“Right, this isn’t getting things moving. Let’s go down and see who’s arrived.” Mari brushed past them, held open the door to the flat and ushered them all out.
The large ballroom was a hive of activity with people milling around, chattering excitedly and trying to peek past the roped off Christmas tree section.
As soon as they descended the stairs, the questions started.
“When will we get to see the trees?”
“Who is doing the auction?”
“Can I get a sneak peek at the trees?”
Mari clapped her hands for attention. “Welcome to the Cherry Lake Christmas Tree Auction and Gala Ball. Just so everyone knows, here is a quick rundown on the evening.”
Dakota stood to one side with her parents and marveled at how well Mari had everything organized.
“We start with drinks and greetings. When our esteemed mayor arrives, she will have a few words to say before we display the trees. Dinner will commence at 8:30 with dancing to follow until 10:30 when the winner of the competition will be announced.” She paused as a cheer rolled round the room. “Then we will have the auction. Be warned, people of Cherry Lake. The trees are stunning and you will have to fight to own one.” Mari smiled and waited for a hush to descend on the room.
“Right now I want you all to enjoy yourselves and remember that this is for the Grange, for our children’s future and for the Cherry Lake community. Have a great time and make the most of what’s promising to be a fabulous night.”
Applause greeted the end of her speech. Her father moved to stand beside her. “You know, Mari, your talent is right here. Organizing people and events, that takes skill. I’m proud of you, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She blushed and reached for his hand. “I’m glad you and Noelene are here.”
“Me too.”
Noelene reached for her other hand. “Go and do what you have to and leave Noah to me and your father.”
Mari looked into her stepmother’s eyes and for a moment Dakota thought she saw a shimmer of tears. “Thanks.” Then she hurried away through the crowd toward the bar where she set about organizing staff and any little problems that might have cropped up.
“I’m so proud of how she’s coping. Taking on this hotel was a huge task for her, along with raising this young man.” Noelene dabbed at her eyes.
“You could always spend more time down here, you know.” Dakota surprised herself as the words popped out of her mouth but found she really did mean it. Now it felt like she had found her footing in Cherry Lake, she no longer feared the thought of her parents wrapping her in cotton wool. She could deal with whatever they threw at her.
Her father coughed and shared a glance with her mother. “We might just do that.”
“Can you, Grandad, really?” Noah clapped his hands. “It’d be cool if you stayed here often. Mom said you might if I asked you using my best manners.”
Dakota smiled at the shock on her parents’ faces. They’d been so worried for far too long that Mari would blame them for the way her childhood had turned out. She already knew the true story but it seemed like the parents worried for nothing.
“Um, you know what, Noah? I don’t see any good reason not to spend more time here. We’re retired, we can do what we like.” He tucked his arm around his grandson’s shoulders. “Let’s go and get a drink of punch. This calls for a celebration.”
Dakota scanned the crowd looking for Adam. “You guys go ahead. I have to say hello to a few people and give my tree one final check.”
“Don’t stress over it, Dakota. I’m sure it looks beautiful, besides the judges have already made their decision.” Her mom buzzed her cheek and followed her father and Noah.
“Oh my goodness. Look at you.” Dakota turned as Cory, Jake and Woodsie walked into the ballroom, dressed in their finery. “Our own Christmas angel.” Cory bumped fists with her and she accepted a hug from his grandfather. Jake stood watching her, a look in his eyes she couldn’t decipher.
“Thanks. It was Noah’s idea and I thought, why not?” She smiled with Jake, then looked over his shoulder when more people walked in.
“Adam back yet?” Jake looked concerned and she brushed it off, not willing to give into her deepest fears yet.
“No. He said he might be late depending on flights.” Dakota pushed down the anxiety clawing up her throat. “It’ll be fine, I’m sure.”
Jake took her arm, gave her a brief hug. “If you need to talk to anyone, I’m here, okay?”
