'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  “Hit me,” I say with pure curiosity.

  “As you know, I met your mom at Reinback. I was a junior and she was a freshman. She had a class with Todd, and I ran into them one day in the library working on a project. He had to leave for his next class, but I stayed and talked to her. We had our first date that night. Todd got mad because he liked her, even though he was dating someone else at the time. We had an amazing first date, and I wasn’t going to call off the second date just because of Todd’s whining.

  “We dated until I graduated, then I called it off to come to Oak Hills for work, not wanting any ties. During that time, she and Todd dated. They came down and visited me for spring break their senior year. Seeing her brought back the memories for both of us. She broke up with Todd and moved in with me when she graduated. We got married and had a great couple of years.

  “After you were born, she started traveling more. She didn’t seem interested in being a family. When you were four, she started having layovers in Albany. Six months later, Mrs. Mabel called me and asked why my wife was in town without you or me. Then I found out Todd was getting a divorce. After a little bit of digging, I found out the truth.”

  All the puzzle pieces come together. Dad and Todd never had a lot of love for each other because of my mother. Mrs. Mabel spilled the beans, and Todd got his revenge by firing Mrs. Mabel.

  And I always thought I had a fairly drama-free family.

  Chapter 14

  Ember

  I haven’t seen Holland since the will reading. She left a note in my work locker asking if she could ride with me to the Christmas tree lighting in town on Saturday night, leaving her number.

  I texted her, Of course you can ride with me. :-)

  She responded with, Great, I’ll meet you in the lobby at six.

  It’s not a date, but I have a feeling it might go down as one. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.

  Holland saunters in at six exactly, looking like a Christmas tree in a red sweater with a white fur collar, green and red plaid pants, and a black leather jacket draped on her arm. I don’t know how she pulls it off, but she does. When she sees me, her smile lights up brighter than the blinking reindeer antlers on her head.

  “Well, aren’t you festive,” I say.

  She eyes me up and down, taking in my jeans and zipped-up puffer coat. “Well, you’re not.”

  I unzip my coat to reveal the Grinch tee I have on underneath.

  With a laugh, she says, “Bah humbug.”

  “It’s the Grinch at the end.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Do I need to change into something more festive, Boss?”

  “Nope. I have just the thing to liven you up.” She reaches in her black backpack purse and pulls out a strand of lights. She turns a dial and settles on a slow flicker then hangs the necklace around my neck. “Now, you’re ready.”

  “Let’s do this thing.” I open the door as a gust of air rushes in.

  “Brrrr.” She shimmies into her coat before walking outside.

  “We might see a few more flurries tonight,” I say. “No need for the machines that shoot fake snow that tastes like soap.”

  “They do that?”

  “It’s Snow Falls. Of course they do it. Anything to get people in the spirit. Two years ago, when it didn’t snow until January, soap shavings coated the ground during the holidays. It smelled like a rose garden downtown.”

  “I wondered why the town smelled so clean that year.”

  I open the passenger door of my truck and offer a hand to help her in. “Geez. Your hands are cold. Did you bring gloves?”

  She pulls out gloves that match her jacket and shakes them in my face. “Yeah. No need to tie yours on my hands tonight.”

  I quickly close her door and jog around to the driver’s side. After hopping in, the old truck rumbles to a start, and I turn the heat on full blast and lower the volume of the radio to a soft murmur. “It warms up pretty fast, Boss.”

  She holds her gloves to the vent then slips them on. “So, you’re calling me boss now?”

  “Yep,” I say as I put the truck in reverse and pull out of the parking space.

  “You’re really not selling your shares?”

  “Nope. I’d like to think Mr. Garland left them to me for a reason.”

  “I believe he did.”

  “For what reason?”

  “I think he knew you wouldn’t want to sell your shares. He counted on you to be my ally.” Her cheeks were already pink from the cold. Now, they look like the Santa Claus who Mr. Garland always hired for weekends in December. I always wondered how he’d get his cheeks so pink because it didn’t look like make-up. One day, I saw him on break in the locker room with clothes pins on his cheeks.

  “You think that’s it?”

  She nods and turns her head to look out the window.

  “What’s the plan then, Boss?”

  “I’m working on it.”

  “Just as long as I don’t have to answer to Todd or Blake anymore, I’m good,” I say while strumming my fingers on the steering wheel to the faint beat of A Holly Jolly Christmas.

  “I’m going to talk to them about being silent partners in this. Maybe one day, we can buy them out.”

  “What about your dad?”

  “He’ll help with the accounting by setting it up to be fairly automated. At least that’s the temporary plan. My grandfather left me a name of a consultant who would help. I talked to her today. She’s coming out for a few days after Christmas. Then, she’ll have one of her employees work as the manager until we feel like we can handle it.”

  “We as in you and me?” I like the idea of us in this together.

  “Yeah, I hope that’s okay. I’m looking at you more like a partner, so you can chill you with the whole boss thing.”

  “But I like calling you boss.”

