5. Laney
5
LANEY
T he morning after her dinner with Nolan Hayes, Laney rose early for a dance class at the studio not far from Aunt Edna’s bookshop. By nine she’d finished class and showered, feeling peppy and energized. She found Aunt Edna sitting in her kitchen having coffee and toast, bent over an actual paper newspaper. Her aunt was old-school.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Edna said. “How did you sleep?”
“Really well. The dance class was great too.”
“You were home pretty late last night.” Edna looked at her sideways, a smile playing at her mouth.
“I know. It was after ten. We had so much fun talking and catching up that I lost track of time.”
“He’s a good man, that Nolan Hayes. They’re all fine young men. Grace did well with them. Regardless, Nolan’s always been my favorite.”
“He’s my favorite too.” Laney helped herself to a cup of coffee from the pot.
“I was wondering if you could help me decorate the store today. Usually, I get it all done before Thanksgiving, but this year I’m behind.”
“I would love to.” Laney adored Christmas and everything about it. “What’s left to do?”
“We need to decorate the tree. I have a fake one for the shop. And then I was hoping you might have some ideas of ways to make everything seem a little more festive. Those scented pinecones aren’t really adequate.”
“Put your mind at rest. I’m all over it,” Laney said.
Aunt Edna explained where all the boxes containing the decorations could be found, and Laney promised to get started right after breakfast. She poured some granola and milk into a bowl and joined her aunt at the table.
Sighing with pleasure, she ate a few bites of her aunt’s homemade granola made with flakes of coconut, raisins, and almonds. The kitchen in the apartment above the shop had changed since her last visit. Exposed stone walls and the sturdy wooden beam overhead were the same, as was the light streaming in through the small-paned windows. But her aunt had installed a modern yet classic range cooker, surrounded by pots, pans, and an array of lovingly curated ceramics and cookware. The cabinetry had changed colors too. It used to be painted a pea green but was now covered in a warm cream hue. Attractive brass hardware gave it a more modern look. An array of vases and potted herbs topped the wooden countertops, and stylish kitchen tools lined the shelves.
Almost messy, but not quite.
Laney smiled, thinking what her mother would say about all the items on the counters. The kitchen in her mother’s home was stark white and uncluttered.
“Did you buy the building with the intent to open a bookstore?” When her aunt had suggested she buy her out of the bookstore, she’d made it clear that she would continue to own the building. In exchange for letting her stay in the apartment, Aunt Edna would rent the bookstore space for cheap. Edna said she planned on leaving the building to Laney when she passed away. Years and years from now, Laney thought. Aunt Edna was like Laney’s mother, youthful and fit. Although Edna would turn sixty at the end of month, she had the energy and appearance of a woman much younger.
Aunt Edna nodded. “The retail space was a gift shop back then. My dream was to own a bookstore, so when I saw the listing for the building, I jumped at it. Did you know your father lent me the money for the down payment?”
“What? I had no idea.”
“He and your mother had just gotten married, and he’d inherited money from his grandmother. Some of it he used for your mother’s first house, and some he gave to me. I paid it back. Every cent. But without interest, so you can see how much he helped me. I’ll never forget that kindness.”
“Daddy’s a big, sweet bear.”
“Yes, he is. Your mother thought I was delusional to buy this old building. She’s not a fan of country life.”
“No, not really.” My mother’s idea of roughing it was having lunch at a place with a walk-up counter.
“Regardless, she and your father were happy to support my dream. Thirty years later, here I am.”
“Any regrets?”
A wave of sadness flickered in Aunt Edna’s eyes. “Only one. But don’t ask me what it is. I don’t like to talk about it.”
This roused Laney’s curiosity, but she didn’t press. As kind and nurturing as her aunt had always been, she was a private person.
“Tell me about last night,” Edna said. “Did he cook you dinner?”
“He did. It was delicious, too. We talked and talked. He told me about his work. I told him about my humiliation. It’s strange how we just seemed to pick up where we left off. Only we’re thirty instead of fourteen.”
Edna clicked her tongue sympathetically. “Nolan’s a good listener.”
Laney smiled, warming as the image of Nolan’s handsome face danced before her eyes. “He’s good at most things—as far as I can tell.”
“Did you kiss him?”
Laney gasped. “Aunt Edna don’t be silly. I’m supposed to be on my honeymoon right now. I’ve no business entertaining romantic thoughts about anyone. I’m a hot mess.”
