Nantucket White Christmas: A feel-good, small town, Christmas story

by Pamela M. Kelley

  “We have a bidding war! Two of the people that looked at your cottage fell in love with it. I told them it’s a multiple bid situation and they need to make their best offer. I’ll be back to you later today with more details. Just wanted to let you know the good news.

  “Thanks. That’s great news.”

  Angela hung up the phone and didn’t feel nearly as excited as she’d imagined she would when she got the news that an offer was coming. Depending on the terms of the offer, her time on Nantucket could be coming to an end much sooner than expected.

  She scooped up Sam and snuggled with him on the sofa, watching Hallmark movies for the rest of the afternoon. She was on pins and needles waiting for Lauren’s call to come. It was crazy to her to think that someone might spend upwards of two million dollars for her grandmother’s cottage. It was so much money, and she reminded herself that it was what she wanted, to go home to San Francisco with money in the bank. Jane would be thrilled, and it would be nice to see her best friend again.

  But she’d made so many new friends on Nantucket. It was going to be hard to leave them all behind. She would have money, though, to come back for visits. She felt like she was on vacation everyday and hated to think of her time on the island drawing to a close. She imagined that was how the summer residents felt, when September rolled around and it was time to close their cottages and head back to wherever home was.

  The call came a little after six.

  “Do you have a pen? I can email both offers over but wanted to give you the quick details. They’re both very good offers.”

  “Okay, I’m ready.” As ready as she’d ever be.

  “So, the offers are close, but I think one is stronger than the other. Both are just over two million, but one offer is all cash and they’d like to close as soon as possible. You could have your money in thirty days. What do you think?”

  “Thirty days? Wow.”

  “I know, right? I’ll email them over now and why don’t you take the night and call me in the morning?”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Lauren’s email came a few minutes later and Angela looked them over carefully. One offer was cash. The other was contingent on selling another property. That meant it was less of a sure thing and could drag the process out. As much as Angela hated for her time on the island to end, she also hated uncertainty even more. The cash offer was more solid and they could schedule the closing date as soon as possible. In a month, she could have a huge check in hand and be on her way back to San Francisco. It was bittersweet but it was what she’d planned to do, what made the most sense for her future.

  She called Lauren in the morning and accepted the cash offer.

  “Congratulations! I’ll drop by this afternoon to have you sign the offer.”

  “Thank you.”

  Lisa was happy for her when she shared the news at breakfast but said that she would miss her.

  “I really hate to see you go. It’s a lot of money, though. I imagine that would be hard to turn down. You can have a fresh start now.”

  “I’ll still be here for another month. Will you be able to find someone after that?” Angela worried about Lisa trying to do too much and hurting her back.

  “You’re sweet to worry. I’ll be able to manage. It’s just a few weeks after that and Harriet will be back. She sent me a Christmas card reminding me of the date. Plus, I’ve been doing yoga almost every day and I think my back is getting stronger.”

  “I’ll miss all of you.” Angela was already dreading saying goodbye.

  “We’ll all miss you, too. I know I will, and the girls and I’m sure Philippe, too.”

  Angela smiled. “I’ll come back for vacations whenever I can.”

  “Of course you will. Though you’ll be busy with that new job you’ll be getting.”

  “That won’t be for a while yet. I still have two classes to finish up first. I’ll probably see if I can take them during the summer session. Classes are already starting soon for the spring.”

  “Well, whatever you do, I know you’ll be a success. And whenever you’re ready to come for a visit, we’ll be here.”

  Jane was over the moon when Angela called her with the news.

  “Yay! You should come back for a visit before you move home, so you can look at a few rentals and line something up to move right into. You’re always welcome, of course, to stay here.”

  Angela preferred to get her own place and not subject Jane and her allergies to Sam.

  “Maybe I’ll fly out for a long weekend and see if I can line up a few places to look at.” It was all moving so fast, but it made sense to be smart about it.

  She called Kate and Kristen next to give them the news and to also see if either of them would mind covering for her if she flew home for the weekend. They both said they’d be happy to help.

  “Of course we will,” Kate said. “I’m happy to do it, and I’m sure Kristen will be, too. Maybe she’ll do one of the days and I’ll do the others. We’ll figure it out. We will miss you, though.”

  She called Abby next and she echoed what her sisters had said. Her last call was to Philippe and he congratulated her but was quieter than usual.

  “I wish you weren’t going,” he admitted. “But I am happy for you.”

  The next two weeks flew by as Angela tried to spend as much time with everyone as possible and also got ready to move home. She bought her tickets and dropped Sam off with Philippe, who volunteered to watch him while she was gone.

  The day she was due to fly to San Francisco, a thick letter came from her grandmother’s law firm in Boston. It was a handwritten note from Warren and a typed letter from her grandmother. She read Warren’s note first.

  Dear Angela,

  I hope you are doing well. I had instructions from your grandmother to mail this letter to you a month after you arrived on Nantucket. She wanted you to have some time to settle in and appreciate the island first.

