Chapter 14 Jack
JACK
Jack sat at his desk, staring at his mobile phone in disbelief. He was still stunned by the development, and all he could think was that Holly really was his miracle.
He glanced at the call log on his phone. Yup, he’d called the number Terry had provided. And yup, Abe Tanner would be out at the inn bright and early tomorrow morning. The senior building inspector was going to sort out the “misunderstanding” with the lost notification call as well.
Jack had asked why Abe was doing this. Why was he willing to come out on such short notice, right before Christmas?
Abe’s response had been direct and firm.
One thing he didn’t abide was corruption and manipulation in his department.
Abe had been sent to St. Augustine specifically to clean up the building inspection division for exactly this reason.
When a young woman came to his office that morning, claiming she suspected fraud in property inspections, he started investigating immediately.
Then a call had come in from one of his newer staff members who had concerns about irregularities in filing procedures. Abe was planning to contact Jack the following morning anyway, so he was glad Jack had called first.
Jack shook his head in wonder, then actually pinched himself. Was he dreaming? This couldn’t be real. A few short hours ago, they had been facing complete disaster, and now, suddenly, they had a legitimate inspector coming out to help them.
He got up from his desk and walked out of his office, heading upstairs to check on the work being done in the three rooms. The sound of hammering, sawing, and voices calling to each other filled the second floor.
Jack stepped into Room Nine first. The damaged floorboards had all been replaced. Rupert and two of his crew were on their hands and knees, carefully sanding the new wood to blend seamlessly with the old. The work was meticulous and professional.
“Looking good,” Jack said, and Rupert looked up with a tired but satisfied smile.
“Should have the stain on within the hour,” Rupert said. “Then it needs to dry overnight, but it’ll be ready for inspection tomorrow.”
Jack moved to Room Ten, where Christopher and Logan were installing the new window frames. The old rotted wood had been completely removed, and the new frames fit perfectly into the openings.
In Room Eleven, Holly was measuring for curtains while Marco supervised two of the kitchen staff who were applying the final coat of paint to the walls.
Jack swallowed back the tears burning his throat. Everyone was working so hard. For him. For his family. For the inn.
Isabella and Mrs. Hurling had made multiple trips upstairs with trays of sandwiches, cookies, and coffee. They’d promised a delicious dinner at eight o’clock for everyone who was helping.
“Dad, can I talk to you?” Jane’s voice called from down the hallway. She stood near the door of Room Seven, gesturing for him to join her.
Jack nodded, his heart clenching. He thought he knew what this was about. His mother had said she was going to find Jane as soon as she’d left his office after delivering the news about what really happened thirty years ago with Pamela.
Jack followed Jane into Room Seven, but as the door had just been painted, he couldn’t close it properly.
“Gran told me,” Jane said without preamble. She was leaning against the dresser, her arms crossed. “About Pamela. About the money. About everything.”
“That must’ve been such a shock,” Jack said carefully, studying his daughter’s face. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I also just found out today.”
Jane nodded and was quiet for a moment, seeming to gather her thoughts. “Strangely, I’m more relieved than anything else. Now I know exactly how much I was worth to the woman who gave birth to me. Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That’s my value to Pamela.”
Her voice was bitter, but there was also a finality to it. Like she’d closed a door she’d been trying to keep open for years.
Jack moved closer and pulled his daughter into his arms. Jane hugged him back fiercely, then pulled away and looked up at him.
“I don’t hold a grudge against Gran,” Jane said firmly.
“I understand why she did it. Honestly, I would have done the same thing if I’d been in her place.
Protected my child and grandchild from a woman like that.
” She paused. “She probably should have told us sooner, but I can kind of see why she didn’t. Let sleeping dogs lie and all that.”
“Your grandmother loves you more than anything,” Jack said. “Everything she’s ever done has been to protect you.”
“I know,” Jane said. “And Dad? I’m glad Pamela left. I’m glad I grew up without her. Whatever she thinks she’s offering me now, I don’t want it. I have everything I need right here.”
