Now he knew he’d been nothing more than a starter boyfriend, someone to help her find her feet in a new place. She’d found her feet, all right, just in time to stomp on his heart. She’d fallen for one of the pond-scum specials where she worked, so she no longer needed John. Plain and simple.
And this trip had been yet another thing she’d let him spring for. How many more times had she planned to use him before dumping him?
His mother was right. He was dumb when it came to women. Well, no more. No more Mr. Nice Guy. As soon as the bed stopped spinning, he was going to take some aspirin and then drive home. He could still make it back in time for Christmas at his folks’, and that sure beat spending Christmas with all the strangers who’d seen his rejection the night before.
* * *
Even after staying up late, Missy’s kids had begun bouncing on the bed at 5:00 a.m., announcing that it was Christmas morning. Just in case she’d forgotten. She’d given them their stockings and told them to climb back into bed. That had lasted about five minutes before their new dog had started whining to go out. Okay, so much for sleep. Ten minutes later, they were taking a walk in the snow.
Or rather a run in the snow, with Buddy and the kids bounding ahead, Missy following at a slightly slower pace. Wow, she was out of shape. That was what happened when you stood around cutting hair all day. Imagine living up here in the mountains, going for walks in the snow, hiking in the summer. Was there a hair salon in this town?
Even if there was, she couldn’t afford to live here. Icicle Falls probably didn’t have any affordable rentals. Still, a girl could dream.
And dream she did, planning how she’d decorate her place, seeing herself visiting with Olivia on a regular basis. Lalla spending time with her, too, enjoying her adopted grandmother.
Fortunately, they’d also have a grandparent figure back in the city, Missy reminded herself. Mr. Claussen was such a bighearted man. How she’d lucked out meeting all these great people she had no idea. Maybe it was a Christmas miracle.
Once Buddy’s needs were met, she turned them all back to the lodge by way of the trunk of her car, where she collected a starter bag of dog food Dylan had loaded up for Buddy. That should keep the dog happy for about two minutes.
“Now, be quiet, you guys,” she instructed as they went up the front porch steps. “People are still sleeping.”
“On Christmas morning?” Carlos asked in amazement.
“Older people don’t wake up as early. We’re going to go back to our room and be quiet as mice. Right?”
“Right,” Lalla said, nodding vigorously, then ran inside after her brother and the dog.
At least they weren’t whooping and hollering. Once back in the room, she decided to let them open their presents. Lalla had gotten a Disney princess gown, which Missy had scored for 75 percent off at a party store after Halloween. She put it on instantly and modeled it for her mother and brother, spinning around to watch the skirt twirl. It was a cheap costume so there wasn’t a lot of skirt to twirl, but Lalla was happy.
Missy had gotten Carlos a couple of miniature metal cars to play with and a small, super bouncy ball, which he immediately had to try out. After the thing had ricocheted all over the room, making the dog go berserk, she suggested he save that to play with when they got home. That suggestion was rewarded with a pout, which she ignored.
Instead, she said, “Now, look under your bed. I think Santa left you both something.”
“Santa already gave us something last night,” Lalla said, adjusting her tiara.
“It’s from Mom,” Carlos said, diving under the bed.
Lalla followed suit, and a moment later the kids came out with their treasures, Lalla hugging the black baby doll to her chest and Carlos dangling the stuffed dog. “Look, Buddy,” he said to the dog. “Here’s a friend for you.”
Buddy barked and thumped his tail on the floor.
“I love Santa,” Lalla said happily.
“Me, too,” Carlos said.
Teary-eyed, Missy smiled at her babies. This was definitely the best Christmas ever.
She put in a Christmas cartoon DVD she’d found at a summer garage sale and left them snuggled in bed with Buddy while she indulged in a bath, using the bath bomb Santa had given her the night before. This day was going to be special, she just knew it. How could it not with Lalla getting her grandma for the day and Carlos playing with his dog?
And maybe John Truman would sit with them at breakfast.
Okay, don’t be greedy, she told herself. It was enough that her children were happy. Her chances of getting someone like John Truman were about as high as a snowman’s chance of doing Vegas. Still, it was Christmas.
After her bath she dressed in the jeans and black sweater she’d packed. Cashmere, no less. She’d bought it at a garage sale in one of Seattle’s nicer neighborhoods and had been saving it for a special occasion. Today qualified. She took extra time with her hair and makeup, and when she was done she had to smile at her reflection. “Not bad,” she murmured. “Not bad at all.”
She dressed Carlos in jeans—she was going to have to get him some new ones, since he was already growing out of these—and the red hand-me-down sweatshirt she’d been keeping aside for the holidays. Lalla would wear her princess gown; that was a given. She couldn’t help looking at her children with pride when they finally left Buddy enjoying a chew toy and went down to breakfast. They were beautiful children. And good. Maybe they didn’t have the finest clothes or go to the best school, but she was going to find a way to change that. Starting today. After all, it was Christmas, and anything could happen at Christmas. Maybe even love.
