Holly Pointe & Candy Canes: A heartwarming feel good Christmas romance

by Cindy Kirk

  Bryce lifted a hand, a pained look on his face. “Faith. I don’t have time to discuss possums.”

  “I understand.” She made her tone as brisk as his. “I appreciate you taking the time to go through this. I know you’re busy, so let’s get down to business. What are your thoughts?”

  “I was happy to help.” His voice had gentled, as if he’d realized how curt he’d sounded. “As far as thoughts, I’m impressed.”

  “By?” she asked cautiously.

  “This is an amazing deal.” Bryce gazed at her with admiration. “You’re hitting the big time with this one.”

  I’d never have thought it of you.

  Though her brother didn’t say it, she knew that’s what had him looking at her in a different light.

  “Back to the contract.” She shifted, decidedly uncomfortable with his approving gaze.

  “I have a couple of suggestions. Nothing huge, but—”

  As he requested, she brought up the document on her laptop. They went through each section together, with him pointing out a couple of areas where he felt the wording should be tightened.

  “When will you be making the big move?” Bryce relaxed back in his leather desk chair, obviously deciding he had time for non-possum-related talk.

  “I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to accept the offer.” Faith felt the weight of decision pressing against her chest. “I’m supposed to give Dustin and Krista my answer by the end of the month. I’ll be asking for more time.”

  Bryce’s dark eyes bore into hers. “You’re foolish if you don’t accept.”

  “I recall you telling me I was a fool for coming to Holly Pointe.” Faith kept her tone light. “Which is interesting, considering it was here that I got to know Dustin and Krista on a personal level. It was here that they became acquainted with my art. That would never have happened if I’d stayed in the city.”

  “Touché.” The dimple in Bryce’s cheek, the one she hadn’t seen in years, flashed. “You do what’s best for you. If you decide to accept the offer, ask them to make the changes before you sign the agreement.”

  “I will. Thanks again.”

  “Tell Gram I’ll call on Christmas.”

  “Absolutely.” As Faith clicked off the call, she smiled, thinking Bryce probably already had the reminder set on his phone.

  Getting the contract reviewed was one more step on the road to Gatlinburg, Faith thought, as she closed her laptop.

  Tomorrow morning, she’d meet Krista for coffee at her house. Dustin was planning to take the boys skiing, which meant she and Krista would have the house to themselves.

  Faith had a plan. Over coffee and scones—with Krista, there were always scones—she’d express interest in the position and request more time to deliver her decision.

  * * *

  Rising early, Faith dressed for a cold, wintry day in flannel-lined denim pants and a red cable-knit sweater. Because of a forecast wind chill of minus eighteen, she added a thermal undershirt beneath the sweater and two layers of socks.

  Krista had already called early that morning to confirm the time. Once again, she emphasized they’d be alone. It had been a strange conversation. First, because Krista had called instead of texting, her normal method of communication. Then, there’d been a kind of hitch in her friend’s voice that had Faith’s Spidey senses tingling.

  Telling herself she was being ridiculous, Faith slipped on her boots and studied herself in the mirror. Because she knew—hoped—she might run into Graham on her way out the door, she’d taken extra time with her makeup. She even brought out the big guns—her new red lipstick—to add an extra splash.

  Even though she and Graham didn’t have solid plans, they rarely went a day without seeing each other. Soon, that wouldn’t be the case. They’d never really spoken about what would happen when he returned to the city. They’d spoken only about whether Faith would move to Tennessee.

  She assumed that was because Tennessee was the only variable. Whether Faith was there or in Holly Pointe, it didn’t change the fact that Graham had a life in New York. A city where he’d found success, where he’d made a home with his wife, where his children had been born. A city he loved as much as she loved Holly Pointe. She would never ask him to leave there, so what was the point of discussing it?

  Faith closed her eyes at the thought of never seeing Graham and the girls again. Oh, she might run into them if they all happened to be in Holly Pointe at the same time, but it wouldn’t be the same. It would never be the same.

