by Jenny Hale
Janie’s lips were set in a straight line, her hands gripped together nervously in her lap, uncertainty in her eyes. “You hurt us,” she said, her voice hoarse. She leaned forward, her forearms on her knees, creases forming between her eyes. “Look, I know the shop wouldn’t have been around forever, but it would’ve been good to have some warning. You swooped in and in a matter of days, I was out of a job. As a single mother, that’s not easy. I spent so many days in fear of how we’d survive… I went back to Trevor’s father. He said he’d take care of us, which I should’ve known was a lie since he never had before. I wanted to believe him, to believe that there was good in this world. He’s gone again, and I’m expecting his second child.” Her lip wobbled. “That’s my fault. But now, more than ever, I have to figure out how to feed two mouths and clothe two children.” Her gaze fell to the floor, her cheeks flushing. “I came to Silver Falls to ask you for money.”
“I’ll give you everything that I have left,” he said quickly. “I’ve given most of my fortune to charity.” He waited until she looked up so that he could speak directly to her. “Your story changed me. I left my entire life behind after hearing it.”
Charlie’s admission brought Janie’s tears to the surface.
“I should’ve known what was going on, but I didn’t. I’m not trying to excuse it, because there is no excuse for treating anyone badly, but I’m not the same person anymore. That’s because of you.”
“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” she said.
He smiled. “It’s fine. And I’ll do whatever I can to help you. I’ll get you whatever you need.”
“I need a job,” she said, but then she dropped her head into her hands and started to sob. “And reliable childcare.” She sniffled. “And I’ve ruined my car…” Her chest heaved as she covered her face.
“We’ll figure it out,” Charlie said.
But Scarlett wasn’t so sure how they would. Would anyone in Janie’s town do any favors for Charlie? Scarlett could ask around for job opportunities in Silver Falls, but Janie didn’t live there, and that still wouldn’t give her the childcare or the car she needed. Scarlett certainly didn’t have that kind of money either. Did Charlie have enough left for all of that, plus what would be needed for a new baby?
“I’m sorry I’m so emotional,” Janie said. “I really don’t want to be a charity case. I’m just out of options.”
Scarlett patted Janie’s shoulder to comfort her. “I think the most important thing is that you now have people around you to help, and we won’t let you down.”
“Including me,” Charlie said.
Seventeen
Scarlett immediately zeroed in on the new fixture in the kitchen when she came in for breakfast. A massive Christmas bouquet sat in the center of the kitchen table—white and red roses among sprigs of holly and evergreen. It brought a romantic flair to the secretive heaviness in the air among Scarlett’s family that hit her as soon as she’d seen their faces. Tonight was the night they’d all decided to tell Gran about selling White Oaks. Scarlett had all day for the elephant in the room to sit on her shoulders, knowing that unloading it wouldn’t make things any better.
She kept her attention on the flowers in an attempt to save herself from the underwater feeling she got when she thought about telling Gran. “These are pretty,” she said, holding one of the roses in her hand to take in the scent of it.
“They’re from Sean,” Aunt Beth said, doting as she leaned over them and breathed in their fragrance. “He sent them to say that he really enjoyed meeting me and he can’t wait to see me again.”
Gran handed Scarlett a freshly made white chocolate eggnog, and sat down at the table. Scarlett thanked her, grabbing a spoon from the napkin at her place and stirring it to mix it once more before taking a sip.
“Loretta would like me to fill out some paperwork and settle her bill since our match was promising. I’m meeting her at the coffee shop in an hour.”
“May I go with you?” Scarlett asked. “I’d love to get one of Sue’s chocolate croissants.” She really wanted to do anything other than sit at the table with Gran, because all she wished she could do was hug her grandmother and panic over tonight’s conversation.
“Of course!” Aunt Beth said, throwing her arm around Scarlett. “I’d love to have a treat with my lovely niece.” Her eyebrows rose in excitement, and Scarlett wondered if she was just as happy to avoid the situation as Scarlett. “We could go early and chat for a while. Are you up for it?”
