Chapter 17

Trey heard the door open, and then a lock turned. He sat, expecting Marley to call out, and when she didn’t, he got up and started walking toward the front of their home.

When he saw her standing in the living room, trembling from head to toe, he bolted.

“Marley! Sweetheart…what’s happened? Are you okay? Are you sick? Did someone get hurt?”

She couldn’t cry; she just couldn’t stop shaking.

“Jared Bedford pled guilty to all charges. I don’t have to go to court. I don’t have to testify. I don’t have to face him ever again.”

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Oh, baby, I am so glad. This has to be the biggest relief of your life. You never said anything about being worried that might happen. I didn’t realize how heavily this was weighing on you.”

“I didn’t know it either until I heard the words.”

“Come sit,” he said, and sat her down on the sofa, then went to the liquor cabinet and poured her a shot of whiskey. “Drink it. It’ll either settle your nerves, or you’ll pick a fight with someone later. Either way, you won’t be dealing with this fear.”

She grimaced, downed it like medicine, and then leaned back and closed her eyes as the heat of the whiskey rolled down the back of her throat and into her belly.

Trey sat down beside her, reached for her hand, and held it.

They didn’t speak. There was no need. He was there when she needed him, and that was enough.

A few minutes later, she got up, went to wash her face, and came back with her hair brushed and fresh lipstick.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded. “I just needed to see you. Thanks for the shot, the hug, and the kiss. I think I’m good.”

“I’m gonna walk you out,” he said.

She leaned against him as they went. “You just want to see Angela and Toni ogle you for a while.”

“Whatever. I’m still doing it,” he said.

“Got your key?” she asked.

“Always in my pocket,” he said.

They left together, and before they’d even reached the front desk, someone approached them for a picture.

“Smile, darlin’,” Trey said, and put his arm around her just as the guest snapped the shot, then thanked them, ran back to her table, and immediately sent it to Instagram.

“Trey, Jack is in the shop building that bookshelf, but I don’t know if he measured the size of the books before he began,” she said.

“How about I borrow one from your stash and take it to him to measure.”

“Don’t let him keep it,” she said. “He’s just as likely to use it for a doorstop later.”

“Understood,” he said, then pulled a Chapel Hill book from the shelves and went out the back door.

“Coat!” Marley shouted.

“Not an idiot!” he shouted back as he snagged an old one from the hook.

She laughed.

It felt good.

***

Trey didn’t know it, but Meredith had demanded to see the final version of his interview before it aired, and Morris LeHigh had agreed.

When she got to work the next morning, it was in her email. She made herself a cup of hot tea and checked the bank to see if her fifteen percent of the five million had been deposited, because if it had, then that meant Trey had been paid on signing, too, which had been part of her demands.

When she pulled up her account and saw the pending deposit, she smiled, then sat down at her desk to watch the interview, and when it was over, she leaned back in her chair with tears in her eyes.

She’d always dreamed of having a client who’d made it big, really big. When she’d first accepted Trey as a client, she would never have imagined it would be him. But the mystery of his identity had been the hook needed to suck readers into his stories, and now they were as invested in the books he wrote as they were about the secret.

But what had touched her so deeply about the interview was the recognition he’d given her for being the wall between him and the anonymity he’d desired. She rewatched it twice over, just so she could get to hear him saying, “Were it not for Meredith Bernstein, none of this would have happened. She made it easy for me to be me.”

Satisfied with it, she sent a thumbs-up to Morris, then started making phone calls.

***

Jack finished the bookshelf Marley wanted, and stained it. He didn’t know what it was for, but he didn’t argue with the boss. Just as he was getting ready to leave, Marley caught him at the back door.

“Tonight, you and Wanda be sure to watch Entertainment Tonight .”

“Why?” he asked.

“You’ll find out when you watch it. Can’t say more. It would ruin the surprise.”

“If you say so,” he said, and put on his coat and gloves and left.

Then Marley sent Wanda a text with the same instructions, knowing Jack would forget, and she wouldn’t.

***

Trey and Marley ate an early dinner and then bolted for the TV in the great room. A couple of guests were at the jigsaw table, and a single guest was scrolling through his phone by the fire.

Trey reached for the remote as soon as he sat, while Marley scooted onto the cushion beside him. He glanced down at her and grinned.

