Up to Snow Good: A Small Town Holiday Romance

by Kelly Collins

  “What if the wall won’t give? What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?” she asked.

  “Even worse,” Max said. “What happens when the immovable object is the unstoppable force?”

  Chapter Forty

  Max

  On the way back to the lodge, he and Lauren looked for a way of preserving it for Moss Creek and for their own future.

  “So, we can’t get a lawyer at all?”

  Max shrugged. “By this time, he could have put in calls to every lawyer in Colorado. My father plays rough.”

  “I see.” A mile up and some consideration later, her eyes lit with inspiration. “What if I just give the place away?”

  This grabbed Max’s attention, and his heart skipped a beat just to consider such a thing.

  “Nothing against your father, but I’d rather give it away than have him steal from me like this.”

  Max shook his head, “Everything’s against my father, and I’m the first one on the front line to help fight him. I think it’s a beautiful idea, but will that get you out of the mortgage payments?” He gripped the wheel tighter.

  “I suppose we could offer to sell the property to the city, or we could have an auction.” Max could see that selling the property was to sell out, and that was something Lauren didn’t seem ready or able to do to her parents. It wasn’t something Max was willing to help her do.

  It was a good try, and she seemed to understand that as well as he did. It was fruitless, though. The closer that SUV brought them to their home, the closer it brought them to the conclusion that it would not remain their home for long. It seemed as inevitable as the changing of the seasons.

  Whatever their destination, wherever they would live, they would share themselves, and that was what mattered. No family, no resource, and no remedy remained for either. They had the same opportunity that their parents had sought and won, the same promise of any two young lovers in America. The future was theirs for the taking, but the past was something that would have to be left behind.

  After getting home, she collected Patrick and Cindy and Ruthie, whose wide eyes and fearful expressions told them that they were already prepared for the worst.

  “We will see the Yule Village through,” Lauren said. “We think that’s only fitting, and honestly, it’s already paid for.” They shared a chuckle, but it didn’t last. “But after that, it’ll be time for you all to think about where you’ll be spending the next few years.”

  Ruthie threw herself into Lauren’s arms, and the energy coursed between them as the older woman squeezed tighter. “I’m not leaving you, child.”

  “No, Ruthie, you’ll never leave my heart, but I won’t have any work for you.”

  “I’m not here because I work here. I’m family, child.” She broke out sobbing, hugging Lauren and rocking her in her loving arms.

  Lauren looked at Patrick and Cindy.

  Max could see more ill-ease between them than merely this new and terrible news. They had to have seen it coming, but they didn’t join hands as he thought they might. Their heads dipped, but they did not share in their sorrow, a sad fact not lost on him.

  Lauren pressed a smile and said, “In the meantime, it’s Christmas time, we’ve got an exciting way to celebrate the season, the town, each other, and the lodge. It’s been good to us, and now we can give her a fitting farewell. Let’s give it that Christmas feeling.”

  Max pulled her close, but he seemed to know he couldn’t bring her the peace he wished, or the rescue he’d intended. There was no way to turn the bend on that road.

  “Let’s make this the greatest winter the lodge has ever seen, even if it will be the last.” Lauren failed to rouse a cheer from her distressed staff, but there was little mirth to be found at the moment.

  The big front doors of the lodge opened and drew their attention, and the five turned to see a familiar young man stepping in with a cautious politeness and a professional smile.

  “Deputy Mayor Roberts,” Max said. “Won’t you come in?”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Lauren

  Lauren’s heart beat faster to see the luminary step into the lodge. It had to be bad news, in keeping with the past few weeks. The deputy mayor came in with a solemn, professional air she recognized all too well.

  Max held her close, so she could face whatever the man offered—whatever new challenge was coming against them.

  What did it matter now, she wondered, what further zoning complication could he bring, what permitting rule would this be? It was another move by Eaton Hunter to shut down the Yule Village, no doubt. What will it be, banning the reindeer, or an ordinance against not being a rotten person?

  She clung to Max, knowing they had each other. She glanced at Ruthie and Patrick and Cindy, silently urging them to stand tall and that she would always stand with them. A ragtag family of outsiders and orphans, who’d always have each other as long as they wanted it to be that way.

  Deputy Mayor Roberts approached, glancing around the lobby. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, it’s just the way I remember it. My family used to take me here, back when we were new to Moss Creek. I always had a good time, but my father got sick, and we had to keep our celebrations more private. Still, nice to see the place again. I always felt it had a friendly vibe to it.”

  Lauren nodded, a hot worry still simmering in her gut. “Did you want a room?”

  Roberts cracked a wry smile. “No, I’m sorry, I got lost in the nostalgic moment. I lost my parents recently in a plane crash.”

  “I’m sorry,” Max was quick to say. “It’s always sad to say goodbye.”

  “It is.” Roberts shrugged. “What brings me here isn’t quite so sentimental.”

  The gathering warmth in Lauren receded, leaving a cold chill in its place. “What brings you?”

  “Well, you two.” He spread his arms out. “All of you. I was thinking about your situation, and I may have an answer.”

