Chapter 15
T he next morning we’re having breakfast at the dining room table with Kay and Jameson. Now that theweddingis over, things at the inn have calmed down so Lila has some down time.
She nibbles on her lower lip as she wrings her hands. “Kay, I have something I’d like to talk to you about.”
We agreed it would be easier to share the news about Lila coming with me to California and us becoming a couple in one go—two birds, one stone.
While Lila has been beside herself with worry, I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to come up with a solution to ensure that Grandma isn’t left to manage the inn on her own. I haven’t had a chance to discuss things with Jameson, but I’m glad he’s here.
“Is this about you leaving?” Grandma asks Lila point-blank.
Lila crinkles her brow. “Um… Yes, but how did you know that?”
She glances over at me, and I hold out my hands in defense. “I haven’t said anything.”
Grandma waves us off with a laugh. “Oh, sweetheart, no one needed to tell me. I’m not new to this. You’ve been restless since you went to Andrew and Hannah’s engagement party, and I didn’t miss how whenever Brooks’ name was mentioned, your face lit up like a Christmas tree. Once I saw that he was just as smitten, it was clear where things were headed. You both simply needed a slight nudge in the right direction, is all.”
Wait a minute.
“Hey, Grandma. You never explained why you never offered me one of those fold-out beds when you found out my cot broke.”
She shrugs. “There was a lot going on and it slipped my mind.”
I’m still not convinced, which leads me to suspect Grandma has been busy pulling the strings behind the scenes, trying to get Lila and me together. It was a gamble, but she has an uncanny ability to stack the odds in her favor, leaving me to wonder if it’s luck or pure genius.
She reaches over to pat me on the cheek. “You’re thinking too hard, dear,” she says before turning her attention back to Lila. “You have nothing to worry about. I won’t be on my own when you leave. Jameson told me earlier that he’ll be spending a lot more time in Starlight Pines. Dr. Dancliff, who owns a pediatric practice in town, is cutting back his hours, and Jameson is going to help him out two days a week.”
My brother avoids my gaze while pouring himself a glass of orange juice. Now that I think about it, he’s been strangely quiet since he got here. He’s the Chief of Pediatrics at a world-renowned hospital, is on the advisory board for the World Health Organization’s pediatric care division, and is credited for founding a free clinic program for underserved kids in New York City. So I have no idea how he’ll find the time to travel back and forth each week, but something tells me he has his reasons.
I make a mental note to ask him about it later.
“Who’s going to help out when Jameson’s busy with work or in New York?” Lila asks Grandma. “You can’t manage the event planning on your own.” Her voice slightly trembles.
This is not going how I thought it would, and at this rate, I’m afraid Lila might reconsider her decision. She has a heart of gold, and until she’s sure my grandma has all the support she needs at the inn, she won’t want to leave.
Grandma’s face lights up with a smile. “Don’t worry. I’ve already sorted that out.”
Lila looks surprised. “You have?”
“Yes, a woman reached out about a job, and I hired her. Her name is Sutton. She and her daughter, Penny, were passing through on Christmas Eve and stopped to see Santa—or should I say you,” Grandma says to me with a wink. “They’re looking for a place to call home, and they fell in love with Starlight Pines. Sutton noticed we were short-staffed and called to ask if we had any openings. I hired her on the spot. Originally, I had planned for her to take over housekeeping and was going to put her and Penny in a room on the first floor. But now that the cottage is open, they can stay there. It’ll give them a roof over their head and some extra space while Sutton gets back on her feet.
Jameson, who’s been a silent observer until now, spits out the orange juice he was sipping. “Grandma, you can’t offer a random woman a job because you feel sorry for her. Let alone offer her a place to stay.”
Grandma sits up straight, squaring her shoulders. “Why the hell not? This is my inn, is it not? Which means I decide who stays here and who doesn’t, thank you very much.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to point out that she used the same language she reprimanded me for, but hold back when she raises an eyebrow, daring me to challenge her.
“I don’t want her trying to take advantage of you,” Jameson says, his voice softening.
“Nonsense. In case you forgot, I’ve been doing this long before you were born,” she retorts. “And besides, it’ll be nice to have a child around to bring some life to the place. I’ll need someone to spoil now that Winson’s off to California with Lila.”
“We won’t be gone forever. Think of it as an extended vacation,” Lila says, but her tone betrays her. “And we’ll visit as often as we can.”
“Mmm, we’ll see about that, won’t we?” Grandma says with a raised brow.
Yes, we will.
Like I told Lila earlier, if things go according to plan, she and Winston will love California so much they’ll want to make it their new home and stay with me forever.
After brunch, Lila and I take Winston on a walk into town. Today, he’s decked out in a new candy cane striped sweater that Lila’s mom gave him for Christmas. He also got a giant bag of peanut butter biscuits and a new stuffed hippo since his current one is missing an ear.
