Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
N atalie awoke the next morning to a soft rustling sound in the hallway. Throwing back the covers, she padded across the room and opened the door just in time to find Faith tiptoeing away, doing her best to avoid the creaky floorboards on her way to the stairs.
“Faith?” Natalie asked, frowning at her in confusion. “What are you doing?”
Faith winced. “Sorry to wake you, dear. I had a special delivery for you, and I wanted to bring it by your room before I headed out for the morning. I already told Holly I would need a boatload of coffee before I attempted to stuff myself into that elf costume.” She winked at her, then continued tiptoeing toward the stairs, the little gold bells on her Christmas sweater jingling merrily.
Natalie smiled to herself—she was beginning to like those sweaters, she decided, even if she wouldn’t be caught dead actually wearing one. Then she glanced down at her feet, and saw several packages in Santa Claus wrapping paper waiting for her. “What’s all this?” she murmured to herself as she bent down and lifted them into her arms. After carrying them inside and laying them gently on the bed, she tore off the wrapping paper on the first package and threw back her head in laughter.
Inside was a Christmas sweater that would rival the gaudiest one in Faith’s closet, bright green and threaded with red garland. Ball ornaments in shades of silver and gold hung from various spots of the garland, and the background of the sweater was dotted here and there with white puff-ball snowflakes. It was the most hideous thing Natalie had ever seen, and tears of laughter were streaming from her eyes as she picked up the accompanying note.
Dear Natalie,
The moment I saw this sweater, I knew it was perfect for you .
See you soon,
Gabe
“He’s not actually expecting me to wear this, is he?” Natalie muttered to herself, flicking one of the ornaments only to discover that it jingled, because of course it did. Then she spotted the P.S. at the bottom of the note.
Santa personally told me you won’t be getting any presents for Christmas this year if you don’t wear it.
“Okay, fine ,” Natalie grumbled, though she couldn’t help grinning as she slipped the sweater over her head and shoved her arms into the sleeves. It was bag-shaped and perfectly awful, but it was also sort of adorable, and who would have known? Maybe Faith had the right idea after all.
The wrapping paper on the second package was torn off in short order, and Natalie actually clapped her hands in delight when she discovered a wrapped plate of decadent-looking cinnamon rolls inside, perfectly warm and perfectly gooey. “Okay, now you’re speaking my language,” Natalie said to the folded note taped to the plate, as if Gabe could hear her. She plucked it off and unfolded it, a smile curving her lips as she scanned Gabe’s handwriting.
Dear Natalie ,
A full stomach is a must in preparation for our extravaganza—doctor’s orders. This is my mother’s recipe, and I had to promise to take Sophie to a princess tea party in exchange for Holly showing me how to make them. The tiny terror wants me to wear a purple dress and a tiara, and she won’t take no for an answer.
Holly says you must be worth it, and I have to admit, I agree.
Gabe
Natalie blinked back tears as she read and reread Gabe’s note, her heart in her throat. No man had ever said anything like that to her. Devin loved her, she knew that—or at least he used to love her—but Natalie couldn’t say that he cherished her. That he adored her. But Gabe… well, she could tell that Gabe was a man capable of cherishing a woman. How he had remained single for so long was a mystery.
The third and last package was bulky, and Natalie eagerly ripped it open to reveal a thick down jacket in a beautiful shade of caramel, lined with luxurious faux fur in soft beige. It felt heavenly between her fingers, and more importantly, it felt warm . Something capable of withstanding the frigid mountain air, something that wouldn’t make her feel like a human popsicle.
Gabe’s last note was short and sweet :
Dear Natalie,
You’re going to need this today. I hope it fits.
Gabe
Natalie traced her fingers along his words, trying to imagine him sitting down to write these letters for her, to plan this day, to put so much thought into the things she might enjoy.
Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to see him. She also had no idea what that meant… for either of them.
Her phone chimed then with a text, and she dropped the coat and hurried over to the nightstand to retrieve it, already rehearsing her thank-you message to Gabe for the thoughtful gifts. But when she swiped her finger across the screen, her pulse kicking up a notch with excitement, she didn’t see Gabe’s name…
She saw Devin’s.
I miss you. Can we talk?
How could six words ruin a morning so quickly? A week ago—heck, even two days ago—Natalie would have been ecstatic to hear from him. Ever since she left, she’d known, she’d known , that he would realize he made a mistake. Checking her phone upwards of a hundred times a day had been draining and, frankly, humiliating, because she wasn’t desperate. She wasn’t, because she understood true desperation, and as much as she loved Devin, this was not it.
