Chapter 2
Thanksgiving dinner prep was in full swing by the time I arrived at the community center. The dinner used to be held in the church basement, but when Shep took over as city director, he was determined to get the community center up and running again. After years of neglect and nonuse, he did more than that. When the community heard the city wanted to reopen it, they started a fundraiser to install a full industrial kitchen. That addition made it what it is now. It’s always filled with the community for dinners, dances, and receptions throughout the year.
“Hey, everyone!” I called cheerily. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Addie!” came a chorus of voices from the kitchen.
Holly, Melissa and Mason’s daughter, came running at me. “Addie!” she called, throwing her tiny arms around me. At eight she was closer to the size of a five-year-old. Petite, blonde, sweet, feisty, and the most beautiful porcelain doll in all of Bells Pass. She may not be Mason’s by birth, but you wouldn’t know it to see the two of them together. He was without a doubt her daddy and no one better harm a hair on her head.
“Holly leaf,” I teased, hugging her to me, my tools slung over my shoulder. “I’ve missed you. I haven’t seen you in three whole days!”
She jumped around and her hair bounced against her shoulders. “But now you’re here and we can eat turkey together!”
I winked at Melissa who stood in the doorway. “I can’t wait to eat turkey with you, but mostly, I want to eat pie!” I squealed, tickling her belly until she squealed in return.
When she caught her breath, she pointed to her mom. “We have pies galore,” she said, her arms opening wide. “You can even have two pieces.”
I rubbed my belly and gazed at the beautiful child in front of me. She was the exact opposite of me with her blue eyes and snowy white skin. My skin was chocolate brown, my hair was red, a gift from my father apparently, and my eyes were as dark as coal. We were exact opposites, but Holly didn’t see that when we were together. We danced, sang, and ate pie at the diner together like we’d known each other for years. It was hard to fathom that it was only a year ago that she came back into her mother’s life. Holly was told for years by her grandparents that Melissa was dead. I still can’t wrap my mind around that kind of evil.
My mother didn’t have it easy from the day she found out she was pregnant with me, but I couldn’t be luckier to have her. She’s the reason I’m successful now. I knew one day Holly would feel the same way about Melissa, even if they didn’t share the early years together.
Melissa came over and put her hand on Holly’s shoulder. “Hey, Addie,” she whispered, hugging me. “We’re glad you’re here. Audrey said you were going to do haircuts after lunch?”
“Yup,” I agreed, swinging my pack with my tools and capes down off my shoulder. “Ready and willing. Heather is coming at some point, too.” I glanced around but didn’t see her yet. “We can get through everyone who needs a new do for the holidays that way.”
“Perfect.” Melissa grinned. “Tell Mike what you need and he’ll get you set up in a space that works for you.” She pointed at the man in the corner who was setting up chairs at the long tables.
“How about if I do it myself and leave Mike to his work? I don’t need much other than a chair and a booster seat for the little ones.” I patted Holly on the head and she glared at me, a joke we shared frequently. She was eight going on twenty-eight and she hated being called a little one.
Melissa checked her watch. “When you finish that do you have plans?”
I held up my hands. “Nope, I can’t cut hair until after dinner. Do you need help somewhere?”
She squeezed her hands together and nodded. “Please? Ivy isn’t here and we’re short on hands.”
“Where’s Ivy?” The owner of the Nightingale Diner was always at the dinner, running it the same way she runs her diner, with love and solid, dependable organization.
“She’s not feeling well, but she might come by later Shep said.”
“Not feeling well?”
She held up her hands. “That’s all I know. Mason and I are running the kitchen, but that leaves no one for the pie,” she explained, pointing at the table with nothing on it. “Would you man the pie table?”
I glanced down at Holly and gave her a high five. “Only if I get the cutest helper in all of Bells Pass.”
“You got her,” Melissa laughed, squeezing Holly’s shoulders. “You two get to work plating and setting out the pie. You know how we do it every year.”
I tapped my feet together and gave her a salute. “On it, Sarge.”