“Aren’t we all?” Edna got up to rinse her dishes and put them into the dishwasher. “In one way or another?”
Laney couldn’t speak for anyone else. She knew only that she had some hard days and nights to get through before she fully recovered from the heartbreak Josh and Dahlia had left. Still, it was hard not to think about Nolan and not wish to kiss him.
“You know what I can’t figure out,” Edna said, leaning her backside against the rim of the white kitchen sink and crossing her arms over her chest. “Is why Josh was going to go through with it. And how in the world did that nitwit of a girl stand it? I mean, it must have been incredibly painful to watch him act the faithful groom.”
“I’ve thought about that too. But I can’t spend too much time dwelling on whatever it is she felt or didn’t feel. I’m done with both of them.”
Edna’s cell phone beeped. She reached behind her where it had been charging by the coffeepot. “I bet it’s your mother checking up on us.” She picked up the phone and looked down at the screen. All color drained from her face. “Oh my.”
“What is it? Is everything okay with my parents?”
“Yes. The text’s not from your mother.”
“Oh, thank goodness. You scared me. Is it a friend?”
Edna shook her head. “No, it’s my one regret. Risen from the ashes.” Her voice sounded bitter, which was so unlike her that Laney was temporarily stunned into silence. Edna reread the text before looking over at Laney. “It’s a text from my high school sweetheart. He got my number from the alumni directory. He’s in Vermont and wondered if I want to meet for coffee or lunch.”
“How long’s it been since you’ve seen him?” Laney asked.
“Since graduation. He joined the army and left right after we finished high school. He’d joined up without telling me. I was devastated and hurt. We had a terrible argument and never spoke again. I have no idea what happened to him since then.”
“Really? Not even from mutual friends?”
She shook her head. “We lost touch completely.”
“Do you want to see him?” Laney asked.
“What could it hurt? It’s been over forty years. Surely, I won’t still feel the way I did then.”
“Right. Plus, aren’t you curious?” Laney asked.
“I guess I am.”
“Have him come to the bookstore so I can take a good look at him. Just in case he’s a serial killer.”
“You think you’ll know?” Edna asked, with a snort.
“Probably not, since I had no idea my fiancé and best friend were in love with each other.”
“Ah, well, even the most discerning of us have blind spots.”
Laney spent a good portion of the morning putting up decorations in the shop. One of the clerks helped her, and by noon she had all the garland and lights strung about the store. The tree would have to be done after lunch.
She headed to the back office to let Aunt Edna know she was going to slip out for a quick bite. To her surprise, a man was sitting in Edna’s guest chair.
“Excuse me, I didn’t realize you were with someone,” Laney said, standing in the doorway.
Her aunt flushed and stood. The man followed suit.
“This is my old friend Drew Crane. The one I told you about earlier. This is my niece, Laney.”
Drew shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Laney took a moment to study him. So, this was the old boyfriend. Broad shoulders and good posture hinted at his military background. He had an air of self-assurance and discipline. Closely cropped salt-and-pepper hair framed his chiseled features and highlighted a pair of captivating blue eyes. He wore a pair of dark-washed jeans and a cashmere sweater that complemented his muscular torso.
There was an intensity to him but also compassion. She suspected he was a man who had seen the best and worst of times yet remained steady and positive. He also exuded an air of authority and respectability.
She was pretty sure he wasn’t a serial killer.
In fact, it was not a stretch to imagine why Aunt Edna had been madly in love with him.
“What brings you to Vermont?” Laney asked.
“I was just passing through on my way to visit my daughter. She lives just north of here. About an hour, according to GPS. I’d heard Edna was still here in Sugarville Grove. We haven’t seen each other in forty-two years, but I took the chance she might want to visit with an old friend.”
“He looks even better than the last time I saw him,” Edna said. “Which is entirely ridiculous.”
“Your aunt looks well too, don’t you think?” Drew fixed his gaze on Edna for a moment before seeming to realize he was staring and turned back to Laney.
“I think she looks exceptionally well,” Laney said loyally. It was all true though. Her aunt had practiced yoga almost every day of her adult life and it showed in her youthful physique.
“We’re going to lunch over at the Moose,” Edna said. “Would you care to join us?”
Laney hesitated, trying to read between the lines. Did she want her to come? No, she would not join them. They would want to reminisce, not make polite conversation with her. “Thank you, but no. I’m going to grab a slice of pizza and then hurry back to put up the store’s Christmas tree.”
