Chapter 4
I locked the coffee hut and handed the key to Melissa. “All cleaned up and done for another year,” I said, hugging her tightly.
“Thanks, Addie. I appreciate the help. With Holly here now, I’m stretched thin, and Ivy was busy helping Shep.”
“It was no problem,” I promised, walking with her toward the parking lot. “I had nothing else to do and you know I love seeing the kids when they come for cocoa. I had a blast. Thanks for asking me,” I assured her, waving at Mason and Holly who sat in the car waiting for her. “You better get in there and warm up before you get in trouble,” I said, my eyebrows pulled tight to my nose.
She did a salute and opened the car door. “You’re heading home, right?” she asked. “I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
I nodded, clapping my hands together to warm them. “In a few minutes. I want to see the tree one more time now that the crowd has thinned out.”
She smirked her all-knowing smirk. “I bet you do. You couldn’t possibly have seen it earlier when you had your face buried in the shirt of one, what was it, very grateful businessman?”
I sighed, going hands on hips. “That wasn’t by choice, Mel. What was I supposed to do?”
She grinned but didn’t answer, just lifted a brow. “Be careful out there alone?” She gingerly lowered herself onto the car seat.
“I will, I promise. Go home and warm up,” I encouraged, closing the door and waving as Mason backed out and pulled away.
Melissa was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis last year, and unfortunately, it attacked her feet. Being out in the cold Michigan winter was hard on her, but she loved Holly to the moon and had already missed too many years with her. She refused to lose more time and memories now that Holly was in her arms again. I respected her for that, especially knowing the kind of pain she lived with much of the time.
The tree glowed a soft blue as I approached the gazebo and climbed the stairs. The last few townsfolk wandered off while I stared at the tree that reached to the sky. In the summer it housed the birds and their babies, and in the winter, it brought a month of joy and happiness to everyone. I rested my butt on the railing, my face turned toward the lights. Snow floated down from the sky and made the whole scene magical. The other word that filled my mind was lonely. In all my years of coming here I had never felt lonely while gazing at the tree, but tonight, that was exactly how I felt.
I suppose seeing everyone I was close to so deeply in love didn’t help my lonely heart.
Funny, your lonely heart didn’t bother you once while Ellis was holding your hand. I rolled my eyes and told my brain to shut up, mostly because it was right and that annoyed me.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my life. I own a successful business, I have a great family and group of friends, I do what I want when I want, and I report to no one but myself. Owning a business made alone time hard to come by and during the early years I cherished it, but lately, there was just too much of it. I found ways to avoid sitting in my apartment alone, and that usually involved working too late or hanging out at the diner too long. It was a sad and pathetic state of affairs.
“It’s beautiful,” a voice said behind me and I twisted so fast I nearly fell off the railing. I grabbed at it just as he grabbed my coat and pulled me forward, right into his chest. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, his breath warm on my cheek. He helped me stand on the gazebo floor again and held my upper arms.
“Hey, Ellis,” I said, not making eye contact. “It’s no problem. I’m always taken by its beauty and forget to pay attention to my surroundings,” I said, motioning at the tree.
He nodded his agreement, but his eyes weren’t on the tree. “It’s breathtaking, or maybe it’s the woman standing in front of the tree that makes it breathtaking.”
I smiled shyly and dropped my gaze to the floor. “Thanks, but I already know it’s impossible to top the beauty that is our Bells Pass Christmas Tree.”
“I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” He sighed heavily. “I’m glad I caught up with you before you left the park. I wanted to apologize again for last night.”
I held up my hand to stop him. “Ellis, seriously, you don’t have to worry about it. I shouldn’t have begged you to come.”
He grimaced and tipped my chin up with his finger. “You didn’t beg me, and I was planning on coming. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I didn’t have your number and I didn’t even think to call the salon. I don’t know where you live, either.”
I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Hey, stop. You don’t have to keep apologizing. I understand and I’m not upset, other than at myself for putting you in an awkward situation. I realized afterward that you probably wouldn’t come, but it pleases me to know you planned on it.”
He shook his head while he held my eyes. “I don’t say something I don’t mean. My mother would be extremely disappointed in me to know I stood you up and didn’t call. She had no time for that kind of disrespect.”
