her mailman. There was her hair dresser, Georgia, and her dog groomer, Edwardo. In fact, there were too many people to name. It would’ve been easier for Jolene to list those who weren’t there than to name those in attendance.
Cat slipped her arm out from her husband’s and walked over to Jolene. She smiled at her dear friend, her bright red lips lifting in a massive grin.
“Welcome to your new home away from home, Jolene.”
“Mine?”
On cue, the crowd parted.
Jolene looked around the room. She could see a near replica of her couch, the Christmas throw pillows resembling the same ones she had propped up on her sofa back at the house. There was an evergreen colored arm chair that looked just like the one she had next to her fireplace in her family room. The holiday décor was so similar to what she’d used at her house that she felt as though she’d just stepped through her very own lake house doors. It was cozy and inviting and held a sense of familiarity that immediately made the space feel like it belonged to her.
“This is all for you, Jojo,” Cat explained, her smile never wavering. She took Jolene’s trembling hands into her own. “For years, you’ve given to us. To every single one of us in this room and even to many who aren’t here. But now it’s your turn to be on the receiving end of a little generosity. It’s no secret that you’ve wanted a place of your own here on Glenn Street. And you could’ve had that years ago if you hadn’t put everyone else first, time and time again. But that’s not who you are, and I know that I, for one, am immensely grateful for your selfless, giving, and caring nature, Jolene. You are our town’s biggest blessing. Now it’s our turn to bless you.”
Jolene couldn’t keep her bottom lip from trembling, even when she pinned it between her teeth. Her eyes clouded and she blinked several times in a row to keep from crying the happiest tears she’d ever had. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs.
“I don’t know what to say.” She glanced around the room, surveying every inch of it. “All of you did this just for me?”
“All of us did a little,” Cat answered. Then, looking over her shoulder she said, “But one of us did a whole heck of a lot.”
Stepping forward from the back of the shop, Luke came into view.
Jolene’s heart all but stopped.
Luke wore his infamous cowboy boots, dark denim jeans, and a black sport coat that made him look so sharp and unquestionably handsome. Hesitantly, as though he didn’t know if he should, he edged his way through the gathering of Merrylarkers toward Jolene. He stopped right in front of her with the same wary and endearing smile he wore the first night they’d met on her front porch.
“Hi,” he said softly. Jolene could detect the quiver in his voice, and she knew that if she dared to speak in that moment, that hers would match exactly. “Jolene,” he started after clearing his throat. He closed his eyes briefly as though needing a moment to collect himself. “Jolene, I came to Merrylark to take a break from my life. I called it a sabbatical.” He glanced over his shoulder toward Devon and smiled. “Others called it a respite. Whatever you label it, in my mind, it was a chance to press the pause button on what my life had become at that time.”
With hesitancy in his eyes, he looked down at Jolene’s hands, as if he were asking her permission to hold them. Reading his uncertainty, Jolene took the lead and grabbed onto his. Immediately, Luke’s entire demeanor changed. He confidently gathered his breath and continued.
“What I learned this last week is that I wasn’t hitting the pause button because that would mean going back to that old life once I finally pushed play again. I don’t want to go back to that life, Jolene. I want to start completely over, here with you.” He swallowed. “But I know that somehow I’ve hurt you, and there aren’t enough words in the English language to say how sorry I am for that. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my thirty-two years, though, it’s that actions will always speak louder than words. So I hope what we’ve created here speaks to you in some way. I hope that when you look around this place, you hear it as one big thank you from every single person in this room.”
Luke’s hands shook within Jolene’s grip. She squeezed them to steady him and looked into Luke’s eyes expectantly.
“And I hope that in addition to those thank you’s, you also hear my I love you. Because I do, Jolene. I love you. I never thought I could meet someone and so quickly know I wanted to spend every moment—every last breath—with them. But that’s what you’ve done to me, Jolene. You’ve made the thought of a life without you feel so much less than one with you in it.”
“But what about Kiara?” Jolene asked, opening her mouth for the first time since Luke began talking.
“Kiara?”
“I saw the two of you the other day at Sal’s, Luke. At lunchtime.”
“You saw us?” Luke’s forehead tensed.
“Kissing.”
