“Lily Rose?”
Lily looked up to see a man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties. He was tall, broad shouldered and quite attractive, with thick wavy, hair that was so dark it was almost black, shot through with silver. His eyes were a sparkling, emerald green, and the corners of them crinkled as he smiled at her. It was clear from the way he looked at her that he thought she was stunning.
Conversation came easily with Christian. They talked about New York—he had worked there for many years—and his sailing trips with Eric on the Long Island Sound.
“Have you spent a lot of time in Palm Beach?” Christian asked her.
“Quite a bit, ” Lily admitted. “I was married here, and I came down sometimes with my ex-husband’s family. And I’m hoping to spend more time here in the winter.”
“Once you do, you’ll find that it’s more down-to-earth than many people think. I also started coming here because of my ex-wife. It was something she expected, as part of our lifestyle. I never thought I would like it here, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else in the winter, especially after retiring early.”
“Why did you retire?” Lily asked.
“I’d spent my whole life working, and so had my parents; they were immigrants from Ireland. My childhood was about rising to the top of wherever I was—school, church, sports, you name it. Naturally, it continued once I entered the business world. But that way of thinking can wear you down. In fact it can break you. A few years ago I realized there was more to life than that. My wife and I had been unhappy for a long time, so we decided to part ways. She, of course, was not in favor of early retirement. But once I made the decision to retire, and live for myself, I felt free.”
“I understand,” Lily murmured. “I fell apart when my husband left me, but now I know it was the best thing that could have happened to our marriage. If we hadn’t gotten divorced, I might never have had the opportunity to adopt my daughter. She’s the most important thing in the world to me. I don’t know if Eric told you—”
“He explained it all to me,” Christian said softly. “You haven’t had it easy, Lily. But look where you are now and how far you’ve come. You’ve made it. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
As they gazed at each other across the table, Lily was grateful for the candlelight that hid the tears in her eyes. Christian knew everything about her, and he still accepted her for who she was and what she had been through. Eric was right; he was someone special indeed.
A gust of wind threatened to extinguish the candles on the tables, accompanied by some shrieks from the bridal party. Lily and Christian enjoyed a quiet dinner that lasted much later than most first dates and Lily realized just how comfortable and safe she felt around Christian Walsh. It was a feeling she hadn’t felt since her first love Finn McCarney.
Christian and Lily talked about meeting up in New York the following week when he was there, and he walked Lily to her car. There weren’t any seconds of awkward silence, or moments of what would happen next. Christian just simply kissed her softly and gently hugged her, and Lily folded herself in his arms.
On her way home, Lily felt unexpectedly buoyant. Eric would be so happy to hear that her date with Christian had gone well— yes, she could call it a date now. And come next week, she’d see Christian again. She didn’t know why the thought of that filled her with such hope, like she was a little girl. Except this time, she would use her wisdom and experience to keep her heart safe. Still the thought of it made her feel blissful, a bit giddy even, as she turned onto her street.
Once inside, as she got ready for bed, Lily thought about what Christian had said. Had she really come that far? She thought about how last year around this time, she’d been getting ready to leave Golden Woods for Red Rose Farm, broken but on the path to recuperation, clinging to a single thread of hope that was a name on a slip of paper. What a difference a year made. Now she was surrounded by love and laughter—by family—and nothing could take that away from her.
For the next few days, she’d throw all her efforts into her redecorating plans. And at the end of the week, she’d be home with Ruby. Lily longed to hold her daughter’s small, chubby body in her arms. While she had been out to dinner, Eric had texted her a photo of Ruby asleep in her crib, to show she was doing fine with her grandparents. Looking at it now, Lily pressed her lips against it, turned off her phone, and went to sleep.
Chapter 25
LILY STOOD AT THE LIBRARY window at Red Rose Farm, looking out at the bluegrass sparkling with snow, while the tree branches glistened with tiny crystal droplets, all set against a clear blue sky. Memories from her childhood flooded her, of the many Christmases she had spent here with her parents and Aunt Martha and Uncle Grant. If she closed her eyes, she could hear her mother and Aunt Martha in the kitchen making fudge and other treats for the sweets table that was a tradition in their household at Christmastime. It was set in foyer for friends that would stop by to visit, while her father and Uncle Grant discussed horse business before the roaring fireplace. In an ethereal moment, the farm manager Ray would come into the room to tell her that her German Shepard, Rebel had snuck outside the regular fencing again, and should he be allowed to play with the horses grazing in the fields?
Lily sighed, turning away from the window. So many family traditions had come to a halt with her parents’ and aunt and uncle’s deaths. For the past ten years she had spent the holidays with the Reynolds, her new family—or so she’d thought. The Reynolds had always decamped to their home in Palm Beach for Christmas, which was festive in its own way, combining the sun and the sand with twinkling lights and palm trees. They would open up their house at the end of the summer, and when the holidays rolled around, Lily and Peyton would join Richard and Lisa for the season’s charity galas and societal events. Lily could not deny the place its charm, and was now going to spend a lot of time in the winter there giving she and Ruby had lots of happy options. But at Christmastime her heart belonged to the Bluegrass and Red Rose Farm, the dogs lying before the fire, the knowledge that the horses were warm and snug in their stalls. She had never been able to convince Peyton to come to the farm with her at any time of year, let alone Christmas, and after she had parted ways with the Reynolds, the thought of being at the farm alone during the holidays had not appealed to her.