“Ellis, don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m sure your mom would understand the situation considering what happened last night. Did you call her and let her know you’re okay?”
His smile faded and he broke eye contact. “Wish I could, but she passed away from cancer when I was a teenager.”
I lowered my hand to his chest. “I’m sorry, Ellis. Open mouth, insert foot, Addie.” I gave him a weak smile.
“You didn’t know.”
“If it matters, I think she’d be ridiculously proud of you right now if she was here.”
He shrugged and I tapped him gently in the chest. “Seriously, Ellis, stop worrying about it. I’ll admit I was a little hurt that you didn’t show up, but it all makes sense now.”
“Maybe that means you’ll let me take you to dinner tomorrow night to make up for last night?”
“Dinner?” I asked slowly. “Like out somewhere?”
His eyes filled with worry and he tripped over his next words. “I mean, only if you want to. If you don’t, that’s fine, I understand. I just didn’t want you to think I didn’t appreciate your hospitality in inviting me yesterday, and—”
I put my finger to his lips. “I’d love to go to dinner with you tomorrow night,” I whispered. “I have clients until noon, but then I’m done for the day.”
I removed my finger and he smiled, his head nodding. “I could pick you up at seven?”
“That sounds perfect.”
He laid his hand over mine on his chest. “You pick the place. The only restaurant I’ve checked out has been the diner, so I’m open to a new experience.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, and I always order Pip’s Pizza but I’ve never been there.”
I raised one brow. “Really? Oh, I know a few great places. If you give me your phone I’ll put in my number. That way you can get ahold of me if plans change. You can always call the salon, but that’s an extra step.”
He wore a sheepish expression when he handed over his phone. “Guess we should have done that yesterday, huh?” he asked while I typed a new contact into his phone.
“It’s all good.” I threw a smile his way as I handed the phone back. “You’ve got my number now.”
He typed into the phone and my own dinged. I pulled it out and eyed it, chuckling at the text he sent. I promise not to stand you up this time. I’m looking forward to it.
I held up the phone. “Me too.”
“Where should I pick you up, or would you rather meet at the restaurant?”
I threw my head back and laughed, the giggles rippling through my body happily. “I’m sorry, I suppose that would be helpful. You can pick me up at the salon.”
He nodded once. “I can respect that. You don’t know me that well and you probably shouldn’t give unknown men your address.”
I snickered and patted his chest. “Ellis.”
“Yes?” he whispered, his voice soft and hesitant.
“I live above my salon. I have a two-bedroom apartment. I live alone, so I made one an exercise room for my elliptical. The apartment has this cute little kitchen done up in roosters and chickens, and a living room that sports a big-screen TV, a couch, and a coffee table. I’ll show it to you if you’d like. I’m not trying to hide anything from you. I’m not trying to be someone I’m not. You should do the same.”
The left side of his lips tipped up into an impish grin. “I’m nervous, in case you couldn’t tell. I don’t know a lot of people here and I don’t want to screw up with the one person who has been there for me. I’ll try to do better about being more transparent with my friends. Thank you for what you did today. You don’t know how much it meant to me.” He picked up my other hand and held it loosely in his.
“You’re welcome, Ellis, but you’ve already thanked me profusely, including publicly.” I winked and a smile made it the rest of the way across his face. “I’ll always be there to help out a fellow business owner, and friend.”
“I was actually referring to the tree lighting ceremony,” he whispered, pulling me into him and putting his arm around my shoulder. He was ridiculously lanky which was saying a lot since I stand five-foot-eight. He rested his chin on the top of my head. “You willingly stood there awkwardly so I didn’t have a complete panic attack followed by a heart attack. I just wanted to say thank you because I’m not sure the tree would be glowing brightly if you hadn’t.”
I put my arm around his back and squeezed his waist. “Sure it would be. Shep would have flipped the switch,” I joked as I laid my head on his chest. “I was happy to do it. There’s no way I can understand what it’s like to move to a new town, start a business, and try to get to know people. It must be incredibly hard.”
“And lonely,” he whispered, his chin still on my head. “Overwhelmingly so.”
“Ellis, I’m surrounded by people who love me, and I’m lonely. Sometimes lonely has less to do with the mind and more to do with the heart.”
