“Sounds like a lot of work to me.” An older man in the third row stood. “I’m Denver Kolb. I can decorate the window, all right. My wife’s good at that sort of thing, but how are we going to get folks to come down here? How are they going to hear about our newfangled celebrations?”
“I’ve already started on that. Thankfully, Dover already has a very appealing website. I’ve added a page for our Christmas events and will post pictures as we go along. I’ve also started to contact various media outlets—newspapers, television, radio—to let them know what we are doing. But the best marketing tool we have is you. Word of mouth will draw more people to Dover than any other thing. Talk it up to your friends, your relatives. Post it on your social media pages.”
“I don’t do any of that social stuff. Do you have anything I can give people?”
“I will have something, yes. I’m working on a small postcard-size handout and a large poster that you can place in various places. I should have all of this finalized in a day or so. I will keep in touch with you via email, or if that’s not an option, Leatha will call you and leave messages.”
“What about the last weekend? Will it still focus on the real meaning of Christmas?”
Gemma stole a quick glance at Linc and saw a faint smirk on his lips. She squared her shoulders and smiled out at the crowd. “Yes. Absolutely. The local choirs will still sing, and the churches on the square will be open for prayer or candlelight services. We’ll keep the food vendors and hopefully the carriage rides, but that weekend will be devoted to honoring the season.”
She swallowed around the tightness in her throat, waiting for the reactions to her plans. “I know this sounds like a lot of things to pull together, but most of it will fall on me. I’ve done this before, many times, and I’ve organized events that will deliver the greatest impact for the least amount of effort. Provided we all work together. I’m here to help you work through your concerns and tackle issues as they arise, but I don’t think there will be any we can’t handle together.”
The owners stood and began chatting, many of them approaching her with questions and comments. To her relief, most were enthusiastic and excited about the events and no one expressed concern about that extra week.
Linc strolled up to the table where she’d laid her drawings. She squared her shoulders and smiled. “So. I guess you were disappointed.”
He frowned. “’Bout what?”
“That the owners didn’t rebel against my plans for the events or the lame-duck workweek. I thought they were very cooperative and even enthusiastic.”
“We’ll see.” He inhaled a slow breath. “I know you believe in what you’re doing. I get that, but I’m concerned about the long-term. Part of the charm here is the low-key way we do things. These events will change the focus. Instead of sitting back and enjoying the holiday, we’ll be running around trying to top last year, and Christmas will be lost in trying to make things bigger and flashier.”
The man was determined to keep Dover in the last century. “Well, it’s fortunate that you’re not the one in charge, then, isn’t it?”
A woman approached and Gemma took the opportunity to turn away from Linc. “Can I help you?”
“I’m Shirley Roe from the Magnolia Diner. I couldn’t make the first meeting, but I wanted to tell you how excited I am about expanding our holiday events. I know the increase in visitors will be a blessing for my business. Most of the people at Southways ate lunch at my place. I’m planning on doing a little sprucing up before the big lighting weekend. I want our visitors to see the real charm of my café and the down-home food we offer.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m going to do my best to make sure these weekends are as special as they can be.”
Shirley extended her hand. “Thank you, Mrs. Butler, or do you prefer Ms.?”
Gemma grasped the woman’s hand. “Gemma is fine.”
Linc was still standing near the table, studying her with his intense blue eyes. She raised her chin. “Another satisfied customer.”
“So which is it? Ms. or Mrs.?”
A twinge of anger tightened her throat. What did it matter? But maybe she could shut down his curiosity with the truth. “Miss. I’ve never been married.” She saw the surprise register in his eyes and the sudden tightening of his jaw. In for a penny in for a pound. “And yes, Evan is my biological child. Any other questions?”
Linc had the grace to look embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
“Yes, you did.” Gathering up her papers, she slipped them into the satchel and headed for the door. Why did everyone think they had a right to ask personal questions? Where’s your husband? Are you widowed? Divorced? Sometimes she wanted to silence them all with the truth, but that would only create more questions.
She could feel Linc’s eyes on her back as she left the room. What was he thinking? No doubt his estimation of her had changed. It didn’t matter. He was only the son of her landlord. He had no power over her at all.
Inside her car she buckled up and turned the ignition key. So why did she want him to have a good opinion of her? It made no sense. Though, he was a member of one of the most influential families in Dover. Having his support would be a blessing. But she had Francie behind her, which was more important. Linc was just an irritating gnat she’d have to deal with.
A gnat that refused to vacate her thoughts. He slipped in at the oddest moments. Her only hope was to stay so busy that she had no time to think of anything else. She had a lot to do if she was going to succeed.
Chapter Six
The stars were out and the temperatures dipping into the forties as Linc steered his truck toward the garage behind the main house. He’d been delayed by friends at the meeting who were all eager to express their delight over the new Christmas events. He’d tried to keep his personal opinions to himself, but it had been difficult. Gemma had made the whole upgrade of Christmas sound like a birthday party. He’d left feeling irritated and short-circuited as he always did when he was around her.