Like he’d been hit by a Mack truck, Luke stepped backward. “That kiss? That wasn’t supposed to happen, Jolene. Kiara kissed me as a goodbye, I guess. I would never willingly kiss her; you have to know that.”
Deep down, she did know that. In a way, Jolene supposed her rash and sudden anger toward Luke was her attempt to protect her heart. If she cut him out of her life first, then he wouldn’t have the chance to cut her out. It was her defense mechanism, even if it was grossly unfair.
But now here they were, standing in front of the other, the huge misunderstanding that had been wedged between them for the last few days suddenly lifted.
Jolene felt like she could breathe again.
“I love you—and only you—Jolene. And I’ll love only you even if that love isn’t returned,” Luke said. “I will completely understand if after this you want nothing to do with me. I get it. But I couldn’t live with myself if I knew I could do something to make a dream of yours become a reality, yet did nothing about it.”
Jolene gasped, utterly stunned.
“I was told by someone recently to make my own dreams come true, but the only dream I have is one that revolves around your happiness.”
“I don’t know what to say, Luke,” Jolene said through tears that streamed down her cheeks. “I’m completely overwhelmed.”
She was overwhelmed by his actions, amazed by his words. But his character—that was what captivated her the most. She’d said before that Luke was one of the good ones, and this show of humility was just further confirmation of what her heart already knew to be true.
She was in love with Luke Handley, even more than she ever thought possible. And it was time she let him know.
“I love you, too, Luke. Even when I thought this journey we’d started together was over, I didn’t stop loving you. I couldn’t stop.” Throwing her arms around his neck, Jolene stood up on her toes to draw herself closer. “I love you, too.”
Luke pulled her close to his body. He pressed his chin to the crown of her hair, breathing in deeply.
“Jolene?” he said, his voice rising on the syllables. “Why do you smell like a horse?”
Laughter burst from between Jolene’s lips. “Because I’ve spent the last three days hanging out with my new best friend, Cyprus.”
Turning around, Luke made eye contact with Thomas. Thomas just nodded, grinning ear to ear.
“Seriously? You’ve become a barn girl in the short amount of time I was gone?”
“In fairness, you’ve become a coffee shop owner, so I suppose we’ve both been a little busy creating alternate identities.”
“No.” Luke shook his head side to side. “This place belongs completely to you. It’s all yours.”
“What if I don’t want it to be all mine? What if I want a business partner?”
Stepping forward, Martha cleared her throat. “Well, that’s actually good to hear, because you’ve got yourself quite a few partners already. Gary and I will be supplying all of the baked goods you could ever need, Ivy’s got a line of knit coffee cup koozies she’s planning to offer here, and Cat will be in charge of all things coffee-bean-business related. You know what that leaves for you?”
Jolene shook her head.
“Cheer,” Martha answered.
“Cheer?”
“Of course. Since the shop is aptly named Cup of Cheer and all.”
Jolene’s eyes widened, awe rounding them. “I couldn’t love it more!” she exclaimed. She squeezed Luke tightly within her arms. “And I couldn’t love you more. You’ve made me the happiest girl in Merrylark, Luke Handley.”
Hugging her, Luke looked down at Jolene, his mouth spreading into a slow, knowing smile. Then his lips met hers, softly and tenderly as his eyes fluttered closed. Luke leaned in closer, deepening their kiss and holding onto Jolene like she was his lifeline, his love, his everything.
Hoots and hollers bellowed around, continuing even when they pulled apart.
Jolene didn’t mind the attention one bit. She jumped up into Luke’s arms and planted another kiss firmly onto his lips. Roars of applause filled the room, everyone rejoicing in their friends’ much deserved happy ending.
“Any chance we could get some actual coffee at this coffee house?” Devon interjected, his voice a shout over the joyous celebration.
Luke grabbed onto Jolene’s waist and lowered her gently onto the floor. “Let me do it! I’ve actually been practicing this.”
Racing over to the espresso bar, Luke slid behind the counter. Jolene giggled as she watched him tie the apron around his neck and over his sport coat, rub his hands briskly together, and grab a mug from on top of the machine. Luke adjusted the buttons and the espresso machine hissed to life. Steam rose in curly billows, the scent of rich coffee infiltrating the room.
Jolene loved every bit of it. After he’d finished brewing his coffee creation, Luke passed the cup toward Jolene across the counter, pride worn visibly on his face.
