Christmas with Carlie

by Julianna Morris

  Perhaps the girls would like to have a Christmas tree in their bedroom. Actually, two trees. They could do the decorating and make them as individual as they liked. She scribbled a note and put it on her computer monitor, not wanting to mention it to Luke until she’d collected a selection of ornaments that reflected both Annie’s and Beth’s apparent tastes.

  It wasn’t in her job description, of course, which was mostly to entertain the guests. Decorating wasn’t an “activity” like scavenger hunts and hayride parties, but Tessa gave her a lot of leeway. If Carlie saw a way to enhance a guest’s visit, she could act on it without getting permission.

  “These must be your parents,” Luke said, looking at a framed photo on the wall, taken shortly before her father’s accident. In it, he was hale and hearty, and looked half the age he did now.

  “Yes. Shall we go to the sledding hill?” Carlie prompted.

  “Sure.”

  When they arrived, she was pleased to see the snowmaking machines were still running and the guys in parkas and heavy gloves were out grooming the slope. A line of kids, both young and old, were queuing at the top in anticipation. There were so many, in fact, that Carlie excused herself to go talk with her uncle about creating a separate snow field for making snowmen.

  “Splendid idea,” Uncle Liam said enthusiastically. “We’ve got more than enough snow for sledding today. The water hoses are long enough. We’ll just move the snowmakers over to the open area and hope it stays cold enough for a couple of hours.”

  The snowmakers were shifted and Carlie called to see if the local grocery store could deliver a rush order of carrots, prunes and other environmentally friendly items for the snowmen’s features. They promised her everything would be there within twenty minutes.

  Before long, the overflow of sledding enthusiasts were making snowmen and women, including Beth and Annie.

  “This is what I meant by spontaneous,” Carlie told Luke as she brushed snow from her hair after a trek through the wide circle of snowmakers. While she was trying to sound innocent, a part of her was smug that he’d been present for one of the impromptu events. “Why don’t you help Beth and Annie build their snow person?”

  “They probably want to do it alone.”

  “Why wouldn’t they want their father to help?”

  A mix of emotions flitted across his face. “No reason, I suppose.”

  * * *

  LUKE APPROACHED HIS DAUGHTERS. It was difficult to acknowledge, even to himself, but he didn’t know if they wanted him around. They were unusually self-sufficient for their age. The evening before he’d asked if they needed help getting ready for bed or for him to read a story, but they’d refused. And that morning they were already dressed and playing a game by the time he came out of his bedroom.

  Snow was still shooting out from the machines and the girls were enjoying the artificial blizzard. Annie kept putting her head back and letting the flakes settle on her closed eyelids, while Beth danced around, trying to catch them in her mittens.

  The thought flitted through his head that he could have tried renting a ski lodge in Tahoe or somewhere else for the holidays, but he shook it away. They were at Poppy Gold, and though the place wasn’t what he’d expected, it could work out. With that thought, he glanced at Carlie, who was setting out piles of fruits and vegetables for everyone to use creating the snow people’s features. Surely she would become less important to the girls once Nicole arrived.

  “Sorry, everyone,” an older man called from the opposite side after another hour. He was the same man who’d signaled for the snowmaking machines to be turned on the night before. “The temperature is starting to rise. We have to shut everything down.”

  Almost immediately, silence descended, followed by good-natured groans. Beth stuck out her lip in an undeniable pout and even Annie seemed a bit sulky.

  “Okay, let’s build that snowman,” Luke said to them, trying to sound enthusiastic. “I haven’t made one since I was your age.”

  He began gathering snow into a mound when Beth fixed him with a stern gaze that reminded him of Erika. “Papa, you have to roll it around. See?” She and Annie demonstrated, rolling a small ball of snow around the white ground. It picked up layers, slowly becoming larger.

  “And we’re building a snow girl, not a snowman,” Annie added.

  “Oh.” He hid a smile. “I’m glad you told me.”

