Chapter 11
Eleven
Lila woke on Christmas Eve morning with sunlight streaming through her window and the sound of voices drifting up from the lobby below.
For a moment, she lay still, remembering everything that had happened the night before—the tree lighting ceremony, her confession to Brady, their midnight search through the inn’s records, and most importantly, her decision to stay through Christmas.
Today was supposed to be her departure day. She’d originally planned to be on the road by now, driving back to her empty condo to spend Christmas and her birthday alone. Instead, she was about to extend her stay and potentially change everything.
Lila pushed back curtains and peered out her bedroom window, squinting through the early morning light to see if more snow had fallen overnight. Instead, she saw Brady crouched near the big oak tree by the front porch, doing something in the snow that she couldn’t quite make out.
What was he doing out there so early?
Brady moved methodically around the yard, occasionally glancing toward the driveway. He had something in his hand, but from this angle she couldn’t tell what it was. Every few steps, he’d stop and press whatever it was into the snow, then move on.
A car pulled into the circular drive, and Brady straightened, throwing whatever had been in his hand behind a tree and brushing snow off his gloves. A woman climbed out of the passenger side, followed by a small boy who immediately started bouncing on his toes despite the cold.
Understanding dawned as she recognized the little boy. Reindeer tracks. Brady was making reindeer tracks for the little boy from the festival.
Lila smiled, pulling on warm layers. When she found Sarah in the coffee nook, she told her she had to come outside with her to see something.
They shrugged on their winter coats, slipped on gloves, and made their way out onto the porch. The cold air hit Lila’s face and she pulled the hood of her coat over her head, taking a sip of the coffee she’d grabbed, hoping it would warm her from within.
“Do you really think they came here?” The child’s excited voice carried across the snowy yard.
“Well,” Brady said, his voice taking on the same serious tone she’d heard him use with the other children at the festival, “I did see some unusual tracks this morning. Want to help me investigate?”
The little boy nodded so vigorously his winter hat slipped over his eyes. His mother laughed and adjusted it, mouthing “thank you” to Brady over her son’s head.
“What are they doing?” Sarah asked, confused.
“Brady put reindeer tracks in the snow for the kid to find. He told him a story last night at the festival about how the reindeer hang out here before they head to the North Pole this afternoon to help Santa.”
Sarah smiled. “Well, isn’t that just delightful.” She followed Lila over to where two rocking chairs sat nearby.
Lila settled into one of the rockers, passing Sarah one of the two heavy blankets she’d taken from the basket near the door.
Cradling her mug, she watched as Brady lead the child around the yard, pointing out each carefully placed hoofprint.
The boy’s delighted shrieks pierced the quiet morning as he discovered track after track, his mitten-covered hands gesturing wildly as he explained to his mother how Rudolph must have stopped for a snack from the oak tree.
“And look, Mom! Look! They went toward the barn!” The boy took off running, following Brady’s carefully planted trail. “I bet they’re still there!”
Brady caught Lila’s eye on the porch and gave her a little wave as his now familiar slow smile spread across his face, making her stomach do little flips. She lifted her coffee mug in a small salute.
“I see you two have finally become friends,” Sarah said, raising an eyebrow.
Lila’s cheeks flushed despite the cold winter air. “Something like that.”
“His charm is hard to resist,” Sarah said with obvious affection.
“When he was a younger man, he brought a woman to the festivities here a time or two, but I’m not sure he’s ever really gotten serious with anyone.
He’s a thoughtful man, but he’s doesn’t seem to allow himself to get too close to anyone.
Of course, I’m one to talk. I never really had eyes for anyone after my David. ”
Lila hadn’t really let anyone get close in a long time either. It was a mixture of a bad breakup a few years earlier and her dedication to her work. Then her dad had gotten sick, and she’d spent all her free time in Atlanta with her mom. And then, well, she’d ended up here.
“What about you?” Sarah asked, turning to her. “Do you have someone back home?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s been a while.”
“Well, there’s nothing quite so romantic as Christmastime, don’t you think?” Sarah said, her eyes twinkling as she looked over at Lila and then out to where Brady had walked across the yard with the little boy.