  I’m strong, Faith told herself. I’ll get through this.

  One way was to focus on next steps.

  She would discuss with Krista the contract changes Bryce had suggested so the couple could have their attorney review the proposed changes while Faith visited Gatlinburg. That way, if she decided to accept their offer, there shouldn’t be a delay in making Tennessee her new home.

  “Mary,” Faith yelled as she tossed a scarf around her neck and lifted her coat from the hook. “I’m heading out.”

  Instead of calling out a good-bye, Mary appeared in the foyer.

  “I’m sorry you’ll miss the gingerbread house competition.” Mary tied Faith’s scarf, and the fussy, maternal gesture had Faith’s heart lurching. “Still, I like seeing you getting out and socializing with friends.”

  Faith slipped her arms into the parka and zipped up. “By the way, I spoke with Bryce last night. I’m supposed to tell you he’ll be calling on Christmas.”

  “Bryce is a good man who works too hard. I’ll be sure and mention the need for balance when he calls, just like I do every year.” Mary’s lips curved. “As your brother enjoys his law practice, I won’t push too hard.”

  “I had him review the Gatlinburg contract.”

  Though Mary knew all about the offer, until now Faith had avoided bringing up the subject.

  Mary lifted a brow. “You’ve made your decision?”

  “I’m going to visit Tennessee after the holidays and check out the area.” Faith paused. “I won’t make any decisions before then.”

  “What does Graham say about all of this?”

  Faith cocked her head.

  “Don’t play coy with me, girl. You and Graham have gotten close during his time in Holly Pointe.” Mary’s eyes twinkled. “I don’t believe for one second this whirlwind romance will end when he returns to New York.”

  “We’ve spoken about the job offer.” Faith chose her words carefully, trying to gauge Mary’s thoughts. “Graham is actually the one who suggested I go there in person and check out the area before making any decisions.”

  “Did I hear my name?”

  Faith turned and saw Graham striding across the parlor toward them, the twins at his side. “I was telling Mary about my plans to go to Tennessee.”

  Picking up the pace until they were running, the girls rushed to her.

  Charlotte’s face brightened. “Are you going to see Tiffany?”

  “Can we come with?” Hannah asked.

  A rush of emotion had Faith wrapping an arm around each girl. “I’d love to take you both with me, but I’m afraid this is a business trip.”

  Charlotte’s expression fell. “Will you see Tiffany while you’re there?”

  Confused, Faith slanted a glance in Graham’s direction.

  “Who is Tiffany?” Mary asked.

  “Our nanny,” Hannah shouted, as if afraid her sister would beat her to the answer.

  “She’s in Nash-a-ville right now.” Charlotte sang the words.

  Her mommy and daddy live there,” Hannah piped up.

  “And her sister,” Charlotte added. “Tiffany’s big sister is getting married.”

  “That’s exciting.” Faith offered a smile. “I’d love to meet Tiffany, but I bet she’ll be back in New York with you by the time I go there.”

  Charlotte’s brows pulled together. “Aren’t you going to be in New York with us?”

  “Honey, New York is your home. I live here, in Ho
lly Pointe.” Faith stopped just short of promising to come to New York to see her and her sister. And see Graham, whose face was now an unreadable mask.

  Small arms wrapped around her from both sides, encasing her as tight as any straitjacket. Though Faith was certain there wasn’t a straitjacket on earth that would feel as sweet.

  Tears pushed at her lids, but she blinked them back. “I saw the smiles on your faces this morning. Where are you and your daddy headed?”

  It was an easy assumption to make as the girls and Graham already had on their coats.

  “We’re cel-e-brat-ing.” Hannah wrung each syllable out of the word.

  “Daddy got his project done.” Charlotte smiled up at her father. “It’s really, really good.”

  “The other one was stinky.” Hannah pinched her nose with her fingers, as if smelling something foul, before dropping her hand to her side with a grin. “He got a do-over.”

  “Sometimes you need a do-over,” Charlotte advised with a sage nod.