“Bless you, kiddo,” Edna said. “Do you know this is the first holiday season that I’ve had help decorating? For years I did it alone after the shop closed.”
“You have me now,” Laney said. “Go to lunch. I’ll handle everything while you’re out.”
Laney turned once more to Drew, reiterating how nice it was to meet him, and then hustled out of there. The two of them had a lot of catching up to do, and she had no intention of getting in the way. She had never seen her aunt’s eyes sparkle the way they had just now.
The downtown area of Sugarville Grove had the holiday spirit, with lights and garlands and gorgeous window displays in every store. Laney buttoned up her coat as she headed down the block and across the street to Sugarville Slice. Her aunt had told her that the pizza place was owned by an enigma of a woman named Charlie Kane. According to Aunt Edna, this Charlie was rumored to be a retired tech billionaire. Laney doubted that was true. The way rumors ran rampant in a small town, it was probably just fodder. Regardless, Laney was curious to see this woman who had managed to keep her privacy despite the nosy neighbors vibe of Sugarville Grove.
She walked through the door, immediately bombarded by the scents of sauce and woodsmoke from the pizza oven. There was a separate line to order a lone slice, so she took a place at the end and surveyed the menu that hung above the counter. They had mostly familiar types of pizza, only they were named with adorable references to Vermont. She decided to go with the Winter Warmer, with roasted potatoes, Vermont cheddar cheese, rosemary, and crispy bacon.
Her mother would not approve.
It was only one slice. With all the physical activity of the morning, surely it wouldn’t immediately pump up her thighs?
The woman behind the counter was about Laney’s age. Dark-skinned, with big brown eyes and hair swept into one of those cool buns that left the ends sticking out. Laney could never get her slippery hair to stay that way.
When it was her turn, Laney asked for a slice of the Winter Warmer. The woman’s badge read Charlie. This was the owner? Laney had imagined her older. She was young to be a billionaire, but maybe the rumors were true? Again, she doubted it.
“Are you new to town or just visiting?” Charlie asked as she reached into the glass pizza display for Laney’s slice.
“I’m visiting. My aunt owns the bookstore, and I’m helping out for the holidays.”
“Your aunt’s a wonderful lady. She always knows what books to recommend to me.”
“She loves that part of her job the most.”
“Can I get you anything else?” Charlie asked.
“No. One slice is fine.”
“My father always said only one slice was blasphemy, but he took his pizza very seriously.”
Laney wanted to ask about her father and whether she’d inherited this place from him but there was a long line, so she took her slice and headed over to the register to order a soda and pay her bill.
As she took a seat at the counter by the window, it occurred to her—there were no holiday decorations of any kind in here. Why? Perhaps she didn’t celebrate Christmas? The idea sounded very sad to Laney but to each her own, right? Maybe she practiced a different religion. These days, it was good to be careful and not make assumptions.
Or maybe she hated Christmas for some reason. There were all kinds of people who had felt sadness and grief around the holidays, and it was too much emotionally, so they checked out of the whole season. Hopefully she wasn’t headed there herself. The moment her world fell apart might ruin Christmas forever.
No, she could not let it make her bitter. She would make a new life for herself. Even if it took some faith to believe it possible.
Laney watched people as they strolled by the window on their way to wherever. She enjoyed the town square with the gazebo and pretty park benches. Aunt Edna had told her the tree lighting didn’t happen until later in the month. There was also a temporary skating rink that would open on December 6. Laney had spent a lot of her childhood skating. With Dahlia.
Never mind her.
She would not let Dahlia ruin her love of ice-skating. In fact, she would go the minute it opened.
Even if she had to go by herself.
Her phone dinged with a text message. She might have PTSD with how jumpy it made her. Not every text would be as bad as the ones she’d discovered on her wedding day. This one was from her mother.
Hey honey. Just checking on you. Daddy and I were thinking maybe we’d come to Sugarville Grove for a few days at Christmas. We could stay at an inn so as not to put Edna out. What do you think? It feels pretty lonely since you left.
She wrote back: I’d have to check with Edna, but I think it sounds like a great idea.
Did she?
There was something about Sugarville Grove that felt like hers, separate from her parents. Did she want them here? On one hand, she’d never spent a Christmas apart from her mother and father. She hadn’t thought much about it until now. She’d assumed she and Josh would spend part of the holiday with his family and part with hers.
Conversely, it would be wonderful to celebrate Christmas with them in such a scenic place. Ultimately, though, it was Aunt Edna’s choice about whether or not to host Christmas. Laney was only a guest.
