Chapter Ten
NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME, HOLLY REFLECTED THAT SHE WAS probably wrong to regret losing her former in-laws more than she regretted losing her ex-husband.
Holly smiled at Stacy Pacheco, Troy and Kristine’s older sister, as she grabbed another bacon-wrapped shrimp off the plate of appetizers on the table.
Her former mother-in-law really knew how to throw a party. Their large, comfortable home on the shores of Lake Haven was decorated beautifully for a holiday bridal shower, with signs that said A Merry Little Bridal Shower and Snow in Love, along with garlands and fairy lights and plenty of food.
She was especially happy that Susan had arranged care for the children of invited guests.
Lydia was happily playing in the large downstairs family room with her cousins, Stacy’s children, as well as children of other guests.
They were all watched carefully by a couple of older ladies from Susan’s church.
“It’s so lovely to see you, my dear.” A woman with pure white hair in an elegant style pressed Holly’s shoulder then took the folding plastic chair next to her.
She smiled at Troy’s grandmother, who was tiny and fierce, one of her favorites of his relatives. “Nona. Hello. It’s lovely to see you as well. It’s been far too long.”
“I stopped by your floral shop the other day, only you weren’t there. The young lady who was working behind the counter, I think she said her name was Ginger, said you were out making deliveries. Don’t you have people to do that for you?”
“I’m a little shorthanded right now but we’re making do. We all take turns on the deliveries. I had a special one that day for a friend recovering from surgery so I delivered it personally.”
“Oh, how nice of you. That’s why your flower shop is doing so well, because you haven’t forgotten how important that personal touch is.”
Most of the time, she felt like Evergreen & Ivy was barely hanging on, but it was nice to believe she was making a difference and the store was gaining a positive reputation.
“I’m only sorry I missed you. Was there something special you were looking to order?”
“Not to worry, dear. I already took care of it. Your Ginger was a big help.”
“I’m so glad.”
Ginger might be a bit distractable but she was also caring and compassionate, as well as being creative and talented.
“I was picking up a half-dozen white roses for my friend Esther’s birthday.
Her husband used to give her a bouquet every year.
This is her first year without him and I know how she must be missing him.
It’s been ten years without my Ned and I still somehow forget he won’t be sending me flowers on our anniversary like he used to do. ”
Holly made a mental note to check with Susan about when Nona and Ned’s wedding anniversary had been so she could arrange a delivery on that day.
“I know how Esther has been missing Sheldon,” Nona went on, “and I thought some flowers might help her feel better, even if they’re not from him.”
“Flowers make everything feel better.”
Nona beamed and patted her hand. “I’ve always thought so. Now where is that darling girl of yours?”
“She’s downstairs with the other children. Last I checked, they were starting up a Christmas movie.”
“I’ll have to make sure I see her before the party is over. That girl is a precious angel.”
“Not all the time. She can be stubborn and fiercely independent when she wants to be.”
“Good. She’ll need to be.”
That was another reason she loved Nona. The woman understood the challenges in store for Lydia and appreciated the strength and courage Holly was trying to instill in her daughter.
“How are you enjoying living at the Shelter Inn?”
Troy’s grandmother had moved into the senior apartment building in Shelter Springs over the summer. Holly and Lydia had walked over to visit her several times after she made the move but Holly was embarrassed to realize a few months had passed since they last stopped by.
She pushed away the guilt, trying to give herself a break. She was doing the best she could to juggle all the plates in her life.
Speak to yourself like someone you love , Hannah often urged her. It was advice she had been doing her best to follow.
“Those people are crazy.” Nona shook her head. “They never stop moving. If they’re not hiring a bus to go look at the fall colors they’re playing bingo in the recreation room or having jazzercise classes in the pool. It’s exhausting for an old lady like me.”
Holly smiled. “They always have a stall at the Christmas market, don’t they?”
“Oh yes. We’ve all been working like fricking elves on crack to fill our stall. If I have to stuff one more little amigurumi animal, I might poke myself in the eye with a crochet needle.”
She laughed, charmed as always by the older woman.
“Oh, cut it out. You know you love it there.” Nadine, Nona’s daughter and Troy’s aunt, gave her mother a long-suffering look as she and her sister Nancy sat down at their table.
“We all know you love nothing more than to be right in the middle of the action. You’re probably running the place by now. ”
Nona scoffed. “Not even close. You girls know I’m just a shy, retiring, former librarian.”
