Chapter 3
JACK
Jack sat across the desk from Logan in his office. Blueprints and floor samples were spread across the worn wooden surface between them, and they had been debating the renovation of Room Eight for the better part of an hour.
“The boards will need replacing,” Logan said, pointing to a section of the blueprint. “The whole eastern side of the floor. It’s not just cosmetic anymore, Jack. There’s actual structural concern if we don’t address it now.”
Jack rubbed his temples, feeling the familiar weight of financial stress settling on his shoulders. “And you’re suggesting the engineered hardwood?”
“I am,” Logan confirmed. “I know it’s more expensive than the laminate, but Jack, this room was specifically requested by a returning guest. Someone who hasn’t been here in years but is coming back for the Winter Ball.”
“I know,” Jack said, scanning the cost breakdown Logan had prepared. His stomach tightened. Every dollar mattered now, with Victor circling like a shark and the inn’s debt hanging over him like the sword of Damocles.
“This is a married couple who used to come here every year,” Logan continued, his voice gentle but firm.
“They stopped coming when things got difficult, when the inn started to show its age. But they’re coming back, Jack.
That means something. That means if we do this right, we could have more customers like them.
Loyal customers who remember what this place used to be and want to see it succeed. ”
Jack met Logan’s eyes across the desk. His old friend knew him well enough to understand that Jack hated spending money they did not have. But Logan also knew when to push, when to remind Jack that some investments were worth the risk.
“You’re right,” Jack said finally, letting out a breath he had not realized he was holding. “The engineered hardwood it is. When can we get it installed?”
“I’ve already contacted the supplier,” Logan said with a slight smile, as if he had known Jack would agree. “They can have it here tomorrow afternoon, and we can install it the day after. The room will be ready with a day to spare before the guests arrive.”
Jack nodded, making a note on his calendar. “All right. Let’s do it.”
His phone rang, cutting through the comfortable silence that had settled between them. Jack reached for it without looking at the screen, answering automatically.
“Jack Christmas,” he answered.
“What is the meaning of this message from Jane?” Pamela’s voice blared in his ear, shrill and accusatory.
Jack winced, and Logan heard her voice from across the desk even though the phone was not on speaker. Logan immediately held up his hand and stood, mouthing, “That’s my cue to leave.”
Jack nodded gratefully and waved Logan toward the door. His friend slipped out quietly, closing it behind him with a soft click that somehow made the office feel smaller and more oppressive.
“What are you talking about, Pamela?” Jack asked wearily, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. He could already feel the tension building in his shoulders, the familiar knot of stress that always accompanied conversations with his ex-wife.
“Your daughter left me the coldest, most terrible message,” Pamela said, her voice dripping with fake distress that set Jack’s gut churning. “Here, I’ll read it to you.”
Jack didn’t miss that now Jane was just his daughter because she’d done something Pamela didn’t like.
“Listen to this,” she seethed. He could hear movement on the other end of the line, and Pamela’s voice sounded farther away as she presumably pulled up Jane’s message.
“‘I’m not sure if you’re just dumb or up to something sinister,’“ Pamela read, her voice taking on an injured tone. “‘I personally think it’s a bit of both because you’re a terrible person who only thinks about herself. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean dumb as in stupid.
I mean, dumb enough to think me, my father, or my big extended family would for one minute trust you?
We knew the moment you set foot into our home that you were up to something.
But now we know the truth. You were lying about the disease to get me to sign something.
If you think I have the power to sign the inn away, you’re mistaken.
It takes three signatures for that. Stay away from me and my family, or I’ll show you who I can be.
Remember, your blood unfortunately runs in my veins too. ’“
Despite the stress of the situation, Jack felt a surge of pride at Jane’s words. His daughter was not backing down, not letting Pamela manipulate her anymore.
“Well, Pamela,” Jack said, keeping his voice level, “you did anger her and put her through undue distress with your lie about a hereditary disease. What did you expect?”
Silence stretched on the other end of the line for several long moments.
“What do you mean?” Pamela asked finally, her voice carefully neutral.
“Oh, please don’t play innocent, Pamela,” Jack said, irritation flooding through him. “Your biological mother died of ovarian cancer. It was your stepmother who died of the hereditary disease. There’s no genetic link, no way you could have passed it to Jane, and you knew that.”
He stood up from his desk, pacing to the window that overlooked the beach. “What we want to know—” Jack corrected himself, his voice hardening. “No, what we will find out is why you would do that and what you thought you’d accomplish by it.”
Anger flared through him, hot and bright.
“Were you trying to distract us? Cause us so much stress that we’d take our eye off the ball while you and Victor swooped in and stole our home, our legacy from us?”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Pamela asked, and for a few seconds, the shock in her voice was almost believable. “I don’t understand.”
“Oh, Pamela, stop it,” Jack growled. “I’ve had enough. Stay away from my daughter, the inn, and my family.”
He disconnected the call, his thumb jabbing at the screen with more force than necessary.
