Christmas in Angel Harbor

by Jeannie Moon

  “I don’t think it’s wise…” Zach’s voice took on the tone of a person trying to talk a jumper off a ledge.

  Slumping back on the couch in the living room, he groaned. “I know you don’t, but I need you to try.”

  “Dan, I’ve known you for over fifteen years. You’ve always trusted me, but I have to be honest, I’m getting worried. What’s going on? I know you haven’t talked to your agent or your editor in weeks. They’ve called me asking if I’ve heard from you. They think you’re out of your mind. Did you really reject an eight-figure contract?”

  He had rejected the contract, but that wasn’t part of this discussion. “What did you tell them?”

  “I lied. I told them it’s been radio silence.”

  “Thanks.” He paused to gather his thoughts. “Look, I know you don’t agree with me. But I need you to look into buying the building. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that bookstore, or Jane, the woman who owns it. This is about a lot more than a building.”

  There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Zach could be pushy and in your face, but he was a good man. Dan trusted him. “All right, Danny Boy, I’ll look into it. You’ll have to tell me about the woman over a beer sometime.”

  “Absolutely. Keep me posted.”

  They ended the call and Dan felt like he now had a giant time bomb sitting in his lap. He had to tell Jane. She had a right to know what might be coming, even if it hurt. He’d do his best to keep it from happening, but right now, he wasn’t hopeful.

  Chapter Twelve

  What a day.

  Jane flipped off the lights in the front of the store after a day of shopping the likes of which she’d never seen. As she fell into her desk chair, Tara and Tracy walked in looking as shell-shocked as Jane felt.

  “Oh my God,” Tara said. “That was insane. Our daily total is ridiculous.”

  Jane looked up. “How ridiculous?”

  Stepping forward, Tracy dropped a hand on her shoulder. “As good as the entire week, starting with Black Friday, last year. We’re going to have a great season.”

  This had been one of their best-attended festivals. Town was buzzing all day, merchants were busy, and kids found fun activities in almost every shop. Restaurants offered special treats and there was an incredible sense of closeness and community. People chatted with neighbors, had a meal at a large communal table, or shared a hot drink and a cookie by the harbor.

  Tonight, Gina, the owner of the local candy shop, capped off the day with the lighting of the leg lamp. Just like in the classic movie A Christmas Story the lamp would watch over Main Street in all its smutty glory for the entire season.

  It was fun and silly, and the entire street filled up with friends and visitors, the high school band, and the dance team. People dressed up, wore ugly holiday sweaters, shared cookies and other treats with their neighbors. The tradition dated back years now, and it just kept getting better. Then, all down Main Street, merchants turned on their store holiday displays. There was no official competition, but there was definitely a sense of pride in having people talk about a proprietor’s effort. And there were rivalries, some pretty heated.

  Jane had kept the bookstore décor simple and classic with garland draped over the porch rails, white lights outlining the windows and roofline, and wreaths adorning the door and the windows. Inside, there were two trees, garlands, flameless candles, Santas, and snowmen.

  The lighting of Harbor Park culminated with the multicolored lights decorating the giant spruce, the pathways, the dock, and the two gazebos. It turned their little slice of waterfront into a magical Christmas scene.

  “It’s amazing, Mom. You might be able to do some of the renovations you were talking about.”

  Jane could only nod. “Let’s get through the holidays before we make plans. We have plenty on our plates.”

  Unlike years past when she’d always be thinking about her next move, Jane was hesitant to talk about anything beyond the immediate future. Tracy had talked to Elena, and she hadn’t heard a peep about the building. There was no logical reason for her not to jump at a new idea. But she was going to play it safe. Once the new lease was signed, then she could think about changes.

  Jane heard a shocked intake of breath come from Tara. She was staring at her phone, eyes wide, her face blanched white. Jane’s blood ran cold thinking about what could have triggered the reaction.