She stirred up unwelcome emotions and made observations that left him feeling exposed and vulnerable. Like when she’d called him on his need to be in control. It was true. With Dad gone, he felt he’d lost all control of his life. Gemma’s tampering with Dover’s Christmas celebrations was adding insult to injury.
However, her heartfelt explanation of the Christmas lights last night had moved him and forced him to look at the decorations from a new perspective. It had also cracked open a place in his heart he’d not visited for a long while. Since his last relationship had ended, he’d shut down all romantic feelings. Gemma was nudging them to life again. Even though he’d fought against it, he’d been attracted to her from the start. She wasn’t like any woman he’d met before. Gemma was creative, impulsive, changed things on the fly. He couldn’t pin her down.
But her comments about family, traditions, and now her statement about her marital situation made him wonder if they shared the same values.
In the garage, Linc pulled his Chevy truck to a stop beside his dad’s battered Ford pickup. His heart twisted with a bittersweet memory. Dad was a Ford man to the core and had jokingly complained about having Linc’s bow tie monster parked so close. Gil had threatened to buy a Dodge just to irk their dad even more. Now Linc looked at the silent vehicle and wondered what would happen to it. Mom had her own small car. She had no use for the old truck.
By the time Linc entered his kitchen a few moments later, his mood had soured further. Each day he awoke, he felt as if a large chunk of his heart had been ripped away. He’d moved back home to watch over his mother and he was glad he’d done so. Whether she realized it or not, she needed someone close by.
“How did the meeting go, sweetheart?”
His mother was seated at the breakfast table dressed in her bathrobe and slippers, a hot cup of tea and her e-reader in front of her. It was barely after nine in the evening. She never went to bed before eleven and never changed into her pajamas until s
he was ready to sleep. Maybe she was sick. The thought lanced through him like a knife. He couldn’t survive losing another parent. “Mom, are you all right?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
Easing into a chair, he searched his mother’s face for some clue as to what was bothering her. “You’re in your robe and drinking hot tea.”
She smiled as understanding dawned. “Oh. I see. There’s nothing wrong. I’m just tired and I thought I’d turn in early. Evan and I played games most of the evening.” She patted his hand. “So tell me about the meeting.”
Linc chewed the inside of his mouth as he tried to organize his thoughts. “It went okay, I guess. Just not the way I expected.”
“Oh?”
He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “Everyone is all fired up and I don’t get it.”
“You mean they didn’t like Gemma’s ideas?”
“No, they loved them. That’s what I don’t get. I figured everyone would see the damage these changes could do and refuse to go along with them.”
“And they didn’t?”
“No. They were all jumping for joy, like everything we’ve done in the past was meaningless.” He stood and went to the refrigerator, pulled out the pitcher of sweet tea and poured a glass. “How many times have we talked about the overcommercialization of Christmas? The loss of the spiritual meaning. Now all of a sudden the town wants to dump our traditions for all the glitz.”
“And this bothers you?”
“Of course. Traditions are important.”
“What exactly is Gemma proposing?”
He shook his head; once his mom heard some of Gemma’s weird ideas she’d be on his side. “First, she wants all the businesses around the square to decorate their windows as part of a contest she’s promoting on the Dover website to draw in visitors to see the winners. She even got Davis to offer free advertising in the Dispatch for the winners.”
“Interesting. Is that all?”
“No. There’s a lamppost-decorating contest, too, that anyone can enter.” Linc leaned back in his chair. “Screwy idea if you ask me.”
“How did folks respond?”
He thought back to the moment when Gemma had finished her discussion and the owners had applauded. Loudly. They’d crowded around her afterward with questions and smiles “As if she’d just offered them each a free trip to Disney World.”
Francie took a sip of her tea before answering. “I think her ideas are right on target.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“She’s doing what she was hired to do, and it sounds as if the owners are all eager to participate. I knew she would charm them. She’s so full of enthusiasm, don’t you think?”
Linc didn’t want to discuss his reactions to Gemma. He still hadn’t figured out why he became all edgy and irritable when she was around.
“I enjoy helping her out by watching Evan after school. It gives her more time to concentrate on her new job.”
“Are you sure he’s not too much for you? I mean, he’s an energetic little kid.”
“I look forward to having him here each day. You know how much I’ve longed for grandchildren, and I haven’t had Abby around since she was small. Besides, he needs a grandma and I need a little childishness in my life. Will it bother you having Evan around the house?”
“No. He’s a great kid. It’s just…we’re getting pretty tangled up with our tenants. I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“We get tangled up in all of our friends. Or is there something different about Gemma and Evan? Like perhaps she’s very attractive and very single?”
Linc held up a hand to ward off further conversation. “No. She is not my type. She’s one of these women that want to do everything on their own. Job. Career. Even kids. They don’t need the messy complications of falling in love, getting married and then starting a family. Just jump to the end.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She told me tonight she has never been married.”
“I see. And so you jumped to the conclusion that she’s antimarriage and family?”
“That, and from some of the other things she’s said about family and traditions.” He carried his glass to the sink.
