Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Oh, no. Oh, no, please.”
I tried to open my eyes. To see if the voice was real. But I couldn’t. Warm fingers probed my neck.
“There’s a pulse!” the voice exclaimed. “She has a pulse!”
I knew that didn’t mean that I would make it. I knew I was teetering on the edge. And I needed the voice to know one thing.
“R-R-Rudy,” I said, teeth chattering. “It was Rudy.”
“Yep, she said it was Rudy,” the voice repeated. I realized now that he must have been on the phone. “Tell them to call an ambulance too. Okay, I’m going to carry her back.”
Strong arms slipped underneath me, and the voice grunted as I was lifted up into the air. My eyelids fluttered, and I caught a glimpse of a face that warmed my heart. Ellison.
“You’ve got to stop carrying me like this,” I croaked.
He cracked a smile, though his eyes were panicked with worry. “This time you did a little more than faint, my dear.”
Then I was pulled back under, into the dark, into the void. I wondered if this was real. Was he truly carrying me? Was I saved? Or was this a hallucination in the grips of death? Either way, real or not, I was glad to be in his arms. I let out a breath and let it take me.
My eyelids fluttered open. I took in my surroundings, not familiar at all.
The bed beneath me was large and comfortable, covered in a soft ivory quilt stitched with delicate silver snowflakes.
Red drapes were drawn across a window. A small TV stood on top of a white dresser, next to a snow globe. This wasn’t my room at the inn.
I looked to the left, my head moving slowly. Holly sat in an armchair, her legs curled up underneath her as her eyes focused on the book in her hands.
“Am I alive?” I asked.
Holly startled, dropping the book to the floor. She put her hand to her heart. “Yes, you’re alive, but I may be having a heart attack.”
“It’s from reading all of those scary books.” My throat felt raw and scratchy. “Where am I?”
“The guest bedroom in my house. Don’t you remember coming here?”
And then visions all came to me in a flash. Ellison carrying me through the lobby of the inn. Rudy handcuffed on the ground. Swirling blue and red lights. The ambulance ride through the snow. The hospital.
“I remember now,” I said.
“They kept you overnight in the hospital, slowly raising your body temperature. Thankfully, they didn’t need to pump your stomach to get those drugs out. The IV fluids and time did the trick. When they said you could go home, I insisted you come with me.”
Memories surfaced. Ellison pushed me in the wheelchair, helped me get in the car. Holly and Nick tucked me into bed. I called them Mom and Dad.
My eyes widened. “My parents. My brother.”
“They’ve been called,” Holly said. “I told them you were fine, and I’d take good care of you. But I couldn’t talk them out of coming. So, it looks like you’re going to get some visitors in a day or two. Flying in from all over.”
I reached up and slapped my hand onto my forehead. “Where are they even going to stay? I don’t know where to—”
“That is not your problem,” Holly said. “They’ll take care of that. I don’t know if you realize it or not, but Christmasville has a lot of vacancies right now. Your only focus is resting.”
The door to the bedroom cracked open, and Ellison’s face poked in. “Is she awake?”
“No, genius, I’m talking to myself,” Holly said.
It was nice to see that some things hadn’t changed.
Holly stood up and grabbed her book from the floor. “I suppose I should let him have some time with you before you fall asleep and start snoring again.”
“I don’t snore,” I said, indignant.
“Maybe not normally, but in recovery from near death you sleep like a three-hundred-pound elderly man with apnea.” She leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “No offense.”
“A lot taken,” I said.
Ellison came in, covering his mouth and trying to hold back a laugh.
I pointed at Holly’s retreating form. “She’s a liar. I sleep like a dainty princess.”
“I’m sure you do,” he said with a grin.
I shuffled over in the bed, making room for him to sit. He kicked his shoes off and made himself comfortable, sitting up against the headboard and putting one arm around me.
“You gave me the scare of my life,” he said, and from his tone I knew he meant it. “I am so glad you’re okay. If anything had happened to you …”
“It didn’t. Thanks to you.”
I inhaled deeply, finding comfort in his scent, in the softness of his flannel shirt, in the calm of his voice. Now that I was in my right mind again, I fully grasped the gravity of what had happened and how close I’d come.
“How did you find me?” I asked. “What were you doing at the inn?”
He pushed a lock of hair out of my face, letting his finger trail gently down my cheek.
“I wanted to ask you to stay at my apartment, but I didn’t want to seem too pushy.
