Chapter 5 Gabe
GABE
Gabe sat across from Trinity in the penthouse suite’s small dining area, nursing his second cup of coffee while his daughter devoured scrambled eggs and toast. Christopher was still in the shower, the sound of running water drifting from the bathroom in their two-bedroom suite.
They’d taken the rooms directly across the hall from his mother, Aunt Charlie, and Trinity’s larger four-bedroom suite, making it easy for Trinity to bounce between them.
Which she did. Constantly.
“Dad, you’re not even listening,” Trinity said, waving her fork at him with the dramatic flair only a twelve-year-old could manage.
“I am listening,” Gabe protested, though he’d admittedly zoned out somewhere around her fifth mention of the Winter Ball decorations.
“Then what did I just say?” Trinity challenged with raised brows.
Gabe opened his mouth, closed it, then grinned sheepishly. “Something about the ballroom?”
Trinity rolled her eyes but smiled. “I said Jane is amazing at coordinating everything. She knows all about the inn’s old Christmas traditions, and she’s teaching Maddy and me about them.
Julie says the inn used to have the most incredible celebrations, and Maddy and I have convinced Jane to bring them all back. ”
There it was again. Jane. Trinity’s face lit up whenever she mentioned the woman’s name, which was about every 30 seconds.
“That’s great, sweetheart,” Gabe said, meaning it. He hadn’t seen Trinity this animated about anything in years, or at least not since before Abigail died. The thought squeezed his chest, but he pushed it aside. His daughter was happy. That was what mattered.
“You should come see what we’re doing,” Trinity said, her tone shifting to that particular pitch that meant she was about to guilt him into something. “Jane could show you around the ballroom. We’ve been working so hard on it.”
“I don’t want to intrude on your project,” Gabe said carefully.
“You won’t be! Please?” Trinity’s eyes widened in that way she’d perfected over the years. “It’s just you and me. Jane won’t mind. I think she’s in there right now, actually. We could go before Christopher’s ready and before we meet up with Maddy.”
Gabe found himself nodding before he’d fully decided. “Alright. Let me finish this coffee.”
Trinity beamed and practically vibrated with excitement as she shoveled the rest of her breakfast into her mouth at record speed.
Ten minutes later, she was dragging him down the stairs toward the ballroom, talking a mile a minute about garlands and lighting and something about luminaries that Gabe couldn’t quite follow.
His leg ached from the gruelling travel of the past two days and then last night’s activities, but he’d never admit it.
The medical boot was enough of a concession to his injury without adding complaints to the mix.
Trinity pushed open the ballroom doors without knocking, and Gabe followed her into the large space.
The room was beautiful even in its half-finished state.
High ceilings with crown molding, tall windows letting in morning light, and a small stage at one end.
Christmas decorations covered every available surface in various states of organization.
And there, standing on a ladder adjusting a garland that draped across one of the windows, was Jane Christmas.
She turned at the sound of the doors, and her expression shifted when she saw him. Not quite a frown, but definitely not welcoming either. Something shuttered behind her eyes, and her posture stiffened.
“Trinity,” Jane said, her voice warm as she addressed his daughter. “I didn’t expect you this early. I thought you were going exploring with your father?”
“Dad wanted to see what we’ve been working on,” Trinity announced, oblivious to the sudden chill in the air. “Can you show him around?”
Jane climbed down from the ladder with careful movements, and Gabe noticed she favored her left side slightly. Old injury, maybe. Or just the result of too many hours on her feet doing physical work.
“I’m sure your father has better things to do than look at half-finished decorations,” Jane said, her tone polite but distant.
Gabe felt his own defenses snap into place. He straightened despite the discomfort in his leg and matched her formal tone. “I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t want to see Trinity’s work. But if it’s an inconvenience, we can come back another time.”
Their eyes met across the ballroom, and something flickered in Jane’s expression. Pain, maybe. Or recognition of his matching formality. She looked away first.
“It’s fine,” Jane said, her voice softening slightly. She turned to Trinity with a smile that transformed her entire face. “Why don’t you show your dad what we did with the stage area? You were so proud of how the backdrop turned out.”
And just like that, the ice melted. When Jane looked at his daughter, her features softened completely. Genuine warmth and care radiated from her expression. She cared about Trinity. That much was obvious.