Jack felt his throat tighten with emotion. “I’m proud of you, Jane. So proud.”
“At least now Pamela has no ammunition over us,” Jane said. “No secrets she can use against the family.”
Jack agreed, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that Pamela would find some other angle. She always did.
As if she could hear them talking about her, Jane’s phone beeped with a message. Jane pulled it out and looked at the screen. Her expression darkened immediately.
“I can’t believe this,” Jane said, her voice rising with anger. “Listen to this.”
She read the message aloud:
“Jane, baby, I know you must be angry with me. But we have to meet, sweetheart. There’s a lot you don’t know.
Like, I’m not trying to steal your home.
No. Victor is buying it for us, you and me, because your grandfather cut you out of his will, sweetie.
I know you probably don’t know this, but because you’re part of my bloodline, your paternal grandparents cut you out of their will.
You will never inherit the inn. But Victor and I are going to change that for you.
So please, sweety, we need to meet. There’s a lot you don’t know about your grandparents and why I actually left thirty years ago. ”
“It’s like she has some sort of listening device on us or something,” Jack said, making a mental note to check for bugs. The timing was too perfect.
“What a cow,” Jane seethed, her hands clenching around her phone.
“Maybe you should go and meet her,” Gabe’s voice from the doorway made them both jump.
He was balanced on his crutches, looking apologetic. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
“It’s okay,” Jane assured him, then looked at Jack. “I told Gabe everything. We don’t have secrets from each other.”
Jack smiled at that and nodded his approval. “I agree with Gabe. You should meet her.”
“Just don’t sign anything,” Gabe said firmly. “Not even the check if you go to a café or something. Nothing with your signature on it.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Jane promised. She looked down at her phone and typed a response. “Sure. Why not? When and where?”
The response came almost immediately: “Tomorrow morning, 9 a.m., at the Corner Café.”
Jane showed them the message, and Jack felt a mix of concern and determination. Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day. As well as one that would determine if they had turned all their guests away and canceled the ball at the last minute if Abe wasn’t happy with the inspection.
JACK
Early the next Morning
It was six am, and Jack stood eating a toasted egg and bacon sandwich, watching Holly hang the final set of curtains in Room Eleven. The morning light was just starting to filter through the new windows, illuminating the completely transformed space.
“Phew,” Holly said, stepping back to admire her work. Her eyes were red from lack of sleep, just like everyone else who’d been working through the night to ensure everything was ready for Abe’s inspection in two hours.
Jack looked around the room with satisfaction. The walls were freshly painted in a warm cream color. The new floorboards gleamed with their coat of stain. The window frames were solid and properly sealed. The curtains Holly had just hung added the perfect finishing touch.
“It’s beautiful,” Jack said. “You’re a miracle worker, Holly Bennett.”
“We all are,” Holly said, gesturing to encompass everyone who’d helped. “This was a team effort.”
They moved through all three rooms one more time, doing a final check. Room Nine looked perfect, the repaired floor completely seamless with the original boards. Room Ten’s new windows let in beautiful natural light. Room Eleven was finished and gorgeous.
In the hallway, people were gathering tools and cleaning up. Rupert and his carpentry crew were packing up their equipment, exhausted but satisfied with their work.
Jack stopped them before they could leave. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done. You saved us. You saved the inn.”
“Happy to help,” Rupert said with a tired smile. “You know my grandmother speaks very highly of your family. We’re glad we could be here.”
“Please,” Jack said, pulling out a stack of envelopes he’d prepared earlier.
“Take these. Complimentary tickets to the Winter Ball tomorrow night for you and your families. It’s the least we can do.
” He turned and picked up a fruit-and-wine basket from the counter.
It was huge. “This is for you, your team, and your grandmother to share from all of us at the inn.” His smile widened.
“Your grandmother’s invitation is in there as well.
Although I think William and my mother have already invited her.
We gave her a golden invitation.” Those invitations meant you were either at the family’s table at the ball or right near it.
Rupert’s eyes widened. “Jack, you don’t have to...”