Once more she had to tell herself not to be stupid. John Truman might have been set free by his girlfriend, but that still didn’t put him in Missy’s league. Guys like John looked for well-educated women who never went near a thrift store unless it was to make a donation. Still, he’d enjoyed hanging out with her and her kids, and when she was with him she’d felt the attraction. But maybe it had been one-sided. He’d just been kind to her, and wishful thinking had turned it into more. Still, the thought came again. It’s Christmas. Anything could happen at Christmas.
The Claussens were already seated at a table and beckoned her over. They didn’t have to ask Lalla twice. Before you could say ho, ho, ho she was at Brooke’s side, showing off her princess gown.
“It’s very pretty,” Brooke said. “It’s a good thing Santa knows you’re a princess.”
Lalla nodded. “And Santa gave me a grandma for Christmas, too. We’re gonna make cookies today.”
“I hope you’ll save me one,” Brooke said.
Lalla considered this seriously for a few seconds, then said, “I think I can do that,” making the adults smile.
Several of the other guests were already at their tables, too. The Spikes were exchanging presents, and Missy experienced a moment of jealousy as she watched Mrs. Spike open a small red satin gift box to reveal a pair of gray pearl earrings and a matching necklace, and lean across the table to kiss her husband. Would that ever be her? Not that she needed a pearl necklace. But, oh, how she wanted to be sitting across the table from a man she loved, giving him a Christmas kiss. Of course, John Truman’s smiling face came to mind.
She looked around the room. There were Vera and Jane. There were the Williamses. There was the happy pregnant couple. But she saw no sign of John. Had he left? “I wonder where John is.” Oh, crud. Had she just said that out loud?
“You know, I haven’t seen him,” Mr. Claussen said. He shook his head. “I hope he doesn’t leave.”
“I would,” Dylan muttered. “That was seriously humiliating.”
“Sometimes these things happen for a reason,” Mr. Claussen said thoughtfully. “Did I ever tell you kids I was in love with someone else before I met your mother?”
Brooke’s mouth dropped. “No. I don’t believe it.”
“We were young, immature. She dumped me. Of course I was heartbroken. But then, a couple of years later, I met your mother. And that was when I realized what I’d had before was...” He glanced around the room, apparently for inspiration, then nodded over to where Mr. Spike was fastening the pearl necklace around his wife’s neck. “It was like having a pebble from the beach. Your mom, she was the pearl.” Now he slid a look in Missy’s direction. “Sometimes it takes men a while to find their pearl. Sometimes they even have to be helped.”
Eric Wallace came over to the table, bearing plates with some sort of egg casserole. Missy noticed the smile he and Brooke exchanged. Whoa. Something had happened between those two.
“Someone should go check on John,” Mr. Claussen said casually as he took a bite of his casserole. “See if he’s coming down to breakfast.”
“We should leave the guy alone,” said Dylan.
Missy thought Dylan was probably right.
Now Mr. Claussen was looking directly at Missy. “What do you think?”
“I’m sure he doesn’t want to see anyone,” she said, staring down at her plate. She was no pearl.
“Maybe not,” Mr. Claussen agreed. “But then again, I’d feel better if a pretty girl came to my door and asked how I was doing.”
Missy looked up to see him giving her an encouraging smile.
“We’ll keep an eye on the kids,” Brooke offered.
Could everyone at the table tell that she had the hots for John? She felt her cheeks warming.
“This is an awfully good breakfast,” Mr. Claussen said. “Why don’t you go see if he’s hungry?”
Okay. She could sit here and do nothing or she could go after what she wanted. Which was it going to be? She pushed away from the table. “I’ll be right back.”
* * *
The aspirin, combined with several glasses of water—well, okay, and driving the porcelain bus—had restored John enough to be able to finally shower and dress. Now his overnight bag was packed and he was ready to go home. That was going to be humiliating, going home with no fiancée. Maybe he’d skip Christmas at his parents’, just go back to his own place and watch movies all day. Feel sorry for himself. Yeah, that worked.
The knock on his door gave him a start. Then it gave him hope. It was Holland. She’d come back to say she was sorry. She’d been wrong. They did belong together.
No, that wasn’t happening. And even if it did, he wouldn’t take her back. No, sir, not after the way she’d humiliated him.
Hmm. And if he wouldn’t take her back, how much did he really love her?
There was the knocking again, timid, as if the person on the other side wasn’t sure he or she should be there. Curious, John opened the door to find Missy Monroe. She wore jeans and a black sweater and had little Christmas-tree earrings dangling from her ears.
Holland would never wear Christmas-tree earrings. Holland also wouldn’t look as soft and...what was the word he was searching for? Sweet, that was it. And sweet wasn’t so bad. Nope, sweet wasn’t bad at all.
Missy cleared her throat. “I hope you weren’t, um, busy.”
Busy feeling sorry for himself. He decided not to share that info. “No.”
“We just wondered if you were coming down to breakfast.”
“I don’t think so.”
He saw that she’d noticed the suitcase sitting in the middle of the room. “Oh. You’re leaving.”
“Not much point in staying.”
She stood there quietly for a moment. “Yeah, I guess not,” she finally said. “Except the breakfast this morning is really good. And you did pay for it.”