Nancy snorted. “And I’m a Radio City Rockette.”
Like their mother, the sisters were full of personality and never afraid to speak their mind. Troy had always been a little embarrassed about his father’s family. Not Holly. She adored them all.
They chatted about their plans for the upcoming holidays and about the popular Christmas market in town.
“So Holly,” Stacy suddenly said during a break in the conversation, “what’s this I hear about you bringing a hot date to the wedding?”
Holly froze, her fork poised halfway to her mouth. She set it down sharply, feeling her face flush. “I’m not sure. What have you heard?”
Troy’s sister pressed one hand over her very pregnant belly. “Only that he’s some gorgeous pilot and he’s supposed to be crazy about you.”
“Who told you that?” she asked, aghast.
Stacy gestured to her mother, who was deep in conversation with Kristine’s future mother-in-law, a woman Holly didn’t know.
“Mom couldn’t stop talking about it. She said you were all hush-hush about him but she happened to talk to your sister, Hannah, at the Shelter Inn the other day and she told her all about him. Susan is over the moon that you’re dating again.”
“Why?”
Stacy and her aunts exchanged a look and then Nancy, the oldest, finally spoke.
“She took your breakup hard, especially since Troy was the one who walked out on you and moved in with Brittany right away.”
“Mom feels guilty that any son of hers could be such a jerk,” Stacy said bluntly. “You know we have all been pretty upset at Troy.”
Holly set her fork down, her appetite gone. She had hoped she could come to the bridal shower and simply enjoy a pleasant time without having to exhume her failed marriage over and over.
“It’s been two years,” she said. “We’ve both moved on.”
“I still think it’s tough for Mom to truly embrace Brittany and their baby when we all know you were treated so poorly in the whole deal.”
She hated being put in the position of a victim with his family. It wasn’t fair to anybody.
“I hope that’s not true,” Holly said quietly. “Little Hudson is adorable and completely innocent in the whole thing.”
“The important thing is, you have somebody now,” Nancy said cheerfully. “When she sees you happy again with your sexy pilot, maybe Susan can finally relax and enjoy the holidays, Kristine’s wedding and her newest grandbaby.”
Holly shifted, mortified by this whole conversation and annoyed that everyone was putting so much emphasis on her supposed relationship. She did not need a man in her life to be happy and it frustrated her that Troy’s mother seemed to think she did.
“Tell me all about him,” Nona said, her wrinkled features avid with curiosity. “How did you meet? Was it love at first sight?”
She forced a smile. “Um, he’s the brother of my friend Kim, who works for me.”
“Oh good. So this Kim can vouch for whether he’s good enough for our Holly and Lydia,” Nona said, her tone completely serious.
“I suppose,” she said after a moment.
This whole thing was spiraling quickly out of her control. She hated lying to Troy’s family. But what would happen if she came clean and told them all she wasn’t truly in a relationship with Ryan?
“We just started dating,” she said. “It’s still early days.”
“You like him, though. That’s the first step,” Nona said.
She did like him. Probably too much. Earlier in the day when she had been certain he wanted to kiss her, she had felt giddy with anticipation.
“He’s a pilot? Is that what you said? Who does he fly for?” Nadine asked.
“Um, he’s a helicopter pilot in the navy, stationed in San Diego. Right now he’s sidelined because of an injury, one of the reasons he was able to come to Shelter Springs for the holidays to spend time with his family, but he’s hoping to be flying again soon.”
“Oh, he has family here?” Nona asked.
She really needed to figure out how to change the subject but nothing seemed to come to her.
“Yes. His father and stepmother live here in town,” she said. “Doug and Diane Caldwell.”
“You remember Diane. She used to be Diane Hall before she was married,” Stacy said.
“Oh, she is such a sweetie,” Nadine said. “She was a year behind me in school and the nicest person.”
“She’s still nice,” Stacy said. “She’s on the library board. She also volunteers at the kids’ school and listens to them read to her several times a week.”
Holly seized on the most flimsy of excuses to change the subject.
“Are your kids doing any Christmas shows this year?”
She knew Stacy’s oldest, Ella, was in a children’s choir that usually performed at least a few concerts every year.
“Yes. Several. Ella has to miss one the day of the wedding but she’s performing this week at the Shelter Springs market.”
“Oh, do let me know when and Lydia and I will try to make it.”
“I’ll text you the details.”