However, she thought it was a good sign that her mother seemed willing to come for a visit. Maybe the demons from her childhood were ready to be exorcised forever.
Laney was just finishing up her lunch when she glanced up to see Nolan entering with a man who had to be one of his brothers. The resemblance was obvious in his broad shoulders and thick brown hair. Was it Max? It had been a long time since she’d seen any of them, and they’d been a lot younger then. She lifted a hand in greeting. Nolan’s face lit up at the sight of her. He hurried over, with his companion not far behind.
“Laney, hey.”
She flooded with heat. How could any man be so good-looking and seem so oblivious to it?
“Hi there.” She stood and before she knew what was happening, he’d wrapped her in a hug. Goodness, he smelled good. Like a mixture of pine and fresh linens. The strength of his torso was obvious, even though he held her for only a second. But it was long enough for her to wonder what Josh had been doing in the gym every day, because it certainly hadn’t borne the same results.
He let her go, still smiling. “Do you remember my brother Max?”
“Hi, Max.” She held out her hand, and they shook. “I thought it was you, but I wasn’t sure.”
Max’s eyes danced with mischief. “Laney Gray. Good to see you. You grew up real nice.”
“As did you, Max Hayes.”
“Thank you. Are you adjusting to small-town life?” Max asked. “Or ready to run back to civilization the first chance you get?”
“I love it here,” Laney said truthfully. “But my life’s in a bit of turmoil. I don’t know if Nolan mentioned that? I’m in a transitional period, so to speak. I’m unsure of what’s next.”
“Yeah, Nolan mentioned that. He’s been talking about you nonstop.”
Nolan nudged Max in the ribs with his elbow. “Max has a big mouth.”
“True enough. And that fiancé of yours was clearly an idiot.” Max was the troublemaker brother. That much was obvious in his cheeky grin and a loose-limbed confidence that gave her the impression he didn’t take himself or the world too seriously. She couldn’t help but like him.
“Thank you. That’s sweet of you to say.” Laney glanced at Nolan.
“It’s funny we ran into you,” Nolan said. “I was going to text you after lunch. Mom wondered if you and your aunt could come out for dinner tomorrow night after we decorate copious numbers of cookies.”
“Mom makes a ridiculous amount of cookies every year,” Max said.
“She has a cookie obsession,” Nolan said. “Undiagnosed.”
“There are worse obsessions,” Laney said, thinking of her mother. Her obsession was not eating cookies.
“She wishes her boys were a bit more enthusiastic about decorating,” Nolan said. “Like we were when we were kids.”
Max raised an eyebrow. “I personally enjoy decorating, but maybe it’s because I’m so much better at it than my brothers.”
“I bet Laney’s good at it too. Aren’t you?” Nolan asked her before turning to his brother. “She’s a really good artist.”
“I don’t spend as much time drawing as I did when we were kids.” Laney flushed, pleased by the compliment “But I do decorate a mean cookie.”
“Great. Shall I tell Mom you and Edna will be there?” Nolan asked.
“Unless she has other plans, I’m sure she’d love to join us,” Laney said. “If not, maybe I’ll come on my own. I can’t resist cookies.” Or Nolan Hayes, apparently.
Nolan told her to come out as soon as she got off work and not to bring anything, other than a bottle of wine. “Mom will take care of the rest.”
“She lives to stuff us all senseless whenever possible,” Max said.
“The whole family will be there,” Nolan said. “So maybe take a nap beforehand. It’s loud and chaotic.”
“Our nieces and nephew are mostly to blame,” Max said, chuckling. “They love hanging out with Mom. Especially during cookie season.”
She agreed to be there at four and bring wine, then excused herself. “I have to get back to the shop. Aunt Edna has me decorating for the holidays, and there’s a large tree in three parts I’m supposed to figure out how to put up.”
“Call me if you need help,” Nolan said. “I finished my last class this morning and will be off for the rest of the year.”
“I’ll do that,” Laney said. “But I’m sure I’ll be fine.” How tempting it would be to make up any excuse at all to call Nolan for help.
Both Hayes brothers gave her warm smiles before she headed toward the door. When she got outside, she glanced back through the glass window. Nolan was watching her. They made eye contact, smiling at each other, before she slipped away.
All the way back to the shop she hummed a Christmas tune under her breath and couldn’t stop smiling. She really needed to keep herself in check, or she’d fall right back in love with Nolan Hayes.