Chapter 5 Jack
JACK
It was just before ten in the morning, and Jack couldn’t stop grinning as he and Logan drove back from the antique shop just outside St. Augustine.
The dresser they’d found was even more beautiful than in the pictures.
It was a stunning Victorian piece with ornate rosettes carved into each drawer front, delicate scrollwork framing the beveled mirror, and original brass drawer pulls that gleamed with a patina only time could create.
The kind of craftsmanship where you could still see chisel marks from the artisan’s hand, somehow surviving intact through wars, moves, and changing fashions for over a century.
“Holly is going to love restoring this,” Jack said, glancing in the rearview mirror at the carefully secured dresser in the truck bed. “This is exactly the kind of project she gets excited about.”
“It’s going to look great with those two antique chairs you and Holly fixed last week,” Logan agreed. “Room Eight is going to be the showpiece of the inn when we’re done with it.”
Jack felt a surge of pride and hope. Despite everything, like Victor’s threats, Pamela’s manipulation, and the mounting pressure, they were making real progress. The inn was coming back to life, room by room, and guests were booking for the Winter Ball. They were going to make it through this.
His phone rang through his car’s Bluetooth system. Jack was in such a good mood that he answered without checking the caller ID.
“Hello?” Jack said cheerfully into the system’s microphone.
“Jack!” Pamela’s voice filled the truck cab.
“You really should start looking at who the caller is before you answer,” Logan said softly, giving Jack a sympathetic look.
Jack had to agree. This was the second time in two days that Pamela had caught him off guard.
Jack’s knuckles whitened around the steering wheel. “What do you want now, Pamela?” His jaw clenched so tight he could feel a muscle twitching beneath his skin. “I made myself perfectly clear yesterday.”
“Oh, Jack,” Pamela wailed, her voice cracking with what sounded like desperation.
“I had no idea what Victor was planning, I swear…” A theatrical sob erupted through the speakers, echoing in the confined space of the truck cab.
“I’ve left him,” she choked out between ragged breaths.
“I grabbed my purse and just... ran. Please, I need somewhere to stay. Just one night at the inn while I figure out what to do.”
For a heartbeat, Jack felt the old pull. That familiar urge to rescue her. Then Logan’s eyes caught his, his friend’s head shaking with such vehemence it was almost violent. The spell broke. This was Pamela’s most dangerous talent: making you believe the performance even when you knew better.
“We’re completely booked,” Jack snapped, blood pounding in his temples. “And if we had the last vacant room in all of Florida, I still wouldn’t let you anywhere near our inn.”
Logan gave him a thumbs-up of approval.
Jack frowned suddenly as something occurred to him. “Wait, are you both in St. Augustine?”
“Yes,” Pamela sniffed again. “We’re staying at Casa Monica Resort & Spa. Now I know why Victor was so adamant that we spend Christmas in my hometown. I thought he was being romantic...” Her voice broke convincingly. “I didn’t know he was planning to steal my daughter’s home.”
Logan nearly choked on his own saliva, and Jack’s stomach roiled with anger at Pamela’s audacity.
“Your daughter? You mean my daughter,” Jack said, his voice hard.
“And... I’m sorry, Pamela, but I don’t believe a word you’re saying.
You tried to wriggle your way into my daughter’s life under the worst possible false pretenses.
And now you’re trying to manipulate me into opening up the inn to you.
Do you think I’d stupidly give you a free pass to snoop? ”
“No… Jack…” Pamela gulped and hiccuped. She really was putting on the waterworks act. “It’s not like that.”
His jaw clenched as he reined in his anger. “Look, I’m sorry you and Victor are having problems, but I have to go. I’m sure you’ll sort it out.”
“Wait, Jack—” Pamela’s plea stopped him from hanging up. “Can I meet you for lunch today at the inn? I really need to talk to you about... about this deal of Victor’s. I can help you.”
Jack glanced at Logan, who was shaking his head vigorously and mouthing, “It’s a trap.”
Jack was well aware of that.
“I’m sorry, Pamela, but—”
There was a lot of static on the line, and then the call dropped completely.
“I guess that’s her answer,” Logan laughed, relief evident in his voice.
“Remember what Charlie told us. No talking with any of them without her present.” He pointed to the phone system.
“And your ex-wife needs to be avoided at all costs. She’s really up to something, and if her husband’s after your inn, I have a feeling she’ll stop at nothing to make sure he gets it. ”
“I know you’re right,” Jack admitted. “I don’t think when we were together she called me this much.”
They both laughed as they drove into St. Augustine proper, the historic buildings rising around them in the morning light.
“I need to stop for coffee,” Jack said. “That conversation with Pamela left a bad taste in my mouth.”
“Good idea,” Logan agreed. “I could use some caffeine, too.”
They pulled into the parking lot near the Corner Café and walked across the street to the coffee vendor. “Do you mind if we pop into the hardware store as it’s right around the corner?” Logan asked. “I was to check on a tool order.”
“Not at all,” Jack said. “We’re here now anyway.”
They started walking in that direction when they nearly collided with Simon, heading in the opposite direction. Jack’s first instinct was to ignore him and keep walking, but Simon stopped directly in their path.
“Jack, it’s good to see you again,” Simon said with false pleasantness. “I’ve been trying to contact you to set up a meeting.”
“I know,” Jack replied, his eyes hooded and wary. “I would have thought by the lack of a reply that you understood that I don’t have time at the moment for idle meetings.”
