Chapter Eighteen
“You have to admit,” Amy said to her husband as they lounged in bed on Christmas morning, “If I had to sprain my wrist, I’ve done it at a good time.” After all their guests checked out this afternoon, they were going to be closed until Valentine’s Day.
“Yeah, but you’re still going to find it challenging to look after Robbie with just one hand.”
“That’s true.” She’d attempted a one-handed diaper change last night that had not gone well.
“So I was thinking…” Chet shifted into a sitting position and took her uninjured right hand. “January’s a slow time for the rodeo school too. How about we go on an extended trip? Three weeks, maybe four. That way I can be around to help with Robbie full-time.”
“Interesting idea. Where were you thinking?”
“We could take a break from winter. Go to Costa Rica.”
“That sounds adventurous. I like it. I wonder if I can zipline with one hand?”
He laughed. “There’s something else you need to learn to do with one hand.” He brushed aside her tangled hair and bent to kiss her.
And of course it was at that moment that the baby monitor sprang to life. “Mama? Dada?” Followed by a string of babbling.
“Hold that thought until Robbie’s nap time,” Amy said. “I think someone’s ready for his Christmas breakfast.”
*
It was weird sitting down for Christmas breakfast with the rest of their guests. Each place setting had a little Christmas stocking containing a Bramble House–themed Christmas ornament and a small box of Copper Mountain chocolates.
“Oh my gosh, what a cute idea.” Amy said, vowing that going forward she would continue this tradition.
Chet set Robin up in his high chair and gave him a sectioned orange and bran muffin to eat.
Amy had already fed Robin his oat cereal and then they’d let him open the presents they’d piled for him under the Bramble family Christmas tree.
As expected, he’d been most thrilled with the wrapping paper and ribbons, with the cardboard box containing his train coming in a close third.
“Good morning,” Gibson said as he took his usual chair. He sounded almost pleasant and even smiled at Amy when she wished him a Merry Christmas.
Next down to the table was Kris, followed by Ethel, whose brown eyes held an extra sparkle.
“I’ve had such a lovely stay here at Bramble House.
But after six weeks in hospital and rehab, I finally get to go home today.
” Her gaze moved to her granddaughter’s empty chair, and it seemed to Amy that her smile got even brighter.
Amy exchanged a secret look with Chet. When he’d made his final nighttime check of the house, he’d told her he thought Larkin was spending the night in Carson’s suite over the garage.
“Her coat is in the anteroom,” he’d said. “But her bedroom door is ajar, and when I checked, the room was empty.”
Peter came out of the kitchen, his lanky form covered by one of Jo’s white aprons. He deposited a thermos of coffee on the sideboard, then asked if anyone wanted a special coffee.
When Kris ordered a double Americano, Amy raised her eyebrows. “Really, Kris? You always go for black coffee.”
“Yup. But I’m hitting the road right after breakfast, driving to Phoenix, and I need a good jolt of caffeine.”
“Ready for some desert sunshine and golfing?” Chet asked.
“Yup. And ready to see my wife.”
“You sound happy your stint as Santa is over,” Ethel said.
“I love it, but it takes a lot of energy.”
“I hope you’ll be back again next year?” Amy said. She was surprised when Kris merely shrugged.
“Not sure. I might be getting too old for this gig.”
“It won’t feel right if you’re not here next Christmas,” Amy said.
“Things change, my dear. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches.”
It was exactly eight o’clock when Larkin and Carson finally showed up.
Their body language and flushed, laughing faces, made it extremely obvious that things had changed between them.
Amy reached for Chet’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
Oh, how she remembered the magic that came with falling in love.
She was happy for her brother. And it was obvious that Ethel was equally happy for her granddaughter.
By the time Carson had poured both himself and Larkin a cup of coffee, Marjorie came out of the kitchen. She, too, was in one of Jo’s aprons, with her hair pulled back in a bun. Amy hadn’t seen the woman look this happy since she and her husband had checked in.
“Welcome to Christmas breakfast at Bramble House,” Marjorie said proudly. “We’ll be serving individual bacon and sausage quiches, cottage cheese blintzes, and baked Anjou pears.”
“That sounds amazing, Marjorie,” Amy said.
“I hope you enjoy,” Marjorie replied modestly.
Together she and Peter brought out the plated food, and once everyone else had been served, they took their places at the table too.
Amy tasted everything and was impressed. “So delicious. Thank you, Marjorie and Peter. At the beginning of this week, I was worried Christmas would turn out to be a disaster—and because of Shelley it almost was. I want to thank all of you for helping to turn it around.”
“Speaking of Shelley,” Larkin said. “She made a comment that none of us knew who you really are, Gibson. I’ve been wondering what she meant by that.”
“Good memory,” Amy said. In the heat of the moment, she’d forgotten that comment, but now that Larkin had raised the question, she was very curious to hear the answer.
“I wondered when someone was going to ask me about that.” Gibson wiped his mouth with the corner of his napkin before continuing. “Have you heard of the Traveling America with Gib: One Bed and Breakfast at a Time podcast?”
“I haven’t.” Amy glanced around the table. Everyone else was shaking their head except Peter.