Trinity grabbed Gabe’s hand and pulled him toward the stage, chattering about fabric and draping techniques that went completely over his head.
But he watched Jane out of the corner of his eye as she followed at a distance.
She kept her attention on Trinity, answering questions and offering praise, but she avoided looking directly at him.
What had he done to earn such a frosty reception? They’d barely spoken two words to each other since he’d arrived.
“Dad, you’re not paying attention again,” Trinity accused.
“Sorry, sweetheart. Show me the backdrop.” Gabe snapped out of his thoughts.
He forced himself to focus on what his daughter was showing him, trying to ignore the uncomfortable awareness of Jane’s presence nearby. She moved around the ballroom with efficient grace, straightening decorations and adjusting placements as Trinity gave him the full tour.
“Uncle Christopher!” Trinity’s delighted shout made them all turn.
Christopher stood in the doorway, freshly showered and looking far too amused for comfort. “You two ready to head out?”
“Almost,” Trinity called back. “Come look at what we did!”
Christopher walked into the ballroom, and his eyebrows rose as he took in the space. “This looks awesome and a whole lot of hard work.”
“It is,” Jane confessed, and Gabe noticed how her tone warmed slightly when addressing Christopher. Apparently, her frostiness was reserved specifically for him.
“We could use some strong hands to help move some of the heavier pieces when we get them,” Trinity said before Jane could redirect the conversation.
“Would you guys be able to help sometime?” Her eyes widened.
“And you’re so tall, Uncle Christopher, you would help a lot with putting up decorations. ”
“Of course,” Christopher said without hesitation.
He glanced at Gabe with a grin that promised teasing later.
“Consider us in. Whatever you need.” His grin widened.
“Just no ladders for your dad. He can lift things like baubles and ornaments from the ground. Keep the high work for those of us without medical boots.”
Gabe shot his friend a look that should have scorched, but Christopher just laughed it off like he always did.
“Trinity!” Maddy’s voice echoed from the hallway, and moments later, she appeared in the doorway, clearly ready for their day out. Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and she wore jeans and a cheerful red sweater. “I’m ready. Mom said I could go for the whole day!”
She crossed to Jane immediately and wrapped her in a hug. “Good morning, Jane!”
Jane’s entire demeanor transformed again. She returned the hug warmly, her smile genuine. “Good morning, Maddy.” She glanced between the two girls. “I hope you two have a wonderful time today. You deserve it as you’ve both been working so hard.”
Gabe watched the interaction with growing understanding. Jane wasn’t cold. She just had walls up. But children got past those walls easily. It was the adults she kept at a distance.
“We’re going to do some shopping and I’m taking Trinity, her dad, and Christopher to the dance studio to watch a Christmas show,” Maddy said, her excitement bubbling over. “Mom said the youth company is performing excerpts from The Nutcracker.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Jane said, looking fondly at Trinity. “You’ll love it, Trinity, as you love ballet so much.”
“Why don’t you come with us?” Trinity asked, and Gabe felt a mix of emotions swirl in his chest.
On one hand, his daughter was trying to include someone she obviously admired. On the other hand, this was supposed to be their daddy-daughter day. Well, daddy-daughter-best-friend-and-honorary-uncle day, but still.
“Oh, no,” Jane said quickly, her eyes meeting Gabe’s for a brief second. In that fleeting moment, he could have sworn he saw panic flash across her face. Like a rabbit cornered by a fox, looking for escape.
“I’m sure Jane has a lot to do here,” Gabe said, coming to her rescue with a tight smile. “We’ll be back in a couple of hours and can give you a hand with anything you need.”
Relief flickered in Jane’s eyes. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” She accepted the offer reluctantly, and he could tell it cost her pride to admit she needed help. “Gabe’s right. There’s a lot to do if we’re going to get this place ready by Christmas Eve.”
“We’re going to the lantern-lit carriage rides through St. Augustine tonight,” Trinity announced, apparently undeterred by Jane’s first refusal.
“Why don’t you join us for that?” The excitement shone so clearly in his daughter’s eyes that Gabe’s heart squeezed.
“Maddy, Isabella, Uncle Christopher, Dad, and I are all going. Please, please come. You work so hard. You need a break.”
“I don’t think...” Jane started, but Julie Christmas appeared in the doorway as if summoned by some maternal radar.