  “What? What is it?” Jane jumped from her chair and went to her daughter, her adrenaline surging as she wondered whom she might have to hurt.

  “I got in.” Tara looked up, tears filling her blue eyes. “I mean, it looks like it, anyway.”

  “You shouldn’t be hearing anything from your early action schools for another week, at least. Got in where?”

  “Trinity.” Tara’s voice cracked, coming out on an emotional breath.

  There was a Trinity in Connecticut, and a Trinity in Washington, DC, but somehow, she knew those weren’t the schools Tara was talking about. “In Dublin? Ireland? I didn’t…didn’t know you’d applied.”

  Jane swallowed hard. Get the whole story, she told herself. Don’t freak out, get the story. “How, um…how did this happen?”

  “So, you know how I love Ireland. And I’ve wanted to go back since you took me there. The college has an amazing English Literature major, and I can pair it with two years at Columbia.”

  Sitting, Jane took another breath. The last thing she wanted to do was squash her daughter’s dreams, but Ireland? That wasn’t a quick weekend visit. It wouldn’t be easy to come home for the holidays. Jane’s heart was pounding. “Go on. You’re not sure?”

  “Remember that essay contest I entered last summer. The one about Irish heritage? Well, one of the judges is a professor at Trinity. She encouraged me to apply. She said I had a ‘singular gift.’”

  There had been so many contests, but Jane remembered that one in particular because Tara was so excited with the response. “I see. You left the application part out when you told me about the feedback.”

  “I didn’t think I had a shot. But the professor just emailed me and said I should be getting my offer in a week. Oh my God, Mom. I could be going to Ireland for college!” Tara threw her arms around Jane’s neck and squeezed. “This is amazing.”

  Tracy was silent, which was good because Jane didn’t want to fall apart until Tara couldn’t see.

  There was a light tapping coming from the front of the store, and both Tara and Tracy rolled their eyes at the interruption. Jane, however, looked up and remembered the lost cell phone she’d found near one of the big armchairs.

  “Could you get that, Tee? It could be the owner of that phone.”

  “Sure. Of course.”

  Tara left the room and without looking over, she could feel Tracy staring at her. Those bright blue eyes had a knack for zeroing in on deception, as Jane well knew from their years of friendship. The woman had a built-in bullshit detector.

  “Are you okay?”

  “No! I’m not okay. Ireland? I was just getting used to the idea of her going to Vermont!”

  “I know. Try to breathe. It’s new and she’s very excited—”

  “Look who I found.” Tara popped back into the office with Danny trailing behind. Her daughter grinned, teasing her old mom with a wiggle of her eyebrows. Jane really hoped she was putting up a good front. The last thing she wanted to do was destroy Tara’s moment.

  Good front or not, Danny stopped short, his face going from relaxed to concerned in a split second. Could he read her that well already?

  His hand went up in a little wave and she’d never been more relieved to see anyone.

  “What’s going on?” He inched closer, his eyes intense and concerned.

  Tara jumped toward him like she was on springs. “I’m going to college!”

  “I think that was a given,” he said calmly. Without a word, he seemed to know what to do, taking Jane’s hand instinctively.

  “No! Look!” Her
daughter was so excited. How could Jane be anything but happy for her? Obviously, she was a terrible mother. Danny read through the email on Tara’s phone.

  “Tara, that’s incredible. I had no idea you wanted to study abroad.”

  “Isn’t it amazing? I mean I still have other schools to hear from, but oh my God.”

  It was time to change the subject. Jane’s heart was near breaking.

  “So, what brings you out?” she finally asked him.

  “I wanted to see how your day was. I didn’t get to talk to you for long after Gina lit the leg lamp.” He chuckled, taking her cue to shift away from the college conversation. “That was a fun time.”

  “We were just saying we had one of our best days ever,” Tracy piped in while Tara had started furiously texting someone. Her thumbs were moving at light speed.

  “I was hoping you’d let me take you for a late dinner,” he said.

