by N. J. Young
But right now, it didn’t look like Linzee was lost in new romantic bliss. He turned to look at the redhead, and didn’t like the way her gaze slid away from his. Moving next to her, Foster lifted an arm to hug her close, but she shrugged him off and stepped away. His face tightened and he glared at Ethan, waiting for an explanation.
“Don’t look at me like that. I tried to get her to stay, but she won’t. She says she’ll only stay until I can find a replacement chef.”
The blood felt like it completely drained from his body. No. He’d finally found the woman he’d searched for. The woman he clicked with. And she was leaving?
“What is he talking about?” he demanded, but Linzee remained silent, her hands twisting in front of her. “Linz, answer me!”
She jumped, and Foster realized how harsh he must have sounded. But dammit, he was angry. She couldn’t just walk away.
She cleared her throat, and squared her jaw as she looked up at him. Why the fuck did she look like she needed to gather her courage to talk to him? She should be able to say anything to him, dammit.
“Foster, I’ve decided that Oakville isn’t a good fit for me after all. I think it’s best that I go back to Chicago. Like I told Ethan, I’ll give him time to find a new chef before I go, but I … I think this is the right decision.”
He was stunned. He stared at her for a long moment and watched as her face flushed, and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
“Linzee, you can’t do this. You can’t just walk away from this.”
Ethan shuffled his feet and cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable. “I think I’m going to call to make sure our deliveries will be on time.”
Ethan gave him a look that could only be described as pity before he went back into the kitchen, and it made Foster’s blood boil. It was the same pitiful look he’d received from his siblings when he’d lost the Donovan Award for the third year in a row. He wasn’t good enough for that, and apparently, he wasn’t good enough for Linzee either.
“Foster, last night shouldn’t have happened.” Even though her words were soft, they held a jagged edge. “It was a mistake.” She took a deep breath. “Not only would it be awkward for me to keep working for your brother, but I’m not doing well being away from my daughter. I think it would be best if I left.”
He couldn’t blame her for wanting to be near Georgia, but dammit, he just wanted to come first for once. It was selfish, but he didn’t care. He felt an ache in his chest that made him realize just how much Linzee had gotten inside of him. Letting her see that would just make things worse.
He hardened his gaze. “Right. Well, I’m sorry a good fuck wasn’t enough to keep you here.”
Linzee gasped at his cruel words, and Foster hated himself for it.
“Tell Ethan I have to go. Let me know if you need help packing.”
He turned to leave, hoping she would come after him, that she would call his name and tell him she was wrong. But she didn’t.
Chapter Eleven
The energy of the Christmas Eve Food-and-Wine Festival was almost enough to cheer Linzee up. When she’d learned Ethan was planning the festival outside, she’d thought he was crazy, but it really was brilliant.
Dazzling lights were strewn along the evergreen trees lining the park. Tables and booths were adorned with garland and ornaments. Holiday music was piped in on speakers hidden in the trees, and the red-and-silver lights on the massive Christmas tree in the center illuminated the tables and booths surrounding it.
Children scurried by giggling on their way over to Dylan Price’s area, and Linzee couldn’t help but smile. This was the first time she’d seen kids pass right by plates full of cookies, but she didn’t blame them. Her frosted Santas and Christmas trees were no match for the puppies that Dylan Price had in a large pen.
She’d helped Marnie at the shelter when the pups were taken in, and she’d fallen in love with them. If only she were staying in town, Linzee actually would have adopted one of the little pugs. She’d always wanted a dog, but her ex hated animals.
Marnie, who was in the pen with Dylan, caught her eye and gave her a big smile and a wave.
Linzee waved back, then turned to help the people that came up to the table. After talking to some of Luke’s construction crew, who’d eaten about a dozen cookies in ten seconds flat, chatting with Dylan’s partner and his pregnant wife, and laughing with the new doctor in town, Linzee realized just how many friends she’d made in the short time she’d been in Oakville. The family-like atmosphere of the little town was something she’d never expected.
