Chapter 7

7

A lyssa added another log to the fire in her cabin, watching as the flames licked hungrily at the fresh wood. She topped off her glass of red wine, the bottle resting on the coffee table beside her. The warmth of the fire and the smooth, rich taste of the wine were just what she needed after the day’s confrontation with Denise Adams.

A knock at the door interrupted her quiet evening. Alyssa furrowed her brow. None of her friends would show up without texting her first. Curious, she set down her wine glass and made her way to the window, peering out into the darkness.

There, standing on her porch, was none other than Denise Adams herself. Alyssa’s heart skipped a beat, a mix of surprise and apprehension coursing through her veins. What could the actress possibly want at this hour, after their heated exchange earlier?

Alyssa hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Part of her wanted to ignore the knock, to pretend she wasn’t home and avoid another confrontation. But the other part, the part that had always been drawn to challenges and the opportunity to understand others, urged her to open the door.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead, and turned the knob. The door swung open, revealing Denise’s striking figure illuminated by the soft glow of the porch light. Alyssa’s eyes met Denise’s, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Alyssa’s heart raced as she took in the sight of Denise standing on her porch, a photo album tucked under her arm. The actress’s face was unreadable, and Alyssa braced herself for another confrontation. She had hoped their earlier conversation would be the end of it, but apparently, Denise had other plans.

“Hi,” Alyssa said, her tone guarded. She searched Denise’s face for any hint of her intentions, but the actress’s expression remained neutral. Alyssa had caught herself just in time. She’d nearly said, ‘Hi, Denise Adams.’ It still felt strange thinking of her as just Denise, Wayne’s daughter, and some the elite Hollywood actress that she was.

“Can I come in?” Her voice was softer than it had been during their previous encounter, but Alyssa remained wary.

She hesitated, her hand still gripping the doorknob. The warmth of the cabin spilled out into the cool night air, and Alyssa could feel the tension between them.

“I’m not here to argue,” Denise added, as if sensing Alyssa’s apprehension. “I just want to talk.”

Alyssa studied her for a moment longer, weighing her options. She could send Denise away, close the door and return to her quiet evening by the fire. But something in the actress’s demeanor, a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes, made Alyssa pause.

“Okay,” she said finally, stepping aside to let Denise enter. “Come in.”

Denise’s gaze swept over the interior of the cabin, taking in the cozy furnishings and the crackling fire.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” Alyssa asked.

“That would be nice, thank you.”

As Alyssa went into the kitchen to get another wine glass, she couldn’t help but wonder what had brought Denise to her doorstep. Was it a change of heart, or simply another tactic to convince her to sell the farm?

Alyssa came back into the living room and poured her a glass.

“I wanted to apologize,” Denise said, accepting the glass from Alyssa. “For earlier, I mean. I was out of line.”

Alyssa raised an eyebrow, surprised by the admission. “I appreciate that,” she said cautiously, taking a sip of her own wine.

Denise set the photo album on the coffee table, her fingers tracing the worn edges. “I found this at the farmhouse,” she said softly. “I know we have a lot to sort out, but for the moment anyway, I thought you should have this.”

Alyssa picked up the album as Denise talked, her fingers gently tracing the worn leather cover. As she opened it, she realized it wasn’t just a photo album, but a scrapbook. Her eyes moved over the carefully preserved newspaper articles as she turned the pages, each one a testament to the tree farm’s history and its place in the community.

Denise’s voice seemed to fade into the background as Alyssa focused on the contents of the scrapbook. She heard Denise mention something about returning to Los Angeles and sorting things out in the new year, after the busy holiday season had passed. Denise even suggested that Alyssa move into the farmhouse, insisting that it was rightfully hers.

But Alyssa struggled to concentrate on Denise’s words, her attention captured by a particular article about last year’s Santa event. The memories came flooding back – the twinkling lights, the laughter of the children, and the joy on Wayne’s face as he handed out gifts dressed as Santa Claus.

“Shit,” Alyssa cursed under her breath, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. The Santa event was less than a month away, and with everything that had happened, nothing had been planned for it. Wayne had always taken care of the details, and now, with his passing and the uncertainty surrounding the farm’s future, the beloved tradition was in jeopardy.

Alyssa’s mind raced, trying to figure out how she could possibly pull off the event on such short notice. She knew how much it meant to the community, to the children who looked forward to it every year. The thought of disappointing them, of letting Wayne’s legacy fade away, made her heart ache.