  Anything to get her out of there would be good, because she was inches from falling apart. Tara was so happy, but Jane wanted to curl up into a little ball. The problem was there was still a lot to do. “I have work. I don’t know…”

  “Don’t be silly,” Tracy said quickly. “You’ve been here since eight o’clock this morning. We’ve got this.”

  Tara nodded furiously. “Yes. Mom. Go. Aunt Tracy and I can close up.”

  Sweet relief flooded through her. Not because she didn’t want to do the work, but because she didn’t know how she was going to hold it together. “Are you sure?”

  Tara rolled her eyes so hard it gave Jane a headache. “Mom. Come on, we got this. Go. Oh, and remember I’m staying over at Rosa’s house later.”

  She shrugged, nodded, and then turned to Danny. “Sure. It looks like I’m not needed.”

  “If you’re too tired, I understand,” he said.

  She was tired. But she needed to be with him more.

  It should scare her senseless. Everything about this relationship was a risk, and Jane didn’t know if she could cope with the personal fallout. But right now, he offered her escape. That was all she needed.

  “I’m not that hungry, but I could handle a bowl of soup or something. What I really need is some fresh air. It’s been a long day.”

  Tara and Tracy stepped out of the room, giving them some much needed privacy. Jane didn’t hesitate and stepped right into Danny’s waiting arms.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, dropping a soft kiss on her head.

  She shook her head in response. “But can we not talk about it for a little while? I need to wrap my head around what just happened.”

  “Whatever you need.” His arms tightened ever so slightly, and Jane melted into him. His heartbeat was strong and steady, but a little hitch in his breath made her look up.

  There was a shadow in his eyes. Something was wrong.

  “What’s going on with you? You could have called if you wanted me to meet you.”

  He had the look of a man who had been found out. “I could have, but I’ve been out walking for a couple of hours. I had to leave the house to clear my head.”

  His bearing changed, or maybe she just hadn’t noticed it when he first came in, but he seemed tense, distracted.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, stepping away. His features went tight suddenly, with his mouth narrowing into a firm line. He wasn’t angry, at least not with her, but he was agitated about something. He didn’t speak, letting her gather her things and pull on her coat before he finally broke the silence between them.

  “My agent found me. When I got back from the Harbor Lights festival, he was waiting at my sister’s house.”

  “Just waiting there? Your sister, and her family were here with you. The three of you had to drag the kids out.” That wasn’t a lie; Dan had to carry a very unhappy Gavin over his shoulder.

  “I know. He was parked in the driveway, waiting in the car.”

  “That’s kind of creepy.” One of the reasons he was in Angel Harbor was so he could avoid the stress of dealing with his agent or his editor, but his reasons were still pretty vague. He was the writer; there must have been some reason for the secrecy surrounding his location and the book.

  “Yep. It felt like an ambush.”

  Considering the very long driveway, with the house set way back on a hill, his agent waiting for him like that was an invasion of privacy as far as Jane was concerned.

  “So, just tell him to buzz off.” Jane waved her hand around like she was swatting at a bug. “Seriously, that’s pretty nervy.”

  “Tell me about it.” He moved in and dropped a hand on her shoulder. “If you don’t want to eat, how about a walk?”

  “A walk?” That sounded like a perfect plan. They could both use the time to blow off a little steam. Jane took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

  *

  Jane closed the door of the shop, leaving behind her friend and her daughter to close out the day. They thought they were playing matchmaker, but this wasn’t about romance, even though they’d gotten a good start in that department too. No, she wanted to help him talk out whatever was bothering him. It felt right to lend a shoulder and an ear, to help him get a handle on his roiling emotions. It would also distract her from the news Tara had dropped a few minutes ago.

  Since he’d been working in the shop, he’d only shared a few tidbits about his new book, and Jane had a sense Danny’s tension was bound up in the project even more than in his agent’s visit. Fame and money weren’t the endgame anymore. He wanted to create something that would last.