Did he know something she didn’t? Worry started to chew at her heels. She didn’t want to miss out on that dance with Adam. Not because she would be short on dance partners but because if he didn’t make it back tonight, she would worry herself sick until she saw him. “Thanks. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“Make sure you save this old man a dance, Dakota.” Woodsie gave her his trademark wink.
“I will, promise.” She ducked away behind the curtain, panic rattling her nerves and took a couple of deep breaths. Her tree sat quiet and still as if waiting for the chance to bloom. In her purse, tucked away for the right moment was the remote control for the lights she had promised to trial. The smell of fresh pine needles went a small way to soothing her nerves. She could do this. Put on a brave face and accept what happened tonight even if it killed her.
If Adam made it back tonight and his health was good, she would be over the moon, because they would have a chance for a relationship. If things weren’t as they both hoped, Dakota would offer her love regardless. She’d take him as she found him. Love didn’t come with guarantees. His parents had found that out. So had her sister and she at least had Noah to remind her daily of the man who she’d lost. A short intense love was better than no love at all.
The curtain whipped aside. “What are you doing hiding in here?” Rach stepped in, a frown on her face.
“I’m not hiding.”
“Yeah, you are. Funny enough, we might have only known each other for a short time but I can read you like a book, Dakota. You’re stressing over Adam, aren’t you?”
She hung her head and brought her hands to her face. “Gosh, I’m truly pathetic. If you can figure that out, I guess everyone else can too.”
“I doubt everyone else has my incredible powers of observation and you’re not pathetic. He’s a good guy and I’m sure everything will be fine. Adam wouldn’t let you down if he could help it. He’s not the type.” Rach wrapped an arm around Dakota’s shoulders and stood looking at the tree. “I’m a little scared to ask what’s going on here. I mean, the angels are gorgeous and all but I sense something else is about to happen to make this tree stand out from the rest.” She groaned. “I have no hope, no hope, I tell you.”
A laugh chortled up Dakota’s throat. She couldn’t help it and half suspected that was the idea. “You are such a tease. Your tree will be beautiful. I know it will.”
Rach pulled at the curtain between their sections, showing off her finished entry. “Look. That is an awful mess compared to your rather sedate creation.”
Dakota sucked in a breath. Rachel’s tree was a mass of red and varying shades of gold that reeked sophistication and style. Tiny lights poked their tips out between fake fairy soft snowflakes, layered over gold reindeer in different poses. It reminded her of a photo shoot from a Home Beautiful Christmas special magazine. Opulent, inviting and picture perfect in every detail. “Oh my goodness. That is one stunning tree. I think you have the winner without a doubt.”
A twitch of Rachel’s lips indicated her pleasure. “Not bad but certainly not that unique like yours.”
“You have me there but unique isn’t always the be all and end all.” And if the lights failed to perform, unique could be very bad. “I’m fully prepared to have an epic fail because I am trying something new and exciting for a friend.”
“This gets more interesting every minute.” Rach closed the curtain between their trees. “Come on out and enjoy yourself and have faith in Ad
am. I intend to have a drink or two to take away the edge. Tonight I want to let my hair down. You should follow suit.”
“Everything alright?” A slight bitterness had tinged Rachel’s words and Dakota wanted to soothe away the pain.
“Sure. Nothing a drink won’t fix. Come on.” She grabbed Dakota’s arm and dragged her out to join the swelling crowd of locals all dressed up in their finery. “Your sister sure knows how to put on a good show, doesn’t she? The hotel is looking fabulous. Never seen so many locals out in one place before.”
“That she does. You should have seen her shop in L.A. I really can’t believe she left it all behind to move here but she insisted it would be better to raise Noah in a smaller community.”
“But if she didn’t come here, would you have?” Rach took a glass of bubbly from a passing waiter, handed it to Dakota and took another one for herself.
“Nope.” She sipped and sighed in bliss when the bubbles danced over her tongue.
