“What about Haley, did you check on her?” Ben asked.
Jeff gave his dad a look.
“Son, I told you. I’m the one who asked her not to say anything about the franchise idea. You shouldn’t be mad at her. She was just trying to help . . .”
“Help herself get a new client,” Jeff said as he added another log to the fire.
“She was trying to help me, help us. This Christmas Camp is your legacy as well as mine. Can’t you see that?”
“What I see is that this franchisee idea is too risky. I don’t want you using the last of your savings on a gamble and getting your hopes up and getting hurt . . .”
“Are you sure you’re not worried about yourself getting hurt?” Ben asked. “Isn’t that the real reason you’re so upset? I saw the way you and Haley were together.”
“Dad . . .”
Ben walked over to the fireplace and joined his son. “Wait, hear me out. We lost your mom, but that doesn’t mean we should be afraid to love again. Don’t you think your mom would want us to be happy?”
“Of course,” Jeff answered.
Ben took the photo of the three of them off the fireplace mantel and handed it to Jeff. When Jeff looked at his mom his heart ached. He missed her so much. He missed what they were like as a family, and most of all he missed the love he always felt when she was around. “I know Mom would want us to be happy, but she wouldn’t want us making bad choices . . .”
“You think Haley was a bad choice?” Ben asked.
When Jeff didn’t answer, Ben walked over to his Santa collection, picked up a new Santa and a Christmas card, and handed them to him.
“What’s this?” Jeff asked, looking at the Santa.
“A present, a Santa for my Santa collection. Read the card . . .”
Reluctantly, Jeff read the card out loud. “‘I believe. Thank you for helping me open my heart to Christmas and to love. Merry Christmas. Haley.’” Confused, conflicted, he looked up at his dad.
“People can change,” Ben said. “I told you, anything is possible at Christmas . . .” He took the Santa and carefully put it back with the rest of his collection. “The question is, do you believe?”
THE NEXT DAY, back in Boston, Haley hustled down the street, texting on her cell phone. This time when she got to her office and saw the Santa ringing his bell next to a sign that asked DO YOU BELIEVE? she stopped, put her phone away, and got out some money to donate.
“Merry Christmas!” the Santa said. “Do you believe?”
“With all my heart,” Haley answered back. “Merry Christmas.” As she entered her office building she took a deep breath. This was it, her big day, the day she was pitching Larry her Tyler Toys Christmas campaign idea and she had never felt more confident or sure about anything in her life. She knew exactly what she needed to do.
When she got to Larry’s office, the first thing she did was hand him the crazy Christmas sweater he’d given her. “Merry Christmas,” she said.
“Wait.” Larry gave her a look. “I gave you this. Are you re-gifting?”
“I guess I am,” Haley said, and smiled back at him. “And I also have this.” With a proud swagger she handed him the Christmas Camp certificate she had worked so hard for.
Larry looked impressed. “You really did it.”
Haley put her hands on her hips and assumed the position, her power-pose, superhero position. “I did.”
Larry sat back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of him. “Okay. You held up your end of the bargain and I’m holding up mine. I’m ready to hear your pitch. Where’s your storyboard? I know Kathy put one together for you . . .”
“About that,” Haley said as she sat down.
“You’re sitting down?” Larry looked confused. “You never sit down . . .”
Haley picked up a nearby snow globe and shook it, and then smiled as she watched the snow fall. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the Tyler Toys account and what’s best for the company, and I think Tom should be the one to pitch it.”
Larry stood up from his desk. “What? Wait, I’m sure I didn’t hear you right . . .”
Haley smiled and stood up, too. “No, you did. I’m giving Tom the account to pitch if that’s okay with you. I already talked to him about some of the ideas I had that he could incorporate into his pitch if he wanted. Like my idea about having an angel tree and having Tyler Toys help make children’s Christmas wishes come true and some other ideas.”
“But you wanted this account so much. You said it meant everything to you.”