“Absolutely.”
“Hey, Preston!” Scarlett called across the street to Preston, who was carrying his guitar into The Bar.
He waved back to Scarlett and Aunt Beth. “I’m playing a few new songs today if you get bored,” he said.
“We should go there first,” Aunt Beth suggested. “I love hearing Preston play.”
“Fine by me.”
They crossed the street and went inside.
“Cappy’s letting me write in here today,” Preston said to them as they took a seat near the spot where he’d set up. He’d leaned his guitar against a chair and was spreading out notebooks on the small table in front of him. “I’ve started a couple of tracks and I’m trying to figure out which one is the strongest so I can cut a demo.”
“Any slow ones?” Aunt Beth asked. “You have such a lovely voice when you sing ballads.”
He picked up one of the notebooks and turned a few pages, rotating them around the spiral to the back of the pad and revealing his scratchy handwriting. “I’ve just started this one,” he said, handing it to Beth.
She read the words aloud:
“The sun always shines on your face
I can’t find a thing to take your place…”
Preston began strumming the tune quietly as she continued reading.
“When you think there’s no one in this space
When silence pleads its hopeless case
I’m here.”
Softly, Preston started to sing the melody with the lyrics behind Beth as she read, the notes sailing underneath his fingers while he played his guitar.
“In the shadows and in the light
While you leave, and in plain sight
I let you go without a fight
Every night.”
“That’s beautiful,” Scarlett said, moved by his poetry.
“It’s not finished quite yet, obviously. I have a few more lines to get down. The words just came to me after the party the other night.”
Scarlett leaned over to his table and picked up the notebook, reading the words again. “Who’s this song written about?” she asked. Beth looked on, interested.
Preston stared at her, clearly not wanting to admit his subject, but Scarlett already knew. He’d written it about Loretta. “Why do you let her go every night without telling her how you feel?” Scarlett asked.
“Who?” Beth asked, turning her head from right to left and left to right again as she attempted to follow the conversation.
Preston was locked into the conversation with Scarlett and must not have even registered Beth’s question because he went straight into his answer to Scarlett’s. “Because she’s always trying to set me up with someone. I must not be her type.” Out of nowhere, Preston nearly jumped out of his skin, hastily grabbing the notebook and closing it.
“Oh, hey everyone!” Loretta said, walking over with a file folder under her arm. “Hi Preston,” she said with a big smile.
Aunt Beth gasped and quickly hopped up to cover the revelation she had. “Coffee?” she asked to no answer. “Great. I’ll get us all some.”
Preston nodded his greeting reticently at Loretta.
“I guess we all had the same idea.” Loretta plopped down in the seat next to Aunt Beth’s empty chair, dropped the folder onto the table, and shrugged off her coat. She leaned over to view one of Preston’s open notebooks, but he grabbed it quickly, stacking them all up and pushing the pile out of Loretta’s reach.
Beth came b
ack and sat down slowly, this new information settling over her. “Cappy’s making a pot of coffee for us.”
“I’m happy to finish the paperwork here if you want, Beth.” She held up the folder. “I’ve got it with me.”
“Sit with us,” Beth offered, sending a discreet wink in Preston’s direction. He turned around and started fiddling with his guitar.
“Sue’s gonna stop talking to me for taking all her business from the coffee shop,” Cappy said, coming over with a handful of paper napkins. He set one at everyone’s place. “I’ve got regular coffee, juice, or water. If you want anything other than that, you’ll have to have it off the tap.”
“We all want coffees, yes?” Beth asked, to their collective nods.
“Excellent,” Cappy said. “How about you, Preston? Pick your poison.”
“Water and an orange juice,” Preston answered without making eye contact, busying himself with rearranging his guitar case.
“Done.” Cappy went over to the bar to fulfill their orders.
