It Started with Christmas: A heartwarming feel-good Christmas romance

by Jenny Hale

  She grabbed her keys and headed out the door.

  When Holly got to the Brentwood estate and went inside, the mansion was brimming with staff. The florists were busy creating the archway before tomorrow’s eleven a.m. service, the beer and wine were being delivered, and the extra tables they’d needed for the entryway were going in. The wedding party had gathered together in the doorway to the grand hall where the ceremony was going to take place, and none of them had seen Joe and Katharine yet.

  “I’m Holly, the wedding planner,” she said to the group. “Let’s go ahead and get started. If I could have the guys and ladies pair up, please?” she called.

  Then she noticed the little boy with strawberry blond hair and a sprinkling of freckles on his nose. He was alternating between pulling on the collar of his button-up shirt and tapping his feet. “Hello,” Holly said, coming over to him and squatting down to be on his level. “Are you the ring bearer?”

  He looked to his mother for reassurance before answering Holly. His mother offered a doting smile and introduced him. “This is Toby,” she said.

  “Hello, Toby,” Holly beamed.

  “And I’m Sarah.” A little girl with silver flats and a dress befitting the finest of ballerinas came bouncing over to Holly, her deep brown ringlets pulled into a clip. “I’m the flower girl.” She took Holly’s hand, grinning up at her, the little girl’s innocent eyes framed with long, curling eyelashes.

  Holly’s face lifted for Sarah’s benefit, and she held out Sarah’s hand in hers. “I’ll bet you are excellent at dropping rose petals. I can tell by your fingers. They’re perfect for pinching those delicate flowers.”

  Sarah puffed out her chest in pride. “Yes, I’m very good at it.”

  Holly beckoned Toby over to join them. “Toby, you’ll be here.” She marked the spot for the young boy. “And Sarah, once you come down the aisle, you can stand in this spot.” Sarah bounced over and stood where she’d asked.

  “Sorry we’re late,” Katharine said, out of breath as she shuffled in. She shot a look over at Joe with some sort of silent message, but Holly couldn’t decipher it. Joe, serious, stood beside Katharine, greeting the people in the wedding party quietly before glancing Holly’s way.

  Sarah broke her stance and went running over toward the wedding couple, calling, “Joe!” She nearly jumped into his arms, wrapping hers around his neck and his serious demeanor faltered.

  “Hi, there,” he said, wrinkling his nose into a silly grin.

  “Daddy said he’s mad at you,” she said with a giggle, twisting her sparkly fingernail-polished fingers behind Joe’s neck as she looked into his eyes.

  Joe held her easily with one arm. “He is?” He found Sarah’s father and waved, and it was clear by the way they interacted that they were good friends.

  “Yes. You always come over for the football game and you missed it last week.”

  Joe nodded. “I did. I’m so sorry about that.”

  “Well, I’m not mad at you,” she said with a grin. Then she put her tiny lips to his ear and said, “And Daddy’s not really mad at you either. He’s only kidding.”

  Holly caught Joe’s eye and smiled at him. He held her gaze for a moment and then lowered Sarah until her feet were back on the floor. There was something odd in his eyes, but Holly couldn’t tell what it was.

  “Okay,” Holly continued, now that everyone was there. “Joe, you’re up by the musicians, centered at the end of the aisle. Toby and Sarah, follow me.” She turned away from Joe and stepped in front of the children. “You two will come in slowly, walking down together.”

  Holly focused on the work at hand, the tasks coming easily for her. It was as if she had been designed for building things from the ground up, her ability to see what needed to be done coming so clearly and effortlessly that she couldn’t believe she hadn’t gone down a creative path sooner. All those wasted nights waitressing. She wouldn’t let it happen again.

  “First couple,” she said from the front of the room. Holly beckoned the two people toward her and they began their march. “When they get to about the third set of chairs, the next couple can make their way to the front.”

  When everyone had walked down the aisle and assumed their positions, Holly walked to the back. She’d completely kicked into her business mode, blocking everything out but the job. “Katharine, you’ll stay hidden until the wedding party is in place. Then, take your spot in front of the doors. I’ll have ushers here to open both sets, and we’ll have our money shot.”