“I want to,” Jack insisted. “You gave up your time right before Christmas to help us. You’re all welcome at the Ball. Please come.”
The carpenters accepted the tickets with genuine appreciation, shaking Jack’s hand before heading out.
Jack turned to find Gloria Bright making her way up the front stairs with his mother.
“Gloria,” Jack said warmly. “Thank you for sending Rupert and his crew. I don’t know what we would have done without them.”
“When I heard you needed help, and I knew someone who could, I was happy to,” Gloria said. “In this town, we take care of our own. The Christmas Inn is part of our history. We weren’t going to let it go without a fight.”
She squeezed Jack’s hand. “Your father was a good man, Jack Christmas. He helped a lot of people in this community over the years. This is us returning the favor.”
“Gran,” Rupert called her. “Are you coming back with us or getting a lift back to town later?”
“I’m coming,” Gloria said, rolling her eyes. “I will talk to you later, Julie.”
“Bye for now,” Julie waved her off as she walked outside and climbed into the minivan she’d arrived in to fetch her grandson and his crew.
After Gloria and the carpenters left, Jack walked through the rooms one more time with Holly and Logan. They checked every detail, making sure everything was perfect for the inspection.
“I think we’re ready,” Logan said finally. “Abe Tanner is going to find all the rooms in our inn have been perfectly renovated and now meet every building code requirement.”
“I hope so,” Jack said. “Because if we fail this inspection...”
“We won’t,” Holly said firmly, taking his hand. “We’re going to pass, Jack. I can feel it.”
They made their way downstairs, where the rest of the family was starting to gather. Isabella and Christopher were in the kitchen, making a huge breakfast for everyone. Trinity and Maddy were setting the tables in the dining room.
Gabe and Jane were organizing the final decorations for the Winter Ball, which was now just over twenty-four hours away.
Jack caught Holly’s eye and tilted his head toward the back door. She nodded, understanding he needed a moment alone with her.
They stepped out onto the back porch, where the morning air was crisp and cool. The ocean stretched out before them, peaceful and eternal.
“We never got our run this morning,” Jack said with a rueful smile.
“No,” Holly agreed. “I don’t think either of us could run right now. I’m so tired I can barely stand.”
Jack pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned into him, and they stood there for a moment, just holding each other.
“Thank you,” Jack said softly. “For everything. For staying. For fighting. For bringing that envelope from Terry that might have just saved us.”
“We’re not saved yet,” Holly reminded him, but she was smiling. “We still have to pass the inspection.”
“We will,” Jack said, surprising himself with how much he believed it. “We’re going to pass, we’re going to hold the Winter Ball, and we’re going to save this inn.”
Holly looked up at him, her eyes shining. “I love you, Jack Christmas.”
“I love you too,” Jack said, then kissed her softly.
They were interrupted by Jack’s phone ringing. He groaned and pulled it out, then sighed when he saw the name on the screen.
“Detective Bruce,” Jack said, answering the call. “Please tell me this is good news.”
“I’m afraid not, Jack,” Detective Bruce said. “Brandy is missing. She got out of my yard sometime last night, and I can’t find her anywhere.”
Jack sagged against the porch railing. This was all he needed right now.
“I’ll be right there,” Jack said. “I can guarantee Duke had something to do with this.”
He hung up and looked at Holly apologetically.
“Go,” Holly said. “Find Duke and Brandy. We’ve got things covered here.”
Jack was about to leave when he stopped at the door. “We never got a chance to go over everything in the envelope Terry gave you. The contract, the proof about Pamela.”
“Don’t worry,” Holly said with a grin. “Charlie will fill you in when we all meet at noon. She’s been going through everything with a fine-tooth comb.”
Jack smiled and nodded. “Okay. Let me go find Brandy, because I can guarantee Duke is involved in her disappearance. Then I need to shower and get ready to meet Abe at eight.”
They kissed goodbye, and this time, as Jack turned to go, his heart felt lighter.
They might not be completely clear yet, but he had a better feeling about their odds than he’d had yesterday.
Maybe, just maybe, they were going to make it through this after all.