Peering into the mug, Jolene glimpsed Luke’s latest latte foam art. It was by far his best one to date.
“A heart?” she exclaimed. “It’s perfect, Luke. Absolutely perfect.”
“Only for you,” he said, taking an elaborate bow. Then he waved his hand across the room. “The rest of you get snowmen.”
“Or wolverines,” Devon shouted. “I can draw a mean wolverine.”
Jolene took a sip and held it in her mouth. It warmed every inch of her and was hands-down the best cup of coffee she’d ever had. But it was more than just a cup full of coffee. It was a perfectly crafted cup full of cheer.
One Year Later
Luke and Jolene
LUKE BLEW ACROSS the lid of the cardboard box. Dust particles scattered into the air like bits of glitter, catching the morning light that streamed through the coffee shop windows. The shop wasn’t set to open for another hour and Luke figured now was the perfect time to trim the tree before the morning rush.
“Can you believe it’s already that time of year again?” Jolene walked across the store, carrying two coffee mugs in her hands. She settled one down onto the table and handed Luke the other. “Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday we were decorating your tree at the O’Connell place?” she reminisced. “I’m sure glad they chose not to sell and decided to move back to the lake instead. Turns out, they’re pretty awesome neighbors! And Ace just loves his Lucy. He can’t get enough of that fancy poodle of theirs!”
“I think it’s fair to say we can expect a litter of furry mutts come springtime,” Luke teased. Setting the cup of coffee down, he lifted the box’s lid and smiled at Jolene. He reached inside. “Tell me about this one.”
“Oh, are we doing that again?” Jolene took the ornament from his hand. She turned it over in her palm. “Okay, so this one was given to me by my old running partner, Trista, after a half marathon we completed three years ago to benefit childhood cancer research. Hence the yellow tennis shoe.”
“Gotcha. And this one?”
“Ah, the toothbrush ornament. That’s from my dentist.”
“The infamous flamingo!” Luke said excitedly. He held up the sparkling ornament by its hook. “In fairness, I don’t think you’re actually as clumsy as your sister and mom claim you are. Just a little coordinationally challenged, that’s all.”
“So that mishap last week when I spilled the entire bag of sweeteners on the floor and then proceeded to trip on them, landing on my backside—that went completely unnoticed, huh?”
“No, I noticed. But I’m giving you a pass on that.”
“How kind of you,” Jolene said. “Oh, Luke. I’ve forgotten just how much I love decorating for the holidays.”
“How could you forget? Christmas is your favorite.”
Jolene shrugged. “I don’t know. Honestly, every season this last year with you has been my favorite.”
Luke walked over to Jolene and swung his arms around her, planting a kiss on her lips and bending her backward like a dip in a dance move. They righted themselves
and Jolene lifted up to place a quick peck on his cheek.
“Back to decorating,” she instructed, swatting at his chest to push him away. “We don’t have long until I have to open for the day. We need to deck the halls!”
Jolene hung the flamingo ornament on one of the higher branches and stood back to see if it was the right location for it. She always liked her decorations to be evenly spaced out among the branches. When she spun back around to collect another ornament from the box, Luke was down on his knee, a red ribbon threaded through a diamond ring held out on his index finger.
“What about this one?” he said, his voice cracking.
Jolene’s mouth fell open.
“Jolene, one of the greatest memories I have is when we decorated my tree last year. How we spent the entire evening reminiscing about all of the ornaments you’d been gifted by your family and friends, and how you shared the memories attached to each one.”
Jolene could feel her eyes welling, her chest tight with anticipation. She brought her hands to her gaping mouth and held them there.
“My hope is that today we can create the most beautiful memory to date. Better than the sum of all of the memories held in that box.” Luke reached up to ask for Jolene’s shaking left hand. She lowered it into his. “Jolene Carter, will you do me the absolute honor of becoming my wife? Will you be my memory making partner for the rest of our days?”
Jolene bounced up and down, unable to keep from celebrating. “Of course!” she proclaimed. “Of course I will, Luke. Yes. Yes!”
Jumping to his feet, Luke pushed his lips to Jolene’s and grabbed her into a huge bear hug.
“Do I get to wear it?” she stammered. “Or do we have to hang it on the tree?”
A Lake House Holiday: A Small-Town Christmas Romance Novel Page 20