She stuck her tongue out at me and laughed. “And no adding jam to my apple pies!”
I glanced down at Holly. “Let’s call her Miss No Fun.”
Holly giggled and Melissa laughed. “I know how you are. Just let me know when you have to start haircuts and I’ll transfer someone from the turkey line to the pies. By then, we’ll be in okay shape.”
I took Holly’s hand and squeezed it. “You can count on us,” I promised, lifting her hand into the air while she giggled, “to eat all the pie!” We both laughed with abandon and ran to the table with happy hearts.
I snipped a few more times to level off the locks of a little girl who was having a hard time sitting still. She wanted to go play hopscotch with Mason, which was a tradition every year at the dinner.
“You’re all done, sweetie.” I pulled the cape off and helped her down from the booster seat.
“Thank you, Addie,” she sang and then took off at a run toward the crowd of kids.
I brushed the hair off the chair and shook out the cape, folding it carefully until I got back to the salon to wash it. With the last cut finished, my work here was done. I even had time to run home and change before I had to be at Stan’s for dinner. Since my mom gave birth to me at the ripe old age of twenty, she had put her personal life on hold to raise me. I was happy she had finally found someone as wonderful as Stan to be with. He might be a few years her senior, but they were good together and she’s never smiled as much as she has since she started seeing him. It was great to have a family to support us now. I guess sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing until you have it. I was grateful to Stan and Mason for welcoming us so lovingly into the fold.
“You always do a lovely job with the little ones,” Audrey said from behind me.
I forced myself not to react with anything other than a smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Violet. I don’t mind helping. The kids love getting all spiffed up for Christmas.”
She huffed with frustration. “Audrey, please. Mrs. Violet makes me sound so old and teacherish,” she teased, her hands patting her bouffant hair. “Where did Heather go? She’s such a nice girl. You spend a lot of time together, no?”
I finished sweeping up the hair and dumped it into the garbage can before I brushed off my hands. “She had to head to her mom’s for dinner, and we do spend a lot of time together since we’re partners at work,” I answered slowly, unsure what she was getting at.
She leaned into my ear and whispered, “It’s okay if you’re partners in other ways.”
I leaned back in surprise. “Are you asking if I’m a lesbian?”
She patted my shoulder lovingly. “It’s perfectly okay if you are, dear. Heather is a lovely girl.”
I tried hard not to snort with laughter, but I failed, miserably. “There certainly is nothing wrong with that, but Audrey, I can assure you, we are not lesbians.”
She lifted one brow. “Well, I have seen you with that nice boy around town a lot, including at the diner last night. You two seemed to be hitting it off. What’s his name again?”
“Ellis David?” I asked, my tone telling her I knew exactly what she was doing. She was totally playing me. When someone new moves into town Audrey is the first person to know everything about them.
She clapped her hands once. “That’s it, Ellis David. Where’s he from again? Texas?”
Audrey was the biggest busybody on this side of Saginaw, I swear. If she wasn’t so giving of her time and talents, it would be hard to stand here and pretend she wasn’t meddling in my life.
Instead, I plastered a smile on my face and answered her question. “Wyoming. He’s from Wyoming.”
She snapped her fingers. “That’s it. He’s helping Allen with his rehab by teaching him meditative yoga.”
“I’m glad he’s there for him.” I started putting away my tools so I could break eye contact with her. Audrey’s husband was injured at work a few years ago and his lungs were damaged beyond repair. He was now permanently disabled and on oxygen, but trying to recoup as much function as possible. “I didn’t know he was working with anyone other than kids,” I said conversationally, “though he mentioned that he was getting more and more requests from people of all ages.”
“He comes to our house. Allen is still afraid to leave the house for long periods of time. Especially if he’s going to be exerting himself. He could have a coughing fit and need his suctioning equipment or need to lay down. You understand, dear,” she said, patting my shoulder as though I was well-versed about his medical condition. I wasn’t, but I’d nod along anyway.