  Wishing you a Happy New Year,

  Warren

  Angela unfolded the letter from her grandmother. She recognized the paper and look of the type as likely coming from her old Olympia typewriter.

  My dearest girl,

  I don’t have much time, they say. Maybe just a few days at this point, I’m not really sure. I have my good days and my bad, but know it won’t be long. I’m home and I’m comfortable. The hospice nurses are truly wonderful people. But enough about me. I wanted to tell you a bit about your history and why we never met before now.

  Your mother was my only child and was a handful. She was kind-hearted, but impulsive and easily influenced. It was her big heart that got her into trouble when she fell in with the wrong crowd in high school. She tried things that she shouldn’t have, even though she knew better. But, I know now that she couldn’t help herself. She suffered from addiction, as I suspect you well know.

  We had some hard times with Chrissy. I tried my best to help her, but nothing seemed to work and the only thing left was to turn her away. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, what I was advised to do and I did it to help her find her way. I don’t know if it was the right decision or not. I’ve struggled with that all my life, because I lost my daughter because of it. She never forgave me, and she never came back. And I never knew you even existed until today. My biggest regret is that I never got to know you. I hope I can make that up to you somewhat by leaving you my cottage on Nantucket, the happiest place I know. I hope that it brings you joy and I wish you a long and very happy life.

  With all my love, your grandmother,

  Estelle Stark.

  Angela could hardly see through the tears that were freely falling. It hurt that she’d never known her grandmother and she ached for her loss, for hoping she’d done the right thing, and not getting the outcome that she’d hoped. Angela wished that she could tell her that it wasn’t her fault. That Chrissy was just broken, damaged beyond help by an addiction that she couldn’t beat.

  She looked around the co
ttage and a fresh wave of tears came. She’d felt such peace here. It was going to be sad to leave the cottage and all of its history behind.

  Angela took an Uber to the Nantucket airport, flew to Boston and then on to San Francisco. Jane picked her up at the airport. She was thrilled to see her and went with her to look at the apartments that Angela had found online.

  They were all fine, lovely even, and Angela would have been happy in any of them. It was difficult to choose, and truth be told, she wasn’t ready to give a deposit and make the commitment just yet. The realtor that showed them around was understanding, though.

  “Here’s my card. Just give me a call when you make up your mind and we can take a deposit check over the phone.”

  Angela had the money in her account, since there was enough money to cover several months of expenses. She’d been mostly using the money she made from her cleaning work, so she could write a check anytime.

  “Which one did you like best?” Jane asked as they drove back to her house.

  “I don’t really know. They were all fine, all good locations.”

  “That’s true. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. I’m so glad you’re moving back sooner than expected. And I’m so happy for you.”

  Angela smiled. “Thanks. It doesn’t seem real, to be honest.”

  “It will when you get that check in your hands.”

  22

  It looks like Jessica has moved on,” Kate said. They were all at the Irish Pub on the Friday night after Angela went to San Francisco.

  Philippe smiled when he saw who Jessica was with. Sean Prescott was a well-known developer. He was visible in town and a member of the country club Jessica was so enamored with. In short, he was perfect for her. And Philippe hoped that it would work out. Jessica turned a corner and just like that, she was gone from Philippe’s thoughts, too.

  It was Angela who was on his mind. She wasn’t there yet and Philippe looked every time the front door opened, to see if it was her. He hadn’t seen her since she’d stopped by his house on her way home from San Francisco, to pick up Sam.

  He’d been surprised by how much he’d missed her. Just knowing she was across the country all weekend had depressed him. Ever since she’d stayed with him for almost a week while her floors were being done, something had shifted inside him. He’d never missed someone like this when they weren’t around. He’d always been more than happy to go out and have a wonderful time with someone, then go home and sleep alone or if they spent the night or the weekend, he was always relieved when they went home and he had his place to himself again.

  It wasn’t like that with Angela. Ever since she’d stayed with him, his house felt empty without her there. It really scared him when she went away for the long weekend because it was a wakeup call that if he didn’t do something soon, she’d be gone for good. And it was becoming more and more apparent to him that he didn’t want her to go. He needed her to stay.

  But, he didn’t know if she shared his feelings. They’d had that one, wonderful kiss in Boston on New Year’s Eve, but they’d both pulled back after that. Angela was hard to read. He knew that she liked his company and he sensed that maybe she was attracted to him, too, if their kiss was anything to go by. But he also knew that she was resisting it.

  And he couldn’t blame her. He didn’t exactly have the best track record. But he knew in his soul that things were different now. That he was different, when he was with her. And that he needed to tell her how he felt, before it was too late.

  The door opened again, and this time it was Angela. She smiled and waved when she saw Philippe and the others and made her way over to them. There was a big group out for the night—Kate and Jack, Chase and Beth, and Kristen and Tyler. Philippe thought about what Angela had said about Tyler and noticed that he seemed tense and fidgety and kept looking at the bar. But Tyler was drinking a soda, so that was good at least. Philippe hoped that Tyler was back on the wagon. He sympathized, guessing that it must be difficult to be out around other people who were drinking when you were trying not to.