“That smells delicious,” Tori said, and Linzee turned to see her standing over the large cauldron of creamy vegetable-and-gnocchi soup. Tori’s eyes widened as she took in the rest of the food. “Whoa, what’s that?”
Linzee smiled as she handed Tori a plate of Spinach Fontina Strata.
“Why don’t you just taste it and tell me what you think?”
After one big bite, Tori’s eyes rolled back in her head as she groaned. “Wow, you are a good chef if you can make spinach taste this good.”
“Are you talking her into staying?” Ethan came up and threw an arm around his girlfriend. A pang of regret went through Linzee. She wanted that easy relationship with Foster, but it was too late now. She was doing the right thing. Even if he did want her, she needed to give him the opportunity to be with someone younger, to have a family. She cared for him too much to take that away from him.
Her heart skipped a beat at the thought. If her daughter had come up to her and told her she’d fallen for a man she’d known less than two weeks, Linzee would have thought she was crazy. But in all of her forty years, she’d never felt this way about anyone before. She’d never felt so much potential with a man so quickly, and the feelings scared her. The possibilities scared her. But above everything else, she wanted Foster to be happy. There was no question in her mind about that.
“I haven’t tried yet,” Tori was saying to Ethan.
Then Becca popped up behind her brother. She was practically bouncing with excitement. “I have Linzee’s surprise. Are we ready?”
Her brow furrowed. “Surprise?” Had they gotten her a Christmas present?
Becca giggled. “Yes, surprise! And you’re going to love this!” Ethan and Tori both grinned and then stepped aside.
Linzee’s confusion was replaced with pure joy as a beautiful redhead stood grinning at her.
“Georgia! Omigod, Georgia! How did you get here?” She raced around the table to throw her arms around her daughter.
The girl laughed and hugged her back. “I took the train. I didn’t think I had enough money for the train, but Mr. Price overnighted me tickets so I could be here for Christmas Eve.” Georgia reached up with a gloved hand to wipe Linzee’s cheeks. “Oh, Mom, don’t cry.” But she was tearing up too.
Linzee hugged her daughter fiercely. “I’m just so happy to see you.” She turned to her boss. “Ethan, I don’t know how I can ever thank you.”
But Ethan smiled and shook his head. “I wish I could take credit, Linz. But it was a different Mr. Price that sent the tickets.”
She blinked a couple of times before the realization struck her. Foster. She’d treated him poorly, but he’d still gone out of his way to make sure her daughter was here on Christmas.
“Tori and I are going to cover the booth while you spend time with your daughter,” Becca said as she walked around the table and snatched up a frosted Santa cookie.
“But…” She didn’t know what to say. She’d only been in town a few weeks, and these people treated her like family.
A sense of peace filled her as she realized she couldn’t leave them. With one arm around her daughter, she looked at Ethan and shook her head. “Ethan, I’ve made such a horrible mistake.”
Her boss smiled warmly, understanding immediately. “Well, thank God you came to your senses and finally realized it. And lucky for you, this is a mistake you can fix.”
&nbs
p; Chapter Twelve
After Foster had picked up Georgia Felton at the train station and dropped her off at the festival, he stuck around for a little while. Linzee had done a good job with her daughter. The girl was smart and funny like her mom, and just as beautiful.
He was ashamed of the way he’d acted toward Linzee, and he was glad he was able to do something for her that would make her happy. He’d never cared about someone so much that he wanted them to be happy above all else, even if it meant not being with him.
“There he is!” His mother’s voice pulled Foster out of his thoughts. Sally Price wore a green knit cap that was adorned with sparkles, and a bright red ski jacket. He would swear his mother was aging backwards. If he didn’t know her, he’d be shocked that she was a sixty-year-old woman with five kids.
But his mother wasn’t alone. Next to Sally was Sarah Donovan, CEO of the Donovan Foundation. Otherwise known as the woman who had denied Foster the Donovan Award three years in a row.