“We have a lot to be grateful for then. Cherry Lake is a lovely place for children to grow up. Might be a bit short on available men but that’s all I can complain about.” Rach swallowed half the glass before giving Dakota a grimace. “Sorry, ignore me. I’m feeling a little unloved at the moment. I feel as though I’m ready for love and risk becoming a spinster. Perhaps I should start collecting stray cats and become the crazy cat lady.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“Why would you? It’s not like I’m going to publicize the lack of suitable dates. I had high hopes when Adam brought the guys in for the soccer workshop that I’d catch the eye of one of them but that didn’t happen.” She surveyed the crowd. “Most of the eligible guys here are too old, or tied to their work and don’t see me. I might have to put an ad in the paper or dance naked down the main street.”
Dakota burst out laughing. “No way! There has to be someone suitable here.”
Rach took another swig of her bubbly. “I’m pulling your leg. You were far too somber a moment ago. Besides, cats are the better idea I think.”
“Sneaky devil.” She hugged her friend. “Thanks for cheering me up. I really needed it.”
“Great. Now let me win the competition and we can call it even. If you can manage to find me a date though, I won’t complain.”
“Deal.” How on earth could she sway the judges at this late stage?
*
“Are you sure this is the only way to go forward, Adam?” The team manager faced him across the desk.
“I wish there was an alternative but I don’t see I have any choice.”
Pete leaned over his desk, his face a mass of sadness. “You know we’re going to miss you, right?”
“I’ve loved every minute of playing for the team, you know that. I firmly believe some things happen for a reason and I feel that the best thing for me moving forward is to retire now while I’m still capable of having a good life.” He looked at the trophies in the cabinets, trophies he’d helped to win. “I want to be able to give back, make someone else’s life as thrilling as mine has been. There’re a lot of kids out there with more talent than I ever had who normally wouldn’t get a second glance. They need someone to point them in the right direction and I hope I can be a part of that.”
“You mean like set up a training program to push school kids forward into the sport?”
“Yes. I talked it over with Buzz when he came out to Cherry Lake. The talent coming through is amazing but you know how hard it is to be picked up by the scouts. They have to be talked into coming out to your area and kids that live in country areas don’t get much of a chance compared with the big city colleges. I want to change that.”
Pete leaned back in his chair, picked up a pen and tapped it on his desk. “Hmm, and do you think we should be involved in this project somehow?”
“I’d love it. Other clubs have development squads.”
Pete pounced. “But not fifteen-year-old kids.” He leaned back again, rocked his chair which meant he was thinking.
“Perhaps that should change.” Adam looked at his watch. “I have to go, plane to catch but I’ll keep in touch.” He stood, held his hand over the desk. “You have a great Christmas and I’ll be in contact in the new year.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mari stood on the temporary stage in front of the small ballroom doors. They’d been pulled open but the curtains still hid the trees from view but that didn’t stop the crowd from craning their necks to get a better look.
“First of all, I want to thank you all for coming tonight. It’s a great turnout and if I didn’t know better, I’d say the whole town is here.” A deafening roar of applause drowned her out. She waited for silence, a smile of pleasure on her face. “Without further ado, I’d like to invite our esteemed mayor up to announce the winner of the great Cherry Lake Christmas Tree Gala Auction. Clover, over to you.” Mari held out the microphone to Clover and stood down from the stage.
“Thank you, Mari. Firstly, I’d like to say thank you. You’ve done an incredible job getting this all organized so fast and so beautifully.” Wolf whistles drowned out the applause. “Now, I’d like to invite the fabulous tree decorators to draw the curtains and show us what they’ve got.”
Butterflies now beating their wings up her throat, Dakota slipped her hand through Rachel’s and together they walked over to their trees. “One, two, three.” With a flourish, they pulled back the curtains, displaying their works of art to the public.
“Dakota. Psst, Dakota.” Mari caught her attention. “Lights, love.”