Lila watched as he kneeled so he was eye level with the kid, pointing toward the tree line where the tracks led deeper into the woods. The boy listened with rapt attention, his face glowing with wonder.
She wasn’t a grinch, but she did feel her heart grow two sizes—just like Tom’s depiction in charades—as she watched Brady high-five the little boy, then follow as the boy ran toward the trees.
It wasn’t exactly romance Lila was looking for, but it had been nice to share her burden with Brady the night before.
And he certainly was easy to look at, especially now that he wasn’t scowling at her and her suggestions anymore.
The group hunting for reindeer tracks had disappeared around the back of the inn, so Lila suggested they go in to warm up.
The lobby was bustling with the usual morning activity.
Sophie and Miles were warming their hands by the fire, the sisters were planning their day over coffee, and Ali and Mike were bundled up for another day of skiing.
Carol emerged from the kitchen carrying a fresh pot of coffee, her face lighting up when she saw Lila.
“Good morning, dear. I was just thinking about you.” Carol’s smile was warm but held a hint of curiosity. “Are you already packing your car? I hope you’re not rushing off too early. The roads can be tricky this time of morning.”
This was it. Lila took a deep breath, feeling Brady’s encouraging words from the night before echo in her mind.
“Actually, Carol, I was hoping I could extend my stay through Christmas. I know it’s last minute, but—”
“Of course!” Carol’s face broke into a genuine smile that seemed to illuminate her entire being.
“I’m so pleased. Christmas Day just wouldn’t be the same without you here with us.
” She paused, her expression growing softer.
“I had a feeling you might decide to stay. I’m so pleased we’ve won you over. ”
“Thank you,” Lila said, relief flooding through her. “I just realized I wasn’t ready to leave yet.”
“If you think the last few days have been fun, just wait until you see what we have in store tonight and tomorrow,” Carol said, patting Lila’s arm gently. “You’re part of our little Christmas family now.”
The words made Lila’s chest tighten with emotion. A quiet “Thank you,” was all she could manage.
Before Carol could respond, Sarah appeared at Lila’s elbow having refilled her mug with coffee.
“Did I hear you say you’re staying through Christmas?” Sarah asked, her eyes twinkling with pleasure. “That’s wonderful news. I was hoping you would.”
“Were you?”
“Of course.” Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “I suspected you were going home to spend Christmas alone, and I couldn’t bear the thought of that.”
Lila was surprised Sarah had discovered her plan. She had tried to make it sound to everyone like she had big plans, being vague so she wasn’t outright lying to them. “How did you know?”
“Just intuition,” Sarah said, putting an arm around Lila to squeeze her. “The holidays are for sharing with others.” Sarah’s voice was gentle but certain. “And sometimes Christmas has a way of bringing together just the right people to make it special.”
Lila studied Sarah’s face, struck by the warmth in her expression.
There was something about the way Sarah looked at her that reminded her of her mother, and she realized there was nothing she wanted more than to spend Christmas with these people who really had begun to feel like family in just the few days she’d spent in Pine Ridge.
“Would you like to take a walk with me after breakfast?” Sarah asked. “I always enjoy a quiet stroll on Christmas Eve morning. There’s something peaceful about the town before all the day’s festivities begin.”
An hour later, Lila and Sarah were bundled in their winter coats, walking slowly down Main Street.
The town was quieter than it had been during the festival, most shops closed for the holiday, but the Christmas decorations seemed even more magical in the soft morning light without the distraction of the crowd and the booths.
“It’s beautiful,” Lila said, breathing in the crisp air. “I can see why you keep coming back here.”
“Pine Ridge has always felt like home to me,” Sarah said, her voice thoughtful. “More so than anywhere I’ve lived, actually. I think I fell in love with Pine Ridge the way you fall in love with a person. I miss it when I’m away.”
“Have you ever thought about moving to Pine Ridge permanently?” Lila asked as they sat on a bench in front of the big Christmas tree they’d watch light the previous evening. “You clearly love it here, and it seems like it would be a peaceful place to live year-round.”
Sarah was quiet for a moment, her eyes fixed on the tree. “I’ve thought about it,” she admitted. “More than once, actually. It’s like there’s a piece of me here, and the closest I feel to being complete is when I’m here.”
“So, what’s stopping you from moving here?”