“Here goes nothin’,” he said, pulled up the guide on the TV, scanned until he found CBS, and then keyed in.

Moments later, the show began with a lead-in telling viewers to stay tuned for an important announcement. That a long-awaited big reveal was coming tonight, and it was going to rock the publishing world.

She leaned over, whispering in his ear.

“You’re about to set a whole lot of people’s hair on fire.”

He grinned. Hers might be smoking in a minute, too, when she realized the Santa Claus picture she’d given to him for Christmas was in the background of his interview.

***

Wanda herded Jack to the television, listening to him complain all the way.

“I don’t see why we need to watch ET . I wanted to check my chickens before dark.”

“You missed that window of opportunity,” Wanda said. “It’s already dark. If Bug wanted us to do this, then she has a good reason. Sit yourself.”

Jack flopped down, put his feet up on the coffee table, and leaned back against the sofa as Wanda slid in beside him.

***

Gloria Austin always watched ET . She felt obligated to keep up with the pretty people, and the famous people, and who was getting divorced, and who was dating who.

Anders came out of his office and saw where she was sitting. Right beneath the cuckoo clock he’d hung on the wall. He knew about her penchant for keeping up with the rich and famous, and when he heard the hosts talking about a big reveal in the publishing world, he got curious and sat down beside her.

“I wonder what the big news is,” Gloria said.

Anders shrugged. “We’ll soon find out.”

***

Like every night, a huge portion of the nation tuned in to ET , and for most, this day was no different from any other. But Meredith was hosting a little soiree at her apartment for a few of her agent friends, and for a few editors from local publishing houses.

Canapes were serve-yourself, and wine was flowing. She was the consummate hostess, and tonight, she’d dressed for the occasion. In the middle of industry gossip and conversation, Meredith suddenly quieted the room.

“Find a place to sit,” she said as she turned on her TV. “This is why you’re here—to help me celebrate a bit of good news.” And then the lead-in regarding a bombshell reveal within the publishing world had their attention.

Meredith took a seat in the middle of the sofa as some of her friends crowded around her. She upped the volume as the show began.

The first guest was familiar to everyone in the room. Even if they didn’t know him personally, they knew who he was. One of the agents suddenly pointed toward the screen.

“That’s Morris LeHigh with Vyjack Productions! He’s out of LA. Maybe they’re going to make a film about some actor’s memoir.”

“Gawd, I hope not,” another agent muttered.

***

Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier and cohost Nischelle Turner were all smiles as they began their broadcast.

“Hello and good evening. Wow, do we have a scoop for you tonight,” Kevin said.

“You’re hearing it first on ET , and to lead off our story, our first guest is Morris LeHigh, head of production with Vyjack Productions in LA,” Nischelle said. “So, what’s going on, Morris? We’re all ears.”

The camera cut to LeHigh, a short, balding man in his midfifties who couldn’t seem to stand still.

“Thank you, ET , for the opportunity to break our big news here,” Morris said. “The news is exciting, but we have an even bigger reveal along with it. We are proud to announce that Vyjack Productions has optioned the film rights to the first twelve Chapel Hill mystery novels. We’re already in discussion as to which book we’ll turn into a film first!” Morris said.

“Oh wow! How did you make this happen when the writer is an anonymous entity?” Kevin said.

Morris shook his head. “That’s our next big reveal! He isn’t anonymous anymore! We just filmed our first interview with Chapel Hill. You might recognize the headshot. He’s been in the news quite a bit lately, but for another reason altogether.” The screen flashed on a still shot of Trey Austin. “We’re about to roll the footage on the first-ever interview.”

“But that’s the Cinderella Man,” Kevin said.

“Yes, but he’s also the writer behind Chapel Hill,” Morris said as they cut straight to their interview. “Jessica Hartley, with Vyjack, conducted the interview.”

The next image that popped onto the screen was Trey Austin, kicked back in a chair in his office.

“Good afternoon, Trey. I’m Jessica Hartley with Vyjack Productions. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.”

“I guess it’s been a long time coming,” Trey said.

Jessica laughed. “Indeed. First, would you please tell us a bit about how you got started? What made you want to write, and why mysteries?”

“I was a lonely only child,” he said, and then grinned. “How does that sound for an excuse not to admit that I’m something of a loner? That I fully expected to become a hermit by the age of fifty?”