  “Really,” Max said, turning to glance at the man with skepticism.

  “Look, I know what you’re probably thinking. To tell you the truth, I’m thinking the same thing. I can’t prove anything, but I’ve been watching Mayor Shipley and certain backroom dealings. I’m not making any accusations.”

  “Of course,” Max was quick to throw in.

  “I know things are changing,” Roberts said. “The mayor’s ways, like your father’s ways, are the past, just like you said. That’s this town’s corrupt past, not our future.”

  Max and Lauren shared a glance, disbelief clear enough between them.

  “It’s the future which brings me here,” Roberts said. “The future of the lodge.”

  Max said, “Don’t tell me, you want to buy it?”

  “No, my friend, I want to preserve it.”

  Lauren asked, “How?”

  “There’s a clause in the city charter, I don’t know if the mayor isn’t aware of it, or maybe he had just forgotten about it.”

  “You think he forgot?”

  Lauren put a calming hand on Max’s bringing reason and caution back to the conversation.

  Roberts smiled and went on, “The fact is that you can apply for landmark status for the lodge.”

  “A landmark,” Max repeated, skepticism heavy in his tone, “a historical landmark?”

  “Well, I don’t think we can put it across as a landmark of historical significance, no. We can launch a motion to have it declared as a future landmark if we have enough signatures on a petition, or by an open vote of the city council.”

  Lauren’s heart jumped a bit, her eyes finding Max’s and locking in on the new hope flicking in those big, brown windows into his newly restored soul.

  “I’m not saying it’ll work long term,” Roberts said, “but once you get the proposition going, it could tie up any claims on ownership for years. In the meantime, who knows? It’s worth a chance.”

  “It sure is,” Lauren said. Her smile stretched across he
r face, while Patrick and Cindy clung to one another, and Ruthie watched with wide eyes and a broad smile.

  “It won’t be easy,” Roberts warned with a calming tone. “We’ll need the city council to vote unanimously. Given Eaton Hunter’s influence, that won’t be easy. In fact, it’ll take a miracle.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Max

  Lucille Dubois was kind enough to welcome Max and Lauren into her home. Decorated with ceramic figurines of adorable children and elegant Victorian furnishings, it was a landmark in its own right.

  She smiled as her maid poured them each a cup of tea. “Well, you two have found one another. How lovely.”

  “And we’re grateful,” Max said, turning to smile at Lauren, who sat next to him on the couch. “But our future is still very much at stake.”

  Lucille nodded. “Perhaps, but didn’t you say the offer included would be reasonable? I mean, I understand how you feel about the place, sentimentally speaking, but perhaps it’s not such a bad idea to sell. You’re both young, the world is at your feet. You know, there’s no substitute for travel, it really opens up your life.”

  Lauren glanced at Max, and her sorrow ached in his bones. He couldn’t bear to start their lives together under such sad circumstances, and that was only one reason for not abandoning the lodge. He felt guilty for his part in it and furious with his father at his betrayal. The man had to be stopped, the Hunter name had to be restored, and Max had to be the one to do it. He owed it to Lauren; he owed it to himself, and he owed it to the lodge.

  “We’re not selling, and that’s that,” Max said. “We’ve come to you to help spread the word. There’ll be an emergency town hall meeting and a vote, and we need to make sure we get enough votes for that declaration to pass.”

  “As a landmark,” Lauren said, “we think we’ll be able to generate more business, and that’ll get us out from under our financial problems for now, anyway.”

  “It’ll give us time,” Max said, “and that’s what we need most.”

  Lucille nodded as she seemed to give it some thought. “Your father’s a very powerful man in Moss Creek. It won’t be easy to get the populace to go against him. Many people’s lives are affected by how hard your father will turn the screw.”

  “He’s influential and he controls many people, but it doesn’t give him a license to crush anybody’s freedom of speech, and a vote like this is protected. Whatever my father does, I won’t let him take that away from us, away from you.”

  Lauren added, “You’re prominent around town too, Lucille. You don’t throw it around the way his father does, but it’s true.”

  “You’ve got a lot of friends,” Max added, “all we’re asking is that you help spread the word and encourage them to vote.”

  Lucille shrugged her shoulders and raised one brow. “Well, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help, not at all, but you know, Max, your part in your father’s business will be beyond recovery if this happens?”

  “I’ve already turned my back on my father.”

  “He turned his back on you,” Lauren corrected.

  Lucille said, “What if, by spreading the word, I wind up setting off a lot of votes against you? You may be better served to bring it up there and then.”

  “We think it’s more important that word gets out about the meeting, so people are there for it,” Lauren said.

  “My father will suppress it in any way he can.”

  “Word of mouth is our best hope,” Lauren added. “If you side with us, that would go a long way toward impressing the rest of Moss Creek, at least enough to get the ball rolling with a yes vote.”

  Lucille sighed, shaking her head. “You’re playing a risky game here.”

  Max looked down at the ground and then back up at her. “It’s not a game, Lucille, it’s about the future of our family, the future of this town.”