“I have. I plan all our trips so I’m always on the lookout for a new bed and breakfast to try. So you’re Gib. I thought your voice sounded familiar.”
“I could tell Shelley recognized me. She even left a business card for the Rocking Chair B & B beside my coffee cup one day.”
“Really? That was nervy,” Amy said. Then again, it was far from the worst stunt Shelley had pulled.
“I’m doing research for a future podcast where I’ll feature good B & Bs to visit over the holiday season.”
Amy groaned. “I guess you won’t be recommending Bramble House.” She had never had a guest who had so obviously not enjoyed his stay as much as Gibson.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I may come across as critical, but that’s part of my persona. I was actually very impressed with Bramble House. And I love Marietta. That chocolate shop alone is a reason to visit this place.”
*
After breakfast, Larkin’s gran couldn’t wait to be taken home.
Larkin helped her pack her suitcase, then Carson loaded it into her grandmother’s old station wagon.
They’d already said their goodbyes and their thank-yous to Amy and Chet, who had left with Robin to spend the rest of the day with their friends the Carrigans.
With all the other guests gone, too, the old house was unusually quiet.
Larkin paused on the front porch and looked up at the ball of mistletoe. She remembered noticing it when she first checked in one week ago. She’d never guessed it would bring her more than a kiss, but the return of her old love who was now her forever love.
The previous afternoon Larkin had stocked her grandmother’s kitchen with essentials and had put up a small Christmas tree in the living room. As soon as they entered through the front door, Gran noticed the tree.
“Oh, how beautiful! When did you do that?” She hugged Larkin and then Carson. “Now can I finally see the bathroom?”
“Go ahead,” Carson replied.
With her walker, she carefully navigated down the hall, while Larkin and Carson followed behind. She opened the door and flicked on the light. For several seconds she was quiet. But when she turned around, there were tears in her eyes.
“It’s perfect. I feel like I’m in a fancy hotel.”
Carson demonstrated how to use the new handheld shower fixture. He showed her the chair he’d put in the shower, so she could sit if she wanted. He pointed out all the support bars, and the new textured tile flooring that should prevent slips.
Watching his tenderness with her grandmother brought tears to Larkin’s eyes as well. Once again, she had flashbacks to their younger days, watching him work with the new colts. So patient. Never mean. He would make a good father one day.
The thought filled her with joy. They’d hardly slept at all last night, they’d done so much talking.
They’d shared their dreams, their hopes, their fears.
One of her fears had been that her past trauma would prevent her from having children.
Well, already she was feeling a lot more optimistic about that.
Ethel retrieved another container of homemade soup from her freezer—broccoli cheddar this time—and after lunch, declared she needed a nap.
“Want to go for a walk?” Carson asked.
“Great idea.” She put on her boots and coat, then tied her scarf around her neck. She was surprised to find Carson watching her with his old sexy smile.
“You rock the all-bundled-up-for-winter look,” he told her as they stepped outside.
She smiled as he took her hand. In his wool-lined denim jacket and cowboy hat, he looked completely at home in Marietta.
Lots of other people were out to enjoy the afternoon sunshine.
Little kids making snowmen in their front yards.
Older kids zooming down hills on sleds and toboggans.
As they headed toward the river they saw solitary dog walkers, and entire families, and even a few die-hard joggers.
“Did you meet Marly Everett at the Bramble House Christmas tea?” Larkin asked.
“The owner of the Copper Mountain Courier?”
“Yes.”
“Sure did. I liked her. Her husband’s a rancher too. Drake, I think his name is.”
“That’s right. I should have mentioned this earlier, but they’ve invited us to Christmas dinner—including you if you’d like to join us. Marly’s mom is an old friend of Gran’s.”
He tightened his grip on her hand. “I’d love to come. But I have a feeling there’s more to the story.”
“Your instincts are correct.” She hadn’t yet told him about Marly’s job offer. Mostly because she hadn’t been sure what she wanted to do about it.
Or so she’d told herself.
“Marly would like me to become senior reporter at the Courier.”
He stopped in his tracks. “She offered you a job? Here in Marietta?”
Larkin nodded. “Marly wants me to start by writing some follow-up articles profiling the other amazing bed and breakfasts in Marietta.”
“Won’t Shelley be happy to hear that?”
Larkin raised one eyebrow. “I wouldn’t be doing it for Shelley.
But it does seem fair to give the other establishments in Marietta their due.
Anyway, after that Marly would like me to slowly take on more responsibility for the paper so that by the time she’s on her maternity leave, I’d be full-time senior editor. ”
“That sounds amazing.”
“If I accept her offer, maybe we could live halfway between Whispering Pines and Marietta? That way you could keep working for your dad. And I…” She swept her hand over the view of the old courthouse and library in front of them. “And I would be close to my job. And Gran.”
“But…wouldn’t you be giving up your dreams for a big career?”
“At one time I thought I wanted bigger and better,” she admitted. “But the truth is I fell in love with the Courier the first time I walked into the office.” Newspapers were the bedrock of the American small town. She really believed that.
And now she had a chance to live it.
Carson reached for her other hand and pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you, Lark.”
“I love you too.”
“Let’s get married. And let’s do it soon. What do you say?”
What could she say to any of that, but yes, yes, yes!