“Oh.” Dakota blushed, she’d forgotten to hit the display button that would set her angels alight. She fumbled in her purse, pulled out the remote control and hit the switch.
Gasps of delight came from the people watching as her ornaments came alive with their own inner light stream. Her angels looked ready for flight and a sense of relief welled in her throat, damping down the butterflies.
“Houston, I think we have a problem.” Rach nudged her and Dakota looked up at her tree topper. It remained dark.
Dakota hit the switch again, pointed it at the tree topper and jammed her finger on the button. Nothing happened. Her stomach plummeted and the collective sighs of disappointment only made it worse for her.
“Honey, can I do anything?” Her father stepped over to her, his hand out for the controls.
“Oh, Dad. It’s not working. I spent so much time making her and she’s a failure.”
He pressed the switch, turned the controls over, flicked open the battery casing. He rolled them around, pushed the button again before agreeing with her. “I’m so sorry, love. You seem to have a major problem and I don’t know how to fix it.” He hugged her.
Dakota shrugged her shoulders. “Oh well, can’t do anything about it I guess.” She turned to the crowd. “Sorry to let you down, folks. The topper is a no go.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Dakota, and it’s such an amazing decoration too. Let’s get underway with the announcements, shall we?” Clover held up three gold envelopes. “I have three place getters here. The auction will be later in the evening once everyone has eaten dessert and is in a more relaxed mood. We want you to make sure your bids are very generous and what better way than after the delicious sweets that are on offer tonight?” A snigger of appreciation wavered over the crowd.
“Third place tonight goes to…” she slipped her finger under the tab of the envelope and pulled out a card. “Third place goes to Daniel and Lila Dixon. Congratulations.”
“Second place goes to,” Clover repeated the process of opening the envelope, drawing out the anticipation. “Second place goes to, Dakota Moore. Congratulations Dakota.”
“Really? I don’t deserve it.” She fluttered her hands in front of her and pointed to her failed tree topper.
Her father gave her a nudge. “Honey, after all the work that went into that tree, you deserve it and more. Your angels are a hit even if the big girl failed to perform on
the night.” He rubbed his chin, stared at the dark topper. “Hmm, I want to take her off and figure out what’s going on. Gotta be something simple.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She accepted the applause and the card Clover handed to her before walking back to stand with her family wishing Adam were here to help her get over the disappointment.
“And, now folks, the winner of the first annual Christmas tree auction is…drum roll please. Rachel Smyth. Huge congratulations, Rachel. Superb job.”
Cameras flashed as Rachel posed for photos in front of her winning tree.
“She deserves it. It’s a brilliant job, so classy looking too.” Dakota clapped loud for her friend.
“Right, excuse me please. I must make sure that the staff are on point for the rest of the dinner service. Keep an eye on Noah for me please, Dad.” Mari wiggled her fingers and disappeared to get the next part of the evening underway.
*
The captain’s voice came over the speaker. “Folks, if we don’t get the okay to land this time around, I’m afraid we’ll be heading back to Seattle. The weather has turned for the worst and we’re in a rotating order with another plane for landing. It’s not looking good.” A collective groan filled the cabin and Adam wondered what else could go wrong today. He closed his eyes and sent up a silent prayer.
Fifteen minutes later he bounded down the steps of the plane and ran through the airport, headed for the carpark and his car. Adam threw his bag on the seat and grabbed his phone. Dakota didn’t pick up and he cursed. It would be a slow drive back to Cherry Lake and it looked as though he was going to miss the auction because of the delays. He slammed his palm on the steering wheel, waited for a break in the traffic exiting the airport and fed into the line of flickering lights heading off through the bleak night.
Adam pulled into his driveway, threw the car into park and ran for the back door. He’d already set his clothes out for the evening and changed faster than he’d ever done before. With his tie in his hand, he ran back to the car, glanced up at the eerie sky as he slid into the seat and slammed the door.
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