“It did,” Haley said.
“And you even went to Christmas Camp for a week—you, someone who doesn’t even like Christmas, just so you could get this pitch. I don’t understand what happened?”
Haley put down the snow globe. “It wasn’t that I didn’t like Christmas. I think I just forgot what matters most at Christmas. I told you about the idea I came up with to help Ben franchise his Christmas Camps?”
Larry nodded. “And I think it’s a great idea.”
“That’s the account I want to work on. Tom can have Tyler Toys.”
“But the Christmas Camp account is just a mom-and-pop start-up.”
Haley nodded. “I know, and that’s where my heart is. If I learned anything at Christmas Camp, it’s that at the end of the day you have to follow your heart or you’re not really living your life; you’re just going through the motions.”
“Are you sure?” Larry still looked stunned. “What made you change your mind?”
Haley smiled confidently. “I’m sure, and Christmas Camp made me change my mind. I’ve realized I’m so busy rushing to get ahead in my career that I’ve been missing some of the most important things in life: my family, spending time with my friends, love . . .”
Larry smiled slowly, walked over to Haley, and held out his hand for her to shake. “Congratulations,” he said.
Now it was Haley’s turn to look confused. She took his hand. “For?”
“For finding the balance between your career and your personal life. That’s what’s going to make you a great partner here.”
Haley’s mouth dropped open. “What? You’re still promoting me?”
Larry looked into her eyes. “You earned it, Haley. Merry Christmas.”
BACK IN HER office Haley was putting the last of the decorations on a little Christmas tree she had just bought. It was another Charlie Brown Christmas tree and it was adorable in its own funny way. The tree had a theme. All the decorations were angels, just like her room back at Christmas Camp.
As she admired her work she picked up the Christmas stocking Ben had given her and pulled out the little Christmas wish scroll. She opened it up and read her Christmas wish out loud.
“My Christmas wish . . . is love.”
Just as she put the scroll back into her stocking Kathy breezed in and looked around in awe. “Whoa. Look at you. I can’t believe you’ve done all this decorating so fast. Who are you and what have you done with my Grinchy best friend?”
Haley laughed, reached for a present underneath her little angel tree, and gave it to Kathy.
Kathy looked surprised. “Wait, this isn’t the gift card you usually give me?”
Haley smiled back at her. “That’s right. I thought we’d start a new tradition.”
Kathy opened the present and her face lit up. She held up a beautiful crystal angel ornament. “It’s beautiful. I love it! Thank you!” She gave Haley a quick hug, then noticed the new picture on her desk and picked it up. It was the picture Ben gave her of her and Jeff sledding at Christmas Camp.
“Well, this explains so much,” she said, looking at the picture. “You look . . . happy.”
Haley nodded. “I was.”
“You still haven’t heard from him?”
Haley’s smile faded. She shook her head. Her heart hurt just thinking about Jeff.
Larry walked in. “Ben, from the Christmas Camp, is here to see you.”
Haley’s fac
e lit up. “Ben’s here? He didn’t tell me he was coming into the city . . .”
“Well, he’s in the conference room, waiting for you,” Larry said as he left her office.
“Thanks!” Haley practically ran out the door to the conference room. When she raced inside her smile faded a little when she saw Ben was alone.
He stood up. “It’s just me, sorry.”
Haley quickly hid her disappointment and gave him a hug. “I’m so happy to see you. I’m just surprised. I didn’t know you were coming into the city.”
“It was a last-minute decision, so I thought I’d stop by and surprise you and take you out to dinner to celebrate. Larry just told me you gave up the big toy account you wanted so you could have more time to work with me. You didn’t need to do that, Haley. I know how much that big account meant to you . . .”
“Not as much as you and Christmas Camp mean to me,” Haley said, giving his hand a squeeze. “I’m really excited about working together.”
“So am I. So let’s go celebrate. I’m taking you to a great place for dinner,” Ben said as he guided her out the door, not giving her a chance to protest.
