Chapter 17
Seventeen
Lila woke to sunlight filtering through the curtains. For a moment, she lay still, remembering everything that had happened the night before. Sarah. Her birth mother had been right here with her all week. She’d been someone Lila had felt instantly connected to, even before she knew the truth.
Lila pulled out her phone so she could share the news with Jenna.
“Please tell me you’re calling with good news about the lumberjack,” Jenna said as soon as she answered.
“His name is Brady, and yes, but that’s not why I’m calling.” Lila settled back against her pillows, still in disbelief about what she was about to say. “Jen, I found her.”
“You were right? It was Carol?” Jenna asked excitedly.
“No, it wasn’t her. I ended up asking her about it, and she said she wished she was but that she’d had a miscarriage and never been able to have children.
But . . . she did know who it was and wanted to let them make the decision whether to tell me.
And it turned out she’s been here the entire time!
Her name is Sarah, and she’s one of the other guests.
We’ve been having coffee together every morning, talking about all sorts of things. We had this immediate bond.”
“Oh my God, Lila.” Jenna’s voice was breathless. “So, she just came out and admitted it? Had she suspected it all along?”
Lila told her about the quilt, about Sarah’s reaction, about the conversation in her room where everything came together, about her birth father, David. She could hear Jenna crying on the other end of the line.
“She’s been coming back here every Christmas for thirty-four years because this is where I was born,” Lila continued. “She never stopped thinking about me.”
“That’s incredible. How are you feeling? Are you okay?”
“I’m . . .” Lila searched for the right words. “I’m overwhelmed in the best possible way. She’s exactly the kind of person I hoped she’d be. Gentle and caring and she became a school counselor because she wanted to help other children as a way to sort of atone for giving me up.”
“That’s beautiful,” Jenna said softly. “What happens now?”
“We’re going to stay here for a few more days, just the two of us. Then I’m going to visit her in Denver and see her life there.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Jenna said, and Lila could hear the genuine joy in her voice. “You deserve this, Lila. You deserve to have family and love and a place that feels like home.”
They talked for a few more minutes, Jenna asking questions about Sarah and then begging for a Brady update, which Lila was happy to give.
“So, you’re going to apply for the Breckenridge job so you can spend more time with both of them?”
“Yep. It would be the perfect situation if I can land it.”
“Everyone wants highly sought after Lila McAllister to turn their resort around,” Jenna said with a full vote of confidence.
They said their goodbyes, and Lila promised to call and update her after she spent a few more days with Sarah.
Her thoughts turning to Sarah, she wondered if Sarah was waiting for her at their usual spot for coffee this morning. Would it be awkward once she’d had another night to sleep on it?
Lila’s stomach did a little flip-flop when she saw the top of Sarah’s head in her usual chair at the end of the hall in the little nook.
Sarah turned as Lila approached. “Good morning,” she said with a warmth that made Lila’s chest tighten with emotion.
“Good morning,” Lila said, walking over to grab a mug for the machine. Suddenly, she was too nervous to look at Sarah. How were they supposed to act now that they both knew the truth?
“How did you sleep?” Sarah asked.
“Better than I have in months,” Lila admitted, pressing the start button and turning away from the machine. “What about you?”
“For the first time in thirty-four years, I didn’t spend Christmas night wondering where you were or if you were happy.” Sarah’s smile was radiant. “I slept like a baby.”
“Me too,” Lila agreed.
They both watched out the window in comfortable silence for a few minutes as a light snow started to fall outside.
Lila had just retrieved her now full cup of coffee from the machine and turned back toward the window when two deer emerged from the tree line.
It looked like the same mother and young deer from their first morning together.
“They’re back,” Lila observed.
“Maybe they were a sign. We just didn’t know it yet.”
Lila smiled over at Sarah. “I think you’re right.”
“Lila,” Sarah said as if broaching something even more sensitive than the conversation they were already having, “I want to run something by you.”
“Yes?”
Sarah turned to face her fully. “I don’t want to hide this anymore.
I’ve spent thirty-four years keeping this secret, carrying this sadness alone.
But I don’t want to hide my joy about finding you.
This group has become like family to both of us this week.