  * * *

  BEFORE GIDEON RETURNED to Poppy Gold, he took the divorce decree upstairs to his apartment, glad it had come on a Saturday when the office was closed. Until things settled down more, he was living in one of the two apartments above the clinic. He’d finally gotten a post office box for his personal mail, but he must have forgotten to update his address with the court and his lawyer in Los Angeles.

  Intentionally?

  He considered the possibility and then shook his head. The divorce bothered him, but it was for the best. He and his ex-wife had never valued the same things and it was hard to base a marriage on such a poor foundation. In their last argument, Renee had even snapped that she’d done her best, but he was still a clod-hopping Nebraska farm boy who didn’t deserve her.

  They were just too different. Once she’d thought it was charming that he’d grown up on a farm, while he’d been proud of her stylish sophistication. Now he saw women in designer clothes and wanted to run the opposite direction.

  Gideon tossed the paperwork in a drawer.

  At least Renee’s parting retort had reminded him that he was proud of who he was and where he’d come from. The only reason he hadn’t returned to Nebraska after Beverly Hills was because of the long winters. Going away to college hadn’t been about changing into a different kind of person. It had been about learning to be the best vet he could be.

  Now that his foster parents had sold their farm, he was trying to convince them to move to Glimmer Creek. Helga had asthma and Gideon hoped she’d do better in a milder climate. At the very least he wanted them to come out for a few months to see if they liked it here. That was one of the reasons he’d started looking for a house. Lars and Helga hesitated to accept anything from him, but he might be able to convince them to stay in the apartment above the clinic if it was empty.

  * * *

  NICOLE PUT HER skates with the other luggage in the foyer of her condominium. Her restlessness and uncertainty had increased after talking to Luke. Granted, he and the twins had only been in California for a day, but she hadn’t liked hearing Annie was tearful in the midst of all the holiday cheer.

  Belatedly she remembered she hadn’t packed her digital camera and got even more depressed. Wouldn’t a proper aunt have thought of that first?

  She padded up to the spare room and collected her camera and charger, along with a handful of new SD cards, trying to think if there was anything else she might need. From Luke’s description of Glimmer Creek, it might be difficult to get some items and she didn’t want him making an extravagant gesture to get her lip gloss or something.

  Laundry soap, Nicole thought. She used an organic, unscented variety. It raised the question of whether there were any laundry facilities at Poppy Gold Inns, or would they need to use a community Laundromat?

  She looked up the phone number and called California.

  “Poppy Gold Inns. Can I help you?” a man’s friendly voice said.

  “I hate to be a bother,” Nicole apologized, “but I’m flying out Monday to stay for a few weeks. I’m meeting my brother and his family, who have already arrived. I wanted to find out if you have any laundry facilities or what other plans I should make. Oh, and is there a dry cleaner in town?”

  “There’s a dry cleaner that will pick up and deliver. We also have laundry facilities on-site and a limited number of suites have them, as well. May I ask your name?”

  “Sorry—Nicole Forreste
r.”

  “Er, right. Mr. Forrester mentioned your arrival had been delayed. The suite where you’re staying includes a full utility room with a frontload washer and dryer. There’s also a nicely equipped kitchen.”

  It was probably her imagination, but something in the man’s tone made Nicole wonder if Luke had made a nuisance of himself. She was the first to admit her brother wasn’t always the most sensitive guy and he liked having things his way.

  “I don’t cook, but that sounds wonderful,” she replied brightly. “And I’m sure there are restaurants in town.”

  “Yes. A hot breakfast is also delivered each morning from a local caterer. The food is freshly prepared, with a different central dish every day.”

  Nicole had stayed at bed-and-breakfast inns where breakfast was little more than Danish and coffee, so she’d wait and see what Poppy Gold actually provided. In the meantime, the tension in the polite conversation was uncomfortable.

