“I always worked on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in restaurants. It’s nice to have a smaller crowd this year.” Grace meant to keep her tone light, but somehow her words came out sounding a bit depressed. Before she knew it, Corrine was at her side, hugging her. For a moment, Grace just stood there, unable to react. But when Corrine spoke, it was almost her undoing.
“I am so sorry for all of the years that you lost, Grace. I can’t even imagine what it must have felt like for you. Even though Riley was overseas, I had the inn and Ben to share the holidays with. But I want you to know I love the fact that you’re here, and while I know that no one can ever replace your family, I would be honored for you to be part of mine.”
No words had ever had a more profound effect on Grace. People often expressed their condolences over the loss of her family, and over the years, many friends had tried to include her in their family plans on the holidays, but never had anyone expressly asked her to be part of their family.
Grace didn’t know what to say. If she had, she wouldn’t have been able to because she was so overwhelmed with emotion. Corrine hugged her a little bit tighter, and Grace found herself returning the hug with just as much strength.
“I knew from the moment I met you that we were going to be friends,” Corrine said and then pulled back so she could look at Grace’s face. “But it wasn’t until you came here and helped me with my business and encouraged me in my relationships with Ben and Riley that I knew you meant just as much to me as they do.”
“Corrine…” Grace began, her voice a little shaky. “You don’t know what this means to me.”
“Yes, I do because it means exactly the same thing to me. You are the daughter I never had, and I can’t thank you enough for sticking with me during one of the lowest and darkest times of my life.” She wiped away a tear that fell from her eye. “I mean, I know it wasn’t as traumatic as when I lost Jack or when Riley was first stationed overseas, but while I was recovering from the surgery, I felt totally lost and alone. Your friendship gave me the strength to get up each day and to get better.”
“And you encouraged me to stop having my own pity party and to leave a dead-end job to see what else is out there.” Grace didn’t want to ruin the moment by talking about Corrine selling the Snowflake Inn, but there didn’t seem to be a way to avoid it. “And even though this isn’t going to get to be my forever place, working with you has been such a blessing.”
Corrine opened her mouth to say something but instantly closed it. She pulled Grace in for another hug instead. “Now,” she began, taking a step back, “how about we get the breakfast crowd cleared out so we can move on with the rest of our plans for the day?”
“Sounds good to me.”
* * *
By four o’clock, Grace was getting nervous. There had been no word from Riley, and the snow was falling pretty heavily. Their guests had been positively ecstatic at the sight of the snow and the thought of a true white Christmas, but Grace didn’t see it as a reason to celebrate. Not if it meant Riley wouldn’t be there to spend Christmas with them.
After she and Corrine had cleaned up the breakfast dishes, they immediately began preparations for the big dinner. There were going to be thirty people around the massive dining room table, so while their guests went out to explore the town and frolic in the snow, the two women were busy making sure they were all going to have a magnificent Christmas feast.
Lunch was not included for the guests, so Grace and Corrine had just eaten sandwiches while they were working. Once everything was prepped and in its proper place, they each retired to their rooms to relax until it was time to finish cooking and begin serving hors d’oeuvres.
Since she was going to spend most of her time in the kitchen, Grace had quickly given up the idea of buying herself something fancy to wear. Instead she had chosen a long, black wool skirt, a green twinset that matched her eyes, and black boots. She was going to put a little curl in her hair just to be festive, and while she was getting ready, she realized it had been a very long time since she had put a lot of thought and care into her appearance.
She usually dressed for comfort and practicality. Getting dressed to spend time with friends, even though she was doing the bulk of the cooking, was a new experience. One she found she liked.
A quick glance out the window showed the snow was tapering off and the sun was going down, and still Riley wasn’t back. Why wasn’t anyone talking about it? Why wasn’t Corrine more freaked out? Since this was her first Christmas with him in years, Grace would have thought she would be upset at the thought of him missing it.
With nothing left to do, Grace went back up to the kitchen and pulled out an apron to cover and protect her outfit. Corrine stormed into the room not long after, looking a little disheveled.
“Is everything all right?”
“I just hate it when guests get difficult.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“The guests in cottage number three don’t want to come in for cocktails and appetizers. They want something brought out to the cottage, and then they’ll join us for dinner.”
Grace walked over and placed a reassuring hand on her friend’s arm. “Okay, that’s not a catastrophe. Maybe they want to have some quiet time, or maybe it’s part of their holiday tradition. Whatever the reason, I’ll make up a tray and bring it out to them.”
“It’s not part of the package, Grace,” Corrine chided. “If we start making all kinds of exceptions, then it will make things more difficult. As it is, most bed-and-breakfasts only do that—breakfast and provide a bed. I already offer more than most, and it just upsets me when people take advantage.”
“I agree. It’s not very considerate, but this is why people love coming to the Snowflake Inn. Because we take care of them.” Grace looked around the kitchen and began making up a tray. “Everything is under control here. I’ve got my list up on the board showing when the hors d’oeuvres go into the oven, and really, it’s not like I’ll be gone long. So if you don’t mind manning the kitchen, I’ll take the food and maybe a bottle of wine out to our guests.”