I never imagined that my world would revolve around a bossy dachshund and his sunshine owner. Yet now that I’ve had a glimpse of what life is like with Lila and Winston, I realize just how empty mine was until they came along.
A few locals are milling around town, taking in the fresh air after celebrating Christmas at home. We stopped by Sip & Savor, the local coffee shop, to grab drinks to go.
“Here we are,” I say as I step outside with our order.
“Thanks.” Lila beams when I hand her a toasted white chocolate mocha. “Why do all the best flavors have to be seasonal?”
“Don’t worry, California has plenty of coffee shops with creative baristas. I’m sure they’d be happy to make you a toasted white chocolate mocha in the middle of June if that’s what you want.”
“And what if Winston and I don’t stay that long?”
“Then I guess you’ll be resigned to a life without seasonal coffee flavors year-round,” I say, crossing my arms with a teasing grin. “Although I have a feeling you’ll like it there.”
“Oh yeah? And why is that?” Lila asks.
“Because staying with me comes with daily foot massages, morning coffee, and binge-watching all your favorite shows together.”
“How romantic.”
“Did I mention orgasms? Lots and lots of orgasms.”
She covers her face as she bursts out laughing. “Promises, promises.”
“Ones I have every intention of making good on,” I say, leaning over to give her a quick peck on the lips. “Now all that’s left is making sure Winston has a mountain of toys and an endless treat supply to keep him entertained at night while we’re… busy.”
Lila places her hands on her hips, glancing down at the dog in question. “What do you think, Winston? Think you can handle being bribed to sleep in your dog bed every now and then?”
He barks in agreement, and when I look down, he’s on his hind legs, pawing at the air. His eyes are locked on the pup cup in my hand as if it’s a prize he’s about to claim.
“Relax, buddy, it’s all yours.”
When I bend down and offer it to him, he nearly knocks me over as he dives in, devouring his treat with gusto.
Lila laughs at his enthusiasm, shaking her head. “Did I mention whipped cream is another one of his favorite treats?”
“Duly noted,” I say, storing that information for later.
Once Winston is finished, I toss the empty cup, pull out a red envelope from my coat pocket and hand it to Lila.
“What’s this?” she asks. “You already got me a present.”
“This belongs to you, and I figured now was as good a time as any to return it.”
Lila’s mouth falls open when she pulls out the black-and-white Polaroid strip of us from Andrew and Hannah’s engagement party.
Her fingers trace the photos, her mouth curving into a smile. “Brooks, this is incredible.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
I convinced my assistant, in exchange for an added bonus, to stop by my house on Christmas Eve and retrieve the photo strip I had tucked away in my nightstand for safekeeping. He was able to expedite shipping so it arrived in Starlight Pines this morning. It was well worth it to see the smile on Lila’s face.
“I can’t believe you took these,” she says. “They were gone when I checked, so I assumed they never printed.”
“I wasn’t ready to let that memory go, and I wanted something tangible to hold on to.”
“I’m so happy you did.” She wraps her arm around me. “I can’t wait to frame it, although it’s going to be tough deciding on which kind to get. Does gold or silver match the décor in your apartment, or what about something bold like a colorful statement piece?”
“Pick whichever frame you like, as long as you promise it’ll go in the living room so everyone who comes to visit knows how much you mean to me,” I state.
“You’ve got yourself a deal.”
We make our way to a bench near the coffee shop facing the park with the town Christmas tree. I hoist Winston up beside Lila. Once we’re seated, I casually drape my arm around her shoulders. There’s no one else I’d rather spend the holidays with, or any day for that matter. I’m still in disbelief that she’s really mine. Completely, irrevocably mine.
I lean over, cupping her jaw in my hand, and kiss her deeply. The noise around us dims, replaced by the quiet certainty that this is exactly where I’m meant to be.
“I’m really glad you came back to Starlight Pines,” Lila murmurs.
“Me too.”
For the longest time, I viewed life through a haze of skepticism and disappointment. I avoided the town my dad adored, too afraid to believe that happiness was possible here, convinced it would lead to more heartache. As snowflakes drift around me, I can’t help but think that he played a part in bringing me back here and that he would want me to make new memories that honor Grandma and the place he cherished most.
Then, Lila stepped into my life—or rather, I stepped back into hers. She showed me how to appreciate the small things and reminded me that happiness can often be found where you least expect it, even in a small town I thought I had left behind for good.
After all these years, I finally feel like I’m home. It’s not the place that matters but the person who makes even the smallest moments extraordinary—and for me, that’s Lila. What we experienced wasn’t just holiday spirt, it was the start of a new beginning. By opening my heart again, I found a magic that will last forever.