He reached out and picked it up. It was in the shape of a heart, and it glittered with sequins. He knew those sequins. He’d glued hundreds of them to the Christmas tree bookmarks. This heart-shaped bookmark was from Kate. It was why she’d visited him yesterday.
A smile pulled at his lips. He turned over the bookmark and found writing on the backside:
To the most amazing man—
You made this Christmas sparkle.
Love, Kate
In that moment, it felt as though his heart grew three sizes. He read the short message again. And again. And again.
He had to get back to Bayberry soon—to get back to Kate. He couldn’t wait to escort her to the Candlelight Dance. He had a very special Christmas present to give her there. He couldn’t wait.
Thanks to the kindness of strangers, the day was saved.
Sort of.
After the farmer used his tractor to pull the van out of the ditch, Kate and Carrie made it safely back to Bayberry. But it didn’t change the candle company’s dire fate. For the rest of the drive home, Kate kept thinking “This can’t be happening.” Wes was recommending the end of Bayberry Candles as she’d always known it. Tears stung her eyes. She blinked them away.
Of course, she’d always known that selling the company was a possibility, but she didn’t think it would actually happen. Her heart felt as though it’d been torn in half.
And to make matters worse, when they got back, she overheard MaryJane telling someone that Wes had returned to New York. Her tattered heart was dealt another blow. No date for the Candlelight Dance. Not even so much as a goodbye.
And yet she forced a smile to her lips and shared holiday greetings with her neighbors and friends as people arrived to help with the finishing touches for the dance. All the while, she felt like such a liar. Inside she knew that this was the last happy Christmas they would spend together, because come the New Year, their entire lives would change. Some huge faceless corporation would swoop in and change absolutely everything. She blamed herself. If only she’d acted sooner. Done more.
The cloudy skies had brought on the December evening even earlier than usual, but Kate didn’t care. The darkness fit her mood as she walked home. The long shadows shielded her sadness from passersby.
The only reason she’d been able to put on a show of cheerfulness that day was because she’d wanted all her friends to have one last merry Christmas together. This town, like a family, had stuck together over the decades through every imaginable event, both good and bad. Bonds had been formed that were stronger than steel. And Christmas was the most special time of the year.
“Kate!” An unfamiliar male voice called her name.
She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She was tempted to keep walking, but she hadn’t been raised to be rude. With great reluctance, she paused and turned back. There stood Santa in his red costume. This time he wasn’t ringing a bell or standing next to a red kettle. His piercing gaze connected with hers. Sympathy shone in his eyes as he approached her.
“Cheer up, Kate.”
The fact that Santa felt sorry for her made her feel even worse. She shook her head. “Not today.”
“Kate, remember your Christmas wish. Don’t give up. Just believe.”
She didn’t know what he was talking about. She started walking away. Still, she couldn’t help but think back to the tree-lighting ceremony with Wes. She’d wished for a miracle to save Bayberry.
But how would this guy dressed as Santa know what she’d wished for? She hadn’t mentioned it to anyone. She stopped and turned to ask him, but he was gone.
She scanned both sides of the street. No one dressed up as Santa was anywhere in sight. How did he keep disappearing in the blink of an eye?
She continued walking down the sidewalk. Then she heard his voice again. “Just believe.”
Kate glanced all around. He was nowhere to be seen. It must have been her imagination. Her mind was working overtime. She pulled her hood low and kept walking.
At last, she reached her aunt’s driveway. Just a few more steps and she’d be in her garage apartment, away from prying eyes. And she wouldn’t have to put on a show any longer. She could curl up on her couch and maybe lose herself in a movie and a bowl of rocky road ice cream—
“Kate? Is that you?” Aunt Penney stepped outside with a bag of trash in her hand.
Kate crossed to her. “Here. Let me take that for you.”
Her aunt handed over the bag. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Kate carried the bag to the trash bin and dropped it in. Not wanting to face her aunt’s all-knowing stare, she turned toward her apartment and called over her shoulder, “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Aunt Penney appeared to be in her usual good mood. Wes obviously hadn’t shared his ominous conclusion about the candle company with her. Kate thought about mentioning it. After all, her aunt still owned the company. She should know. But the words tasted bitter in the back of her mouth. She wasn’t sure she could actually get them out without losing her tentative hold on her emotions.
And her aunt seemed so happy now that she was spending so much time with Fred. They might not want to admit that they were a couple, but everyone in town knew there was love between those two. Why ruin her aunt’s first Christmas with Fred?
Kate choked down the dismal news about the company. It would be her secret for Christmas—her gift to those she loved. Her feet felt weighted as she took another step.
“Kate, were you able to get the flowers for the dance?”
On the bottom step, Kate paused and turned to her aunt, hoping the light between the house and garage wasn’t bright enough for her aunt to see the misery on her face. “Uh, yes. It just took a little longer than I expected.”
Her aunt nodded. “Would you like to come inside? I have some fresh-baked banana bread. And there’s a pot of coffee—it’s that new roast you love.”
“Thanks, but I have some stuff I need to do.” Kate hurried up the steps, knowing that if she lingered, her aunt would continue to press her until the whole sad tale came spilling out.