“Please be careful, Grace. Ben has been clearing the paths and the deck all day, but it can still be treacherous.”
“No worries,” Grace said absently as she made up an assortment of food to take out to the cottage. Most of the appetizers that she had planned weren’t heated yet, so she went with a variety of cheese and crackers, fruit, beer bread, and dips instead. Walking into the pantry, she found a large wicker basket and artfully arranged the food in it along with some plates and silverware, and then carefully placed the wine and two glasses in with it.
“I think this should do nicely,” she said to herself as she closed the basket. Quickly, Grace made her way out of the kitchen and to her room to grab her long wool coat. Running back up to the kitchen, she stopped to catch her breath (that’s what happens when you stop going for morning jogs because you have a sexy man in your bed!) and did a final check to make sure she hadn’t missed anything.
There were footsteps out on the deck, and Grace quickly turned, hoping to see Riley. But there stood Ben, shaking snow off his boots before he came in. Maybe she could ask him to deliver the basket since he was already covered in snow…
“Hey, Grace! Whatcha got there?” He motioned toward the large basket. “It’s a little cold for a picnic.”
She laughed. “Apparently our guests in cabin three wish to have a private cocktail hour and requested that we bring some food to them.”
“And Corrine agreed?” he chuckled.
“I had to convince her it wasn’t a big deal and that I would take it out there to them. But since you’re still kind of snowy, I don’t suppose you’d mind…” She let the implication hang out there in hope he’d catch on.
“Normally I’d do it in a heartbeat, but I can’t quite feel my toes. I should have come in about an hour ago
, but the paths needed to be taken care of. Plus,” he said as he leaned in close and lowered his voice, “I have a big question I want to ask Corrine before all of the guests come down for dinner.”
“Oh my goodness! Now? Really?”
Ben nodded. “I hate that I even waited this long. I wish we were someplace romantic and that I didn’t have to rush it.”
“That’s not going to matter to her. She’s just going to be thrilled.”
“I hope so,” he said distractedly. He looked around for any sign of Corrine.
“I think she’s up front, talking to some of the guests,” Grace said as she pulled on her coat and took her gloves from her pockets. “I better get moving so I can get this food over to the cottage and be back in time to get the rest of the food in the oven.” Picking up the basket, she flashed Ben a smile. “Wish me luck!”
“Luck?”
“That I don’t slip in the snow!” she teased. “My name may be Grace, but I certainly am not graceful.” She winked at him and walked out the back door.
The scenery took her breath away. Her breath was visible in front of her as she carefully made her way across the deck and down the steps. Ben had done a fabulous job in clearing the paths and salting them to make sure they weren’t slick. It was just her luck that the cottage where she was heading was all the way at the end of the path, the farthest from the inn. By the time she was walking up the front steps, her cheeks felt frozen.
Taking a moment to catch her breath, she raised her hand to knock and was shocked by who answered the door. “Riley? How… What…what are you doing here?”
Taking the basket from her hands with one of his, he used his other hand to lead Grace into the cottage. Wordlessly, he placed the basket on a nearby table and then turned to rub her hands in his to warm them up before helping her take her gloves off.
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Grace said, appreciative of the fact that she was out of the cold.
“What’s in the basket?” Riley asked instead of answering her inquiry.
She let out a huff of frustration and pulled her hands from his. “Seriously? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“It’s just that I’m really hungry,” he said simply.
“So you’re not going to explain what you’re doing here in this cabin until I tell you what’s in the basket?”
“Basically.”
Anger and frustration warred within her. She tore her coat off and threw it on a chair before turning to the basket. She opened it and began taking food out and placing it on the table. “We have a bottle of wine,” she said as she banged it down on the table, “two glasses, a plate of assorted cheese and crackers, some beer bread, bacon dip, spinach dip, grapes, strawberries, some plates, and silverware.” She slapped the cover of the basket down and faced him with hands on her hips. “Your turn.”
He chuckled as he slowly walked toward her. Knowing that he was pretty much risking his safety right then, Riley cupped Grace’s face in his hands and leaned in and kissed her. He just wanted to feel her lips beneath his, but he knew instantly that she wasn’t ready for him yet. Reluctantly, he pulled back and then led her over to the small love seat in the corner of the room. When they were both seated, he held one of her small hands in his and faced her.
“I didn’t go to Virginia.”
“I know.”
Riley was shocked. How? When? “Who told you?” That was clearly the wrong thing to say, based on the look she gave him. “I mean, how did you know?”
“I heard you and Corrine talking before you left. So is it a done deal? Did you sell the inn to Matt Handler?”
He couldn’t help it; Riley burst out laughing.
Grace promptly pulled her hand from his. “What’s so funny about that?”
Riley took a moment to compose himself. “Nothing. It’s not… Well, all right, it’s a little bit funny.”