“Mrs. Donovan.” He reached out a hand to shake hers. “Good to see you again.”
She laughed. “I doubt you mean that, but thank you, Foster.”
He was a bit taken aback at her bluntness. “I was speaking with your mother and she told me how upset you were that you didn’t receive the photography award this year.”
Foster loved his small studio in Oakville, but the award meant he would be taken seriously as a photojournalist. How could he not be upset? And how could his mother go straight to Sarah Donovan to tell her that? Not that it should surprise him. Sally Price didn’t know the meaning of the word subtle.
“Mom, really?” he said, but his mother just winked at him.
“Oh, don’t blame her. Foster, I had no idea you didn’t know. This came as such a shock to me.”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “Know what?”
“Foster, your photography is incredible. You are the most brilliant artist I’ve ever seen. You had to know that we’d give you that award every year if we could.”
Now he really was confused. “I don’t understand. I haven’t even won the award once.”
This time Sally was the one that spoke. “Baby, you remember what a mess I was when your dad died.”
His dad had died five years ago in a tragic car accident. But what did that have to do with the Donovan Award?
“A chunk of your dad’s money went to various charities, but at the time, I didn’t pay much attention to which ones,” explained his mom.
“Foster, the Donovan Foundation was struggling at that time,” Sarah said. “The donation your father left us in his will helped us revamp the institution. It kept us afloat.”
“Donation?” The pieces of what she was saying were starting to fall into place.
“I wish I could give you the Donovan Award, Foster, but with the money we received from your family … well, it would be unethical. I’m so sorry. I thought you knew that.”
He was stunned. All this time, he’d felt his work was inferior, but it didn’t have anything to do with him at all.
“I’d give you the award every year if I could. You’re the most talented photographer I’ve ever seen.”
His mother smiled. “That’s what I’ve always told him.” Sally reached for his hand, her eyes full of love.
“Well, I doubt he needs me to tell him how talented he is,” Sarah said. “Or anyone, for that matter. It’s not like an award measures your self-worth.”
He felt his mother’s hand squeeze his. “I always tell him that, too. Never doubt yourself.”
Sarah looked around, her long black hair ruffling lightly in the cool breeze. “You have some talented children, Sally. An amazing photographer with this one, and I can’t wait to taste Ethan’s food that everyone is raving about.”
“Oh yes, I promised to take you to his booth.” Sally clapped her hands together. “I heard Linzee made shortbread—my favorite!”
Foster leaned down as his mother stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “I’ll see you later at Ethan’s, dear.”
The women chattered away as they headed off in the direction of Ethan’s booth.
After only a moment’s hesitation, he followed them. His mother was right. He had doubted himself for too long. Not just his photography, but his self-worth in general. He’d thought Linzee didn’t think he was worthy enough to be first in her life. Well, maybe she was just as scared as he was. How could she trust him when he hadn’t even trusted himself?
Everything seemed so clear now. He wasn’t going to let the woman he loved walk away without a fight. When he walked up to the booth, he saw Tori serving up plates of food and Becca handing out cookies. Linzee was nowhere to be seen.
Chapter Thirteen
After spending the rest of the evening with her daughter, Linzee pulled her car up in front Ethan Price’s house. He’d recently purchased a large Victorian-style home at the edge of town, and she knew how thrilled he was to host his whole family on Christmas Eve.
He’d invited her earlier in the week to come, but she’d turned him down. Now, here she was. She just had to find the guts to get out of her car and go in.
“Mom, what are you waiting for?” Georgia asked from the passenger seat.
She turned to look at her daughter. “Just trying to gather my nerve.” But her nerves were getting the better of her. She leaned her head against the steering wheel. “What if he laughs at me, Georgia? What if this is all in my head, and he doesn’t really have feelings for me?”