  Faith shifted her gaze to Graham, whose eyes danced with amusement, and lifted a brow. “It’s done?”

  “It is,” he confirmed, flashing a smile that had her insides fluttering. “In honor of the occasion, I’m taking the girls out for some good ol’ diner food. Would you—”

  “Daddy says we can get a muffin if we want,” Charlotte announced. “I want one with blueberries.”

  “I like blueberries,” Hannah admitted. “But I really, really, really want chocolate chip pancakes.”

  “What I was about to ask before I was interrupted,” Graham’s smile was indulgent, “was if you ladies would care to join us? My treat.”

  “I’d love to, Graham.” Regret filled Mary’s tone. “But this is Gingerbread House Day, and I need to be here.”

  “Can I help with anything?” he asked immediately.

  Faith’s heart warmed, as she knew the offer was sincere. Graham would defer his celebration plans with his daughters to assist Mary.

  “I appreciate the offer.” Mary patted his arm. “It’s under control. All that’s missing are the gingerbread house makers.”

  “I want to make a gingerbread house.” Charlotte tugged on his arm. “Please, Daddy.”

  “Me, too.” Hannah added her voice to the pleading.

  “If you’re interested, I’ve got a space for you and the girls.” Mary’s warm smile encompassed Graham and the twins. “You’ve got plenty of time for breakfast, as things won’t get rolling for at least another hour. Even then, you can start whenever you get back.”

  Graham hesitated. Taking in his daughters’ pleading expressions, he smiled. “Count us in.”

  Ignoring the girls’ cheers, Graham shifted his gaze to Faith. She felt the familiar jolt when those green eyes met hers. “Can I interest you in breakfast at Rosie’s Diner? I promise strong coffee and scintillating conversation.”

  “I’d love to join you.” Faith hoped he could see the regret in her eyes. She sincerely wanted to spend as much time as she could with Graham and the twins before they left. “But—”

  “Now, why did I sense there was a but coming?”

  His teasing tone had her smiling. “Krista beat you to the punch. She already invited me to her house for coffee and scintillating conversation. Dustin is taking the boys skiing. Oh, and before you ask, the road to her place has been freshly plowed.”

  Surprise lit Graham’s green eyes. “Derek works fast.”

  “That’s why they pay him the big bucks. I need to go.” Faith plopped a kiss on top of each girl’s head, then brushed a kiss across her grandmother’s cheek.

  She planned to bypass Graham, but he stepped in front of her, his smile engaging. “Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who doesn’t get a kiss.”

  Faith hesitated, then grinned as he leaned over so she could kiss the top of his head.

  The girls giggled as Faith planted a kiss on his dark hair with an exaggerated smack.

  When he straightened, his eyes met hers. “See you later.”

  Seeing the promise there, Faith smiled. “Count on it.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Something was troubling Krista.

  Faith saw it the second her friend stepped onto the porch. Still, despite the tired eyes and drawn look, the former model looked breathtakingly beautiful in black tweed pants and a wool-blend sweater that matched the gray skies overhead.

  Yet, her friend’s normal joie de vivre was missing as she ushered Faith into the kitchen, where coffee perked cheerily in an old-fashioned chrome percolator and freshly baked scones sat on a pretty plate atop the rustic oak table.

  The conversation began, as it often did in wintry climates, with talk of the weather.

  “I’m glad we didn’t get as much snow last night as they forecast.” Krista sipped her coffee, the huge diamond on her left hand winking in the light.

  “I love snow.” Faith smiled at Krista’s raised brow. “Though, we’ve had enough now. Mother Nature can put away the snow-making machine.”

  Krista laughed, her smile genuine. “I don’t know if the skiers and snowboarders would agree.”

  “Probably not.” Chuckling, Faith relaxed against the back of the wooden chair with the pretty cushions. “Oh, before I forget. I wanted to make sure you received the contract I sent last night.”

  Faith had assumed she’d receive some kind of confirmation from Krista—or from Dustin—but hadn’t heard a peep. Not that she’d expected them to agree to the revised terms immediately. She wanted only to know the document hadn’t gone astray in cyberspace.