Especially since we’d just had that tough talk.
So I walked you home. But something about the way Rudy acted with the mail stuck in my head.
Some look in his eye when you asked him about the California college catalog.
Then we lost power. I texted you to check in, and you didn’t respond.
It seemed too early for you to be asleep.
I figured I’d walk over and check on you in person.
When you didn’t answer your door, I got really worried.
Then I came back down to the lobby, and Aaron was interrogating Rudy about a big cut on his face. ”
I raised my hand. “That was me.”
“Well, good job, because you carving up his face saved your own life. It riled both of us up.”
“You and Aaron?” I said, surprised.
He nodded. “We buried the hatchet in the name of a common enemy. Rudy claimed he’d been out getting firewood and a branch cut his face.
But he’d come back in without firewood. You were missing.
And a knife fell out of his coat pocket onto the floor.
That’s when I called Nick. Aaron said he’d keep Rudy occupied, with force if necessary, and I went out to search for you. ”
“How the hell did you find me?” I asked. “It was dark, and I was hidden away in the woods.”
“I had a flashlight, and even though it was snowing hard, it was still easy to see places where the snow had been disturbed.”
“Yeah, that would have been him dragging me.” I shuddered at the memory.
“And, now and then, I could even see a drop of blood from Rudy’s cut.”
“Go, me!” I said with a weak smile. Even though I was warm, my body shivered. I didn’t want to think about those minutes with Rudy. Ever again.
“He’s in custody?” I asked.
Ellison nodded. “As soon as Nick told him you were alive, he knew he was done. He gave a full confession.”
“Poor Grace,” I said.
“She wants to see you,” Ellison spoke gently. “If that’s okay.”
“Of course.” I covered my mouth with my hand as it stretched in a giant yawn.
“I’ll let her know.” He pushed himself off the bed. “But in the meantime, you should rest.”
He cupped my face in his hands and brushed his lips over mine in the gentlest, sweetest kiss. My eyes closed, and a contented smile spread across my face. With one final wave, he closed the door behind him and padded down the hall. And once again sleep took over.
Sometime later, I woke to the sound of my door creaking open. Holly peeked in and saw my eyes open.
“You hungry?” she asked.
I didn’t know what time it was—or even the day for that matter—but I felt good. Rested. And starving.
“Yes, please,” I said, pulling myself up to sitting.
“Okay, I’ll make you something. In the meantime …” she glanced over her shoulder. “Someone’s here to see you.”
Holly left, and Grace appeared in the doorway. She stepped into the room hesitantly, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her face was pale aside from deep purple bags underneath her once bright eyes.
“I didn’t know if you’d want to see me,” she said softly. “But Ellison said it was okay to come.”
I nodded once. “I’m glad you did.”
Grace closed the door behind her and moved to the upholstered chair beside the bed, sitting slowly.
“I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry,” she began, her hands fidgeting. “I keep going over everything I didn’t do. What I didn’t see. What I didn’t prevent.”
She swallowed. Her voice cracked.
“After Rudy watched his father die, I should’ve put him in therapy, but he was completely against it.
He hated even mentioning that day. But I should have insisted.
Instead, I let it slide. I thought maybe he could just …
move forward, however he needed to. I told myself that was love.
That it was respect. But the truth is, I needed him.
With my husband gone, the inn was falling apart.
I needed Rudy’s help. I saw his moods, his silences, his aggravation—but teenagers are moody, right? What was I supposed to think?”
I looked down at my hands, then back up. “You thought he was okay. And you were trying to hold everything together.”
“If he’d told me the truth about what happened on the roof, that he was at fault in the accident … if we’d gotten him help … maybe this all could’ve been different. Maybe he wouldn’t have tried to hurt you. Maybe—”
“Stop,” I interrupted, gently but firmly. “You can’t keep doing that. The maybes. The what-ifs. Rudy made his choices. He did this. Not you.”
“But he’s my child,” Grace whispered. “I raised him. And I didn’t see who he was becoming.”
Silence hung heavy between us, filled with all the things that couldn’t be undone. Then Grace’s voice broke, soft and ragged.
“I’m just so glad you survived him,” she said, her eyes glistening, “and stopped him.”
I blinked back a sting behind my eyes. “Me too.”
Grace stood after a moment, brushing invisible dust from her red sweater. Her voice steadied.