“Seriously, Mom?” Linzee could almost hear her daughter roll her eyes. “I rode back to the festival with him from the train station,” Georgia said. “I heard the way he talked about you. Trust me, he has feelings. I’d give anything if a man’s eyes lit up that way when he talked about me.”
She turned to study her daughter. Georgia was probably around the same age as the blonde she’d heard talking about Foster at the coffee shop the other day. What if he just didn’t want Linzee because she was too old? How could she compete with girls her daughter’s age?
“I know exactly what you’re thinking. You’re only forty, Mom. That’s young!”
Linzee practically snorted. She thought of her daughter’s teenage years when Georgia had once referred to her as old and out of touch.
“I’m serious. And if people think differently, who cares? Didn’t you always teach me to stand up for myself and not care what anyone else thinks of me?” Georgia sighed. “I love Dad, but I’m not stupid. He never treated you well, Mom. You spent way too long in an unhappy marriage. You finally have a chance to be happy, and if you don’t take it, I’ll … I’ll…” Georgia fisted her hands. “Well, maybe I’ll take you over my knee.”
Linzee laughed despite herself. “When did you get to be so smart, little girl?” She reached over to pull her daughter in for a hug.
“I’ve always been smart,” Georgia said. “I’m just like you.”
Chapter Fourteen
The laughter and chatter of his family swirled around him as Foster sat on Ethan’s couch and nursed a cup of eggnog. He’d looked all over the festival for Linzee, but she wasn’t there. He’d thought about tracking her down, but she needed to spend time with her Georgia.
Tomorrow, he’d find her. He couldn’t wait any longer to tell her how he felt about her. He just had to control his urge to jump up and go in search of her this very second.
“Who’s going first?” Becca asked. She held her gift on her lap, vibrating with excitement like a little kid.
He grinned as Dylan laughed. “You ask that every year, Bec. You know damn well we go from oldest to youngest.”
“Oh yeah?” Becca huffed. “Well, screw you guys. I think it’s time to change that rule. I say youngest goes first.” When she started to rip the wrapping paper, Dylan snatched the gift out of her hand.
“Hey! Gimme!” Becca leaped at her brother.
Foster was about to jump into the fray when the doorbell rang. “Who on earth could that be?” He looked at
Ethan, who shrugged, making no move to get up from his big club chair.
Foster rolled his eyes. “Gee, don’t bother to get up or anything. I’ll get it.” His family was all here. He didn’t know anyone else who would be at the door after eleven on Christmas Eve.
“Maybe you’ll get lucky, Foster.” Becca’s eyes glimmered. “Maybe it’s Santa.”
He chuckled as he got up to answer the door. His breath stilled when he opened it to see Linzee standing there with her daughter.
“Linz,” he breathed. She looked so beautiful. Her cheeks were pink, and her green eyes sparkled as she looked at him. What ever made him think he could let her go?
“You made it!” Ethan boomed from behind him. He nudged Foster aside to take Linzee’s hand and lead her into the room.
“Oh, yay,” Becca squealed. She ran over to grab Georgia’s hand and led her over to the couch. “I hope you like eggnog. Ethan’s is the best.”
Tori appeared from the kitchen and handed a glass to Georgia before she came over to wind her arm around Ethan’s waist. “I’m so glad you guys made it, Linzee.”
Foster still couldn’t take his eyes off of Linzee. That pink tongue snaked out to swipe over her lips, and he immediately felt himself harden.
“Me too,” she said, looking at him. “Uh, Foster,” she said nervously as she tucked a flyaway curl behind her ear. “Can I talk to you, um, privately?”
She looked down, but he wanted her eyes on him. He reached down and put a finger underneath her chin, tilting her face up. Even though she was nervous, she looked much more relaxed than she had last time he’d seen her. Open. Was it just having her daughter here, or had she started to let those walls down?
“Absolutely,” he said. He took her hand, entwining his fingers with hers, and was more pleased than he could imagine when she didn’t try to pull away. “We’ll be back,” he said to no one in general, but grinned wider as his mom smiled and winked at him.