“You know, we both live in Boston,” he said. “And when my dad moves there, he’ll have Max, so you should really come and visit the two of them. I know they’d like that.”
“And what about you?” Haley asked boldly. “Would you like it?” She couldn’t believe she’d asked exactly what she was wondering out loud, but at the moment she felt hopeful, like anything was possible.
Jeff smiled a slow, sexy smile. “I would. Very much.”
Ben interrupted the moment with another announcement. “And now it’s time for the presents,” he said, getting everyone’s attention.
“Presents? I didn’t know we were doing presents?” Susie said, looking concerned. “I don’t have anything for anyone. Ian, you should have let me go shopping.”
“It’s okay,” Ben interrupted her. “We’re not exchanging presents This is just a little something I have for all of you. Another tradition. I’ll go grab them. They’re in the library.”
“I can get them for you, Dad,” Jeff said.
“Great, thank you, son. They’re in a box on my desk. Just bring in the whole box.”
“I’m on it,” Jeff said. “I’ll be right back.” When he smiled at Haley, her heart raced faster. She hugged herself a little and couldn’t stop smiling. She already felt like she’d just been given the best gift in the world.
Chapter 30
Jeff walked into the library, smiling and humming “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” He was feeling thankful that this Christmas Camp had been such a huge success. He’d wanted his dad’s last one to be special, and this one was. He also was feeling thankful for Haley and how she made him feel. He felt like his heart was finally opening up again, and that’s something he hadn’t felt since his mom had passed away. It was like the heaviness was finally lifting, being replaced by hope. He didn’t know what his future with Haley held, but he knew he wanted to find out.
When he saw the box of presents, he quickly picked it up and accidentally knocked a file from the desk on the floor. Haley’s Christmas Camp proposal landed at his feet. As he went to pick it up he saw her name on it. Confused, he quickly flipped through the proposal. His smile disappeared. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He didn’t want to believe it.
He shook his head in disbelief. “I should have known . . .”
AS SOON AS Jeff walked back into the sitting room with the box full of presents, Haley knew something was wrong. He didn’t look at her. His body was rigid, and his jaw was clenched tight.
She hurried over to him. “Is everything okay?” When she touched his arm, he moved away, and when she looked into his eyes, they were cold and hard. It took her breath away. Before she could ask him what was wrong, Ben came over and took the box from him.
“Here we go,” Ben said happily, and started handing out presents. Each present was beautifully wrapped and topped with a red velvet bow.
“Go ahead, everyone, you can open them.” He handed John a present. “This one is for the whole family.”
“Thank you.” John smiled back at him.
“Can I open it?” Madison asked eagerly.
“Sure,” John said, and handed her the present.
Within seconds, Madison was ripping off the paper and opening a box. She took out a pretty framed photograph. It was a picture of her dad, her brother, and herself when they were all sledding. In the picture, the smiles on their faces showed how happy they were.
“This is great!” Madison said, showing her dad and brother.
“Cool,” Blake agreed.
“Very cool,” John chimed in. “Thank you so much, Ben. This is our first family photo together this Christmas and a wonderful way to remember our time here.”
“I’m so glad you like it. I always find that photographs are the best memory keepers, and nowadays everyone’s taking pictures in their phones and not as many people are printing them up. So, this way you have one.”
As everyone else opened their own sledding pictures, there was a lot of laughter and reminiscing. Haley was about to open her present when Jeff walked over to her.
“I need to talk to you,” he said. His voice barely concealed how upset he was.
Haley immediately put down her present. “Okay.”
“Not here,” Jeff said. “Come with me.” As he turned around and left the room, Haley quickly followed him. He didn’t say a word until they entered the library and then he shut the door behind him. When he turned to face Haley, she was startled because now he wasn’t trying to hide his anger. It was all over his face.
“What happened?” she asked. “Just tell me.”
He walked over to the desk and picked up the Christmas Camp proposal. “What’s this?” he asked. As he locked eyes with hers, his question seemed more like an accusation.
Haley was surprised to see her proposal. “Your dad told you?”
“No. No one has told me anything. That’s the problem. I just found it by accident.”
When she saw the anger in his eyes, she struggled to find the right words, but he didn’t wait for her.
“This looks like you’re trying to sell my dad on some franchise idea for his Christmas Camp. Is that why you’re really here? You came here to try to get my dad as one of your clients?”
“What? No . . . It’s not like that!”
“So, this franchise business wasn’t your idea?”
Haley could feel herself start to sweat. “Well, yes, it was my idea, but . . .”
Jeff gave her an incredulous look. “I am not going to let you take advantage of my dad.”
Now it was Haley’s turn to get angry. “I would never do that! I’m trying to help him so he can keep doing his Christmas Camps. That’s what he really wants, not to move into the city into some condo . . .” She realized she’d gone too far when she saw the way Jeff was looking at her, like she was the enemy.
“The only person you’re trying to help is yourself!” He threw the proposal on the desk.
Haley flinched. His words cut through her like a knife.