  Lucille seemed to give it some thought before nodding with a shrug. “I’ll do what I can, and I sure wish you both a lot of luck. You’ll need it.”

  Sally’s Country Kitchen wasn’t far from Lucille’s place, and the sometimes friendly proprietor was there to greet them, along with her few other guests. Lauren had warned Max that she wouldn’t be helpful, and they should leave her out of the proceedings, but Max had different ideas.

  “Well, I’m sorry to hear about the lodge, but you know how I feel about this, Lauren. I don’t like to get involved in people’s personal matters. After all, you and I are competitors.”

  Max said, “That may be true. But think about it; you’ll either be competing against us for the next thirty years, or you’ll be competing against my father, and you know how he feels about competition. First, it’s the lodge, and next, it’s the Country Kitchen.”

  Sally turned her blonde head to think about it, false eyelashes flapping on her painted lids.

  “It’s more than that,” Lauren said. “I know how you feel about business, but we’re still people, aren’t we? We’re friends and neighbors.” Lauren pulled herself closer to Max to help make her point. “One thing I’ve learned from all this is it’s the human connections that matter. The lodge kept my family together, it brought Max and me together, and it can unite the people of Moss Creek for one great stand against tyranny.”

  “Tyranny,” Sally repeated as she waved them off. “It’s just a lodge, sweetie.”

  “No,” Max said, “it’s not just a lodge. It’s a matter of principle. That’s not just one lodge, it’s a thousand lodges, and restaurants and houses and homes; it’s a symbol of corporate greed as it devours the individual. Moss Creek is a small town, with small-town folks. We want to stand together; we want to be neighbors and friends. This isn’t Los Angeles or New York. You know your customers’ names; you know your neighbors’ pets. That’s what makes Moss Creek special, it’s what makes us great. Don’t let it be lost or destroyed. Don’t let us forgo the very best of who and what we are.”

  Sally seemed to give it some thought, but Max wasn’t convinced she’d be any help at all. She was even likely to campaign against them. But they needed all the support they could get, and if there was even a chance that she might help, they had to take it. It wasn’t the only risky move on their list, but it was perhaps the most dangerous.

  Back at the lodge, Patrick and Cindy and Ruthie were clearly disheartened. Lauren’s heartbeat quickened as she urged them to remain hopeful.

  “Tell everybody you know to turn up at that meeting,” Lauren said. “Make sure they’ll vote with us.”

  Max nodded. “This lodge has been good to you. I think you owe it to the place, and to Lauren.”

  Lauren shook her head. “No, you shouldn’t do it for me.”

  “Do it for yourselves then,” Max said. “For your sense of pride, of honor.”

  “Look, we love this place,” Patrick said, “and we couldn’t be more indebted to Lauren, to the lodge, but I will be an electrician right here in Moss Creek, and your father will crush my career before it begins if I rise up against him.”

  “We’ll be blacklisted from getting any job,” Cindy added.

  “If my father has his way,” Max said, “you’ll be out of work here immediately. We’re talking about the long term here, guys. What might be easy now, what looks like the smart move, could run us all over a cliff, not just us, but the whole town. We’ll be the first to fall, though, make no mistake about that.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Lauren

  Lauren, Max, Cindy, and Patrick split into respective couples to tackle different chores in separate areas of the lodge, but before they did, Lauren turned to Cindy and pulled her away for a private chat.

  “Did you tell him?”

  Cindy shook her head. “Probably for the best now, what with all this happening.” She smiled bittersweet and glanced down at her stomach.

  “We’ve got good reason to hope, Cindy. This could work, and we could save the lodge. I didn’t think it was feasible, but that just goes to show you tha
t anything is possible.”

  Cindy looked around the house, shaking her head. “It really would be a shame to lose it.”

  “We will not lose it,” Lauren answered with a nod before turning back to cleaning for the big event, which was only a few days away.

  Lauren crossed to the kitchen where Ruthie was absorbed in creating several authentically historical meals, including hot gravy over hunks of toasted bread called sop, plus a variety of hearty soups and stew recipes.

  “You’ll help spread the word, right?”

  “You know I will. I tell all who will listen. You hear me, child.”

  Lauren cracked a little chuckle. “I do. You could make the difference, Ruthie.”

  “I will.”

  Lauren wandered from the kitchen into the lobby to find the big doors open. She stepped up to close them and froze to see Max standing with his father just a few yards away between the lodge and the driveway.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Max

  The irony wasn’t lost on Max that his own temper was rising, bluster and anger gathering in him, even as his father stood before him with a reasonable air, and something approaching a smile.

  “Be sensible, Max. We’re family, for chrissakes!”

  “Then drop the matter and do the right thing.”

  “Can’t do that,” Eaton said. “Somebody has to protect our company and our family name.” After a little pause, he cracked another condescending smile. “I don’t blame you, Max, really I don’t. You’ve always been in love with the girl. I worried about that, about the fact that she would use it against you. You’re a good man, Max, a good soul, but you’re weak in that way. The poetry, that Bible nonsense you read to my mother—you get carried away with these things. You always did.”