Chapter Five #2
Caleb was beaming as if he’d just won the lottery. “See what you’ve done. Look at how happy you’ve made Hattie. And I totally get why you didn’t tell any of us. You didn’t want the pressure. I get it.”
In the past Landon had been put under the microscope by his family regarding his lack of romantic entanglements. He knew they hadn’t meant to hurt him, but the probing had gotten old.
“Wait till Mom finds out about you and Bailey,” Caleb said, making a face. “She might just be tempted to fly to Moose Falls to check Bailey out.”
Landon didn’t put it past Daisy Stone to show up on Hattie’s doorstep.
She had always been extremely close to her three sons, no doubt due to having been the one who’d raised them as a single mother.
It had been difficult not having her around during their time in Alaska, but she was in Arizona doing her own thing.
She had always provided a great listening ear with no judgment whatsoever.
And the fact that she loved him, Caleb, and Xavier more than life itself meant the world to them.
Landon felt incredibly torn. The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.
He hated Hattie believing something that wasn’t true, but at the same time he knew that thinking he’d found a romantic connection was bringing her a profound sense of joy.
And for a dying woman, that feeling was monumental.
His grandmother didn’t complain about being terminal or the pain she endured on a daily basis.
She was a tough cookie, the type of person who just got on with the business of living her life with pride and dignity.
There wasn’t much Landon could gift her with during this last season of an epic life.
And now that Xavier and Caleb were happily coupled up, Hattie wanted a trifecta.
No wonder she kept bringing up his pitiful love life. She yearned for him to have a happily-ever-after. Despite her tough exterior, Hattie was pure marshmallow on the inside.
Goose bumps rose up on the back of his neck. Maybe this was the one thing he could do to enrich the last weeks and months of her time on this earth. Clearly it would make her ecstatically happy.
“It’s all very new,” he heard himself saying. Internally he let out a groan. What was he saying? With every second that passed, he was digging himself a deeper hole. Yet he couldn’t seem to pull himself out.
“Oh, that’s the most exciting time of a relationship,” Hattie said. “When I met your grandfather, it was swoon at first sight. Was it like that when you first met Bailey?”
“Yeah, it was definitely a mind-blowing experience.” He was talking.
Why was he continuing to talk? The best thing to do right now was to admit that he was lying through his teeth.
With every word he spoke, he was just getting in deeper.
And it wasn’t like him at all. He didn’t lie or exaggerate.
He always did things by the book. Not that it had gotten him anywhere!
So many times he’d been viewed as a pushover. Nice guys finished last and all that.
Hattie leaned toward him. “Tell us more. The beauty of budding romance is always in the details. Humor an old lady, Landon.”
Caleb leaned over and placed his arm around her. “Not old, just heavily seasoned,” he quipped, flashing her a cheeky smile.
Hattie laughed and said, “Oh, you’re incorrigible.” Landon could tell by her flushed cheeks that she was entertained by Caleb’s comment.
“When we first met, she took me completely by surprise.” At least that was the truth, he thought.
Their first meeting at the smoothie shop had almost knocked him off his feet.
“I mean she’s a total stunner. And her personality is so vibrant.
It’s like she’s lit up from the inside.” Talking about Bailey was the easy part, he realized.
He’d never met anyone quite like her before, and he imagined that she had her fair share of admirers.
Someone should definitely add him to the list, because she fascinated him.
“She’s really intelligent and loves her work in the cider lab.” He flashed a smile in his grandmother’s direction. “So thumbs up for bringing her onboard at Yukon Cider.”
“Oh, my sweet boy, this sounds so enchanting,” Hattie gushed. She poured more water into her teacup and began swirling the contents with a spoon. “I’m so happy for both of you. I’ve known Bailey’s family since her mother was a girl. I can’t think of a lovelier partner for you.”
“Take it easy, Grandmother,” Caleb said, making a face.
“They’re not walking down the aisle… yet.
” Hattie let out a little squeal of delight in response to his comment.