  She dismisses me with a wave of her hand. “The consultant said she can have someone here the second week of January. I’ll come back for spring break, then I’ll be here permanently starting the first week of June. I’m hesitant to hire someone as I don’t want them to come in and make changes to what my grandfather has built. So, I’ll need your eyes and ears on things while I’m gone. Are you up for that?”

  “You want me to be a spy?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Déjà vu.”

  “What?”

  “Your dad asked the same thing of me.”

  “He asked you to spy on the consultant? How did he know? I haven’t told him yet.”

  “He asked me to spy on you. Make sure you don’t get in over your head.”

  She blows out a breath. “When’s he going to realize I’m an adult now?”

  “Probably never.”

  I pull into the parking lot next to the courthouse as the snow flurries begin.

  Holland points to the flurries. “I guess we won’t have a town that smells like roses this year.”

  After checking out all the craft and food vendors and downing two cups of hot apple cider to warm our insides, we run into my friends hanging out in front of the ice skating rink.

  Holland turns to Jackson with a pinched face. “You want me to go ice skating?”

  “Don’t you ice skate?” Tyler asks.

  She points to herself with both thumbs. “Southern girl here. The only ice we have is used in drinks.”

  Jackson pats my shoulder. “Do you think this strong man will let you fall?”

  “He’s got a point,” I say. I wouldn’t mind having an excuse to hold onto her.

  She steps up to the skate rental desk. “Okay then. Just don’t be mad at me if I take you down with me.”

  “As if you could do that,” I say.

  With skates on, we step onto the ice. Holland has a firm grip on my arm. I’m not complaining. Why didn’t I think about suggesting this?

  I pull her to the side and place her hands on the wall. “To stop, just turn one skate out sideways. If you fee
l like you’re going to fall, bend your knees and squat down.” I demonstrate the basics of moving on skates. “You ready to try?”

  She looks like she found a lump of coal in her stocking.

  I hold out my hand to her, wishing we weren’t wearing gloves. She takes it and gently glides along the ice.

  “That’s not so bad,” she says.

  “You’re a natural.”

  She rolls her eyes. “You know, you shouldn't tell jokes when ice skating.”

  “And why is that?”

  She laughs then says, “Because the ice might crack up. Sorry, I have younger brothers who tell lame jokes.”

  “It was quite funny.”

  “But you didn’t laugh.”

  “You should never laugh when ice skating because the ice might crack up with you,” I repeat.

  “I always wanted to try ice skating.”

  “How come you never have?”

  “I kept getting cold feet.”

  I bend over in laughter, not because she’s funny, but because she’s so darn cute with her attempts to make me laugh. She wobbles and tries to turn her skate to stop. It slides from under her and catches my skate, causing me to go down hard on the cold ice. Laughter erupts from my friends as they skate circles around us. I look at the twinkling white lights above and laugh with them.

  Holland steadies herself as she looks down at me. “Did I trip you?”

  In her attempt to help me up, she loses her balance and tumbles on top of me. Her face is so close to mine as she gazes at me, a rush of cool breath escapes her. I could easily pull her closer and kiss her. I fight off the urge, not wanting an audience.

  Tyler comes to a skidding stop at our heads, ruining the moment and dusting us with little ice particles. “I thought she couldn’t take you down.”

  She hides her face in my chest. “Sorry.”

  I wrap my arm around her back. “Oh, I’m not complaining.”

  “Here,” Tyler says, waving his hand in our faces, “give me your hand, and I’ll show you how to pull someone up successfully.”

  Holland reaches for him, and he pulls her back to a standing position. Thanks, Tyler. That could’ve lasted a little bit longer.

  I stand without assistance. “You ready to go around again?”

  Holland’s face is flushed when she says, “I think I’ve had enough ice skating for one night. I’m really sorry for making you fall.”

  “It wasn’t the first nor will it be the last time I’ll fall on ice. At least this time, it was because of a beautiful girl.” I hope the cold air hides the blood rushing to my cheeks.

  She stumbles again but holds firmly on my arm as we glide to the exit. We make it off the ice and sit down on a bench to take off our skates.

  “It’s almost time for the tree lighting,” I say, holding out my hand to help her up. These darn gloves again getting in the way. “We should make our way toward the stage.”

  Jackson exits the skating rink and plops down to remove his skates. “Um, just to let you know, you guys are under the mistletoe again.”

  I look up, and there it is dangling by a red bow from a strand of white lights. And I didn’t even plan it this way.

  Holland’s eyes sparkle, pleading. I’m not going for the cheek this time. I lean down and feel her warm breath against my cool lips. She closes her eyes. No longer caring about having an audience, I brush my lips gently against hers, feeling a warm sensation course through me. She wraps her arms around my neck and opens her mouth to mine.

  My knees go weak, making me plop down on the bench behind me. I pull her onto my lap, so she doesn’t fall. Maybe I planned that part.

  “You gotta go easy on me, Boss." I say. "You’re making me fall in all sorts of ways.”

  Epilogue

  Holland

  Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. It was a time to spend a week with my grandfather at the inn, then I’d spend a week with my mom. We’d fly to any place I wanted that had available seats. By the time I turned twelve, she banned Disney World from the list.