Once inside, Kate slipped off her boots and coat. She moved to the couch, not bothering to turn on the overhead lights or the television. She considered watching a movie, then dismissed the thought. In the glow of the Christmas tree lights, she kept thinking that if she’d done something different, things would never have reached this point.
And why had she ever thought Wes was on her side in this fight to save the candle company? He hadn’t come to Bayberry to save it. He’d come to do his job. And he’d done it. Now he’d gone back to the city to present his findings—far away from her and the damage left behind.
Tap. Tap.
The door creaked open. “Kate?” Penney sounded concerned. The overhead light flicked on. “Oh, there you are.”
Kate didn’t trust her voice in that moment. A lump of emotions clogged her throat. She swiped at her eyes.
Aunt Penney gave her a look. “What’s wrong?”
Where could she even begin? Kate’s mind raced with thoughts of everything that had happened in the last two days. And then she settled on the least of the problems.
“Everything is okay. But Carrie and I slid into a ditch on the way home from Burlington.”
“Oh dear.” Aunt Penney’s face creased with worry. “Are you sure you’re both all right?”
Kate nodded. Then she proceeded to tell her aunt how the very kind farmer had helped them out.
“You must be tired after that big day.”
“I’m fine. We were a little late putting up the remaining decorations for the dance, but a lot of people showed up and we got it done in no time.”
“Good. This town is known for pulling together.” Aunt Penney sat down in the chair opposite the couch. “But that’s not what’s bothering you, is
it?”
Kate knew that eventually her aunt would get it out of her. Her aunt always had a way of reading her.
Kate shook her head.
“Is it Wes?”
Kate swallowed hard. “In a way.”
“Do you want to talk about it? It might help.”
“Not really.” But maybe it was best if her aunt heard the bad news from her.
“I kissed him,” Kate began. She told her aunt about the romantic moment she’d shared with Wes, and how she’d imagined it was the start of something real. And then she told Aunt Penney about the special bookmark she’d made for Wes. “When I went to give it to him at the office, I accidentally saw his report about the company. I didn’t mean to read it, but now I can’t unsee it.” Her eyes met her aunt’s. “And I think you should know, it isn’t good. His recommendation is to sell.”
Her aunt didn’t say anything for a moment. Maybe she was in shock too. It was a lot to take in. After all, Bayberry Candles had been around for generations. It was part of their past, but it would no longer be part of their future.
“I know,” Aunt Penney said.
“You know?” Kate wasn’t sure she’d heard her correctly.
Her aunt nodded. “He came to me already and shared the results of his analysis.”
“Really? Why didn’t you tell me? What are you going to do? Maybe we don’t have to sell. He could be wrong.” But Kate didn’t really believe it. This was Wes’s area of expertise. Her gut told her that he’d provided a completely honest and unbiased recommendation.
“It’s the right thing to do.” Aunt Penney’s voice was calm. “I know it’s going to take some adjusting—”
“How can you say this?” Pain ripped Kate inside. “It doesn’t matter who buys it, it’ll never be the same.”
“Aren’t you the one who tells me that sometimes change is for the best?”
She couldn’t believe her aunt was using her own words against her. “But they’ll automate things, outsource other things and lay off our employees.”
“Stop. Nothing like that is going to happen, or I wouldn’t have agreed to the sale.” Aunt Penney reached out and took Kate’s hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I need you to trust me. You do trust me, don’t you?”
Kate trusted her aunt more than anyone in the world. She considered her aunt’s words and calm demeanor. If Aunt Penney believed this was going to work out, she must have something really special planned.
“Of course I trust you.” Kate squeezed her hand. “But what’s the plan?”
“All will be revealed tomorrow.” Aunt Penney smiled—not a little smile. but one that lit up her whole face and made her eyes twinkle. “And I have a sneaking suspicion this will be the very best Christmas ever.”
Kate wished it were possible, but she didn’t believe it. Wes’s image flashed in her mind. And then she thought of going to the dance alone. This felt like the worst Christmas ever.
After her aunt left, Kate glanced at her phone and found a voicemail from Wes. She was torn between hearing what he had to say and just ignoring it. At last, her willpower failed and she played the message.
“Kate, I tried catching up with you, but you must be out running errands. I wish I was with you. Right now, I’m on my way to the airport. I have a mandatory meeting in the morning, so I had to return to New York. I’m really sorry to skip out on you…”
There was some static on the line. He said something else that she couldn’t make out before the line went dead.
This evening required ice cream. Lots of ice cream.
Kate grabbed the rocky road from the freezer and a large spoon. Not bothering with a bowl, she moved to the couch. She sank down, threw a blanket over her legs and turned on the television. It’s A Wonderful Life was just starting. Somehow that seemed fitting. She just wished there was an angel in her life.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Christmas Eve had arrived at Watson & Summers.
But it was far from merry.
Wes sat in his boss’s office, where the silence was deafening. Mr. Summers sat behind his desk, paging through Wes’s report. Christmas here at the office just wasn’t the same as what Wes had come to expect in his few weeks in Bayberry. How had he forgotten what a real Christmas was like?
