4. Jenny
JENNY
Jenny looked around the suite of rooms, amazed. This was far larger than the nice-sized bedroom and bath Trudy had promised her. It had a big bedroom, a living room, and even a tiny dining area. And every bit of it was beautifully decorated for Christmas.
There was a little tree with twinkling lights, a fireplace with hooks that would be perfect for hanging their stockings, and strings of tiny white lights over every window.
There was also a banner that said Congratulations, Newlyweds hanging in the arch between the living and dining areas. Erik promptly found something interesting to study about his shoes when he spotted that.
“I’ll be right back with your snack,” Trudy said, slipping out before Jenny could explain herself or ask any questions.
Letting out her breath slowly and trying to force herself to relax, Jenny turned back to Erik and her son as soon as the door closed behind Trudy.
“Gael, why did you say that I was Erik’s fiancée?” she asked as patiently as she could.
Inwardly, she couldn’t help asking herself an even better question: Why didn’t I correct him?
He was just a kid, after all. But she was supposed to know better. And so was Erik, for that matter.
“Seriously?” Gael said to her, his eyes sparkling. “Don’t you remember season twelve, episode seven?”
Erik gave the boy a predictably puzzled look.
Of course Gael was thinking about the soap opera.
Jenny frowned and tried to remember that particular season of Ridley Hospital.
They had watched so many in such a short time when he was getting her all caught up on the story that it was hard to remember them all.
“Jasmine and Jordan’s wedding?” she guessed.
“No, no,” Gael said. “That’s episode twenty. Episode seven is the proposal. They decided to get engaged to make Jasmine’s grandmother happy, and to save the peach orchard.”
“But it wasn’t real,” Jenny remembered out loud.
“It’s a classic fake fiancée scenario,” Gael said excitedly. “They’re the most fun, and the endings are always really exciting.”
“Gael,” Jenny said carefully. “That’s on TV. This is real life.”
“But what about the soldiers?” Gael asked with a plaintive note in his voice. “They were so happy to see you. Can’t we do this to help them?”
Jenny turned to Erik, hoping he would see from her eyes that she was sorry to have dragged him into this mess. She expected him to be angry, or at least frustrated with them for making things more complicated for him.
But there was a thoughtful expression on his handsome face instead.
“The holidays can be a hard time,” he said simply.
His words hit home, and she instinctively turned back to Gael, remembering how hard last Christmas had been for her sweet boy.
“Knock, knock,” Trudy called out as she slowly pushed the door open. “I’ve got strawberries and freshly whipped cream here for my weary travelers.”
“Yes,” Gael said happily, hurrying over to the small dining table where Trudy placed a tray with a glass bowl of strawberries, a dish of whipped cream, and three plates and forks.
“I assume you won’t be needing your other room,” Trudy said quietly to Jenny.
So she knows who we really are.
That made sense. When she booked the stay, she’d explained how she would be here with her nine-year-old son.
“I… I’m not sure what’s happening,” Jenny admitted.
“My fiancée won’t be coming after all,” Erik said. “And these rooms are already paid for.”
“I see,” Trudy said.
Jenny winced inwardly.
“Why don’t you stay put, dear?” Trudy offered. “You may as well take advantage of a nicer space while you figure out what you’re going to do.”
“That’s… that’s so nice,” Jenny said, suddenly feeling like she was on the verge of tears.
“Captain Anderson takes awfully good care of the veterans in this town,” Trudy said fondly. “And he certainly keeps the inn busy with his generosity. It’s my pleasure to help in any way I can.”
“Thank you,” Jenny said, feeling curious about Erik’s generosity. She had assumed he was simply running a non-profit, but the way Trudy was talking, it almost sounded like he was funding some of its work himself.
“As far as anyone needs to know, you’re his fiancée,” Trudy said, her eyes twinkling in a way that almost reminded Jenny of how delighted Gael had been at the idea of a fake engagement. “I’m going to bring you three up the special dinner he arranged. I’ll be right back.”
Jenny watched her go, still feeling too overwhelmed to object to any of this.
“Jenny, I don’t want to ask you to do something you’re not comfortable with,” Erik began, then stopped.
He actually wanted her to do it.
Erik Anderson was one of the most honest and ethical people she had ever known, but he wanted them to fake an engagement.
And even more strangely, she really, really wanted to agree.
“I’ll think about it,” she allowed, hoping she’d make a better decision with a full stomach and a little rest.
“Let’s eat strawberries,” Gael called to them.
“I’m going to head back to my place and give you guys some privacy,” Erik said, heading over to the table to pat Gael’s shoulder. “But whatever happens, I’m so glad I got to meet you, Gael, and it was great to catch up with you both.”
“It was nice to meet you too,” Gael said.
“Enjoy the dinner,” Erik said, smiling at the boy.
“I know Trudy’s got something special in the works for you.
And no pressure, but if you decide you want to move forward with…
all this, I’m having a Christmas Day brunch at the Center tomorrow.
I’ll text you the address. Get some sleep.
You can let me know what you decide in the morning. ”
Jenny handed him her phone and he sent himself a message and then gave it back and tapped his own screen a few times. A moment later, her phone buzzed with a pinned location.
“Thank you so much,” she told him, feeling a little guilty as she walked him to the door, but she really wasn’t ready to give him an answer yet. “For the ride, and the beautiful rooms, and the dinner.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he told her, his voice growing a little husky as their eyes met. “Whatever you decide, you made tonight so special for me.”