  “I don’t want to take any more of your time,” she said. “But thank you for the information.”

  “Of course, Ms. Forrester. Have a safe trip. Happy holidays.”

  “Happy holidays to you, too.” She gratefully hung up the phone.

  Anyhow, her questions had been answered, so Nicole packed a supply of laundry soap. She turned around, looking for something else to do, and her gaze lit on the space in front of the window. She’d always put a Christmas tree there the day after Thanksgiving and now she thought the condo was lonely without it.

  Even knowing she was being silly, she took her tree out from the storage area under the stairs and assembled it, stringing lights and hanging ornaments. At least she could enjoy the cheerful lights and tinsel until she left.

  * * *

  THE BEST VANTAGE point for the official “lighting” of Poppy Gold was at the city square park. Carlie had noted the information on the activities sheet for everyone, though most of the regulars already knew. The townspeople of Glimmer Creek knew, as well, and were all welcome to participate.

  Of course, not everything was controlled by the master switches. The electric candles in the windows operated by sensors, so they’d turned on when the sun set. The same was true of the lights on the wreaths and assorted other decorations. But lights on the houses, trees and buses would go on when the switches were thrown.

  Between the singing and eating and general bonhomie, the park resembled a block party. People were tired and it had been a long day, but the payoff was at 6:00 p.m. when Poppy Gold would go “live” for Christmas.

  “Is it soon, Carlie?” asked Beth, hopping from one foot to the other in excitement. She looked bright and lively, probably because she and her sister had taken naps that afternoon. Luke had insisted over their protests, saying they needed rest to enjoy the evening events.

  Carlie checked her cell phone. “Twenty-five more minutes.

  “Did you know your new tutor taught me in first grade?” she asked Beth, hoping to distract her. While the girls were napping, Luke had interviewed Luisa Cabrera and hired her as their tutor.

  “Honest?”

  “Honest. Mrs. Cabrera was one of my favorite teachers.”

  From what Carlie could see of Beth’s expression, she seemed content with the comment, while Annie was harder to read. But they were obviously accustomed to employees in their lives. Their artless chatter throughout the day had included numerous references to their nanny and assorted other household staff.

  Erika Forrester hadn’t been mentioned, though that wasn’t necessarily strange since according to what Tessa had said, they were still having trouble dealing with their mother’s death. Carlie hadn’t lost a parent, but she’d come close when her dad was injured. She didn’t know how she would have handled losing him and she was much older than the twins.

  “Um, I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she said, her stomach rumbling. She walked over to one of the treat kiosks.

  “Hey, Sarah,” she said, seeing her cousin put out a fresh platter of cookies. “You look bushed.”

  Sarah chuckled. “That’s the catering business. Sixteen-hour days and never enough sleep.”

  “I’m glad it isn’t me—I’m devoted to sleep.” Carlie grabbed an empty cup and stuffed it full of apple wedges and cheese.

  “Hey, you’re still here, too,” Sarah pointed out. “And I’m guessing you haven’t eaten all day.”

  Carlie grinned. “I had a bagel this morning.” She crunched down a bite of apple, followed by a cheese cube. “Besides, my job is to help people have fun. What could be better than that? Today I was just too busy enjoying myself to eat.”

  “We can’t have you passing out from hunger or dehydration.” Sarah held out a cup of warm cider.

  Carlie glanced toward the Forresters as she drank thirstily. It wasn’t unusual for certain guests to gobble up a lot of time. Tessa liked the personal touch at Poppy Gold and had given her a staff, so if some guests were more demanding, the others weren’t neglected. Of course, they’d never had a guest stay for six weeks, either.

  But Luke had mentioned his sister would be arriving Monday, which meant Annie and Beth should be better occupied. It was just as well. The twins were sweet, but surely they needed family, not a stranger.