“Care to share the joke?” she snapped.
“Okay,” he began seriously, “here’s the truth about what’s going on. I did go to see Matt Handler and his friends, but that was so I could turn them down in person. I didn’t want them to keep calling and pressuring Mom into accepting their offer.”
“Wait… What? I thought that you wanted her to sell the inn. I thought that she wanted to sell the inn so that she and Ben could travel.”
He shook his head. “At first, that was what I wanted, but one night, when you had gone to bed early, Mom and I talked, really talked. I explained my issues with the inn and with her when I was growing up. She was pretty devastated, but now, looking back on it all as an adult, I realized she was doing the best she could in a really horrible situation. I didn’t make things easy on her, and she was doing everything she could to keep our lives together.”
Unable to help herself, Grace put her hand back in his. “I’m glad that the two of you finally found a way to talk about it.”
“It’s like a big weight has been lifted.”
“But I still don’t understand. I heard you talking to her about lawyers and documents and faxes…”
“No good ever comes from eavesdropping, Grace,” he chided lightly.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, exactly,” she said shyly. “I was heading into the kitchen, and that’s where the two of you were. I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation.”
“I’m teasing, Grace.” He looked into her face and smiled. “The paperwork was for something completely different, and we’ll get to that later.” Rising, he walked over to the table and opened the wine and poured them each a glass.
“I still don’t understand why you’re here in the cabin, and why Corrine sent me here when there’s so much to do for dinner.”
“Please, my mother has been doing Christmas dinner for guests for over thirty years. She can do it with her eyes closed. You prepped everything, and she’s going to finish it up.”
“But why?”
Riley handed her a glass of wine before sitting back down. “Because I wanted to be alone with you. I wanted us to have a little time with no interruptions and no responsibilities.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“I don’t talk a lot about my feelings, Grace. I never have. When I met you, you challenged me, and you forced me to admit to the things that were bothering me. Plenty of people have tried, but I always resisted. Something about you, though, made me want to open up.” He placed his glass on the end table beside him and let out a breath. “When I’m with you, I feel more things than I ever have before. I grew up in this house, and yet I don’t ever remember feeling as content as I do now, when I’m here with you.”
“Riley…”
“No,” he said, softly cutting her off. “I need to say this. When I saw you walking out of the inn when I first came home, I was drawn to you. When you fell in the park and I helped you to your car, I wanted you. And when you stood up to me that first day I was here at home, I fell in love with you.” Carefully, he dropped to one knee in front of her and pulled a small box from the drawer in the end table. Flipping the top open, he revealed a beautiful marquise diamond set in a braided platinum band. “I love you, Grace. I want you to be my wife, have a family with me, and…help me run the Snowflake Inn.”
She sighed his name as tears welled in her eyes. One of her hands was trying to steady her rapidly beating heart, while the other reached out and cupped his stubbled jaw. “Yes,” she whispered and then gasped as he placed the exquisite diamond on her finger.
They both moved as one, leaning in toward one another to seal their promises with a kiss. Riley rose on both knees and gently ran his fingers along Grace’s jaw and throat as his lips coaxed hers open and his tongue touched hers. After that, all semblance of restraint was gone.
“I missed you so much,” she said between kisses.
“I missed you too,” he said, and then silenced he
r with another kiss. His hands fisted in her long, red hair, and he gently tugged so that he could kiss her more thoroughly. “I hated leaving you.”
“Promise you won’t ever again.” She sighed as his mouth traveled along her neck and he lightly bit her.
“I promise,” he growled, frustrated by their positions. He rose to his feet and then scooped Grace up into his arms and strode toward the bedroom. She let out a gasp of surprise.
“The tree…” she said in awe, and Riley stopped in his tracks. Grace fidgeted in his arms until he put her on her feet. Walking across the room, Grace felt as if her heart might explode in her chest. It wasn’t possible…
“Riley?” she whispered, her voice shaking. “How… When did you do this?”
Coming to stand behind her, Riley carefully wrapped his arms around her middle and held her trembling form. “I wanted to surprise you.”
There, on a freshly cut tree, were all of her family ornaments. Grace reached out and touched each of them reverently. “I can’t… I never thought… For so long, I wanted a tree of my own to put them on. I promised myself that when I found a place of my own, I would take them out.”
Gently, Riley turned her toward him, his strong hands on her shoulders. “This is your home, Grace. That’s what the documents were for. Our names are now listed as the owners of the Snowflake Inn. It’s yours, sweetheart. You’re home.”
It was more than she ever could have dreamed of, more than she had ever imagined possible. “It’s real? This is really happening?”
Leaning in again, Riley kissed the woman he loved. “Welcome home, Grace.”
Epilogue
Christmas Eve, One Year Later…
“You know, this isn’t the first time we’ve done this. It shouldn’t be this difficult.”
“Who are you kidding? It’s never easy. There are too many chances for things to go wrong.”
“Way to stay positive…”
Mistletoe Between Friends / The Snowflake Inn Page 26