He was heading down the stairs again before she remembered that tonight was the night his actual fiancée had dumped him, and somehow he was not only holding it together, but he actually seemed genuinely happy to spend time with her and Gael.
What if we spent a lot more time together?
“These strawberries look so good,” Gael said loudly from the little dining area, saving her from her own thoughts.
“Here I come,” she said, hurrying back to join him. “Thanks for waiting for me. And we’d better not fill up, since there’s dinner coming.”
“I like this place,” Gael said, piling his plate with strawberries and cream. “This is going to be the best Christmas ever.”
Jenny wasn’t sure about that, but it would certainly be one to remember.
A few hours later, Jenny was still wide awake, but Gael was sleeping peacefully on the cot Trudy and her husband Ward had brought up for him and placed in the office nook of the suite.
His mouth was slightly open, like he had fallen asleep mid-conversation, and the talkative little boy looked even younger than he was.
She thought about how eager he had been to play out this crazy scheme, not for himself, but to make the holiday nice for the soldiers he didn’t even know.
And she couldn’t help thinking how amazing it was that after all the loss he had suffered, Gael put so much consideration into what would make other people happy.
She tucked his blanket more closely around him before hurrying off to the living room again.
Thankfully, there was a nice wall between the nook and the main living area, so even if Gael woke up, he wouldn’t see her setting up all their Christmas things.
He’d told her already that he didn’t believe in Santa. But she was pretty sure his grandmother had done a wonderful job surprising him on Christmas morning each year, with or without the help of the jolly old saint.
Unzipping her suitcase as quietly as she could, she pulled out the bag with his wrapped gifts and stocking stuffers.
There was an orange for his stocking, a deck of cards, and plenty of assorted candy, along with a great big candy cane to hook over the top.
For under the tree, she had a big stack of comic books, of course—some that he’d hinted that he wanted, and a few that made her think of him as she explored the shelves at the comic shop.
She had also picked up a popular board game that she thought he would like, and finally, there was the sweater she had made.
Gael was a nine-year-old boy, but something told her that a handmade gift that came from the heart would mean more to him than it did to the average kid.
Jenny had been crocheting a sweater for him forever.
It was blue, his favorite color, with a zigzag of red around each cuff and the collar, her own favorite color.
Once his gifts were laid out and ready to put under the tree, she pulled out another bag.
It was a little odd to stuff her own stocking, but she knew Gael would be sad if she didn’t have one. She smiled as she stuck in an orange and then followed it up with candy just like Gael’s, a small paperback, and a candy cane of her own.
When she checked Gael’s bag for the gift he had made and wrapped for her at school and it wasn’t there, she panicked a little, knowing how proud he was of his secret creation.
But when she glanced over at the Christmas tree, she saw that the lumpy little package was already tucked under the branches. He must have put it there himself while she was putting on her pajamas.
She smiled at the idea of both of them having surprises for each other as she placed his gifts beside hers and hung up both stockings on the hooks by the mantel.
It was so quiet here, with only the occasional rattle of a window sash and the whistle of a radiator. She knew she should be exhausted after the long day of travel, the delicious meal, and the coziness of the rooms.
But she couldn’t stop thinking about Erik.
Sighing, she grabbed a paperback from her backpack.
I’ll just curl up in the window seat with this for a bit, she told herself. I’ll be blinking back sleep in no time.
But as soon as she was settled into the cushions with a thick throw blanket over her legs, her eyes were drawn away from the book and out the window.
Snowflakes fell lazily over the lake, shimmering in the moonlight as they drifted down. There was a hush over the inn—over everything—and deep in her heart, Jenny felt the solemn miracle of the holiday that would come with the morning.
Placing the book down beside her, she closed her eyes and breathed in the peace of this magical Christmas Eve.
She and Gael were family now, on paper, not just in their hearts.
And they had a fun week ahead of them, exploring the countryside.
It was almost like a dream, after all they had been through, to have so much joy at their feet.
As it often did, Jason’s voice spoke up in her head.
When someone asks for help, you help them.
She smiled at the memory of his words. Every once in a while it felt like he was right there with her, reminding her of the right thing to do when she was faced with a tough decision. And as usual, he was right.
Of course she wanted to help. The trouble was, they would only be making everyone happy for a short time. Everyone would learn the truth sooner or later. And Gael would have to be back in school soon.
You promised to say yes to whatever Gael wanted this Christmas, a little voice in the back of her head reminded her. As long as it wasn’t expensive or dangerous.
Before she could change her mind, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and tapped out a quick message to Erik.
What would we do after the wedding?
A moment later, dots popped up to show that Erik was responding.
Erik
I would tell the guys it didn’t work out.
She frowned and then wondered why those words prickled. It was only a pretend engagement and a pretend wedding. Why would Erik proposing a pretend annulment feel so personal?
It’s okay to say no. I know you and Gael want to enjoy your vacation.
Sighing, she typed out a response.
I’m thinking about it.
Thank you, but get some sleep. Tomorrow’s Christmas!
Good night, Erik. Merry Christmas.
Good night, Jenny Grant. I hope all your Christmas dreams come true.
She smiled at him using her full maiden name, like he used to do once in a while, for no reason she could understand.
He was a good man back then, and it was comforting to see that some things didn’t change.
And just like that, she realized she felt relaxed enough to go to sleep.
Slipping off the window seat and past the pretty little tree to her room, she felt grateful all over again for this opportunity to have a storybook Christmas with Gael.
Would it really be so bad to go all in on the fantasy?
Would it be so terrible to pretend to marry Erik Anderson?