  After gulping the rest of her apple slices and cheese, Carlie circulated through the crowd of people, chatting and offering reminders about the living nativity that was starting in another forty-five minutes. But she quickly held up her hand when the reporter-photographer from the Glimmer Creek Gazette raised his camera.

  “Please, Perry, I don’t want to be in the newspaper. Surely you’d prefer a photo of Uncle Liam or Tessa.”

  “I didn’t say anything about putting it in the Gazette.” He winked and took a quick shot. “You were always my dream girl. If I can’t have you, at least I can put your picture under my pillow.”

  Carlie laughed. They’d gone to high school together and had even dated as juniors, but she’d never been his dream girl; Perry Fisher enjoyed playing the field too much. Still, he was a fun guy and a volunteer fireman with a reputation for going beyond the call.

  “Keep talking, Perry. You’re good for my ego.”

  “Does that mean you’ll finally go out with me? How many times have I asked since you came back to Glimmer Creek?”

  “I’m just so busy,” she said, wishing she hadn’t brought it up. “You know, with everything...”

  Perry’s face sobered. “I know. We miss Mike down at the fire department. How is he?”

  “About the same.” Her dad had been forced to resign as a volunteer firefighter after his accident. “Why don’t you take pictures of the carolers in their costumes for your article?” she suggested, eager to change the subject. “I’d also love a plug for the living nativity. Remember, every Friday and Saturday night until Christmas, six thirty to nine.”

  “Anything for you, sweetheart.”

  A few minutes later, she circled around to Annie and Beth and smiled at them. “We’re getting close.”

  “I don’t think they believe you,” Luke murmured.

  “When you’re six, minutes can seem like hours. By the way, I want to ask you something later.”

  He instantly looked suspicious. “I don’t do interviews and the girls are off-limits at all times.”

  Carlie blinked, confused. “What makes you think I’d want you to do an interview?”

  * * *

  LUKE WAS ANNOYED that he’d said the first thing to pop into his mind. “I’ve been watching that photographer, the one with the press badge, and saw you talking to him.”

  Carlie’s lips tightened. “I asked him to do extra promotion for the living nativity. It’s a new event and I want it to be a success. An interview was my last thought. For your information, Poppy Gold frequently has high-profile guests. We have an agreemen
t with the Gazette and local radio station to leave them alone. Perry is taking pictures and writing a story about kickoff day. That’s all.”

  “Oh.”

  “We’ve had much more interesting people stay at Poppy Gold, by the way. I don’t think you need to worry.”

  From her flashing eyes, Luke suspected Carlie would have loved to tell him off, but was constrained by her position working for the bed-and-breakfast complex. Not that she’d done a bad job of knocking his ego down a peg with her polite comment about “much more interesting” people staying at Poppy Gold. Luke didn’t mind; honesty was a quality he valued as much as his privacy.

  “We’re starting, everyone,” a voice called above the carol singing, which quieted instantly.

  A count started in the crowd, reminiscent of Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

  “Five, four, three, two...”

  As the final number rang out, the rooflines, windows and doors of the Victorians were suddenly outlined with strings of lights. The trees lit up a moment later, along with bushes and the poles of lampposts that looked like they were converted gaslights.

  Beth and Annie squealed with excitement and clapped their hands. Carlie Benton’s face reflected their blissful pleasure, and even Luke, who wasn’t big on showy displays, thought it was attractive.

  Christmas had arrived with a splash at Poppy Gold.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  EARLY TUESDAY MORNING, Nicole got dressed and walked quietly down the stairs of the Yosemite suite. She hadn’t gotten much chance to explore the suite after arriving the previous afternoon and wanted to indulge her curiosity.

  She’d taken an architectural history class in college and particularly loved homes from the Victorian period.

  From the little Luke had said, she’d expected a pokey set of rooms carved out of the servants’ quarters of an old house. It was nothing of the kind. Everything was lovely. The rooms were spacious—not the size of Luke’s home in Austin, but very nice—with great architectural details. The overall feel was gracious comfort.