“I’m happy Ellis can help Allen. That’s very small town of him,” I assured her. “Well, I better find out if Melissa needs anything else before I head out.”
“Of course, Addie. Have a great Thanksgiving!”
I waved and walked toward the kitchen. “You too,” I called, and that’s when I noticed Santa for the first time. It was when he looked up and our eyes met that I was hit with the same jolt of electricity as last night. Someone was playing the role to the hilt and I had to say, I kind of liked that about him.
I lowered my backpack of tools into the hatch and closed it with a click. I noticed a white truck with jingle bells hanging from the rearview mirror next to mine and smiled. The jolly guy who owned it was walking toward it with his head down, and his ballcap back on top of his properly styled hair.
“Hey, Ellis,” I said, my voice cracking on his name. I cleared my throat and he turned toward my voice. This morning, when he arrived at the dinner, he was nervous and apprehensive. After a plate of turkey, potatoes, and a couple of pieces of pie, he relaxed into the event as if he’d lived here his whole life.
“Hey, Addie. Sorry I didn’t get to spend much time with you.” He released the handle on his door and walked toward me.
I pointed at the bag he carried. “I guess I know where you were needed.”
He held it up sardonically. “I do what I can to help out. I’m used to all the kids running around me anyway.”
“It was still sweet of you. I was worried when you first arrived. You had the deer in the headlights look on your face.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I do better with the ten and under crowd than the thirty and up crowd.”
“Not what I heard today, but regardless, you’ve been here for months now and you should get out more.” I was teasing since we spent a lot of time out in the community together, but he did need to get out of the yoga studio a bit more in my opinion.
He bit his lip and nodded. “It’s hard to do that when you’re either working or sleeping.”
“I understand, trust me. Running a business is time-consuming, and some weeks it feels like I never leave the salon. I love it, though. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
He patted his hair and grinned. “You’re good at it. My hair hasn’t been this soft since, well, ever.” He laughed, the sound deep and smooth.
“I noticed last night you must be using the conditioner I recommended.” I gently ran my fingers through his hair. “Oh, that’s nice,” I agreed, nodding my approval.
“I feel like a total girl while I’m doing it, but I do it,” he joked, his cheeks tinging an adorable pink. “I suppose I should let you go. I’m sure you have someplace to be.”
I pointed behind me at the car. “I’m going home to shower then to Stan’s for Thanksgiving dinner.”
His head tipped to the side. “Didn’t you just have Thanksgiving dinner?”
I chuckled and nodded, folding my arms over my chest. “I did, but Stan doesn’t make turkey, we have a beef roast. Long story.” I waved my hand at my neck like forget it. “Hey, you should come over!”
He took a step back and shook his head. “Oh no, I don’t want to intrude on your family dinner.”
I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “No, seriously, it’s not an intrusion. The more the merrier. There’s always a ton of food, laughter, wine, and joy. Melissa, Mason, and Holly will be there, and you can meet my mom.”
“Wait, your mom?” he asked, his head tipping to the other side.
My hand came up to my forehead to smack it. “Sorry, my mom is dating Stan, who is Mason’s dad. Little secret?” I asked and he leaned in, waiting for me to share, “he’s not my father.”
He snorted trying to hold in his laughter and finally let it out, the sound floating on the cold breeze blowing around us. “Thanks for clearing that up for me.” He winked and I dang near fell against the car when my knees went weak.
“Will you stop by?” I released his hand and clapped mine together.
He held out his hands, palms up. “Are you sure Stan won’t mind? I don’t want to impose.”
“I’m positive.” I grasped his upper arm and noted that yoga definitely kept him in fine shape. I should probably check it out myself, if only I had time. “Stan had a heart attack a year ago and ever since he’s into living life to the fullest. Please come?”
He laughed again and I was relieved to hear it was relaxed and easy. “You’ve sold me. I’ll come by. What time?”
“We eat at six. If you want to come around five, we can share a glass of wine and I’ll introduce you to everyone. The address is 622 Morningside Drive.”