Now, however, it was time to start a new tradition. This year Lily had invited the Langvin family to spend Christmas with her at Red Rose Farm, and they’d happily accepted. As she had anticipated, Eric and Gabriella had marveled over the house’s rich but understated equine architecture, while the girls had been so excited by the horses and other animals. She had made a coordinated effort with Ray and his son Marcus to make sure the house was fully decorated, with wreaths of blue spruce and red holly on every door, even those to the horses’ stalls, as it had been when her aunt and uncle were alive. All the silver chalices and crystal bowls that represented former trophy-winning horses were on display and filled with red roses. There were even a couple of Kentucky Derby winners trophy chalices on display in the front hall to celebrate the holidays. All the fireplaces were lit and the grand old farmhouse was alive with laughter again.
Lily wanted to make this an especially joyous occasion, as there was plenty to celebrate besides the holidays. Ruby Rose was all dressed in a red velvet dress and crawling everywhere with Sable, Lily’s Siberian Husky following not far behind, and Hollywood was curled up purring by the fire. In addition, Emily had just found out she’d been accepted early admission to Yale, her dream school. She’d be able to spend time with the baby on holidays and in the summer. More than anything Lily wanted Emily to know her biological daughter, although she was also glad that Emily would be able to lead her own, independent life. Lily anticipated that this would be just the first of many holidays spent with the Langvins. For the first time in her life since her adopted parents had passed away Lily finally felt whole again. It seemed almost to good to be true…but this time it was.
&nb
sp; A gentle knock and the sound of the door opening interrupted her thoughts.
“There you are,” Eric said. “Chloe wants to know if you can go sledding with her and Emily, Gabriella is reading by the fire and refuses to be moved from her comfort zone.”
“How about you?” Lily asked with a smile.
“I could be persuaded to join.” Eric perused the gold-embossed spines of the books lining the walls. “That’s quite a collection you have here.”
“It belonged to my aunt and uncle.” Lily paused, her face pensive.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Just how much they would have liked seeing the house full of people again. They entertained quite a bit with the other farm owners and friends in the community. While I was growing up, I used to spend my summers and holidays here, and it was always a fun, busy time. All of that changed after my parents died and I came to live with them for good, and their health began to fail.” Lily shook her head as if to clear it of unhappy memories. “It means so much to me that you and your family are here during this time of year. How are you finding the place?”
“It’s absolutely beautiful. As you know, I’ve only been to this part of the country once before”—when I met Jeff, he didn’t add but Lily understood—“and during that time I visited quite a few farms like this one. I was just so impressed by their size and history. Each of them seemed grander than the next, and I kept imagining what it would be like to live in one of them.”
“I’m happy to hear it,” Lily said. “Because there’s something I’d like to discuss with you in private, without Gabriella or the girls.”
“Yes?” Struck by her serious tone, Eric moved toward her, a concerned look on his face.
“While I was going over the adoption papers with my lawyers, I asked them to change my will. Of course, I want Ruby Rose to eventually inherit Red Rose Farm. But I’ve also named you as trustee until she comes of age, in case something happens to me before then.”
When Eric started to say something, Lily held up her hand. “I know you have your own house in Bedford, but I want you to think of this place as your home, too. It deserves to have a family—to have children—live here again. I hope you’ll come whenever you want, as much as you want, with or without me.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Eric said. “I never thought I would want to live in another family house, not after Viking Manor. But,” and he made a wide gesture, taking in the lit fireplace, the book-lined walls, the snowy vista in the window beyond, “I think I could get used to it. Now, should we go join Chloe?”
“You go ahead, I’ll find you in a moment.”
After the door closed behind Eric, Lily took a final look at the room she’d spent so many hours in as a child, reading by the fire, her dog Rebel lying at her feet. She’d dreamed of so many things back then, of leaving Kentucky and moving to New York, although she’d had no idea of what she’d do there. And she had done exactly that, and while there had been tragedy and heartbreak, she was still standing here, in the place she loved, with people she loved.
When Lily looked out the window one last time, she saw Eric and Chloe in the yard. Chloe was pulling behind her an antique wooden sled almost as tall as she was, which Marcus must have dug up from somewhere on the grounds. The farm dogs raced around them, creating a whirlwind of snow flurries. Laughing, Eric and Chloe paused to pet the dogs, and gladly, Lily went out to join them.
Acknowledgments
This book was inspired by a true story—my story—but then it became fiction.
I have had many angels throughout my life who have rescued me during dark times and are still here to laugh with me in the good ones.
Thanks to the late Beulah and Cassell Caudill and Susan Caudill, to the Late Bernard and Minnie Banks, Virginia and Meryl Banks for their love and devotion to my parents. Thanks to Earlene John Williams and all my dear friends from Eastern Kentucky who gave me the seeds for my soul.
Thanks to Roy R. Crawford III for Chanel Number 5.
Thanks to Jean Haskins Dalmath, Diane Lloyd Roth, Dr. Patricia Yarberry Allen, Dr. Glenora McCoy and Dr. Frank McCoy, Armand and Sara Harris. Margaret Luce, Suzy Goldsmith, Isabelle (Belicia) Beckett Smith Molly Kellly Wiegel, Jennifer Howk Roe, Todd Howk, Greg Betkinsky, William Howe, Troy Revord, Pierre Matta, Ellie Malmin, and Dr. Charles Alexander for being there when it wasn’t always easy and doing a lot of listening.
Thanks to the late F. Ross Johnson for being my dear friend and mentor.
Thanks to the late Annette Allison, John Reynolds Allison, and J. Richard Allison for letting me be an extended part of their family.
Finally, thanks to the three angels who saved me so I could tell this story, John and Sharon Crouch and Dr. Thomas Clifton.
I love you always, Edward J. Robinson.
Lily Rose Page 25