Denise’s voice trailed off as she noticed the change in Alyssa’s demeanor. She tilted her head, studying the younger woman with a curious expression. “Alyssa? Is everything okay?”

Alyssa realized she had completely tuned out Denise’s words. She felt a flush of embarrassment creep up her neck. “I’m sorry, I just... I got distracted by this article.”

Denise leaned in, squinting at the small print. “What’s this?”

Alyssa took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic in her chest. “It’s something Wayne started years ago,” she explained, her voice trembling slightly. “Every December, we transform the farm into a winter wonderland for local underprivileged children. Wayne would dress up as Santa Claus and hand out gifts...” She trailed off, her throat tightening with emotion.

Denise’s eyes softened as she listened to Alyssa’s explanation. She took a sip of wine, letting Alyssa explain.

“I completely forgot about it,” Alyssa admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “With everything that’s happened, with Wayne’s passing and the uncertainty about the farm’s future, I just... I didn’t even think about it until now. It’s less than a month away, and I have no idea how I’m going to pull it off on my own.”

Every interaction they’d had so far had been filled with animosity, but now, as Denise’s gaze softened, Alyssa saw a glimmer of something different. It was as if, for a moment, the actress’s icy exterior had melted away, revealing a hint of compassion beneath the surface.

Alyssa took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “Would you be willing to help?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. “I know that, you know, things weren’t great with your father…” Alyssa still had no idea what had happened, but it must have been something big for Wayne to never even have mentioned her. “But this event was never about him. It’s always been such an important part of the holiday season for the area, for those kids. I can’t mess this up.”

She held her breath, waiting for Denise’s response. The actress’s eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face. Alyssa could see the gears turning in Denise’s mind, the conflict playing out behind her eyes.

The silence stretched between them, the crackling of the fire the only sound in the room. Alyssa’s heart pounded in her chest, her fingers gripping the scrapbook tightly. She knew she was taking a risk, asking for Denise’s help after everything that had transpired between them. But something in the actress’s demeanor, the way she had come to Alyssa’s cabin with the scrapbook and an apology, gave her hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to work together.

Denise took a sip of her wine, her gaze never leaving Alyssa’s. “I...” she began, her voice trailing off. She cleared her throat, seeming to search for the right words. “I don’t know if I can promise anything, but...” She paused again, her eyes flickering down to the scrapbook in Alyssa’s hands. “I don’t really want anyone to know that I’m here.”

Alyssa’s heart sank at Denise’s words. Of course - a famous actress wouldn’t want to be seen at a small-town charity event. She set the scrapbook down on the coffee table, careful to keep her disappointment from showing on her face.

“I understand. The last thing you need is the press finding out you’re here.” Alyssa took another sip of wine, letting the warmth spread through her chest. “I just thought... never mind.”

“No, that’s not-” Denise shifted on the couch, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping against her wine glass. “I meant I could help behind the scenes. With planning, organizing. That sort of thing.”

The unexpected offer caught Alyssa off guard. She studied Denise’s face, searching for any sign of insincerity, but found none. The sharp edges that had defined their earlier interactions had softened, replaced by something almost... hesitant.

“Really?” Alyssa couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. “You’d do that?”

Denise nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I can take care of buying all the presents,” she said. “Get them delivered here or to the tree farm. And maybe help with decorating in the evenings when no one else is around.”

Alyssa’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected Denise to offer such substantial help, especially given their rocky start. The idea of the actress using her resources and connections to secure gifts for the children warmed Alyssa’s heart. She watched Denise take another sip of wine.

“That would be amazing,” Alyssa said, her voice thick with emotion. “I can’t even begin to tell you how much that would mean to me, to the kids.”

Denise’s smile grew, a genuine warmth spreading across her face. “It’s the least I can do,” she said, her tone sincere. “I know how important this event is to the community, and I want to help keep my father’s legacy alive, even if...”

She trailed off, her gaze dropping to her wine glass. Alyssa could sense the unspoken pain behind Denise’s words, the complicated history between her and Wayne that she had yet to fully understand.

“Thank you,” Alyssa said softly, reaching out to place a gentle hand on Denise’s arm. “It means more than you know.”

Denise looked up. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. It was a small step, but it felt like the beginning of something new, a tentative bridge being built over the chasm that had separated them.

Alyssa’s heart swelled with hope, the weight of the event’s responsibilities feeling a little less daunting with Denise’s support. She knew there was still much to be done, but for the first time since Wayne’s passing, she felt like she wasn’t facing it alone.