Jessica laughed. “Okay, I get that. We all have those days, I think. So why mystery?”

He didn’t hesitate. “To me, life is the mystery. Why not tell the stories? You wonder as a child, why people act the way they do, but you don’t have answers. You wonder how the stars stay up in the sky without falling. You wonder why getting older makes a body start coming apart.” And then he chuckled. “As a child, that’s what I thought was happening when I’d see old people take out false teeth, or watch them growing bald and getting wrinkles where once there were none. And wondering why good people die, and evil lives on? Some people grow out of childish thoughts. Writers grow up with them and turn them into stories. Everything is fair game to us. Make an enemy of me and you’ll become the bum in my next book, or the murder victim. No one but me will know it’s you, but that’s the satisfaction I get from giving you my own brand of justice. That’s where the mysteries come from.”

“Fascinating,” Jessica said. “So, why anonymous? Most people want the recognition of success.”

He shrugged. “And lose their personal freedom in the process? It never much appealed to me.”

“What meaning does Chapel Hill hold for you? It must mean something. You’ve hidden behind the name for what…ten years now?”

“Actually twelve years. I wrote my first two books while I was still in college. That’s where I met my literary agent, Meredith Bernstein, the woman who helped hide me from the world. I couldn’t have done any of this without her. She found a way to let me be me and still write. But she’s also the one who finally convinced me to give up the secret. As for the name, Chapel Hill, that was a place just off my college campus that had a reputation as a lover’s lane…a place for secret liaisons. Ironically, it was located on a wooded hill behind a church.”

“Are you a churchgoer?” Jessica asked.

“Not in the sense you mean, but I have learned to believe in angels and in a higher power, thanks to my own Cinderella, Marley Corbett, who saved my life a little over a month ago. Were it not for her unbelievable courage and bravery, we would not be sitting here.”

“We understand you two have become close friends,” Jessica said.

Trey grinned. “Close enough that I put a ring on her finger.”

Jessica gasped. “You’re engaged! Oh wow! So, Cinderella got her Prince Charming. By any chance, did you actually put that shoe on her foot when you found her?”

“I did, and it’s hanging in a shadow box at the lodge now. A reminder to the both of us how random life can be, and how blessed we are.”

“I love stories with happy endings,” Jessica said. “What’s next for Trey Austin, now that you’ve outed yourself?”

“A little travel now and then for Vyjack Productions. Continue working on the new novel in progress, and whatever my Marley wants and needs.”

“I couldn’t help but notice that charming picture behind you of the pretty blond sitting on Santa’s lap. Is that her?”

“That’s her. My own personal guardian angel.”

“So, what do your parents think about your work?”

Trey froze.

Jessica took a quick breath. The look he’d just given her was frightening. She’d been told not to mention his family, but she’d thought, nothing ventured, nothing gained, hoping for a little scoop about being the heir to Austin Enterprises.

Trey’s whole demeanor shifted. “They know nothing of what I do. They will likely be shocked by the news.”

It wasn’t the answer Jessica expected, and now there was dead air between them.

“Thank you for speaking with us tonight. We’ll be seeing more of you in the future,” she said, and then it faded back to the hosts at ET .

“Wow, who knew?” Kevin Frazier said. “The man flies under the radar for most of his adult life, and then look at how his life has changed, and all within the last few weeks!”

“I wouldn’t mind being his Cinderella. He’s a handsome, charming man,” Nischelle said, and then the show went to commercial.

***

Gloria and Anders were in shock, and their phones were already buzzing with text messages they were already ignoring.

“I can’t believe it! I own three of those books. My own son wrote them, and I never dreamed. Oh my God! Vyjack Productions! All twelve books optioned. But why on earth did he keep all this a secret?” she cried.

“Because everyone would have assumed I’d bought his way into the business,” Anders said.

“If you’d known he wanted to do this, would you have done that?” she asked.

He sighed. “Probably.”

“Why?” Gloria asked.

“I wouldn’t have believed he had the skill to do it on his own. I wouldn’t have wanted failure of any kind associated with me. He did the right thing. Again. Despite us.”

“Well, I’m excited,” Gloria said.

Anders sighed. “Fine, be happy for him. But we don’t take credit for anything. We never saw this skill in him. We don’t have a relationship with him. Don’t claim one now. Don’t take the shine from his star. It’s his alone.”