As she passed him she noticed he was wearing a red scarf. “That looks like the scarf Gail was knitting . . .”
Ben smiled proudly. “It is. She gave it to me as an early Christmas gift.”
Haley arched her eyebrows. “I know she was working very hard on it. You’re very lucky.”
Ben touched his scarf and looked smitten. “Yes, I am.”
Chapter 33
A half hour later Haley was completely confused when Ben stopped his truck outside a cute little house that was beautifully decorated for Christmas. There were white twinkling Christmas lights and an adorable snowman out front.
“Where are we?” she asked as they got out of the truck and she looked around. “I thought you were taking me to dinner?” But before she could say another word, the front door of the home opened and Gail appeared. “Surprise. Merry Christmas!” she said, holding both arms out wide.
“What?” Haley looked from Gail to Ben. She couldn’t believe it, and then her eyes grew even wider when she saw Susie, Ian, and John all come out the door, too.
“Surprise!” Susie said.
“Merry Christmas!” John said.
Haley covered her mouth with her hand. “What? All of you are here?” She looked behind John. “Are the kids here, too?”
“They’re here,” John said. “They’re in the back room watching a Christmas movie they actually agreed on. It’s a Christmas miracle.”
“No, it’s Christmas Camp,” Susie said.
“Same thing.” John laughed.
While everyone laughed Haley was still looking and hoping for one more person to come out the door, but no one came. She looked at Ben. “So everyone’s here?”
“Except Jeff,” Ben said. “I’m sorry.”
To hide her disappointment Haley gave him a hug. “Best surprise ever. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Come on, everyone, let’s get inside, it’s cold out here,” Gail said as she hustled everyone in. Haley hurried over to give her a hug.
“What a great surprise,” she said.
“It was all Ben’s idea. It turns out we all live within an hour of each other, and he thought since you had to leave the inn so quickly, why not have one more great night. Plus, I needed help decorating my tree. I wasn’t going to decorate this year, but Ben thought I should . . .”
“And I agree with him one hundred percent,” Haley said. “So let’s see this tree.”
As they walked into Gail’s home Haley looked around and smiled. The little house suited Gail perfectly. It was cute and cozy, and the focal point when you walked in was a fireplace that had a nice fire crackling. On the mantel she saw a picture of Gail’s son, Ryan. He was in his military uniform and looked very handsome. Haley figured he was probably about her age. The picture next to it was the photo of Gail and Ben sledding. Haley looked around at her Christmas Camp group.
“I still can’t believe you’re all here!” she said She couldn’t stop smiling.
“I heard there was a Christmas party and who can say no to that!” John joked.
“And after you left Ben told us about how you’re helping him save his inn and his Christmas Camp by expanding to other resorts,” Gail said.
“It’s amazing, Haley, that you can help him do that,” John said.
“It really is,” Ian added.
“But just to be clear, Ben, we’re only coming to your Christmas Camp at Holly Peak Inn,” Susie said. “Because it’s our new Christmas tradition; right, honey?”
Ian put his arm around Susie. “That’s right, and we’re adding sledding and even turkey to the list of our new traditions.”
“Very nice!” Ben said. “And Laura wanted to be here, too, but she’s spending time with her family.”
“Well, please tell her we all missed her,” Haley said. “Especially her cookies.”
Gail smiled at her. “Well, if you come help me in the kitchen I might just have some that she sent along with Ben.”
“Really?” Haley’s eyes grew big and her mouth began to water. “I’ve been dreaming of those cookies. I’m in. Where’s your kitchen?”
Everyone laughed.
“Save some for the rest of us,” John called out as Gail and Haley disappeared into the kitchen.
As soon as they walked in, Haley noticed a group of Santa mugs lined up on the counter.
“Hey, those look just like the mugs we had at Christmas Camp!”
Gail nodded and smiled. “They’re exactly the same. Ben knew how much I loved them and got them for me for Christmas.”