“Well, I’m sure there’s some logical explanation. I know her fairly well and I can’t see her being a die-hard feminist the way that one girlfriend of yours was.” Her eyes narrowed. “Is that why you broke up with Kelsey last year? Was she too new-century for you?”
Linc set his jaw. “That was only part of it. We didn’t want the same things. I wanted a family and she wanted her career.”
“And how about Tina? What was wrong with her?”
He was in no mood to analyze his past relationships with his mother. Linc winked and kissed his mother on the cheek. “She wasn’t you.” He stopped at the kitchen door when she called his name.
“That’s not the first time you’ve said that to me. Do you mean that? Are you looking for a woman like me?”
“Of course. You’re beautiful, strong, smart and funny. The perfect combination.”
“Linc. I’m flattered. But you shouldn’t be looking for a clone of me.” She stood and came to him. “You should be looking for the woman God has chosen for your life.”
“You and Dad had the perfect marriage. That’s what I want, and I’m not going to settle for anything less.”
His mother touched his arm lightly. “Your father and I had a wonderful life together, but you’re only seeing the last twenty years. You didn’t see the years when we struggled, when he worked late and I never saw him, when we fought over money and how to discipline you kids. We worked at making our marriage strong. It didn’t start out that way and it bothers me that you think so.”
“I know marriage takes work. But I’m not settling for someone who isn’t right.” Linc saw sadness fill his mother’s eyes. “I’m sorry if I upset you, Mom. I just want lasting love like you and Dad had. He was a lucky man to have someone like you who made him happy every day.”
His mother’s eyes clouded over and her shoulders sagged. “Did I make him happy every day?”
“Of course. You made each other happy.” The sadness and doubt in his mother’s eyes tugged at his heart.
“I hope so.” She picked up her e-reader and clutched it to her chest. “I’m turning in. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Linc watched his mom walk away with a heavy heart. He wasn’t sure what he’d said to disturb her, but since his father’s death, she reacted oddly to many things. As deeply as he grieved, he couldn’t begin to imagine the pain of losing a spouse of thirty-nine years.
He turned out the lights in the kitchen and made his way to his room. The silence in the house pressed in on him. Dad had been a night owl, staying up late to either work or watch SportsCenter and get caught up on his favorite teams. The lack of noise emphasized the giant hole inside him that his father had once filled.
Climbing into bed, he stared at the ceiling. He missed his dad’s wise council now. His dad would know how to keep the family together and the company running. He’d probably have some sound advice on what to do about Gemma, too.
Pressure began to build deep in his gut, moving upward, pressing against his ribs with tremendous force. Covering his eyes with his forearm, Linc gave in to his grief.
*
Crisp Saturday-morning air blew strands of hair across Gemma’s cheek. She ignored it. Fingers pressed against her mouth, she held her breath, her heart stilled as Evan cut sharply to the right, avoiding the grasping hands of another player, and charged toward the goal line, scoring a touchdown that won the game. Evan slammed the ball to the ground and jumped up and down, a huge smile on his face.
A shout of triumph from Linc distracted her. His usual scowl was gone, replaced with a heart-melting smile that softened his sharp features and raised his handsome quotient several notches. It increased her pulse rate, too. She watched as Linc jogged across the field, gathe
ring his players like little chicks and handing out high fives and hugs. When he got to Evan, he scooped him up in a bear hug before setting him down and ruffling his hair.
Gemma didn’t know which sight pleased her more: her son’s happy smile or the pride reflected in Linc’s deep blue eyes. Both were a sight to behold, and both were images she thought she’d never see. This was Evan’s third ball game, and the second they’d won. Evan was consumed with playing flag football. Being part of the team had accomplished more than she’d ever dreamed.
Francie Montgomery came to her side. “What a great game. Evan is thoroughly enjoying himself.”
Unable to speak around the lump in her throat, she nodded, fighting back tears. Who would have thought that Evan would blossom under someone like Linc? A man she thought she’d never want to know.
“And I think my boy is enjoying himself, too. It’s good to see him having fun. Linc is far too serious. Your son is good for him.”
Gemma glanced at her friend. It was odd to hear her speak of Linc as her boy. There was nothing boyish about him. But she supposed when Evan was full grown she’d still think of him as her boy, too, no matter how masculine he was. “He’s very good with the kids. Very patient. I hadn’t expected him to be.” She clamped her mouth shut. Francie was such a good friend that she’d forgotten she was also Linc’s mother.
Francie chuckled softly. “You expected him to be stern and disapproving?”
“I guess.”
“Linc can be a hard man to get to know. He keeps his emotions buried deep. People often think he’s cold and distant, but he’s not really. He’s always been reserved. Unfortunately, losing his dad has made him more withdrawn. Coaching this team has helped him ease up a bit.”
“Evan adores him. You, too.”
“Well, the feeling is mutual. You’ve raised a special boy. Not easy when you’re a single parent.”
“No. Sometimes I feel as if I’ve failed him completely.” Logically she knew many single mothers raised fine, upstanding children all alone. But she wanted more for Evan. A traditional home with a traditional family. But she didn’t believe it would ever happen.
Her Christmas Hero (Home To Dover 6) Page 8