Miracles at the Christmas Inn (Lights of St. Augustine #3)

Chapter 1 Holly

HOLLY

Holly had her hand on Gabe’s arm, steadying him as they navigated the inn’s main staircase.

Trinity was on his other side, the three of them moving carefully because of Gabe’s crutches and the cast that extended from his foot to just below his knee.

Holly had a date with Jack. Gabe and Trinity were spending a daddy-daughter night of dinner, popcorn, and Christmas movies.

Her granddaughter had been talking about finding the perfect dress for the Winter Ball all day, and Holly had promised they’d make an evening of it tomorrow night.

“I’ve got it, Mom,” Gabe said, as Holly’s hand tightened on his arm when he wobbled. His voice carried that slight edge of frustration he got whenever his injury slowed him down. “I’m not an invalid.”

“I know you’re not,” Holly replied, keeping her tone light. “But these stairs are steep and I’d rather not have you add a concussion to that leg.”

Trinity giggled on Gabe’s other side. “Grandma’s right, Dad. You’re kind of clumsy with those crutches.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, sweetheart,” Gabe said, but Holly could hear the smile in his voice.

They were almost down the stairs when a voice from the lobby stopped Holly’s heart.

“Holly?”

She froze mid-step. That voice. She knew that voice better than almost any sound in the world. Twenty years of marriage had etched it into her memory. But she hadn’t heard it in person for six months, not since the day she’d come home early and found him with Terry.

Holly turned slowly, Gabe and Trinity frozen beside her.

Simon stood in the lobby near the reception desk where Jane was working.

He looked the same as always. He was expensively dressed in slacks and a cashmere sweater, his salt-and-pepper hair perfectly styled, that confident posture that had once made her feel safe and now just made her feel cold.

And beside him stood Terry.

Holly’s breath caught, but she didn’t let herself flinch.

Wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. Terry looked elegant as always, her hair styled in a perfect bob, wearing a designer coat that probably cost more than Holly’s monthly expenses.

The woman who’d been her best friend. The woman she’d trusted with her secrets, her fears, her marriage troubles.

The woman who’d been secretly having an affair with her husband.

“Simon?” Holly’s voice came out steady, controlled. She was proud of that. She’d spent six months rebuilding herself, learning to be strong again, remembering who she was before Simon’s betrayal had made her question everything.

Holly felt Gabe tense beside her, his whole body going rigid. When he spoke, his voice was ice-cold, carrying an edge that Holly recognized from his military training.

“What are you doing here, Father?”

The word “father” came out like an insult.

Jane at the reception desk was looking between them all, clearly confused but sensing the sudden tension that had filled the lobby, like a physical presence. Holly saw Jack emerge from somewhere behind the desk, his expression concerned as he took in the scene.

Terry stepped forward slightly, and Holly’s stomach churned seeing them standing together like a couple. Like they had a right to be here. Like they hadn’t destroyed Holly’s entire life six months ago.

Then Terry spoke, and Holly realized this wasn’t just a terrible coincidence. “We’re here on behalf of our client who is looking to acquire this place.”

The words hung in the air like a bomb that had just detonated.

Silence crashed through the lobby. Holly’s mind was suddenly racing, pieces clicking together with horrible clarity.

The pamphlet. The one she had found in Simon’s home office desk drawer a few weeks ago.

Holly had been on the phone with Gabe, deployed somewhere he couldn’t tell her about, breaking the news that he wouldn’t be home for Christmas again.

Both she and Trinity had been heartbroken.

While they were FaceTiming with Gabe, Holly had been going through the desk drawers to see what she still needed to pack up and had found the pamphlet.

The Christmas Inn. Beautiful photos of a historic inn lit up with Christmas lights, descriptions of a magical holiday experience on Anastasia Island.

Holly hadn’t even thought about why Simon had it in his desk drawer, and at that moment, she didn’t even care.

She’d booked it immediately. She and Trinity needed somewhere to go for Christmas, needed an escape from the memories and the pain.

The inn had looked perfect. Magical and safe and far away from everything that had gone wrong.

Now standing in the lobby with Simon and Terry before her, with Terry’s words echoing in her ears, Holly understood.

Simon hadn’t been planning a vacation at the Christmas Inn. He’d been researching his next target.

The inn. Jack’s family inn. The place that had become her refuge, her safe haven. The place where she’d started to heal, started to remember who she was before Simon’s betrayal.

And Simon was here to take it for his client.

Holly’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. Jack had moved to stand near his daughter at the reception desk, his face carved from stone. Christopher emerged from the office doorway and stood on the other side of Jane.

Gabe was trying to maneuver himself on his crutches, clearly wanting to put himself between Simon and Holly despite his injury. Trinity pressed against Holly’s side, her eyes filled with confusion.

Holly found her voice, and she was grateful when it came out strong and clear. “You need to leave.”

Simon opened his mouth to respond, but Gabe cut him off. “You heard my mother. We have nothing to say to either of you. Now leave.”

Father and son stared at each other across the lobby. Simon’s expression shifted. Holly knew that look. He was calculating, deciding that he wouldn’t win this confrontation tonight. Simon had always been good at tactical retreats, at knowing when to push and when to pull back and regroup.

“We’ll be in touch through proper channels,” Simon said, his voice cool and professional. Like this was just business. Like he wasn’t trying to take away the Christmas family’s home that had been in their family for generations.