“That’s so sweet,” Haley said.
“It really is. He’s a very sweet man.”
“Yes, he is,” Haley agreed, and loved that it looked like she’d been right about a potential match between Ben and Gail.
“And I have something for you,” Gail said, and went over and picked Jeff’s scarf off the kitchen table. “You loaned this to me and I didn’t get a chance to give it back to you.”
When Haley took the scarf, her heart hurt. “Thank you, but it’s not mine. It’s Jeff’s. You should just give it to Ben to give to him.”
Gail had already started pouring some hot chocolate into the Santa mugs when her cell phone rang. “Haley, can you grab that for me. My hands are full.”
“Sure.” Haley picked up the phone, but when she saw who was calling she quickly ran over to Gail and took the hot chocolate from her. “You need to get this.”
“What?” Gail looked confused until she saw it was Ryan calling on FaceTime. Her hand shook as she answered. “Ryan? Is everything okay?”
Ryan grinned back at her. “Everything’s great, Mom. I only have a few minutes, but I just wanted to call and say I love you. Merry Christmas.”
Gail’s eyes filled with grateful tears. “I love you so much. I miss you . . .”
Haley’s own eyes were tearing up as she slipped out of the kitchen to give Gail some privacy. As she entered the living room everyone was talking and having a great time. When she looked over at Susie and Ian sitting by the fire holding hands, she saw so much love . . . and it reminded her of what she didn’t have. She needed to get some fresh air.
As she slipped out the front door the chilly night air whirled around her. When she realized she was still holding Jeff’s scarf, she wrapped it around her neck, savoring how it felt. She walked over to the snowman and noticed Madison’s scarf, Blake’s gloves, and John’s hat. The hat was a little lopsided, so she adjusted it and then looked up at the stars.
“You can see the stars a lot better at Christmas Camp.”
Haley spun around, and when she saw Jeff walking toward her, for a moment she wasn’t sure if it was real. It had begun to snow and in the darkness everything was starting to blur. But as he got closer she knew it was him. She felt it before she could even see him clearly.
“I did
n’t think you were coming . . .” she said, still straining to see in the darkness.
“I had to come,” he said as he got closer.
“To see everyone?”
“To see you.” He had now stepped into a stream of light that was coming from the Christmas lights decorating the house.
Haley also stepped into the light, meeting him halfway. She’d thought about it, so many times, what she’d say to him if she saw him again, but now that she had the chance, her mind was blank and her heart was racing. Finally, she just looked up at him and said, “I’m sorry.”
As he came closer he looked into her eyes. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I know you were only trying to help my dad,” he said.
When Haley shivered he immediately took off his coat and wrapped it around her. “I just really believe that I knew what was best for him, and I was wrong.”
Haley touched his arm. “You love him. You were just trying to help.”
“I was, but my dad and my mom have always followed their hearts, no matter what the risk, and the inn is part of my dad’s heart. I’m grateful to you for finding a way he might be able to keep it.”
“Really?” Haley asked, her voice full of hope.
Jeff took her hands in his. “And I need to follow my heart, no matter what the risk, and that’s why I’m here tonight. I know we’ve haven’t known each other very long, but I know that my life is already better with you in it. I don’t know if you can forgive me, but I was hoping maybe we could start over and—”
Before he could finish Haley kissed him with all the love and hope in her heart, and when he kissed her back, she could feel that love returned along with the promise of many more Christmases together.
When she looked into Jeff’s eyes she saw her future. “I finally made my Christmas wish,” she told him. “I wished for you.”
When they kissed again she heard Ben say . . .
“Now that’s Christmas spirit!”
When Haley and Jeff turned around they saw the whole gang had gathered by the door and all of them were watching them and celebrating.
She looked embarrassed, hiding her face, but Jeff smiled back at them.
“It looks like we have a fan club,” he said as he took her hand and held both their hands up in the air.
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