“I’m selling the inn.” She glanced toward the window, where sunlight was beginning to stretch into the room. “Aaron’s interested. He thinks he can turn it around. Not into a huge hotel like his family wanted but … how did he say it? A ‘boutique spa and inn.’ ”
I wondered if a new relationship with Angelica had anything to do with that decision. If so, I was happy for them both.
Grace gave me a small, wistful smile. “So at least my husband’s legacy will live on in some way. Just not with me or Rudy at the helm.”
She paused, her gaze steady. “I’ll use the money to retire. Visit Rudy, wherever they send him. In the meantime, I’m moving in with my sister who lives a few towns over. It’s quiet there. Peaceful. I think that’s what I need now.”
“And Jack?” I asked.
“He’s retiring too,” she said, and for the first time, her voice carried the faintest note of warmth. “He promises to stay in touch, which is nice. I feel like he’s part of my family.” She added with the tiniest hint of a smile. “And now he doesn’t have to pretend to have back pain anymore.”
I chuckled. “He came clean to you?”
“Yeah, we had a good heart-to-heart.” Her smile grew a little. “Even though we won’t be working at the inn, we’re going to see each other often.”
I nodded, something easing in my chest as I watched her. I hoped they were able to help each other heal. They both deserved that much.
Grace stepped closer and reached out, her hand finding mine atop the blanket. Her palm was warm, her grip gentle but sure.
“Keep my town safe, okay?” she said.
I met her gaze, a new steadiness in my voice. “I’ll do my best.”
She squeezed my hand once, then let go and walked to the door. Before she left, she turned back one last time, the light catching the silver in her hair and the soft determination in her face.
Grace was stronger than she thought, and I knew she would be okay.
She’d only been gone a minute when Holly came in, carrying a tray of food.
“Thanks,” I said, sitting up straighter. “That smells incredible.”
She set the tray down on the nightstand. Steam rose from a bowl of squash soup, and a fresh-baked baguette practically called out to me. My stomach growled.
“Do you have the energy for one more visitor?” she asked. “Carol wants to see you.”
Carol? I figured she’d still be busy firing off statements to the media. “Sure, send her in.”
“The soup needs a few minutes to cool down anyway,” Holly said. “I made it fresh for you.”
I sang the first few bars of “Wind Beneath My Wings” until she winced and said, “Never do that again.”
Holly left, and a moment later Carol slid into the room like a breath of fresh air. She wore an impeccably white tailored suit, not a hair out of place, and a fresh manicure. My guess was that someone was enjoying her camera time.
“How’s my favorite employee?” she asked with a wide smile.
“Much better,” I said honestly. “I feel like I slept for a year, but I’m good now.”
Carol settled into the armchair and crossed her legs. “That’s good to hear. You had us all worried. Especially a certain handsome bookstore owner.” She wagged her eyebrows with theatrical flourish.
Subtle as always, I thought, biting back a grin. “How’s the media?”
Carol sighed dramatically. “Have you ever seen a shark feeding frenzy on one of those nature documentaries?”
I chuckled. “That bad, huh?”
She waved her hand in the air. “I’m handling it. The town is safe again, and I’m turning every interview into a public service announcement. ‘Yes, it was horrifying, but also—have you tried our hot cocoa crawl? And don’t forget to book your sleigh ride in advance! Enter our mural contest!’ ”
Only Carol could turn a serial killer into free advertising.
She leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Which brings me to my next question. When can you come back to work? Christmasville needs you and your talents. We have some … eh … reputation rehab that I think you can help with. You are staying, right?”
I already knew the answer. I’d felt it deep down since the moment I woke up here, surrounded by care and community. But saying it out loud made it real.
“Yes, I’m staying.”
Carol let out a gleeful squeal and clapped her hands like she’d just won a prize. “Wonderful! Your office is ready whenever you are.”
Her phone lit up with a call, and she glanced at it, then gave me an apologetic smile.
“Duty calls. More free publicity! I’ll check in again soon.”
She was gone in a flurry of white and peppermint-scented perfume, and the room settled again, quiet and sun-warmed.
I leaned back against the pillows, Carol’s energy still buzzing faintly in the air. Rebuilding the town’s image wouldn’t be easy, but it was a challenge I was ready for. Hope stirred in my chest, warm and steady.
I had work to do.
A lease to sign.
A man to kiss.
And a Christmas to remember.
It was good to be home.