  He’d always been that way, eager to discover new things. Jane would dig into the past, and Danny was all about the future.

  She admired that he was trying to change direction, but Jane was worried about the guilt that haunted him. Letting go of his demons was the only way he’d stop running from himself, and everyone else.

  His hands were jammed securely in the pockets of his navy blue parka while Jane linked her arm with his in a move that was becoming comfortably familiar. She liked the feel of him next to her. It felt normal, like something they had done every day for years even though their history had ended decades ago.

  Or had it? Maybe this was their time.

  He’d slipped into her life so easily, Jane knew she’d miss him when he resumed his life and left Angel Harbor, maybe even more than before. It wasn’t just about the sweet kisses; it was him. His intelligence and his creativity. The kindness he showed to people. How he always wanted to help. His generous spirit. Danny was a good man, and Jane understood that good men had feelings, often deep, and often guarded.

  “Your agent really got under your skin, didn’t he?”

  “He did. Mostly because he didn’t respect that I need him to back off.”

  From the bookstore, they’d turned onto Main Street, heading away from the harbor. Jane followed his lead because it was obvious he really needed to talk.

  “I mean, how hard to understand is ‘Leave me alone?’” The man’s anger was etched in his strong features.

  “Not very. I was wondering though…” She didn’t know if what she was going to say would piss him off more or trigger some kind of awareness. “He does work for you, right?”

  Danny looked over, his eyes full of the turbulence that churned though him. “Eh. I’ve never seen it that way. It’s more a partnership. I have talent and product, but without him it gets nowhere.”

  “Um. No. As Tara said when she discovered your identity, you’re ‘Dan-Freaking-Gallo.’ And she’s right about that. You are.”

  Danny grumbled in that way she’d come to really love. He still wasn’t completely comfortable with his fame, and he didn’t want anyone to talk about it. He was exceedingly polite with Lindsey today, but he was uncomfortable with the gushing praise. She wondered how much success someone needed to chase away doubt.

  “Yeah, well, you need to teach that kid of yours not to be so easily impressed,” he snarled.

  That made Jane laugh. “
Wow. You are grouchy.”

  She didn’t need to talk if he didn’t want to. Especially if it was only going to make him more brusque.

  Settling into silence, they passed by the gray clapboard Episcopal church, its red doors adorned with big beautiful wreaths; the old drug store, which was a lot more than a pharmacy, fully stocked with souvenirs and gifts; the theater, which was advertising its annual holiday production; and just at the edge of the retail district, one of the largest houses in the village. Sitting lonely on a large piece of property was an old Victorian that had seen much better days. With a huge porch and gingerbread trim, Jane wondered what kinds of stories the house would tell if it could talk. Named Sail House, it was originally the home of one of the most prosperous sailboat builders in the east. It was empty now, sadly, and it had been for years. A FOR SALE sign sat outside, prompting Jane to wonder if anyone would ever occupy the old building, or if it would just be a relic, a reminder of the town’s history on the waterfront.

  “I love this house,” Jane said. “It’s one of those places where you’d want the walls to do the talking.”

  “That sounds like a series of ghost stories. Maybe you should write it. Stories from the Sail House…”

  “I’m not a writer. I wouldn’t know where to start!” Jane couldn’t possibly consider writing.

  “No worries, I know a guy who can help you. He’s kind of a writer.”

  She laughed at the reference to his first meeting with Tara. “I heard about that guy. Does he have any talent?”

  “Depends on who you talk to.”

  Jane leaned her head on his shoulder. “What happened with your agent?”

  Finally, Danny exhaled a long breath. “I just want to write my book in peace. I’ve been making good progress on it, but tonight, he messed with my head. What if this is a huge mistake?”

  “I doubt it is, but it would help if I knew more. We talked a little in the beginning, but you haven’t told me anything about what you have planned. I’ve been told I have excellent taste and a good sense of the market.”