“I don’t know why I thought any different,” he said. His voice was filled with a mixture of anger, hurt, and disappointment. “I mean, you made it very clear when you came. You said you were only here for work. I just didn’t listen, or I thought you’d changed. My mistake, a big mistake. Congratulations. You might have fooled my dad, but you haven’t fooled me.”
When he stormed out of the room, Haley just stood there, in shock, with her heart breaking.
HALEY WAS IN her room packing when she heard a knock on the door. She rushed over to get it, hoping it was Jeff so she could try to explain, but it was Ben. Her shoulders slumped, and her head dropped.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking upset and concerned. “I apologize for anything my son might have said or done.”
Haley reached out and took his hand. “You don’t need to apologize for anything. I’m just so sorry he found out like this and jumped to all the wrong conclusions. You know I was only trying to help you, right? I wasn’t trying to drum up more business and get you as one of my clients . . .” Her voice cracked. It hurt her even saying the words. When Ben gave her a hug, she finally let the first tear fall. “I really am sorry. I was only trying to help . . .”
“Of course you were!” Ben said, gently patting her on the back. “I know that, and once Jeff calms down, he’ll see it, too. He’s just so overprotective of me right now, and he’s been working so hard to get me to sell this place. I’m sure it was just a big shock to see the proposal.”
He stood back and looked into Haley’s tear-filled eyes. “This is all my fault. Not yours. I guess I should’ve told him from the start. I just didn’t want to say anything until I was sure it would work. You have to know I am so thankful to you for finding a way to save the inn, to save our Christmas Camps. You know that, right?” When Haley just stood there and looked miserable, he gave her another hug. “It’s gonna be okay. I’m sorry I got you in the middle of all this.”
“D
on’t worry about me. I worry about you. This was my idea, and now I’m coming between you and Jeff. It’s the last thing I wanted to do . . .”
“I know that.”
“Really?” Haley asked in a small shaky voice. “Because I swear I was only trying to help you . . .”
“I know. It’s going to be okay. I’ll talk to Jeff. Don’t you worry about anything.”
Haley nodded but still looked depressed and heartbroken.
“Everyone’s downstairs asking where you are, because we’re about to do our Christmas dinner. You can’t miss that. It’s the best part of our week together, and Laura worked really hard and even made your stuffing. So, do you think you can come down and join us?”
Haley couldn’t even imagine going down and facing Jeff, but she didn’t want to let Ben down. She owed it to him at least to show up. “Just give me a second to wash my face and put myself back together, and I’ll be right down.”
Ben smiled at her. “Good girl.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be okay. It’s our last night together with everyone. Let’s make it a good one. Everything else will work itself out. I promise.”
A few minutes later, when Haley entered the dining room, the first thing she noticed was that Jeff’s chair was empty. She was both relieved and disappointed. As she sat down, she learned that he had gone back to the city because something last minute had come up at work, but he’d wished them all a Merry Christmas. Everyone was disappointed but understood, everyone but Haley, who knew it wasn’t really work that had him going back to the city. It was her. Gail gave her a concerned look.
“Are you okay?” Gail whispered to her. “I saw you and Jeff leave to go talk and then he looked pretty upset when he left to go to Boston.”
Haley just gave Gail a sad look. “It’s a long story. I’m sure everything will be fine.” But even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t true. She didn’t know if it would be fine at all. She shivered thinking how Jeff had looked at her. His look hadn’t been the kind that gave you much hope of anything ever being fine again, and that’s what hurt her heart so much.
When Laura brought out a beautiful turkey, everyone clapped, and Haley forced herself to concentrate on the meal and not let anyone else see her sadness. When Max came to sit by her and put his head on her lap, it almost made her cry again. She knew he was trying to give her comfort. He always seemed to know just what she needed.
After Laura put down the turkey, Ben stood up. “Laura, we all want to thank you for all your hard work on this special Christmas meal and all our meals this last week. You put the joy, the inspiration, and the wonder in every meal we ate, and please know how grateful I am for that.”
“We all are,” John said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
“And for this meal, we know you’ve worked hard and made all our favorite Christmas dishes,” Ben said. “And that is a wonderful gift you’ve given us.”
Laura smiled at them all. “Thank you, Ben. You all know it has been an honor and my privilege to get to know you this last week, and when it comes to this last Christmas meal, I can’t take all the credit. I had some help.” She motioned over to John. “John made the mashed potatoes, from scratch.”
Blake and Madison looked shocked. “No way,” Blake said, looking at his dad.
“Yes, way.” John laughed. “With the help of Laura, of course. She also taught me how to make her famous waffles, so we can have those Christmas morning.”
Madison’s face lit up. “Really? That’s awesome, Dad. So cool.”
John gave Laura a grateful look. “We need to thank Laura and Ben and Christmas Camp. I think we’ve all learned a lot this week.”
Ben picked up his glass of wine, and all the adults followed. “To finding your Christmas spirit! Merry Christmas, everyone.”
“Merry Christmas.” They all toasted each other.
Haley fought to keep smiling. She put her wineglass down. When she saw Max looking up at her, she smiled back at him and was sure he understood. He always seemed to understand.