He squeezed my shoulder and we stared at the tree in silence. “You’re absolutely right there. Thanks for taking the loneliness away when we’re together.”
“Same,” I whispered.
“The tree reminds me of winters in Wyoming,” he said, but I couldn’t tell if he was wistful for the days of his childhood or happy he wasn’t in Wyoming now. Either way, I wished he wasn’t so disheartened.
“The tree reminds me that even in the cold, dark night, there’s always a light shining somewhere.”
The snow fell in the silence to tip the blue lights white with each passing minute. “Life is funny sometimes,” he whispered. “You think you have it all figured out and your plan is in motion, but then something, or someone, comes along and it all shifts. Do you know what I mean?”
I laughed softly and with great appreciation for his words. “I sure do, more than you may ever know.”
“I think you’re pretty great, Addie,” he said, his lips near my ear.
“And I think you’re pretty great too, Ellis,” I whispered, the shadows of the gazebo giving me the courage I normally wouldn’t have in the light of the day. The atmosphere was charged and I wondered how I was going to suck in enough air to get to the next moment, much less leave this place and go on with life as if it hadn’t all changed in the blink of an eye.
“I really want to kiss you right now,” he admitted, nuzzling my cheek with his nose. “I just thought you should know that because if I spend another night with you, I might not be able to stop myself.”
His honesty was refreshing, but it was also scary for a girl like me. “I really want to kiss you right now, too,” I whispered. “I just thought you should know that because if I spend another night with you, I might not be able to stop myself.”
His lips brushed my cheek and then he let out a breath of air that was warm against my lips. “You’re incredible, Addie. There’s something about this space that says take a chance, don’t waste the time God gave you, be brave.” Before he finished the last word, his lips were on mine, brushing softly against them as though he was testing the water before he dove in. I brought my arms up and braced them around his neck, holding his lips to mine in a soft kiss of expectation, and if I was honest with myself, a new beginning.
I slid onto a stool at The Nightingale Diner and glanced around. The place was hopping as always at one in the afternoon on a Saturday. Mason waved at me from the kitchen window. “Hiya Addie,” he called out, flipping something on the griddle I couldn’t see. “You want the usual?” he asked, his head turned back over his shoulder.
My usual was bacon, eggs, hash browns, and a side of pancakes. That was a lot of food, considering I was going out for dinner tonight, but I decided I’d take some home and save it for tomorrow morning. “Sure, that’d be great, thanks bro,” I yelled, laughing.
He gave me a laugh and a thumbs up then motioned down the hallway. “Ivy’s in her office, I’m sure she’d love it if you stopped in and said hi.”
“Oh, great!” I jumped up and pushed my way through the swinging doors that led to the bathrooms, Ivy’s office, and the kitchen entrance. I knocked on the cracked office door. “Ivy, it’s Addie,” I called out.
“Come in,” she answered.
I did just that and pushed the door closed a bit behind me. She came around to hug me, her slight frame easily engulfed in my arms. “Hi, Ivy, happy anniversary,” I said, patting her back. She was older than me by a couple of years, having graduated the year I started high school. She didn’t have an easy life as a kid so it was nice to finally see her happy with Shep. When they married at the gazebo during last year’s tree lighting, it was the most romantic wedding I’d ever been part of.
“Hi, Addie. Thank you! Can you believe it’s been a year since that day? I’m sorry we didn’t get to chat last night. It was crazy,” she said, falling into her desk chair and motioning for me to sit across from her.
“It was crazy. I think it was a record crowd if you use the coffee and hot cocoa tally. The kids had so much fun, though. It’s a good thing you planned ahead with extra hot chocolate. We went through all of it. I think the guest of honor might have drunk a good portion of it, though,” I teased.
She leaned back and smiled. “The event grows every year and I suspected one year we were going to see a huge explosion in attendance. This was the year. There were a lot of people from neighboring towns there for the first time. Word traveled and suddenly the Bells Pass Christmas Tree Lighting was the peak entertainment for the night.”
I shrugged and held my hands out. “I guess that’s not a bad thing, as long as no one from the neighboring towns decides to start trouble.”
She frowned and folded her hands on the desk. “I’m so sorry that happened to Ellis. I guess I’m angry because that could have been any of us. I’m glad you were able to help him get it straightened out.”
