Chapter 13
13
T he bell jingled as Lila burst into Doug’s Hardware Store, looking unusually pale. Emily glanced up from the counter, startled by her friend’s frazzled appearance.
“Lila, are you okay?” Emily asked, setting her clipboard aside.
Lila waved a hand but didn’t respond right away. Instead, she sank onto one of the stools near the register, her face flushed.
“I’m fine,” Lila said after a long pause, though her voice sounded anything but convincing.
“You don’t look fine,” Emily replied, her brow furrowing. “ Did you eat breakfast?”
“Sort of.” Lila rested her elbows on the counter and buried her face in her hands. “Honestly, I’ve just been a little off all morning. It’s probably nothing.”
Emily’s concern deepened, but before she could press further, the conversation shifted.
“Have you heard from Dad?” Lila asked, sitting up straighter.
Emily shook her head. “Not since yesterday. Why?”
Lila hesitated, twisting her hands in her lap. “He didn’t answer my call this morning. And when I stopped by the house, he said he was tired, but he didn’t look good. He’s coughing a lot, Em. Like, really coughing.”
Emily’s stomach sank. Doug was the kind of man who could push through anything, which made it easy to forget he wasn’t invincible.
“I’ll head over there this afternoon,” Emily said firmly. “If he’s not going to take care of himself, maybe I can talk some sense into him.”
“Thanks,” Lila said, though her voice trembled.
Before Emily could say more, Lila shot to her feet, her face blanching. “Be right back,” she said quickly before bolting toward the restroom in the back of the store .
Emily blinked, stunned.
When Lila returned, her face was a shade paler, but she looked determined to downplay whatever had just happened. Emily, however, wasn’t about to let it slide.
“Okay, Lila,” Emily said, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter. “Spill. What’s going on? And don’t tell me it’s ‘nothing.’”
Lila groaned, sinking back onto the stool. “It’s probably just stress, okay? Between worrying about Dad, the holidays, and the store, it’s a lot.”
Emily arched an eyebrow. “Stress doesn’t usually make people bolt for the restroom.”
Lila’s cheeks flushed, and she avoided Emily’s gaze. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
Emily tilted her head, studying her friend carefully. “Lila… you don’t think?—”
“I don’t know, okay?” Lila blurted out, her voice a mix of frustration and fear. She buried her face in her hands. “I’ve been feeling weird lately, and I guess it’s crossed my mind, but I don’t know for sure.”
Emily’s heart softened as she moved closer, resting a comforting hand on Lila’s shoulder. “Hey. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. You don’t have to go through this alone. ”
Lila peeked out from behind her hands, her eyes glistening. “You really think I could be…?”
“It’s possible,” Emily said gently. “But let’s not jump to conclusions. Have you talked to Jack about how you’re feeling?”
Lila shook her head. “Not yet. I didn’t want to worry him until I knew for sure. And now with Dad…”
Emily squeezed her shoulder. “One thing at a time. Let’s focus on Doug for now, and then we’ll figure out the rest, okay?”
Lila nodded, a flicker of gratitude in her expression.
That afternoon, Emily drove to Doug’s house, her mind swirling with worry. The streets of Mistletoe Hollow were quiet, the town’s usual bustle softened by the crisp winter air.
When she knocked on the door, it took longer than usual for Doug to answer. When he finally did, Emily’s heart sank.
He looked worse than she’d expected—his face pale, his eyes glassy, and his posture hunched as if he didn’t have the energy to stand up straight.
“Emily,” Doug said, his voice raspy. He stepped back to let her in, waving off her concerned expression. “Don’t start fussing. I’m fine.”
“Fine people don’t look like they’re auditioning for a role as Ebenezer Scrooge,” Emily shot back, stepping inside.
Doug chuckled weakly but didn’t argue.
The house was quiet, a half-eaten bowl of soup sitting on the coffee table and a blanket draped over the couch. Emily’s heart ached as she took it all in. Doug was always the one taking care of everyone else—it was hard to see him like this.
“When’s the last time you saw a doctor?” she asked, crossing her arms.
Doug grumbled something unintelligible as he lowered himself onto the couch.
“That’s what I thought,” Emily said. “Doug, you’re not doing yourself—or Lila—any favors by ignoring this. You need to see someone.”
“I’ve had worse colds,” Doug muttered, though he didn’t sound convinced.
Emily sat down beside him, her tone softening. “Maybe. But you’re not twenty-five anymore, and this doesn’t look like a regular cold. Please, Doug. For Lila’s sake.”
At the mention of his daughter, Doug’s shoulders sagged. He nodded reluctantly. “Fine. I’ll make an appointment tomorrow.”
“Good,” Emily said, relieved. “And until then, you’re not lifting a finger. Got it?”
Doug smirked faintly. “Yes, ma’am.”
Hours later as Emily sat in her apartment, staring out the window as snow began to fall softly over the town. The lights from the square twinkled in the distance, casting a warm glow over the snowy streets.
Her mind was a whirlwind. Between Doug’s illness, Lila’s uncertainty, and her own complicated feelings about Noah, it felt like everything was piling up at once.
She picked up her phone, hesitating before dialing Lila’s number.
“Hey,” Lila answered, her voice still shaky.
“Hey,” Emily said. “I just left your dad’s. He promised to make a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Lila said, a hint of relief in her tone. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Em.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” Emily replied, her voice warm. “And about earlier… Lila, whatever happens, you’ve got people who love you. You’re not alone in this.”
Lila sniffled quietly on the other end. “Thanks, Em. That means a lot.”
As Emily hung up, she felt a small sense of peace settle over her. For all the chaos and uncertainty in her life, she wasn’t alone either. Mistletoe Hollow had become her family, and no matter what challenges lay ahead, she knew she’d face them with the people she loved by her side.
Outside, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the town in a soft, quiet stillness.