  “Yes. Thank you. As far as your request for more time to visit Gatlinburg, take as much as you need.” Krista paused. “Dustin and I will pick up the cost of your flight and the hotel stay.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Faith protested.

  Krista’s gaze met Faith’s. “Let me do this. Please.”

  “Sure. Okay.” There was that weird vibe again. “Thank you.”

  “Ah, how’s your morning going so far?” Krista asked, nibbling on a bite of peach scone.

  “It’s good.” Faith smiled, thinking of the scene in the parlor. “Mary was jazzed about the gingerbread house competition. She insisted on handling it herself, though I’d have been happy to help.”

  Some of the tension in Krista’s face eased. “Your grandmother seems like her old self this year.”

  “It’s as if she turned a corner I didn’t even realize she was approaching.” Faith expelled a happy breath and took a sip of coffee. “Graham and the twins came down right before I left.”

  If Faith hadn’t glanced at Krista as she reached for a scone, she might have missed the shadow that passed over the woman’s face.

  Could this be what had Krista concerned? Was she worried that Graham wouldn’t deliver a campaign they could use and that Faith would be upset if that happened?

  “Graham had good news.” Faith kept her voice casual as she added a dollop of clotted cream to a piece of scone. “He thinks he’s hit a home run with the new campaign. While he didn’t show it to me or anything, I think he believes that it’s something you’ll like.”

  “Not that it matters,” Krista muttered.

  Faith lowered her scone back to the plate. Something was definitely going on here. And whatever it was appeared to involve Graham.

  “What’s going on?” Reaching across the table, Faith grasped Krista’s hand. “Please tell me. We’re friends.”

  Krista’s fingers closed convulsively around hers. “We are friends. Good friends. That’s why this is so difficult.”

  Maybe it wasn’t Graham after all. Could this be about her? Had they decided to pull back on the offer, and Krista had taken on the task of telling her? Was paying for her flight and hotel some kind of consolation gift?

  Instead of feeling relief, Faith experienced a twinge of sadness at having the decision taken out of her hands. Sure, she’d gone back and forth, but she still wanted to make the choice rather than have some
one lose faith in her. But if it wasn’t to be, Faith wasn’t about to let this business stuff derail a friendship.

  “If you don’t want me to take the position, if you and Dustin have reconsidered and no longer think I’m the right fit, I’ll understand. This is your livelihood. That’s—”

  “We haven’t reconsidered.” Krista’s eyes swam with tears. “If there’s one thing Dustin and I agree on, it’s that you’re the right person.”

  “I don’t understand.” Faith’s head spun. It was as if a mystery had plopped down in front of her with plenty of clues but no solution. “Help me to understand.”

  “Dustin can get tunnel vision. My husband sees what he wants and goes after it.”

  “I already know that, or thought I did.” Still confused, Faith frowned. “I’m seriously considering the offer, Krista. I wouldn’t have had my brother take the time to review the contract if I wasn’t. I certainly wouldn’t be booking a flight to check out the area.”

  “Dustin sensed you were wavering.” After pushing her plate aside, Krista folded her hands on the table in front of her. “He decided to give a little nudge in the right direction.”

  “Like paying for my flight and room?”

  Krista took in a long breath, then let it out slowly. “What do you know about Graham’s previous ad campaign?”

  It was like whiplash, Faith thought, this hopping from one subject to the next. Was Krista deliberately trying to keep her off-balance, or were her own thoughts so muddled she couldn’t concentrate?

  With Krista’s eyes on her, Faith answered the question to the best of her ability.

  “Graham told me he’d failed to capture the feel of your brand. His error.”

  “Did he tell you how important it was for him to nail this campaign?”

  “Only that he didn’t want to lose the account. That he liked your brand and wanted to work with you.”

  “From what I know, a partnership in the firm is at stake.”

  “Graham never said anything about that to me.” Faith frowned. “How do you know that?”