My fingers automatically went to my lips where his had been last night. The kiss had ended as softly as it began, and he’d walked me to my car without another word. Once I was safely in the driver’s seat, he whispered he’d pick me up at seven and left me there to think about the kiss.
“I’m just glad it was relatively easy to clean up and move on. If that fire had caught, he might have lost the whole business.”
She shook her head and pursed her lips. “Not good at all. We’ll look out for him in the coming months to make sure he doesn’t need anything.”
“Thanks, Ivy. He’s new to town and a little lonely. He would appreciate it I’m sure.”
“It’s what we do here,” she answered, leaning back in her chair. “and thanks again for your help last night. If you hadn’t agreed to run the coffee hut, I would have been in trouble.”
I cocked my head to the left. “Why did Shep need help this year? Why is he even doing it anymore? As city director, can’t he delegate that job now?”
She nodded as she rocked in her chair. “He could, but he doesn’t want to. He loves the tree lighting ceremony and he doesn’t trust it to go off without a hitch if he isn’t there. He’s been in charge of it since Bells Pass hired him on, and he’s not about to turn the reins over to anyone else.”
“That makes sense. You were awfully cute together, I have to admit. You were even more in love than you were last year when you got married, and I didn’t think that was possible.”
She nodded, a shy smile on her face. “Well, I did vow that I’d love him more tomorrow than I did today. I guess that’s true after all. Today is our first anniversary, so after Shep is done with a meeting, we’re going to go pick out a Christmas tree. We want to get the house and the diner ready for the season.”
I pointed behind me and out the door. “I noticed the diner didn’t have any holiday decorations up yet. I was surprised, to be honest.”
She sighed and looked anywhere but at me. It was like she was nervous or something. “I haven’t felt well for a couple of weeks, which is why I stuck close to Shep last night. I was afraid if I tried to work the coffee hut I might fade too quickly and have to leave. Shep made me promise to wait until this weekend to do the decorating when he could help me. I promise it will be festive in here by tomorrow morning.” She crossed her heart with her finger like a third-grader.
I frowned and leaned toward her, keeping my voice low. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Mel mentioned at Thanksgiving that you weren’t helping with the dinner because you were sick. I thought it was a passing bug, though. Are you okay?” I asked, taking stock of her. She looked tired and her eyes had black bags under them. She definitely wasn’t getting enough sleep. “Maybe you need more iron.”
“I’m definitely taking extra iron,” she agreed, “but this is a passing thing. Hopefully, in a couple of months, the queasiness will pass.”
“Another couple of months? That’s a long time to feel sick, Ivy. Can’t the doctor help? Viruses don’t usually last that long. Do you have an ulcer or something?” I asked, confused by the whole conversation. “Why would you want to suffer for months?”
She laughed, the sound surprising me in the quiet room. “You ask a lot of questions. To answer the last one, I don’t want to suffer for months, but the tiny human I’ll hold in my arms at the end of the next seven or so will be worth it,” she said, patting her tummy.
I jumped up in shock and awe. “Oh my gosh, Ivy! Oh my gosh!” I ran around and grabbed her, hugging her carefully so I didn’t hurt her. “I had no idea! Oh, my word,” I said, my hand at my mouth. “You’re going to be a mommy,” I whispered, bending down by her chair. “I’m so happy for you and Shep. How is he taking it?”
She patted my cheek and smiled. “He’s already the overprotective dad. You think Mason is bad with Holly, wait until you meet Shep the dad.”
I laughed, nodding as she spoke. “I can see it. If you have a girl, oh boy, she’s never dating.”
She clapped and nodded, her eyes shining brighter than just a few minutes ago. “You know it. We didn’t plan on getting pregnant this early in our marriage, but I guess we don’t control the timing of everything in life.”
“That’s the truth, but you and Shep have loved each other for twenty years. I think you’re ready for this. Everything is okay, right?”
“Yes, the doctor said the baby is perfect and growing like he or she should be. It’s early yet, so we aren’t telling a lot of people, but alas, I’m afraid that won’t last long.”
I giggled and plunked down into my chair again. “In Bells Pass? No, it’s not going to last long. I won’t tell anyone, but I can promise you, the knitting club is probably already placing bets on your due date. You did skip the Thanksgiving dinner after all.”