THAT NIGHT IN bed, she couldn’t sleep. The moonlight was coming through her window, and it made all her angel decorations look like they were glowing. She got out of bed. She knew what she needed to do.
She put on her robe and quietly went downstairs, where she found Max sleeping by the fire. He looked up when she came into the room and wagged his tail. “Shhh,” she told him. “Go back to sleep.” For once, he listened to her, and put his head back on his paws and shut his eyes.
As Haley tiptoed over to the fireplace, she had her eye on one thing. Her stocking. After she carefully removed it from the fireplace, she sat down on the couch and took out the Christmas wish scroll she was supposed to write her wish down on her first day at Christmas Camp. On that day she had left it blank. She unrolled the scroll and also found the angel pencil in her stocking.
Max looked up at her.
“I know what I want to wish for now,” she told him.
He wagged his tail.
Chapter 31
The next morning, the last morning at the inn, as Haley and Max took their traditional sunrise walk, Max didn’t pull her along as he usually did. Instead, he walked by her side. As the wind picked up it felt like the temperature was dropping quickly. She shivered and looked down at Max. “I think it’s time to go in.”
Max sat down and looked up at her. He wasn’t moving.
“I know,” she said. “I’m going to miss our walks, too.” When she bent down to pet him, she also gave him a hug. “Thanks for being my friend.” This time when he licked her face she let him, because he was licking tears that she couldn’t stop from falling.
A few minutes later, when they walked into the kitchen, Haley got one of Max’s treats and gave it to him, and he perked up instantly. She wished it was that easy for her. When she looked over at the chalkboard she saw the Christmas countdown had already been updated. It now said LAST DAY OF CHRISTMAS CAMP! 8 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS, and the word for the day was “love.” Seeing it just made Haley’s heart hurt more and she knew it was time. She couldn’t stay any longer. She needed to go home.
A FEW MINUTES later, when she came out of her room carrying all her bags, Max was waiting for her. Seeing him just made it harder. She put down her bags and got down on one knee so she could give him another hug. “Now, you be a good dog,” she said, determined to lighten the mood, “and some fashion advice. Don’t be wearing any more crazy Christmas Camp sweaters.”
Max barked.
She smiled back at him. “I am going to miss you, Max.”
When she got downstairs she ran into the rest of the group putting on their coats and getting all bundled up.
Ian gave her a surprised look. “You’re leaving?”
“But we’re about to take our Christmas trees to the community center,” Susie added.
When Haley gave Ben a look, he nodded and she knew he understood. She managed a smile. “I got a call from work and I really need to get back,” she said. “Plus, the weather doesn’t look great outside, so I want to get going before it starts snowing . . .”
Ben went over, got Haley’s stocking from the fireplace, and handed it to her. “This is to remember us by.” He also picked up the present she had left unopened last night. “And don’t forget your present.”
Haley gave him a hug. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
“We’ll talk after Christmas about our idea,” he said. “For now, just go enjoy the time with your family.”
“I’m going to miss you,” Gail said. “Thank you for helping to make my time here so special.”
Haley went and gave Gail a hug, too. “I’m going to miss you, too. I’ll be keeping you and your son in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you hear from him soon . . .”
“I’m sure I will.” Gail smiled back at her.
Haley looked at the rest of the group. “I’m going to miss you all. It really was great meeting everyone.”
Max barked.
&
nbsp; When everyone laughed Haley was grateful, because she felt like she was about to cry. Once again Max had saved her. She looked down at him fondly. “And of course I’ll miss you, too, Max. Even though I’m looking forward to sleeping in.”
When everyone laughed Haley knew it was her chance to escape without breaking down. “I better get going . . . Merry Christmas, everyone!”
“Wait, don’t forget your certificate!” Ben said. “Your boss will be wanting this.” He handed her a scroll that was tied with a red velvet ribbon.
Haley couldn’t believe she’d completely forgotten about it. It was the whole reason she’d come, but now everything felt so different, including the things that had mattered so much before.
“Are you ready for your work pitch?” Ben asked.
“I am,” Haley said. “And we’ll talk soon about our project. Very soon. Good-bye, everyone . . .” She grabbed her bags and hurried toward her car. She didn’t dare look back. She didn’t want the others to see the tears in her eyes. When she heard Max bark, the first tear fell. She quickly threw her bags in the trunk and got into the car, tossing her certificate onto the passenger seat. She was still holding the Christmas present Ben had given her. She put it down but then picked it back up again and decided to open it. Inside she found a wonderful framed picture of her and Jeff sledding. They were laughing and looked so happy. She didn’t even realize she was crying until a tear dropped onto the picture, landing on Jeff’s face, and slid slowly down the glass.
She put the picture down next to her certificate and started the car. She just wanted to get home, back to her real life, back to work, where she belonged.
Chapter 32
As night fell on the Holly Peak Inn a howling wind whistled through the trees and the snow started to fall.
Jeff found his dad in the sitting room giving their new Christmas tree some fresh water. “I just heard from Gail; she got home safely and so did Ian and John, so everyone’s good. They left early enough to beat the storm.”
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