Christmas wasn’t about trying to get a jump on the New Year. It wasn’t about setting outrageous work-related goals for the next 365 days. It wasn’t about chasing after a promotion. Christmas was about so much more.
It was about taking time to appreciate the many blessings in his life, both big and small. It was about spreading holiday cheer to old friends and new ones. Christmas was Bayberry. That small town emanated the spirit of the holiday.
He just hoped that some of its residents were able to keep a secret—a Christmas secret—for a little while longer. He knew it was a lot to ask, but they’d all been willing to help him with a special surprise for Kate. Everyone loved Kate. How could they not?
“Wes, I’ve gone over your report and I must say you’ve done a thorough job.” Mr. Summer’s eyes met his across the desk. “And the recommendation to sell—I agree with it.”
“Thank you, sir.” Wes resisted the urge to tug at his shirt collar. It’d been weeks since he wore a tie, and now it felt too tight, too stifling. Or maybe it was his job that was making him feel this way. “I’ve been doing some thinking—”
“As have I since I received your initial report. I know of a national candle company that’s looking to expand. They have the capital to invest in new equipment, and they’d consolidate their operations at their headquarters. This would be an ideal solution for everyone.” Mr. Summers leaned back in his chair, looking pleased with himself.
Wes rolled the idea around in his head. He had an uneasy feeling in his gut. He knew about takeovers and buyouts. The acquired entities rarely stayed the same. In some instances, the products and/or recipes were moved to a new location. The original building was put up for sale. In other cases, there was just one thing the buyer wanted, and the rest of the business was broken up and sold off. And where would that leave Kate and the citizens of Bayberry?
Kate would be devastated. He would be devastated. The one thing he knew about Bayberry was that it was the perfect small town. And having big business swoop in was not going to be good for the town or its residents. Fortunately, he had an alternative.
Mr. Summers had been talking, but Wes had been distracted, missing most of what he’d said. Wes forced his concentration back to his. “And so I need you to take this proposal to Bayberry.” Mr. Summers handed a red folder across the desk. “I’ll need you to leave right away. I know it’s not where you were planning to spend Christmas, but sometimes sacrifices must be made.”
Wes’s lips curved in a smile. He’d been planning to return to Bayberry before the dance anyway, but he wouldn’t be taking Mr. Summers’ red folder. “I’m sorry, sir, but the owner of the candle company has already agreed to a sale.”
Mr. Summers’ gray brows drew together into a formidable line. “Why am I just hearing about this? When did it happen?”
“It’s very recent. The details are still being ironed out.”
“Are you sure Ms. Taylor won’t change her mind?”
“I’m sure, Mr. Summers.”
The older man’s frown deepened. “I was counting on making this sale for my client, but I must commend you for being proactive. You beat me to the punch. I like that. I’ve come to realize that you take each and every task seriously. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big account or a small one, you give your all. And that’s what we need around here.”
Wes couldn’t believe it. After all this time wishing, hoping and waiting for a promotion, he was about to get it. Not so long ago, this would have made his Christmas perfect. But now, the excitement was lacking. The thought of staying here and fighting th
e hustle and bustle of city life on his own didn’t have the same draw.
“Wes, did you hear me? I’m promoting you to assistant vice president. I’ll have your things moved to a windowed office after the first of the year. For some reason, maintenance takes time off between Christmas and New Year’s.” Mr. Summers pursed his lips and shook his head. “Come the beginning of the year, we’ll meet again. I have a lot of new projects for you. There’s no time to waste.”
New projects meant more overtime—weekends spent in the office. The prestige of working in Manhattan had lost its luster. Wes’s thoughts returned to Bayberry, where work was balanced with life. And overtime at the candle company was sporadic, not a regular occurrence. And then there was Kate—beautiful Kate.
Wes cleared his throat. “Sir, I want to thank you for your faith in me and my abilities.”
Mr. Summers smiled as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I know you can handle whatever’s thrown at you. If you want, I can give you some of the projects I need you to jump on now.”
“Thank you, sir, but that won’t be necessary.”
Mr. Summers was confused. “What won’t be necessary?”
“I learned a lot while I was in Bayberry. I realized I don’t have to sacrifice my life just to have the stability I always wanted. It doesn’t have to be a tradeoff. Sometimes you really can have it all.”
“What?” Mr. Summers leaned forward with a concerned look. “Wes, are you feeling all right?”
“I’ve never felt better.” And he meant it. This decision was the right one for him. “Mr. Summers, I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your promotion. In fact, I’m resigning.”
The man sputtered. It was apparent he wasn’t used to people turning him down. “You’re making a mistake. Take the holiday and think this over.” When Wes shook his head, Mr. Summers said, “You drive a hard bargain, but you’re going to go far. I…I’ll throw in a corner office.”
Wes shook his head and smiled. “My mind is made up. My future is in Bayberry.”
Mr. Summers looked utterly perplexed as he stood and shook Wes’s extended hand. “All right, then, if you’re sure. I wish you all the best.”
Christmas in Bayberry Page 24