“So what are you going to play for us, Preston?” Loretta asked, turning her chair around toward his corner of the room.
“Yes,” Beth added. “What are you going to play?” She gave him a knowing look, catching on to the tension that washed over him in Loretta’s presence.
Preston slid the notebook with Loretta’s song into his backpack and grabbed another of his papers.
“I love your music, Preston,” Beth said. “I could stay here and listen to you until you’ve played every song in those notebooks of yours.”
“Me too. I thought I saw your car outside, so I came in. I was wondering if you were playing right now—it’s earlier than your usual time,” Loretta said. “But I agree with Beth. Early is fine by me. I could sit here all day…”
Preston shifted his guitar off of his shoulder, setting it against the table, freeing his hands so he could come out from behind the microphone and focus on Loretta. A small smile formed at his lips, and the affection he had when he looked at her was undeniable.
“But I can’t this time. I took your advice from the party,” Loretta told him. “I’m meeting someone here tonight—a date.”
The blood drained from Preston’s face, and his whole body seemed to stiffen. It was clear that he didn’t like that idea one bit. In all the years that they’d known each other, as far as Scarlett was aware, Loretta had never made him face the prospect of her dating another man right in front of him. The strangest thing was that Loretta seemed to be imploring him to intervene. It was as if she were willing him to tell her not to go through with it. When he didn’t say anything, she looked down at the paperwork she’d brought. He jammed his fists in his pockets.
Come on, Preston. Do something, Scarlett pleaded silently.
What if Loretta started dating this person seriously? She was great at making matches and there was a real possibility that if Preston didn’t make a move right now, he’d miss his chance. He swayed forward as if he were going to take a step toward Loretta and, taking his hands from their rigid position in his pockets, he was about to reach for her to get her attention. But before he could say anything, Cappy had returned with their coffees, redirecting Loretta’s focus and ending the moment. Loretta pulled out the forms for Beth as Cappy set a mug in front of each of them.
“Normally I get this consent first,” Loretta said, sliding a contract over to Beth. “But you’re like family. I’ve highlighted the important parts. If you could just sign—”
Loretta didn’t have a chance to finish because Preston interrupted, pulling her up by her hands, his gaze more intense than Scarlett had ever seen it.
“I didn’t make myself clear the other night,” he said, grabbing Loretta’s waist tenderly to pull her closer.
She peered up at him like a smitten schoolgirl.
He held her gaze for a second as if he’d waited for years to have the opportunity that was in front of him right now. He pulled Loretta even closer, embracing her. Scarlett had never seen him so openly affectionate, nor had she ever witnessed him putting his heart on the line like this. “When I said you should go out with someone, I meant that someone should be me.” He stared at her, waiting for her response.
“But you’ve never…” Loretta whispered, only now seemingly collecting all the moments they’d had together. She put her hands around his neck, everything appearing to finally make sense for her. “I’ve been in love with you for ages,” she confessed. “But you never gave me reason to think my feelings were more than one-sided.”
“Okay,” Preston said, “how about I give you reason to think so right now?” He put his hands on her face and leaned in, pressing his lips to hers, completely oblivious to the ogling eyes of everyone around them. Loretta hugged him tighter and kissed him back. Beth put her hand on her heart, her head turned to the side, and Cappy raised his eyebrows at Scarlett from across the bar, making her laugh quietly so as not to attract attention from the happy couple.
Preston finally pulled back and said, “Cancel that date. I’ve got a few million songs I’d like to play for you.”
When Scarlett and Beth arrived back at the inn, Gran greeted them looking like a storm cloud. “Meeting in the kitchen. Now,” she barked before rushing out of the entryway.