  “Perfect.” Katharine looked at Joe, but Holly noticed his gaze was somewhere in the distance.

  “Any questions?” Holly asked. When no one responded with more than a polite shake of the head, she said, “Okay, then. Let’s try this all the way through. If we get it first time we’ll break for dinner early!”

  When they’d finished the run through, Holly left Joe and Katharine smiling and chatting with their friends. She’d opted not to attend the rehearsal dinner. Sitting next to Joe while his best man toasted his new life with Katharine was about as comfortable for Holly as taking a stroll on hot coals. Plus, she had to head back to Nana’s house in Nashville to get the things she needed to finish packing for California tomorrow.

  She decided that she should probably call Joe to let him know her plan not to stay for the wedding ceremony. And after a lot of thought, she decided that it might also be a good time to mention the emails. He deserved to be a part of the conversation, and, at this point, it was pretty clear by the mention of Rona’s that 786@hb.com was a credible source. She’d never forgive herself if she could’ve gotten Joe and his dad together and hadn’t because she’d withheld the correspondence she’d received.

  She hoped that Joe was okay with her leaving before the end of the ceremony. Rhett had got them a flight for one thirty tomorrow. Holly did a quick mental rundown of the timeline: she wanted to be at the airport a couple of hours early—to get a bite to eat and sit for a little while before the madness of travel across the country set in. Once the wedding started at eleven, she’d only stay for a half an hour before she had the perfect excuse to leave. With her duties done, she could allow the estate staff to take over, just as Joe had told her they would. It would give her just enough time to get the wedding going, and everyone would be too wrapped up in the ceremony to notice her leaving.

  She’d told Rhett to pick her bags up at Nana’s and to be outside the mansion by eleven fifteen—she’d give the guard his name to let him in once they closed the gates of the estate at the start of the ceremony. Then she’d be off to a whole new life, a new year ahead of her.

  * * *

  Holly lay on the bed where Joe had stayed. She had changed the sheets earlier and dusted, not a single reminder of him remaining. With the rehearsal dinner probably over by now, she sent him a text, asking if he was free to call her. He texted her right back and told her to give him five minutes and he’d call.

  While she waited, she went over different scenarios of how the conversation would play out. She didn’t want to build up his hopes if this didn’t amount to anything. The person contacting them might not have a clue where Harvey was right now. But something in her gut told Holly to tell Joe everything.

  Her phone rang.

  “Hello?” she answered.

  “Hi.” Joe’s voice gave her a rush of comfort.

  “Hey, I need to talk about the wedding, but first I have some news to share with you,” she said, jumping right in.

  “Oh?”

  “Before I tell you, though, I need to ask you something.”

  “Okay.”

  She steadied herself and closed her eyes, nervous to bring it up. “Does Rona’s have anything to do with your dad?”

  Joe didn’t answer at first, and Holly hung on every minute of silence. “Why?” he finally asked.

  “Tell me first,” she pressed gently.

  He cleared his throat. “It’s where my mother used to meet my father for coffee. It’s where
they fell in love.”

  “I think I found someone who knows your dad,” she blurted, not wanting to think about the reasons he’d told her about the café but hadn’t mentioned it to Katharine. If there was some sort of cosmic reason for him telling her, it was so that she could help him find his father. Holly could feel it in her bones.

  “What?” he said, surprised. “How?”

  “Someone responded to your Facebook post I shared. They sent me an email.”

  “What did it say?” He sounded breathless, and Holly could feel his need to know about his father coming through in his question. She was willing to bet it had eaten him up over the years and he hadn’t let anyone know.

  “Not a lot. It was cryptic… Is your birthday July eighth?”

  “Yes.”

  “Nineteen eighty-six?”

  “Yes, why? What did it say, Holly?” His voice was soft but urgent.

  “Oh my gosh…” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “I think I might have been talking to your dad. His email was 786@hb.com. Think about it.” When he didn’t say anything, she added, “He told me to ask you about Rona’s. That’s how you’d know his message was legit.”