  This year, the traditions have changed, and I welcome the changes.

  Glancing around the living room of my grandfather’s cabin, I smile at my new tradition. An odd one of sorts, but I’d be happy with this for many years to come.

  Mom sits next to Todd on the oversized chair I always nap in, looking happier than I’ve ever seen her. At first, it was weird seeing them together. But then I realized what a match they make. She softens him, and he grounds her--so much so she’s decided to trade in her wings and settle in Snow Falls. It’ll be nice having her here to help with the inn.

  Blake sits on the hearth with his face glued to his phone. Some things don’t change.

  Kate and Dad are splayed out on the floor amongst torn papers covered in snowmen as the boys build miniature inns out of Legos. Kate and Mom had never interacted much since Kate became part of the family when I was eight. For the past week, they’ve been at each other's side as if they’ve been lifelong girl friends. I’m not sure how excited Dad is about that.

  Ember’s dad rocks in G-Daddy’s recliner. The day after the Christmas tree lightning, Ember had to take him to the emergency room. He had cut his hand pretty badly with a knife while making lunch, and Ember couldn’t stop the bleeding.

  It was an accident that wound up being a blessing in disguise. The doctor called him out on the alcohol level in his blood. Since coming home, he hasn’t had a single drink and even started an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter at the local church.

  And last, but definitely not least, there’s Ember. We’re cuddled together on the couch, taking in this new tradition. For the past month, things have been ideal between us. I know it won’t always be that way. I’m sure we’re bound to argue and be mad at each other. But for now, I’m enjoying this perfect relationship.

  It’s been equal parts work and fun. That’s really not true. Even when we’re working, it doesn’t seem like work to me.

  We spend the days making plans and going over every file, note, and statement G-Daddy left behind. I’m impressed by how much Ember knows about running the inn. My grandfather left me in good and capable hands.

  We spend the nights getting to know each other on a more personal level. Talking about movies, music, and food. Gallivanting about town and making me realize how little there is to do in Snow Falls. He even got me to ice skate again. This time, we both stayed upright.

  Anytime he sees mistletoe, he drags me under. He’s already said the mistletoe hanging in front of G-Daddy’s office will need to stay up all year round. I agreed.

  It pains me to think about leaving him in a week when I make the trip back home. June can’t come quick enough.

  Epilogue

  Ember

  June

  The little white dot on the Follow Me app tells me Holland’s only an hour away. She knew her dad and I would call her every hour to check on her progress, distracting her from being fully aware on the road.

  I didn’t want her to make the trip alone, but she wouldn’t let me fly down to join her because of a big wedding that took place yesterday at the inn. If she’d come the day after her graduation, I would’ve been able to fly down and ride back with her, but she insisted on delaying the trip a week because a close friend of hers was getting married.

  Lauren, the consulting manager, only made one recommendation to us after spending time at the inn in January and February. She said we needed to become a wedding venue. Of course, Holland was all on board with that suggestion, being the girly girl that she can be. And Nicole, Holland’s mom, was on board as well and said she’d love to manage that part, without adding a lot on my plate. She’s definitely managing it well, having already booked the venue out for the entire summer. As for adding things to my plate, if I have to build one more decorative wedding arch, I might scream. The good news is Dad has started working part time again, picking up some of the slack from my stack of responsibilities.

  I’ll be
thankful to share the workload once Holland is here. I’ll be even more thankful to hold and kiss her. And, to tell her the one thing I haven’t told her yet.

  We’ve only physically seen each other twice since Christmas. She came up for her spring break. Most of that week was spent with the consultant and her mom going over the details for the wedding offerings. I flew down at the beginning of May to take her to her senior prom. But we have spent an exorbitant amount of time on video calls, making my heart grow even fonder.

  I’m ready to kiss her lips and not my phone screen.

  I spend the next forty-five minutes walking around the lobby, making sure everything is in place for her arrival. I’m sure it won’t prevent her from going through and turning a picture ever so slightly or fluffing a pillow.

  The dot on my phone shows me she’s now in Snow Falls. I step out into the twilight sky and pull a cart around to the parking lot. She parks her graduation gift from her dad, a Honda CR-V, and jumps out.

  I gather her into my arms and hold her snugly. The mere touch of my hand on her back causes her to shiver. She buries her face in my neck and breathes a kiss there. But that’s not good enough. I touch my lips to hers, devouring the softness. I give myself freely to her, letting her warmth send a wild swirl throughout every nerve in my body.

  We take a moment to catch our breaths, our eyes doing the holding now.

  “I’m so glad you’re finally here,” I say.

  “I’m so glad to finally be here.”

  She leans into my hand embracing her cheek.

  There have been so many times I’ve wanted to tell her something, but I’ve always chickened out. But with the backdrop of our future, the dusk settling in, and her eyes probing my soul, I’m glad I waited for this perfect moment.

  “I love you.”

  The warmth of her smile echoes in her voice when she says, “I love you, too.”