She scrunched her nose and swallowed, hard. “You’re probably right, but what can a girl do? I wanted to come, but too many smells mixed together makes me queasy, especially if I have to look at the food while smelling it. I didn’t think anyone would appreciate watching me hang my head over a wastebasket while they were trying to eat.”
It was my turn to scrunch my nose up. “Um, probably not, so thanks for thinking that one out.” We both laughed hysterically until we had to wave our hands and suck in air to stop. “It must be tough working here if you have a problem with food odors.”
“It’s not as bad if I’m not looking at the food or eating it. Plus, if I stay in my office, it’s not as strong. The doctor gave me some pills to take when it gets really bad, but that involves me lying in a bed, so I try to avoid them.” She set her hands flat on the desk with determination. “I can say it’s getting better ever so slowly. The doctor said strong morning sickness is a sign of a healthy pregnancy, so I’m grateful for that. I’m just so excited to have Shep’s baby that I don’t let it get me down.”
I had my hands to my mouth to cover my smile. “I’m overjoyed for you and Shep. I can’t wait to have a baby shower! Promise me I get to do his or her first haircut!” I begged, my hands folded in front of me.”
“Promise made. There’s no one else I’d bring them to, ever.”
I grinned, my hands to my chest. “This town is blossoming with love. You and Shep, and now Mel and Mason. Oh! My mom and Stan! Did you know they’re engaged?”
She clapped excitedly, her feet patting the floor as she danced in her chair. “Yes! Loretta showed me the ring last night. I can’t believe everyone is getting married! We should talk about Mel and Mason. I had a few ideas I wanted to run past you, do you have time?”
“I have all the time in the world,” I promised. She grabbed a tablet to make notes and I held up my finger. “Well, I have until five and then I have to go home and get ready for my date.”
Her brow went up to her hairline. “Your date? I don’t think you’ve ever gone on a date since we’ve been friends.”
“Nope,” I agreed. “It’s been years and I’m petrified, but I’m doing it. Maybe it’s not even a date, I really don’t know.”
Her other brow went up to her hairline and it freaked me out that she could raise them independently of each other. “Ellis?” I nodded and bit my lip. “Oh, it’s definitely a date then.”
I snickered and shook my head. “And you know this how, Oh Great Wise One?”
She tapped her notepad with enthusiasm. “Because I’m not blind. I was there last night when he held onto you like a lifeline for the whole ceremony. I was the one he asked when he couldn’t find you after the park had emptied out. I sent him your way. Did he catch up with you?”
I nodded slowly, my lower lip caught between my teeth to the point I was sure it was bleeding. “He found me in the gazebo staring at the tree.”
“And?” she asked, giving me the out with it motion.
“And? Maybe there is no and.”
This time her right brow went down to her nose. “Please. I know there’s an and.”
I sighed and leaned over my thighs, my hands clasped in front of me. “And, we talked, and then he kissed me.”
She squealed, slapping a hand over her lips at the last second when Mason barged in with my food, a look of fear on his face.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, searching around the room for a problem.
I snickered and rolled my eyes. “Nothing’s the matter. Ivy’s just being Ivy.” One look at the woman in front of me and I knew there was a problem. “Mason, get the food out of here. Now.”
He darted from the room and I closed the door to block the smells again as she took a couple of deep breaths.
“Sorry, honey,” I said, rubbing her back as she kept herself from losing what I suspected was the very little bit of breakfast she’d eaten. “I forgot I ordered food.”
Once she was better, she leaned back in her chair, shaking her head. “You kissed him.”
“He kissed me, actually,” I corrected her. “It was just a simple kiss of thankfulness. That’s all.”
She rolled her eyes into the back of her head. “Oh yeah, just as sure as I’m not pregnant that was a simple kiss of thankfulness.”
I held up my hand in confusion. “But you are pregnant.” Her eyebrow lowered again and I sighed, laughing at myself. “Okay, so maybe it was a little bit more than that.”
“Maybe there will be a little bit more of that tonight then.”
“God, I sure as hell hope so,” I whispered.
The woman in front of me was at a loss for words, and that never happened. I had to chuckle to myself because if there was one thing I knew about Bells Pass, it was this — when the time was right, and the stars were aligned, love was certain to blossom at Christmastime.