  Angela ordered a chardonnay and sat on the empty stool next to Philippe.

  Beth and Chase were sitting on the other side of her.

  “We already had a call from the people that made an offer on your house,” Beth said.

  “Oh, really? They want to make some changes?”

  Beth and Chase exchanged glances and Chase laughed.

  “To put it mildly. They want to do a major renovation. A total upgrade, putting in all marble counters in the kitchen and bathroom, stainless steel appliances, AGA stove. They want to rip up your newly refinished hardwood floors and put in heated ones everywhere. She’s from Florida, I guess. And they asked about putting in a Cathedral ceiling.”

  “Is that even possible?” Angela asked.

  “Anything is possible. But that would be a major renovation. I recommended against it. It doesn’t fit the character of the place, but it’s not my house.”

  Angela tried to picture her grandmother’s house with the changes that Chase had mentioned and it was a depressing image. It just seemed wrong to modernize it that much. It would lose all of its rustic charm. And the polished hard wood floors looked so pretty. The idea of it made her all the more sad about leaving Nantucket and giving up her grandmother’s house.

  A little while later, Kristen stopped over to chat. Tyler was nowhere to be seen.

  “He went home. Said he wasn’t feeling well. He’s been under a lot of pressure lately and has a deadline looming.”

  “How is he doing with the loss of his mother?” Angela asked.

  “He doesn’t talk about it much. But I can tell that it’s still really hard for him. He’s cancelled plans with me twice lately, saying that he just isn’t up for going out. I’m worried about him. I think maybe he might be dealing with some depression of some sort, and needs to talk to someone that can help him get through this.”

  “That might be a good idea,” Philippe agreed.

  Angela glanced his way and their eyes met. He knew she was still concerned with what she’d seen in Tyler’s closet. He felt she’d made the right decision to respect his privacy, though. That kind of grief was difficult and Tyler need to find his way somehow.

  By the end of the night, it was just Angela and Philippe left at the bar. Everyone else had gone home, but they were still deep in conversation. Angela had switched to a hot coffee drink and Philippe had been sipping a snifter of Grand Marnier for over an hour, savoring the sweet orange taste and wanting to make the evening last longer. He was trying to get his courage up to really talk to Angela.

  “I can’t believe those buyers want to change my grandmother’s house so much,” Angela said again. He could tell that the news bothered her as she’d said the same thing earlier.

  “I wouldn’t do it. But once people buy something, they can do whatever they want with it.”

  Angela sighed. “I know. But it just seems wrong.”

  He smiled. “I agree.” He looked around the bar and no one was in ear shot. “Now that we’re alone, there’s something that I want to say to you.”

  “Oh? What’s that?” She looked curious, but he could tell she had no idea what was coming next.

  “I really don’t want you to go. I want to be more than friends with you, Angela. Much more. I started to realize it when you and Sam stayed with me. The house just wasn’t the same when you guys left. I think even Mandy missed you both.”

  Angela’s eyes grew wide and she sucked in her breath. He’d surprised her.

  “When you went to Boston with my parents it was just so easy. It’s always easy being with you and fun. They loved you by the way.”

  She smiled. “I loved them, too.”

  “Here’s the thing. I’m not sure how you feel about me, but I just had to let you know how I feel before you moved back to San Francisco. I think I’m falling in love with you. This is new for me, and a little scary,” he confessed.

  Angela
was dead silent and looked completely shocked. And he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.

  “Say something. Either put me out of my misery or make me the happiest man alive and tell me that maybe you might possibly feel even remotely the same way.”

  Angela’s heart was pounding like crazy and she felt light-headed. She also felt a sense of joy so strong that she couldn’t help but grin.

  “I do. I feel the same way. I tried not to. You don’t have the best track record, you know.”

  He took her hand and squeezed it. “I know. I’m sorry about that.”

  She laughed. “Are you serious? Really and truly serious?”

  “More than I’ve ever been. I meant it when I said the house feels empty without you. I don’t care if you sell your house or not, but don’t move to San Francisco. Move in with me instead.”

  “You want me to move in with you?”

  “I do. We can get engaged if you want. I have a ring. I just didn’t want to completely overwhelm you and have you think I’m a crazy person.”

  “I don’t think you’re crazy. And I do think I want to move in with you, but not right away. Let’s officially date for at least a month or two first. I’ll cancel the house sale.”

  “Great, whatever you want to do is fine. Did you put a deposit down on an apartment?”

  “No, I couldn’t do it. I put it off. I really don’t want to leave Nantucket. I don’t want to leave you.”

  “Then don’t. Stay here, with me. Forever.”

  “Okay.”

  “Let’s go home—to your future home, that is.” Philippe pulled her toward him and kissed her with everything that he felt. When the kiss ended, Angela’s head was spinning but in a good way. Finally, she felt like with Philippe, she was really and truly home.

  Epilogue

  Two months later