Heidi rushed up to them, tears streaking her face. “I accidentally let it slip to Gran that we were selling,” she said. “We were talking about next year, and Gran said she worries every year if all of us will get together. I told her not to worry, that even if we don’t have the inn, we’ll figure out a way to have Christmas together. She caught it and asked if Charlie was trying to buy the inn. I told her I didn’t know who was going to buy it. I feel like I can’t do anything right these days… If I haven’t disappointed Dad enough with my college choice, I’ve surely done it now.” She was trembling with guilt.
“Oh, Heidi, don’t beat yourself up about it,” Scarlett said. “We were going to tell her tonight anyway. She just heard it a little earlier than expected, that’s all.”
The moment was upon Scarlett. This was the point that she’d dreaded the entire trip. And she had nothing to lessen the blow, nothing to make Gran feel any better. On her way into the kitchen, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was Charlie. She didn’t have time to talk at the moment so she sent him a quick text: Gran knows we want to sell. Heading into a family meeting now. Will keep you posted.
Then she clicked off her phone and slid it into her back pocket, preparing to face this head on.
“How dare you all meet about this without me,” Gran snapped at Scarlett and Heidi, as they took the last two seats at the table.
“We worried you’d be too emotionally attached to make a clear decision,” Blue said evenly.
“You’re damn right I’m emotionally attached!” Gran slammed her fist on the table. Her weathered hands shook as she took in quick breaths, clearly attempting to calm down. “But what you all forget is that this house belongs to me. The inn is mine. It’s not your decision. I won’t sell!”
“You’re losing money, Mom,” Blue said. “Hemorrhaging money, actually. If you don’t sell, you won’t have a penny to retire on.”
Gran’s eyes filled with tears, clouding the defiance in them. She sank into her chair in defeat. “I can’t let go of the inn,” she said more quietly.
“This is just as difficult for us, Gran,” Scarlett said, feeling helpless. “I’ve lost sleep many nights over it. And I was concerned you’d think we were ganging up on you, but we’re not. We just want the best for you, and we want to make sure that you’re taken care of.”
“I’ve spent over half my life here,” she said. “This isn’t just a home, it’s my identity. Who am I if I’m not the innkeeper?”
“You’re down to a skeleton staff, Mom,” Blue said. “Even if you could turn a profit by cutting back, you can’t keep up with all the tasks yourself. And people simply want more these days. More than we have to offer.”
“Selling is our onl
y option, Gran,” Scarlett said, the words hitting her like a punch in the gut.
Gran turned to her. “When your pappy was barely able to hear me, lying in that hospital bed at the end of his life, I promised him I could do this. I told him not to worry about me. I am strong enough to do it all. The moment I said that, he smiled and then he left me.” She pursed her lips to keep them from wobbling with emotion. When she’d regained enough composure to speak, she said, “He trusted that I would be true to my word.”
“And you have been,” Uncle Joe cut in. “These circumstances are beyond your control. Even if Pappy were here, you’d be forced to close. He would understand.”
“What do we need—a pool?” Gran scrambled for some kind of answer.
Uncle Joe placed his hand on top of hers. “That would be a start, but we don’t have the kind of money it takes to install a pool the size that we’d need. Just hiring someone to blast the rock on this mountain and level it would bleed us all dry financially. And there’s upkeep and staff—lifeguards, furniture, cabanas. We’d do all that and patrons would still go elsewhere because a pool is just the tip of the iceberg. To keep up, at the minimum, we’d need a fitness facility, tour guides, story time and in-house nannies for the children, boat and canoe rentals, upgraded bedrooms with entertainment centers, conference rooms with state-of-the-art presentation equipment, and a chef on staff with a twenty-four-hour dining room. Gran, the project is out of our league.”
Gran fought back tears and Scarlett’s heart was breaking. Scarlett attempted to comfort her by suggesting, “Maybe we can sell quietly—only share the news by word of mouth and find the right person to take over the inn, someone who will run it the way we want it run.” But she knew her offer wasn’t any consolation to Gran, and there was no way Scarlett would allow Christmas to end like this.
Eighteen