They turned toward the door, but Simon paused.

He looked back at Holly, and there was something in his expression that made her skin crawl.

She noticed Simon was about to say something, but then thought better of it.

Then they were gone, the door closing behind them with a soft click that seemed too quiet for the magnitude of what had just happened.

The tension didn’t release with their departure. If anything, it intensified.

Charlie appeared from the library with Logan right behind her.

“Did I hear Simon’s voice?” Charlie demanded, her brow creasing in confusion.

Holly filled them in quickly that Simon and Terry were the attorney and agent for the mystery client. They were here to acquire the inn.

Charlie’s expression shifted into the focused intensity Holly recognized. Her sister was now in full lawyer mode. “Don’t speak to either of them without me present,” Charlie said, looking at everyone in the lobby. “I mean it. No contact whatsoever.”

Logan was already thinking tactically. “Now that we know who the agent and attorney are, it should make finding the actual client easier. They’ll have filed paperwork, disclosure forms.”

Charlie shook her head. “Simon’s as cagey about his clientele as Terry is about hers. They’ll have covered their tracks well. But at least now we know who’s representing the development company.”

Christopher asked what they needed from him, clearly ready to help however necessary.

“Go be with Isabella and Maddy,” Charlie told him. “We’ll catch you up later.”

Christopher looked reluctant but nodded and headed toward the door.

Logan was already pulling out his phone. “I’ll start digging into their recent filings, corporate connections, and any paper trail we can find.”

“I mean it, Holly. No contact with Simon or Terry.” Charlie turned to her sister, her expression serious. “Not even to discuss divorce papers. Do you understand me? All communication goes through me.”

Holly nodded. “I understand.”

“Agreed,” Jack answered. “We will all reconvene tomorrow if Charlie and Logan find anything.”

“Are you sure, Dad?” Jane glanced at her father.

“I’m sure,” Jack said. “Let’s not let them spoil our plans.” His eyes moved to Holly, making her heart skip a beat.

The group began to slowly disperse, each processing what had just happened in their own way.

Gabe and Trinity were heading toward the dining room for dinner. They’d planned to watch Christmas movies in Gabe and Christopher’s suite afterward. Trinity was going to stay in Christopher’s room since he was at Isabella’s for the night.

Holly and Jack had a dinner reservation in St. Augustine. They’d made it that morning while they had been working on a restoration project at the inn. But that was before the chaos, both of them looking forward to time alone together. Now it felt weighted with everything that had just happened.

There was a moment when everyone went their separate ways, the family scattering after rallying together. Holly caught Jack’s expression. He looked troubled, and he had a right to be. It made her stomach clench with worry.

This was more evident as they walked toward his pickup truck. Both were quiet as they crossed the parking lot.

The first few minutes of the drive were silent. Jack focused on the road, his hands steady on the wheel. Holly stared out the window, her mind still reeling from Simon and Terry’s appearance.

That pamphlet of the Christmas Inn in Simon’s drawer made sense now. Simon hadn’t been planning a vacation. He’d been researching the inn as a potential acquisition target. And Holly had inadvertently walked her family and herself right into the middle of his business scheme.

What an awful mess. Holly had taken Trinity and Charlie away from Miami to have a magical Christmas as the inn had promised, and right up until a few moments ago, they were all healing and having a good time.

Jack’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. “Did you know?”

Holly turned sharply toward him. “What?”

Jack kept his eyes on the road, his jaw tight. “Did you know Simon was the attorney going after my inn?”

The question hit Holly like a physical blow. “No! Of course not!”

The words tumbled out before she could stop them, desperate and rushed.

She told him about finding the pamphlet in Simon’s desk drawer a few weeks ago.

Holly had found it when they were FaceTiming with Gabe, who’d just told them he wouldn’t be home for Christmas again.

Both she and Trinity had been heartbroken, needing something to look forward to.

The pamphlet showed this beautiful historic inn, decorated for Christmas, promising magic and peace.

Wanting to try and save some of the year and end it in a happy place, Holly had booked it immediately.

She and Trinity needed an escape, needed somewhere far away from the memories and the pain.

Then Charlie heard where they were going and wanted to join them.

She’d never told Simon where they were going and hadn’t even spoken to him except in the presence of her attorney in six months.

“I never knew Simon had any association with the Christmas Inn or the developer who is after it,” Holly finished, her voice raw with emotion. “I swear to you, Jack. I had no idea.”

Jack nodded slowly, his attention returning to the road.

And that’s when Holly felt it.

The shift in the truck cab. The sudden space between them that hadn’t been there before. Cold where there had been growing warmth all week.

She watched Jack’s profile as he drove. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable. The easy comfort they’d found together over the past week suddenly… uncomfortable.

Holly’s heart sank as realization crashed over her.

He doesn’t believe me.

Holly wanted to say something more, wanted to explain further. But what was there to say that would make a difference? The facts were the facts. Simon was here because of the inn. Holly was here because she’d found Simon’s pamphlet about the inn.

The words stuck in her throat.

The silence continued as they drove toward St. Augustine.

Christmas lights decorated every storefront they passed.

Families walked along the sidewalks, children pointing at displays, couples holding hands.

It should have been magical and romantic.

Their first official real date. It was supposed to be romantic, exciting, and enjoyable.

Instead, it felt like something precious was cracking apart before it had even had a chance to fully form.