For a moment, Jack wished desperately that it was the old landline phone, so he could get the satisfaction of slamming the receiver down.
Mobile phones just didn’t provide the same cathartic release when you hit the disconnect button.
Jack stood at the window, breathing hard, trying to calm the rage that Pamela always seemed to ignite in him. How had he ever loved that woman? How had he been so blind to her true nature for so many years?
A knock at the office door pulled him from his dark thoughts.
“Come in,” Jack said, setting his phone down on the desk and trying to compose himself.
The door opened, and Holly popped her head in. Jack’s heart did that little jump it always did when he saw her. The warmth, the comfort, the sense of rightness that came from being near her.
“Hi,” Holly said with a smile. “Have you got a minute?”
“Always,” Jack said, immediately relaxing as she walked into the office and closed the door behind her.
The tension that Pamela had created melted away in Holly’s presence.
“If you’re here to push me about the floor for Room Eight, Logan has already convinced me to go with the option you and he both prefer. ”
“That’s great,” Holly said, her smile widening. “It’s a lot quicker to install as well. The guests will have a beautiful room waiting for them.”
“So Logan says,” Jack replied, feeling a genuine smile tug at his lips. “He’s very persuasive when he wants to be.”
Holly was about to say more when the landline phone on Jack’s desk rang. He glanced at it with a mixture of annoyance and resignation.
“Sorry, Holly,” Jack said, reaching for the phone.
“Mom is out, and Jane is...” He frowned, realization dawning.
“Actually, for the first time in three years, I’m not even sure where my daughter is at any given moment.
” He grinned at that thought. Jane out with Gabe somewhere, happy and in love, living her life instead of hiding from it.
It was a good feeling. Jack picked up the landline. “Jack Christmas.”
“Jack, it’s Detective Bruce,” the familiar voice came through. “I’ve got Duke here. He’s taken another walk by himself over to my place.”
Jack closed his eyes and sighed. “Again? I’m so sorry, Bruce.”
“No worries, man,” Detective Bruce said with a chuckle. “But I’ve told my kids to keep Brandy locked up right now. It’s that time for her, you know. Your boy’s got it bad.”
“No, I didn’t know, but it does explain why he keeps going over there,” Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Duke’s unauthorized visits to the detective’s house had been increasing in frequency over the past week.
“I’m on my way to get him now.” Jack hung up and looked at Holly apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Holly. I have to go fetch Duke from his girlfriend’s house before we end up with a whole new family to take care of. ”
Holly laughed, the sound bright and genuine. “That’s fine. I’ll catch you...” She frowned, clearly trying to remember his schedule. “Lunch tomorrow?”
“Oh no,” Jack’s heart fell. The one thing he had been looking forward to, and he had completely forgotten. “I nearly forgot what day it was.” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he remembered the schedule. “I’m going Christmas shopping with Mom and Jane tonight.”
“Then you and Logan have to get to the town just outside St. Augustine before eight a.m. tomorrow to fetch that antique dresser we found for Room Eight,” Holly reminded him, and Jack felt even worse. How had his schedule gotten so packed?
“I have to go into town with Charlie tomorrow, too,” Holly continued. “To do some last-minute Christmas shopping and to—”
A knock interrupted her, and the door opened to reveal Jane. “Dad, oh, sorry, Holly. I didn’t know you were in here.”
“No, it’s okay,” Holly said, standing up quickly. “I have to go get ready to meet Charlie anyway. I didn’t realize how late it was.”
She looked at Jack with a warm smile. “Lunch tomorrow it is, then.”
“Looking forward to it.” Jack smiled back, wishing desperately that they were alone so he could kiss her. But Jane was already walking into the office, Duke’s leash in hand.
“We’d better go get Duke,” Jane said, her expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
“Did Detective Bruce call you as well?” Jack asked, standing and grabbing his keys from the desk.
Jane rolled her eyes and nodded. “Yes. Apparently, our dog has no sense of boundaries when it comes to romance.”
“That’s my cue to leave,” Holly said with a laugh. “Good luck with Duke.” She waved and slipped out the door.
Jack watched her go, his heart full despite the chaos of the day.
Pamela’s phone call. The expensive flooring.
Duke’s romantic escapades. The mounting pressure of Victor’s takeover attempt.
All of it felt manageable when Holly was nearby, when he could see her smile and know that she was there, supporting him, believing in him.
“Dad?” Jane’s voice pulled him back to the present. “Are you coming, or should I go get Duke myself?”
“I’m coming,” Jack said, shaking off his thoughts. He grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and followed Jane out of the office. “You won’t handle him at the moment on your own.”
They walked through the inn together, father and daughter, and Jack marveled at the change in Jane over the past few days.
She walked with more confidence now, smiled more freely.
The shadows that had haunted her eyes for three years were fading, replaced by hope and happiness.
He knew without a shadow of a doubt that things were going to work themselves out for the better.
And if not, this last Christmas season at the inn would be one of the best yet.