Chapter Eight

JACOB

Christmas morning broke over Wintervale in a soft hush, the storm’s howling winds replaced by a serene, crystalline stillness. I woke alone in my room back at the resort—no longer in the drafty halls of Barrington Manor, no longer with Bailey curled against my side as she’d been just hours before. The rescue team had arrived at the mansion at dawn, plowing through the roads that had finally yielded to their machines. Amid the frantic rush and excitement, we’d been bundled into warm vans and whisked back to civilization before I’d had a chance to steal a quiet word with Bailey.

Back at the hotel, my sense of unreality persisted. All around me, families rejoiced in the sudden good weather, children squealing over Christmas presents, and the staff hustled to accommodate guests who’d been stranded by the storm. The hotel lobby was awash in festive decorations—poinsettias and garlands, a towering Christmas tree that reached all the way to the ceiling—but I moved through it all with a sort of restless tension in my chest. Where was Bailey?

I tried calling Theodore as well to check in, but no luck there either. My calls rolled straight to voicemail and my texts went unanswered. It was as if the tight camaraderie we’d all forged during the storm had vanished into thin, frosty air now that we were back in the realm of phone signals and busy schedules.

When I finally spotted Bailey around midday, my heart leapt, but the encounter left me uneasy. I caught her in the resort’s lounge, on her laptop, and though our eyes met briefly, she lowered hers back to her screen almost immediately, never lifting her fingers from the keyboard. It was obvious she was avoiding me, and my stomach knotted. Had I misread our night together? Did she regret it?

I retreated to my room, wrestling with doubts. But I knew I couldn’t leave it at that. Christmas Day was marching on, and the hotel was hosting the grand Christmas Gala that evening which the firm was expecting me to attend.

As late afternoon dimmed into evening, I dressed in a charcoal suit, knotting my tie with determined fingers. Downstairs, the ballroom had been transformed into a wonderland of holiday decor and candlelit tables. A small band tuned up in the corner, and guests in their holiday finest drifted past me with soft laughter and the clink of glasses.

No sign of Bailey in the main hall. After several minutes of searching, I slipped out onto a side balcony overlooking the village. The air was cold but clear, and the sky was a deepening hue of blue and purple as dusk fell. From here, I could see the rooftops dusted with snow, and the distant steeple of the village church. And there, leaning against the iron railing, her silhouette framed by the gentle glow of lanterns, was Bailey.

My heart twisted. She wore a simple yet elegant dress in a deep, rich green that resembled the pine forests blanketed in snow outside town. Her chestnut hair fell over her shoulders in soft waves. She looked reflective, lost in thought as she gazed out at the town of Wintervale.

I stepped onto the balcony. The sound of my shoes on the stone made her turn. A flicker of something passed over her face, and my heart did a flip-flop in my chest.

“Hey,” I said quietly, taking a step closer. The chill in the air contrasted with the heat of my nerves.

“Hey,” she answered hesitatingly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes were guarded, and I couldn’t read what was in them.

I pressed my palms to the railing beside her, leaving a respectful distance between us. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk this morning,” I said, voice low. “Everything happened so fast.”

She nodded, gaze drifting to the village lights. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “We got caught up in the moment.”

It wasn’t okay, though—not to me. I had to make her understand. “Bailey, about what happened between us at the manor…” I paused, willing myself to find the right words. “I meant it… All of it. I love you. I want another chance. Whatever fears or differences stood between us before, I’m willing to face them, work out whatever needs to be.”

She stiffened slightly, then let out a shaky breath. “Jacob, I…” Her voice caught. “I’m just not sure how this works. You have your life in Chicago, your big cases, your reputation. I’ve been focused on my career too, but Seattle… it’s always been home. We’re on different paths. What if trying again just leads to another heartbreak?”

I turned to face her fully, my hand lifting as if to touch her shoulder, but pausing at the last second. “I’ve thought about that,” I said. “I don’t want to lose you again. So, what if we reinvent the rules? What if we create something together that neither of us could have alone?”

She looked at me curiously. “What do you mean?”

“Open a law practice here,” I said, the idea spilling out with surprising confidence now that I’d made the decision. “In Wintervale. We combine our talents, and we help this community thrive. We pick our cases, we set our hours. And maybe we help your father too. You’ve mentioned he’s been struggling since your mom passed, and I know how important family is to you. We can give him stability, let him be a part of our new life.”

Her eyes went wide, shimmering with unshed tears. “You…you’d give up Chicago for this?”

I managed a half-smile. “I’m not giving up anything I truly value. Chicago gave me success, but it didn’t give me happiness. You did that. And I realize now that success without you is hollow. I want to build a future together. Right here, if that’s what it takes.”

A tear escaped down her cheek, and she laughed softly, an incredulous, relieved sound. “Jacob, this is…I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes,” I whispered. “Or at least say maybe. Just don’t shut me out.”

Before she could answer, we heard familiar voices approaching. Edna and Theodore stepped onto the balcony, arm in arm, looking unexpectedly radiant. Edna wore a sweeping dress in mulberry, and Theodore looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen him. I almost didn’t even recognize the man; it was as if years had fallen off him and he appeared lighter, freer. They smiled to see us together.

“Don’t let us interrupt,” Theodore said with a grin that seemed ten years younger than I’d ever seen it. “We just wanted to share some news.”

Edna patted his arm fondly. “We’ve decided to drop all those pesky lawsuits and claims to the Barrington property. We realized that holding onto old grudges or illusions of grandeur does nothing for either of us.”

Theodore nodded. “The property deserves fresh energy, someone who can cherish it for what it is and restore it. Edna and I…we’ve agreed to sell it. Together. It seems we’ve rekindled something special. Why waste time fighting?”

My heart warmed at their announcement, and I felt Bailey’s shoulder relax beside mine. The joy on Edna’s face, the softness in Theodore’s eyes—in them, I saw our future if we dared to embrace it.

Bailey’s smile was radiant. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you both.” She then glanced at me and added, “Actually, I have an idea. My friend Rory Lancaster has been looking for a new start. She’s had a tough time lately, but she’s resourceful and loves old properties. I think she might be the perfect buyer for Barrington Manor.”

Edna beamed. “Oh, that sounds promising! A new chapter for the old place. Perfect.”

Theodore chuckled. “Who would have guessed this Christmas would bring so many second chances?”

As they left us to return to the gala, soft music drifting out onto the balcony, Bailey turned back to me. The sky was now a deep sapphire, stars winking into existence overhead. The town below glowed with holiday lights, and laughter from the ballroom hummed in the background.

She reached for my hand. “Jacob…I can’t say I’m not scared. But I’m also excited. You offering to build a life here, with me, it’s…” She swallowed, words not quite enough to capture her emotion. “I want that. I want us.”

My heart soared. I pulled her close, pressing my forehead to hers. “We’ll figure it out,” I promised. “Together.”

She smiled up at me, and I dipped my head to kiss her lightly, a promise sealed with the taste of peppermint and forgiveness.

“Merry Christmas, Bailey,” I said softly.

“Merry Christmas, Jacob,” she whispered back, eyes shining. “To new beginnings.”