Simon ignored the hint. “Look, Jack, there’s an offer that should arrive tomorrow. It’s a good offer and the best you’re going to get considering the condition of the property at the moment.”
“The place isn’t for sale,” Logan added firmly.
Simon looked at Logan with barely concealed disdain. “And you are?”
“Family of the Christmases,” Logan replied evenly.
Simon nodded dismissively and turned back to Jack, clearly considering Logan beneath his notice. “Look over the offer when it arrives, and then get back to me. At least this way, you leave with something for you and your family.”
“Like Logan said, the inn is not for sale,” Jack told him, his voice hard. “Now, we have somewhere to be.”
Simon’s eyes narrowed, his professional veneer cracking slightly. “Don’t let your pride get in the way here, Jack. You may think whoever is financing you now and helping to pay off the inn’s debt is helping you...”
He paused meaningfully. “Let me tell you, people like my client, once they’ve set their sights on something, they will get it at any cost. They will find this mysterious person helping you and ensure that help stops.”
“Are you threatening us?” Jack asked, squaring his shoulders and drawing himself up to his full height. He towered over Simon by several inches.
“No,” Simon said with all the confidence and assurance of someone who thought they’d already won. “I’m trying to warn you so you’re not left with nothing.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Jack assured him. “And the fight isn’t over yet.”
Simon tried one more time, his voice taking on a note of false concern. “Look, Jack, I’m trying to look out for you here. You don’t know what this client is capable of.”
“Oh, trust me, I know full well what Victor Martin is capable of,” Jack said, watching surprise flash across Simon’s face.
“So Charlie told you after she found out?” Simon gave a soft, humorless laugh as Jack nodded. “Well, I’m a better attorney than Charlie ever was, so you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll find out who your benefactor is.”
“Another threat?” Logan shook his head in disgust.
“Take the offer. That’s my advice,” Simon said, his voice turning to ice. “I’ve tried to make this simple and ensure you don’t walk away empty-handed.”
He shook his head, turned sharply, and walked off without another word or backward glance.
Jack stared after him, confusion thrumming through his chest. He turned to Logan. “Tell me you’re not quietly paying off the inn’s debt.”
“Whoa!” Logan held up his hands defensively. “It’s not me. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. My investment went into the renovations and supplies. And even that’s stretching my budget as it is.”
“Then who else could it be?” Jack’s eyes fell on the shop across the street—William’s sweet and trinket shop. “William.”
Understanding dawned in Logan’s eyes. “You think it’s William?”
They crossed the street and stared into the window of the shop.
“He’s the only wealthy person I know well enough to consider it,” Jack said. “It makes sense. He and Mom have been getting closer. He loves this town and its history. And he has the means.”
“Then let’s ask William,” Logan suggested, and they both jumped when a voice came from the doorway of the shop.
“Ask me what?” William stood in the entrance, a curious expression on his face.
Jack quickly explained what Simon had said about the mysterious benefactor paying off the inn’s debt.
William listened carefully, then shook his head with a rueful smile.
“While I wanted to help, and I offered, your mother threatened me with bodily harm if I interfered. Said the Christmas family would handle their own problems or go down trying.” He chuckled fondly.
“Julie’s quite fierce when it comes to family pride. I wasn’t about to cross her.”
Jack felt a mixture of disappointment and admiration for his mother. “So if it’s not you, and it’s not Logan... then who?”
“I wish I could tell you,” William said. “But whoever it is, they’re a friend to your family. Perhaps you should accept the help graciously and worry about the forces trying to steal your inn.”
Jack nodded slowly, though the mystery gnawed at him. He didn’t like owing debts, especially to unknown benefactors.
As Jack and Logan turned to leave, Jack’s phone buzzed with a text message. He glanced at it and groaned.
“What now?” Logan asked.
“It’s Detective Bruce again,” Jack said, already heading back toward the truck. “Duke busted Brandy out of their yard, and they’ve both disappeared.”
“Ah, puppy love,” Logan laughed as Jack cursed under his breath.
They said quick goodbyes to William and rushed off to help Detective Bruce find a lovestruck Great Dane and Belgian Malinois before they caused chaos across Anastasia Island.
As they drove, Jack couldn’t help but think about Simon’s warnings and Pamela’s tearful phone call. Something was building, some kind of pressure that was about to break.
He just hoped they were ready when it did.
“Don’t you think it’s strange the way William answered your question?” Logan broke through Jack’s thoughts, and he turned to look at his friend.
“What do you mean?” Jack asked, his brow furrowing. “He said it wasn’t him.”
“Actually, he didn’t say that outright,” Logan pointed out. “William sort of talked around it and then said, and I quote, ‘I wish I could tell you.’”
Jack glanced at his friend as William’s words ran through his mind, and his eyes widened. “You’re right.”
They said in unison. “He knows who it is and can’t tell us.”
“It must be my mother,” Jack said through gritted teeth. “I told her not to use the little bit of money my father left her.”
“We don’t know that, Jack,” Logan warned.
“Who else could it be?” Jack asked. “A long-lost uncle I didn’t know about then?”
“Christmas elves?” Logan grinned at the look Jack shot him. “Let’s discuss this with Charlie after we’ve found your love-struck puppy.”
As they headed to Detective Bruce’s house, Jack was already planning to find his mother and have a word with her, because it had to be her paying the inn’s debts off.