They’ve been part of this journey, even without knowing it. ”
Lila felt her heart swell. “You want to tell them?”
“Only if you’re comfortable with it. But Lila, look what happened this week.
We were strangers seven days ago, and now we’re sitting here as a family.
Sophie and Miles, Kimberly and Kendall, even Ali and Mike—they’ve all been part of creating that magic.
I think they deserve to know how the story ends, but only if you’re comfortable with that. ”
Lila nodded. “I’d love to tell them. You’re right. They have become family.”
“There’s something else,” Sarah said, her voice growing more tentative.
“I know you need to get back to your life in California and your work. But I was hoping . . . would you consider staying in Pine Ridge for a few more days? Just you and me? I asked Carol already, and the inn is empty the next few days until some New Year’s Eve guests arrive. ”
The invitation made Lila’s eyes well with tears. “I would love that. I don’t need to be back home until after the New Year.”
Sarah’s face lit up. “Maybe after we spend a few days here, you might want to come back to Denver with me and see a little of my life there?”
“Absolutely. I think that would be wonderful.” Lila took a sip of her coffee. “I was thinking maybe I’d ask Brady what he’s doing for New Year’s Eve.” She blushed at the thought of kissing him at midnight.
“I think that’s a brilliant plan.”
They finished their coffee while making plans—a few quiet days at the inn, then a trip to Denver where Sarah could show Lila her house, her school, and even where she grew up nearby in Broomfield.
“We should probably get downstairs for breakfast,” Sarah said eventually. “Everyone else is probably in a hurry to get on the road today.”
As they made their way to the lobby, Lila felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness about sharing their news. But looking at Sarah beside her, practically glowing with happiness, she knew they were making the right choice.
The dining room was quieter than usual when they arrived. Carol was setting up the breakfast buffet, but only six places were set at the table instead of the usual eight.
“It feels weird with Mike and Ali gone. Has anyone heard from her?” Lila asked.
Tom appeared from the kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee. “Ali called about an hour ago. Her sister had the baby. It was a healthy little girl born at 11:57 p.m. on Christmas Day.”
“Another Christmas baby,” Brady said, looking up from where he was folding napkins. His eyes met Lila’s across the room, and her chest fluttered.
“How wonderful,” Sarah said softly. “I’m sure they’re thrilled.”
“Lila,” Carol said, “Ali said to make sure and tell you she wrapped the baby’s gift in birthday paper and not Christmas paper.
“I’m glad I was here to train her right,” Lila joked.
The remaining guests filtered in as Carol finished setting out breakfast. Sophie and Miles looked rested and content, while Kimberly and Kendall seemed subdued at the prospect of leaving.
Everyone filled their plates and settled around the table, the conversation quieter and more reflective than usual.
“I can’t believe it’s time to go home already,” Kendall said, pushing her scrambled eggs around on her plate. “This week has gone by so fast.”
“It really has,” Sophie agreed. “Miles and I were just saying this morning how this has been one of our most memorable Christmases ever.”
“Mine too,” Kimberly said, glancing around the table. “I know we just met a week ago, but I feel like we’re all family now.”
Lila caught Sarah’s eye across the table, and they shared a look of perfect understanding. This was their moment.
“Actually,” Lila said, her heart beginning to race, “I have something I’d like to share with all of you.”
The conversation stilled as everyone turned their attention to her. Brady set down his coffee mug and gave her an encouraging nod.
“You all know why I came to Pine Ridge,” Lila continued. “I was looking for answers about my birth mother after discovering my baby quilt was made here by Emily.”
“Have you learned anything new?” Miles asked gently.
Lila looked at Sarah, who reached over and took her hand. “We found each other,” Sarah said, her voice thick with emotion.
The table went completely quiet for a moment as everyone processed what they’d just heard. Then Sophie gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Sarah?” she whispered. “You’re Lila’s mother?”
Sarah nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I am. I’ve been coming back to Pine Ridge every Christmas for thirty-four years because this is where she was born. I never dreamed that one day she’d find her way back here too.”
The explosion of emotion that followed was loud and joyous. Kimberly burst into tears, Kendall jumped up to hug them both, and Miles had to wipe his eyes with his napkin. Even Tom looked misty-eyed as he watched the scene unfold.