“Got it,” he promised, tapping his temple. “I appreciate the invite. It gets lonely when you’re alone in a new town at the holidays.”
I squeezed his hand and offered a genuine, caring smile. “You should never be lonely in this town. Someone is always willing to talk your ear off.”
He chuckled and nodded, his eyes going to the sky. “Tell me about it. I was trapped with Audrey for an hour.”
It was my turn to laugh with abandon. “She’s wonderful under all of that bluster and authority. She’s sweet and loving, and probably the biggest supporter of the community events but she definitely wants to know everything about everyone. Today, she actually asked me if Heather and I were a couple.” I started giggle-snorting again and a smile grew on his face at the sound.
“Like, as in …”
“Yeah, as in a couple-couple.” I nodded, wiggling my brows.
He held up his hands. “Nothing wrong with that.”
I grinned and shook my head. “Nope, not a thing. I’m laughing because Audrey is always coming up with creative ways to ask me about my personal life without actually asking about my personal life. She’s known me for years and is well aware of who I’ve dated.”
“Why does she keep asking then?” he asked curiously.
“Probably because I don’t have a personal life, but she’s convinced I should.”
His eyes clouded over for a moment. “I’m sorry, but if it makes you feel any better, I don’t have one either.”
I gave him a fist bump. “Solidarity in solitary, right? I’ll see you at Stan’s in a few?” I raised a brow and took a step back toward my car.
“I’ll see you there,” he promised, walking me to the car and opening my door for me. I’d never spent time with a guy who opened your door for you like a gentleman. I could get used to it.
Friends, Addie, I reminded myself.
“Thanks.” I grinned, lowering myself to the driver’s seat and grabbing the door handle.
“See you,” he said, holding up his hand, his fleece-lined denim coat sleeve dwarfing his thin wrist.
I closed the door and started the car while he walked back to his truck. As I pulled away, I couldn’t help but wish we could be more than friends.
Dinner was winding down and we were ready to eat pie for the second time today. Instead of pumpkin, it was apple, but pie is pie in my opinion. Stan always cooks a less than traditional meal for Thanksgiving. His wife, Mason’s mom, left them on Thanksgiving while he was cooking the turkey many years ago. While she wasn’t in her right mind from cancer, he still can’t stand the sight of a Thanksgiving turkey. Instead, he makes a mean pot roast with all the trimmings. He taught Mason everything he knew about cooking, and that spurred Mason’s desire to be a chef. Mason could be an executive chef at any five-star restaurant he wanted, but he didn’t want to work in the city. He loved Bells Pass and while he knew he was good, he never felt the need to prove it. He offered the townspeople healthy, homemade food with fresh ingredients as any top-notch chef would, but in a setting that made him, and us, happy.
I took a bite of my mom’s caramel apple pie, but my heart wasn’t in it. I sat alone since my invited guest didn’t show like he promised he would. I made an excuse halfway through dinner, and thankfully, no one thought much of it nor asked too many questions.
What did you expect was going to happen, Addie? I asked myself, rolling my eyes internally. You invited him to a dinner where he doesn’t know anyone but you. Not to mention your mom is here, for heaven’s sake.
“Son, have you set a date yet?” Stan asked Mason who had his arm around Melissa.
Mason and Melissa looked at each other and Holly giggled. “You always ask that, Grandpa Stan.” She shook her head. “You’re silly.”
He shook his fork at the little girl. “I keep asking in case someday they decide to answer.”
“They haven’t even been engaged a year,” I said in exasperation.
Mason pointed his fork at me. “She’s right, it hasn’t even been a year.”
“Maybe not, but you were friends for years before you got engaged,” Stan reminded him. “Like four whole years.” He shook his head as if his son was an absolute idiot for waiting so long.
Melissa started to giggle and held up her hand. “Okay, okay, we’ve set a date.”
My mom dropped her fork and leaned forward over her pie. “You have? When? June?”
Melissa and Mason eyed each other and shook their heads. “No, not June.”