  She could hear his breathing—slow, deep breaths like he always did—and she cupped her phone against her ear with both hands, wishing she could hug him.

  Finally, he said, “Send him a message. Tell him to come to the wedding tomorrow. I want him there.”

  “What if he’s far away?”

  “I haven’t asked him for anything in my whole life. Except this. See what he says.”

  “Okay.” She bit her lip. “I’ll text you as soon as I get a response.”

  “What else were you going to tell me?”

  “Hm?” She’d forgotten the other reason for the call, talking to Joe, their solidarity in this, the softness of his voice… She’d lost track of the rest of her thoughts.

  “You wanted to tell me something about the wedding.”

  Oh! No… What if Harvey said he could come to the wedding? What if he actually showed up? How terrible would Holly look if she went sprinting out of the building without even a care about Joe’s reunion with his father? That would be just awful. Joe had confided in her; they’d done this together. She couldn’t just leave…

  But she needed to be honest with him. As honest as she could be without ruining everything. “You’d said the staff will take over once the ceremony has started, right?”

  “Yes. You won’t have to do anything more once you’ve gotten us down the aisle.”

  “I wasn’t planning to stay for the whole wedding. I’m leaving a little earlier than expected for California. But if Harvey does show up—”

  “No, no, no,” he cut her off. “Please. Don’t change your plans for me.” He said the words, but she could swear she heard disappointment in them and it made her feel terribly guilty. But how was she supposed to know he might need her?

  Stop, she told herself. Joe had Katharine for support. Holly being at this wedding was only a favor she’d agreed to, and she had the rest of her life in front of her, starting with that plane ride with Rhett. Joe hadn’t stopped his life for her and she needed to press on as well. But it didn’t stop the way she felt…

  “Joe,” she said.

  “Please,” he said as if he knew her thoughts. “Go. Follow your heart.”

  Did he want her to go?

  “All right,” she said, resolving to make the most of things. That was what Joe wanted for her and she knew he was right.

  Thirty-Two

  Holly replied to the mystery emailer, inviting Harvey to the wedding. She gave the location, the time, and she even put his name on the guest list, but she hadn’t heard back—nothing. When she texted Joe the update early this morning, he thanked her for trying and told her he’d see her in a few hours.

  She was extra emotional telling Nana goodbye today when she was leaving to pick up Katharine’s dress from Shimmer to take to the estate. With her bags packed and sitting by the door, the room seemed empty. Holly had never left her grandmother alone before. With the rental schedule clear for the foreseeable future, this would be the first time Nana had lived by herself, and Holly worried about her.

  “Do you have enough here at the cabin to entertain yourself without me being here?” Holly asked.

  “Of course I do. I haven’t been able to just do what I want without consideration for anyone else in my entire life. I might blast the music and dance around the house for all you know.”

  Holly laughed, in spite of her intense fear of leaving Nana by herself.

  “And worst case, I have War and Peace.”

  Nana seemed to be taking Holly’s leaving very well, but Holly wasn’t. Not sure if she’d suppressed her sadness over Joe’s wedding, if she worried about him not connecting with his father, if she was concerned about traveling with Rhett, or if she still fretted over Nana—maybe it was all of it—but she’d sobbed on her grandmother’s shoulder when she had to leave her for the wedding.

  Holly was confident, though, that Nana would be taken care of. Kay said she’d stop by this evening, and Tammy was going to get groceries and bring them to the cabin weekly. Otis and Buddy both promised to visit every couple of days. She’d be okay.

  With great strength, Holly stopped herself from blubbering and powdered her nose. Then, she headed out to go to Shimmer and then the wedding. It was the final time she’d face Joe before they parted ways for good, and she was ready.

  When Holly arrived at the estate, she was the only one there. She delicately hung the dress up next to the full-length mirror in Katharine’s bridal suite and then went to check that everything was in order. The portrait was on the easel already, and it was absolutely stunning. Holly honed in on Katharine’s face, and her expression had been captured beautifully. She had a sort of tamed innocence to her smile in that moment, unlike any that Holly had seen from her, and it seemed she was as nervous and happy as any bride-to-be. Just lovely.