Landon wanted to scream. This runaway train was about to careen off the tracks.
Maybe he should just fess up before Hattie started planning an engagement party.
“You must invite her to my little Christmas party I’m hosting,” Hattie said. “It’s going to be so festive and fun. I have such a great time decking this place out in all the holiday trimmings.”
Landon looked around the room. Hattie’s home was already overflowing with more holiday decorations than he’d ever seen in one place in his life.
So far he’d counted six Christmas trees placed around the house, all of them fully decorated except for the largest one in the main entrance.
Landon had the feeling Hattie wanted that particular tree to be decorated by all of them as a group.
Caleb knitted his brows together. “I thought Jacques was trying to get you to rethink the idea of having a party.”
Jacques was always taking the very best care of their grandmother and making sure she didn’t overextend herself.
It was a thankless task, considering Hattie always pushed back on him.
Loving a woman as feisty and independent as Hattie surely came with some challenges.
His thoughts instantly drifted to Bailey, another spirited woman who appeared to chart her own course in life.
Because he’d been raised by a very similar-minded woman—Daisy Stone—Landon respected that mindset.
Hattie waved her hand at Caleb. “Jacques is being fussy. I’m not going to get any sicker by hosting my annual holiday shindig. What would people think if I canceled?” she asked, sounding horrified.
Landon and Caleb exchanged a glance. There was no point in stating the obvious.
Her illness had progressed to the point where they were all concerned about her.
Hattie pushed herself to function at a very high level that wasn’t realistic considering the circumstances.
None of them wanted to see her body break down even further.
But Hattie loved to celebrate, and she wasn’t going to allow a pesky terminal illness to get in her way.
The more invited guests, the better, as far as she was concerned.
Filling up her home with friends and employees was her way of showing love to the ones she cared about.
Hosting a holiday party was right up her alley.
“I fully expect to see Bailey at the party, so don’t disappoint me.” She grinned at him. “Now I’ll finally get to see you with a woman who’s managed to turn your head and get your nose out of the books.”
He let out a sigh. “My nose isn’t always in the books.” He was simply a guy who loved books and seeking knowledge. When he was a kid, his teacher Mrs. Botts had labeled him a lifelong learner. He’d always considered that as a positive.
Hattie laughed. “It’s not a bad thing. I’ve always found it endearing. I’m pleased as punch that you now have a beautiful girlfriend who you can work with by day in the lab and play with by night.”
Landon let out a groan and shook his head while Caleb let out a hoot of laughter. “Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Caleb said, high-fiving their grandmother.
It was official. These two were twins, separated at birth. They even shared the same maniacal laugh.
He felt sheepish just hearing Hattie reference Bailey as his girlfriend.
What had gotten into him? This had gone too far, and there was no easy exit plan for him.
The bottom line was he was lying, and he was putting Bailey into an awkward situation as well.
It didn’t make him feel very good about himself.
It was like having an angel on one shoulder, urging him to be honest, while a devil was on the other, telling him to go along with the ruse.
“And one last thing, Landon. I have no rules about employees dating. As long as the relationship is consensual.” She reached out and tweaked his cheek. “Who could resist this handsome face?”
“A lot of people, actually,” Caleb said, cracking himself up in the process.
“God don’t like ugly,” Hattie told him, giving him her deadliest stare.
In this season that was supposed to be about love and light, Landon felt a little bit like a fraud.
Maybe he should just come clean to Hattie and let himself off the hook.
Pulling this off wasn’t going to be easy.
But the alternative was much worse. Breaking Hattie’s heart wasn’t an option.
He also needed to make sure that neither Xavier nor Caleb knew that his relationship with Bailey was nonexistent, and the only way he could accomplish that feat was to go to Bailey and beg her to be a part of this scheme.
Having grown up as the youngest Stone brother, he’d always been the target of jokes.
Although most were lighthearted, Landon had gotten sick of the teasing over the years.
They would never let him live it down if he admitted that he and Bailey were strictly co-workers.