“December ninth,” Holly whispered, her hands clasped in front of her.
Everyone sat in silence until I finally spoke. “December ninth? That’s only two weeks away.”
Melissa nodded and glanced at Mason who cleared his throat. “We know, but we don’t want a big wedding. It’s going to be at the courthouse. We actually planned to tell everyone after dinner.”
“The courthouse?” Stan asked, a bit of disapproval in his tone. “You could give the girl a real wedding, son.”
Melissa reached out and laid her hand on Stan’s arm. “This is what I want, Stan.”
“We have our reasons,” Mason explained, leaning back and putting his arm around Holly, who snuggled into him sleepily. “Holly came home to Bells Pass with us on December ninth last year. It’s a special day to us, and we want to remember it for the rest of our lives.”
“After they get married, Dad says he’s going to adopt me,” Holly said very matter of fact.
We all glanced between each other. “Really? You can do that?”
Mason grinned wide and happily. “I can legally yes, but first, I have to be married to her mother. Directly after the ceremony, we hope you’ll stick around long enough to watch the adoption hearing where Holly becomes mine,” he said, his voice proud and at the same time, in awe.
My mom hugged Stan and grinned at Mason. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world. I love this idea. It’s perfect and so very Mel and Mason.”
“And don’t forget Holly,” she sang, taking another bite of her pie.
We all laughed and then started making wedding plans for Melissa to get a dress, Ivy to be her matron of honor, and me doing hair and makeup as well as the photography. We planned a small reception with cake and coffee at the Nightingale Diner after the ceremony and then a trip to the park to take pictures by the lit tree. It was Holly’s favorite place to be for the season. It would be simple, but a wonderful memory for their new family.
A fork clattered to a plate and we all jumped. My mom sat staring at her empty plate, her mouth hanging open and her hands shaking.
“Mom? Are you okay?” I asked, concerned she was ill.
Stan cleared his throat and turned, pulling a box from under the table and cracking it open. He gave her a cheesy grin. “With all this talk of weddings, I decided I’d waited long enough to ask you to be my wife. Loretta Collop, will you marry me?”
We all held our breath. My mom, her eyes full of tears and her chin trembling, offered him a shaky smile. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” Stan slid the ring on her finger and the table erupted in laughter, clapping, and whistles as they shared a kiss.
Stan held her hand in his and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “I’m the luckiest man in the world. A beautiful woman by my side, two new daughters, and a new granddaughter. A man can’t ask for anything more.”
“What am I? Chopped liver?” Mason joked, laughing when Stan playfully punched him.
“You’re old news, dude. I’m surrounding myself with beautiful women here, let me have my moment.”
Mason’s eyes crinkled and he laughed, hugging Melissa tightly. I stood up to give my mom a hug and that’s when I noticed her plate. When she finished the pie there was a message underneath. It read, Will you marry me?
“How adorable,” I squeaked, hugging Mom and then Stan. “You’re the cutest ever,” I teased, squeezing his shoulders. “I’m so happy for both of you. For too many years it’s been just the two of us. I’m thrilled she’s found someone who makes her as happy as you make her every day.”
He held my hand and shook it for a moment. “I’m the lucky one. She not only makes my heart happy, but she keeps it healthy so I can be around to see my son get married and meet my future grandchildren. I’m definitely the lucky one in this equation, without a doubt.”
Last year mom had to rush him to the hospital after he suffered a heart attack at the local bar. He recovered fully and was healthier than ever, but he was probably right. As a nurse, my mom made sure he ate right and got the exercise he needed to live a long and healthy life.
Melissa raised her glass and we all grabbed ours and followed suit. “To love. When you find it, you never question if you’re in the right place with the right person, you just know. To Stan and Loretta.”
“To Melissa and Mason,” Stan and Loretta replied.
“To Holly.” I tapped her glass and we all brought our glasses to our lips. It was in that moment, as everyone gazed at each other with love in their eyes, that I realized how alone I truly was.