  As the team entered, she was able to greet them with a confident smile, despite her state of mind. Katharine had flown in to the estate in a flurry of people, her bridesmaids all chatting around her, garment bags and shoe boxes in their hands, whisking her off to the bridal suite. Holly straightened the guestbook on the table in the entryway as she watched them go.

  Not long after, the groomsmen came in with Joe, laughing at something and clapping his back. He was still in his plain clothes, the way she’d seen him at the cabin, and she felt a surge of fear at the idea that these were her final moments with Joe. She’d readied herself for it, she’d made plans to avoid most of it, but none of it prepared her for the way she felt right now, seeing him. Holly sank into the background to let him pass, her gaze on him. He was talking with one of the men, but then slowed and looked around. He found Holly with his eyes and broke into an enormous smile when he saw her, warm and friendly, simultaneously making her heart ache to have more time with him and giving her an overwhelming flow of emotion that he’d thought to look for her. He waved. She used all of her strength to smile back and then submerged herself in wedding details.

  It took Holly a while to get herself to a point where she was confident she had her feelings in check. Once she’d finished the final preparations, and every last task was complete, the venue a picture of perfection, Holly went to the back room where the bridesmaids and bride were gathered. Katharine was in her dress, one of the bridesmaids finishing the buttons at the back. Holly was able to really notice her hair this time. It was swept into an up-do, but today it wasn’t so perfect. It had a romantic, flowing quality to it, small wisps falling around her face, accentuating her eyes and milky complexion.

  Katharine turned around to view her reflection in the mirror as her father came in, wearing a pressed tuxedo and shiny shoes, doting adoration on his face. Tears filled his eyes as he surveyed his daughter and the splendor of the white satin that cascaded to the floor in one perfect, seamless line. Katharine stared at the dress
just long enough that Holly wondered if she was thinking back to the day they’d had the final fitting. Katharine noticed her in the mirror and snapped out of whatever her thoughts had been. She smiled at Holly, her eyebrows raised as if to say, “Here we are!”

  “You look gorgeous,” Holly said.

  Katharine turned around. “Thank you.” She fluffed her dress so she wouldn’t step on it when she walked.

  “Almost time,” Holly said, putting on a good front. She kept thinking how she only had a few more minutes and then she could get on with her life. But right now, she felt like she’d been holding her breath all morning, and the minute she got into Rhett’s truck, she’d gasp and pant for air.

  Holly hadn’t seen Joe in his tuxedo yet, and she thought she should peek in on him next to be sure he had everything he needed, like a regular wedding planner would do, but she’d been prolonging the moment. She also kept checking her phone, hoping she had a message, since no one had shown up on the guest list under the name Harvey Barnes. Her email had been silent. She wished things could’ve been different. Perhaps Harvey was somewhere across the world with spotty cell service, and he’d lost connection. Or maybe he just decided not to come…

  She still wasn’t ready to see Joe yet. He’d come get her if he needed her, she decided. “I’ll do a quick sweep outside to make sure that everyone is in the grand hall now and ready to go,” she told Katharine. “We don’t want anyone coming in during the big two-door reveal, do we?”

  “Great idea to check.”

  “Be right back.” Holly turned on her cell phone to view the hour. “We’ll start in just a sec.” Then she left to do a final look around the grounds to ensure there weren’t any stragglers.

  The musicians were playing the instrumental seating music right on time, and the final arrivals were taking their seats, thanks to the ushers. Holly opened the double doors to outside and stepped under the portico, putting her hand on her forehead to shield her eyes from the light, making certain that everyone was inside prior to beginning the processional. The good news was that at eleven o’clock, they would close the gates to the property and no one but authorized personnel would be allowed to enter after that. The last thing they needed was someone clattering through those large hallways, echoing across them to their seats. Once the ceremony was over, the staff would reopen the gates for the reception.