He frowned. “I’ll pass.”
“Yeah, I guess I can see why,” she said. Now she looked down at her feet.
So did he. She was wearing little red shoes. Very cute.
“I’m sorry about the dog,” he said. Was it only last night that he’d been planning to help Missy with her problem?
“Oh, that’s all taken care of. Mr. Claussen fixed everything with my landlady and we get to keep him.”
John nodded. Well, somebody had managed to be a hero. He found himself regretting the fact that it hadn’t been him. Instead, he’d been wasting his time being a loser.
She cleared her throat again. “I was hoping you’d stay. I know that’s selfish of me, considering what you’ve just been through.”
“You were?”
She still kept studying her feet. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but your girlfriend was stupid.” Now she raised her face and looked at him earnestly. “You’re a great guy, John Truman, and there are lots of women out there who’d love to be your girlfriend.” Her cheeks grew pink as she continued. “Anyway, I wish you’d come down and have breakfast. And, well, you probably want to go visit your family, but I wish you’d stay here today and play in the snow with me and my kids and then play board games in the lobby by the fireplace. And...get your money’s worth.” The pink in her cheeks deepened but she held her head high. She stuck her hands in the back pockets of her jeans, and the look she gave him dared him to man-up and face the world.
A cute woman with blue hair begging him to stay made it seem rude to leave. And cowardly. And, under the circumstances, he wasn’t anxious to see his family and eat humble pie for Christmas dinner. He nodded. “I guess I could handle some breakfast.”
She smiled as if he’d just promised to buy her diamond earrings. “Good,” she said with an answering nod.
He stepped out of the room and shut the door on the painful memory of the previous night. As he and Missy went down the stairs, he decided that maybe Missy had a point. Maybe he should get his money’s worth and stay until tomorrow.
Chapter Nineteen
Holly Jolly Christmas
James watched John Truman enter the dining room a little like a soldier expecting an ambush. There was only one way to get him past that. “Over here,” James called. “We saved you a seat.”
John smiled as sober a smile as James had ever seen and joined them at the table. “Thanks,” he said.
“Merry Christmas,” Brooke greeted him. “The breakfast this morning is to die for. This egg casserole is really yummy. And so is the puff pastry.”
He’d barely sat down when Eric Wallace came out of the kitchen with a plate of food for him. He forked up a bite and sampled it. “This is good.”
“So, what’s everyone going to do today?” Brooke asked.
“I think we need to go inner tubing on Snow Hill,” Missy said.
“Can Buddy come?” asked Carlos.
“I don’t see why not,” she told him. She looked shyly at John. “If you decide to stay, would you like to come with us?”
“Come with us, John,” Carlos begged.
John nodded. “I could stay long enough to do some inner tubing.”
“Sounds like a great idea,” Brooke said, smiling at Eric, who was now back with extra pastries for them all.
Oh, yes, James thought, there was something brewing between his daughter and Olivia’s son. And he suspected he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed...
“Mind if I join you?” Eric asked.
“The more, the merrier, right?” Brooke said.
“Definitely,” John agreed.
“Not me,” Dylan said. “I’m going to see if I can find some good downhill skiing.”
“My brother can help you with that,” Eric told him. He turned and waved over his fellow server, the same young man who’d walked in on James and Olivia the night before. “This is my brother, Brandon,” he said to the table at large.
“Nice to see you again, Brandon,” James said, although he wasn’t entirely sure he meant it.
Brandon
nodded and smiled, politely if not warmly.
The smile warmed considerably when his gaze locked on Brooke, and James wasn’t too keen on that. The kid was good-looking, probably a ladies’ man. He was checking out Brooke as if she were some hot car he’d like to drive.
“And this is my daughter, Brooke,” James said, his voice seasoned with a healthy dose of so-don’t-try-anything.
That took the speculation right out of the kid’s smile.
They finished the introductions, and Dylan asked about skiing. Brandon’s face lit up at that and the two young men began to compare places they’d skied. Like calls to like, James reflected, seeing how well they were hitting it off. Surely that was a good development. Maybe Dylan would put in a word for his old man.
“I have to finish helping with breakfast but after that I can show you some sweet runs,” Brandon said to Dylan.
“Super,” Dylan said, eyes gleaming.
“Daddy, do you want to come inner tubing with us?” Brooke asked.
James caught sight of Olivia, who had come out of the kitchen and was making the rounds among the tables. “You kids go ahead. I think I’ll just stay here.” Olivia would be busy later in the afternoon, preparing their holiday feast, but James suspected she’d make time for him before that.
Seeing her sons at their table, she joined them. “I guess you’ve all met my son Brandon,” she said to everyone. “He’s here for the holidays.” She looked at both her sons and smiled. “Christmas is always complete once both my boys are home.”
James understood totally. Having your family together was the best Christmas present any parent could ask for.
“I have a princess gown,” Lalla announced, tired of being upstaged by grown-ups.
“And you look beautiful,” Olivia said, bending over to give her a hug.
“When can we make cookies?” Lalla asked.
The Lodge on Holly Road Page 23