Chapter Twenty-seven
The next morning, Caroline folded sweaters into her suitcase.
Daphne and Luke’s wedding had been straight out of a storybook. Daphne was the most beautiful bride, and Luke was so handsome and serious. For one awful moment, Eric couldn’t find the wedding rings. Then Luke realized he had been so nervous he forgot to give them to him.
After the ceremony, the whole wedding party, including Max and Lily and Michael, walked down Main Street. The wedding dinner was held in the private dining room of Hotel Jerome. Michael insisted on buying champagne for everyone, and Luke gave a toast saying that not only was he marrying the love of his life, he had the good fortune of marrying into a wonderful family.
Max kept his hand firmly on Caroline’s during dinner, and Caroline almost burst with happiness. Afterward, they danced at the hotel’s bar, and then they all walked back to the Aspen Inn. Lily was so tired that Max had to carry her, and it was the best night that Caroline could remember.
Now, her phone rang and she saw that it was Claudia calling.
“Happy New Year,” Claudia said. “I received the manuscript, I read it in one night. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever read.”
“The manuscript?” Caroline repeated, puzzled. She hadn’t sent Nick’s novel. She wanted to wait until it was perfect.
“Nina Buckley’s letters,” Claudia prompted. “I don’t know where you dug them up, but they’re mesmerizing. I read her obituary in The New York Times. She was a real talent in the 1970s. Then she disappeared, and now we know why.”
Caroline tried to think. When she asked the business center to scan Nina’s letters, she must have given the man Claudia’s email instead of her own by accident.
Claudia was still talking. “You know how much I love a book written in letters, and it’s a wonderful Christmas story,” she said. “I think we could make this a huge bestseller for next fall.”
“I have another manuscript for next winter’s catalog,” Caroline said anxiously. “It won’t be ready for a couple of weeks.”
“I’ll save a space for it,” Claudia said easily. “Nina’s letters are proof that the old Caroline Holt is back—the Caroline who can spot a bestseller the minute it hits her desk. I’m confident you won’t let me down.”
They talked more about Nina’s letters, and then Caroline hung up.
There was a knock at the door. Caroline thought it was Max, but it was Michael.
“My flight leaves in an hour. I wanted to come and say goodbye,” Michael said.
Caroline ushered him inside. She told him about Claudia, and Nina’s letters.
“Anne was always so proud of you,” Michael said. “She said you have a golden future.”
“A few days ago, I wasn’t sure I’d have a job,” Caroline admitted. “When you come to New York, I’ll give you a tour of the publishing house, and of the literary agency where she worked.”
Caroline and her father had already agreed to get together in New York. And she was going to visit him in Philadelphia.
“I’m in the market for a puppy. Maybe you can help me find one at an animal shelter in Philadelphia,” Michael suggested.
“I’d love to,” Caroline agreed happily. “I’ll take you to my mother’s favorite places in New York. She loved fancy restaurants but she had a soft spot for the pizza at Lombardi’s. She’d walk ten blocks after work for a slice of their white pizza with ricotta and mozzarella cheese.”
After Michael left, Caroline zipped up her suitcase and set it by the door. There was another knock. It was Max.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“You don’t have to take us to the airport. Daphne and Luke and I can take a taxi.”
Max kissed her. “I want every minute with you until we see each other again. Besides, I got out of taking down the ornaments on the Christmas tree. My mom and Lily are going to do it while I’m gone.”
Caroline and Max had already worked out a tentative schedule. Max was coming to New York for a few days after he returned from California. Caroline would spend a week in Aspen during March, and Max was going to visit New York again in April. Beyond that, they would play it by ear. But it felt good to have dates down on paper.
Caroline gathered some envelopes from the desk.
“First, I need to drop these in Santa’s Little Red Mailbox.” She held up the envelopes. “I wrote them last night to the important people in my life.”
Max took her suitcase and Caroline followed him to the lobby. Outside the window, the sky was pale blue and the aspen trees were covered with fresh powder. It was going to be an exciting year. Nick would finish his revisions. And next December, Nina’s letters would be published as a book. Daphne and Luke were going to open a second restaurant, and Caroline was thinking of selling her mother’s town house and buying a place of her own.
And there was her relationship with Max. She didn’t know where she and Max would be next Christmas. But she felt certain that they would be together.