Still, though, she was lonely. Incredibly lonely… but lately, well, things were changing, weren’t they?
Natalie stared down at the phone in her palm for several long moments, frozen with indecision, and then it chimed again.
Can I pick you up at ten?
Natalie’s heart had seized up at the sight of Devin’s message, but one glance at Gabe’s name on the screen had some of the tension melting away.
Absolutely, she responded, deciding to thank him for his kindness in person. Looking forward to it! Then she set her phone back on the table and turned her attention to the plate of ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls. Lifting the cellophane wrapper, she caught a whiff of cinnamon goodness and moaned softly in anticipation. They were still warm, and she was famished.
Devin could wait. Maybe forever.
Natalie was standing in front of The Mistletoe House at ten o’clock on the nose, eagerly scanning the town square for Gabe. The day was blustery but dry, though the mountains all around Chestnut Cove were glittering with newly fallen snow. It was a glorious sight, and Natalie inhaled deeply, her lungs reveling in the fresh mountain air mixed with the aroma of freshly baked cookies from The Chestnut Café next door.
In the distance, Natalie could make out a cluster of children waiting outside town hall for the doors to open for Santa’s Wonderland, and to her surprise, a flicker of longing passed through her. In spite of the ridiculous costume, and the murderous reindeer, she was beginning to enjoy her time as an elf. Natalie laughed to herself as she imagined Faith in the role instead, though she had a feeling the older woman was born to be one of Santa’s helpers.
Natalie craned her neck over a cluster of people passing by on the sidewalk, their arms weighed down with shopping bags, until she finally spotted Gabe’s dark hair and broad shoulders bobbing above the crowd. She hurried to smooth down her hair, her heart jackhammering against her ribcage as he approached and their eyes met.
“Hi there,” he said with a smile, looking genuinely happy to see her.
For once, Natalie didn’t think; for once, she just acted, and a moment later, she was in his arms, her head nestled against his bulky coat as she breathed in his earthy scent of musk and pine. He seemed momentarily surprised, his body tensing for a brief second before he relaxed into the hug, his arms slipping around her waist, his chin resting in her hair.
“What was that for?” he asked when they pulled apart, earning a few teasing catcalls from a group of local men ambling by. Natalie’s face heated, but she kept her gaze fixed on Gabe as he reached out a hand and tenderly stroked the pad of his thumb down her cheek. “Hello to you, too,” he murmured.
“Hi.” Natalie grinned up at him. “I had a very good morning.”
“Did you now?” Gabe’s smile was mischievous. “I can’t imagine why.” He nodded toward her down coat, a perfect fit. “New coat?”
“That’s not all.” Natalie unzipped the coat with a flourish to reveal the ugly Christmas sweater underneath. She wiggled her hips until the ornaments jingled. “What do you think?”
“I think I’ve never seen anything quite this beautiful.” His gaze was on the sweater only briefly before it roamed over her face. “I had a feeling it would suit you. And it’s the perfect outfit for our extravaganza. Our Christmas extravaganza.” He had tucked her arm in his as they began walking down the sidewalk, shoulders touching, but his last words had Natalie stopping in her tracks.
“A… Christmas extravaganza?”
“That’s right,” Gabe said merrily, unaware of the color draining from her face. “I’ve seen you in action a few times as Peppermint the elf, and I’ve decided you don’t hate Christmas as much as you think you do. So today, I’m on a mission.” He spread his arms wide, his face lit with a grin. “A mission to bring back your holiday spirit. A whole day dedicated to Christmas, so you can remember how awesome it is.”
“Is that…? Wow,” Natalie managed, unable to form a coherent thought. She did her best to rearrange her features into what she hoped was an appreciative look, because Gabe… well, he looked incredibly excited, and proud, and he had no idea the treacherous, shark-infested waters he was treading in right now with no lifeboat in sight. “A Christmas extravaganza, huh?”
“That’s right.” Gabe slipped his hand into hers, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “I guarantee we’re going to have a good time.” His eyes met hers, dark and warm and filled with promise. “So, what do you say? Are you in?”
She was not “in.” She was very much not “in,” but Gabe’s eyes were searching hers, and those godforsaken butterflies were tangoing in her stomach again, and Devin’s message was playing in the back of her mind… and so she found herself saying yes.
But only she could tell she didn’t really mean it.