Gloria blinked, and then her eyes welled. “Of course. For a moment, I was so wrapped up in the news that I forgot. We never talked about him before. We don’t have the right to do it now.”

Anders nodded.

“Are you going to call and congratulate him?” Gloria asked.

“You saw the look on his face at the end of the interview when the woman mentioned us. What do you think?”

“I think, no,” Gloria said. “So, what do we do about all the texts we’ve been getting?”

“Ignore them. We don’t owe anyone explanations for our personal lives.”

Gloria nodded. “You’re right. We don’t.”

***

The moment the interview ended, Meredith’s guests began congratulating her and quizzing her on how she’d managed to keep his identity secret.

“I just did what I promised and said nothing to anyone. I never even told a soul that Chapel Hill was my client. The publisher knew I spoke for Chapel Hill, and they wanted to keep him with their house, so they didn’t push the issue,” Meredith said.

“What’s he like?” one editor asked.

“The nicest, sweetest man on the face of the earth,” Meredith said.

“Have you met Marley Corbett?”

Meredith shook her head. “Not yet. But I’m invited to the wedding…whenever that happens.”

“What’s the deal about not communicating with his parents?” one of the agents asked.

“I don’t talk about his personal business. I just honor his decisions,” Meredith said. “Come! Eat up. Who wants more wine?”

***

As soon as the interview ended, Trey turned off the TV. “So, what did you think?”

Marley was beaming. “I think you were marvelous. I think a million women are going to fall in love with you. I think your book sales are going to skyrocket. I think you snuck my Santa picture into the background. What do you think?”

“I’m all for the rocketing book sales, and I suspect you’ll never have an unrented guest room again,” he said.

“That won’t hurt my feelings. If business becomes all that, I might have to hire more help,” she said.

“And maybe sneak in a quick weekend trip with me when I have to travel?” he said.

“Maybe so,” Marley said. “It would be a delight to ride your coattails. This calls for a celebration. I have a bottle of champagne that I’ve been saving for something special. I think this is it!”

She left on the run and came back the same way, with two champagne flutes in one hand and a chilled bottle of champagne in the other.

“Would you do the honors?” she asked as she handed him the bottle.

Trey did the deed. The bottle opened with a pop and then bubbled over.

She squealed, then laughed as Trey poured the bubbly liquid into their flutes, then handed one to her before picking up his own.

“To Chapel Hill, and to the genius behind the stories. To Trey,” Marley said as she raised her glass.

“And to us,” Trey said.

“To us!” she echoed.

They were still sipping and talking when Marley’s phone rang. She glanced down, then answered.

“Hello, Wanda, I’m putting this on speaker. Trey and I are celebrating.”

“Oh, my freaking word!” Wanda said. “Huge congratulations to you, Trey! What a wonderful opportunity. And movies! I can’t wait! Here’s Jack. He wants to say something, too.”

“Trey, we’re real proud of you and so happy for you and Marley,” Jack said.

“Thank you both for having faith in me from the beginning and trusting me with your girl,” he said.

“See you both tomorrow,” Wanda said.

“Tomorrow,” Marley said, and disconnected.

At that moment, headlights swept across the room. The guests who’d gone into the city for dinner were returning. Moments later, the two couples came in laughing and talking and headed for one of the seating areas at the fireside.

They saw the champagne and Trey and Marley’s smiles. “Celebrating tonight?” one of them asked.

“Indeed,” Trey said. “There’s plenty here to share. How about a champagne nightcap?”

“Oh, what fun. We’d love to.”

“I’ll get the glasses,” Marley said, and bolted, then came back with four more.

Trey poured, and they finished off the bottle with Trey and Marley, without knowing what the celebration was all about.

Hours later, the last guest had returned to the lodge and Marley was locking up behind him.

“Sleep well,” she said as he headed up to his room.

“Thank you,” he said, then paused and turned around. “This place is magic. It’s so low-key and comfortable. What a gift it is that you get to wake up to this every morning.”

“Thank you,” Marley said, but the man was already up the stairs and headed to his room. She waited until she heard him close his door, and then she turned out the last overhead light, leaving the lodge bathed in soft, blue night-lights, and went to join Trey, locking the door to the family quarters behind her.

She could hear the deep rumble of his voice down the hall and guessed he was on the phone. She paused in their kitchen long enough to get a bottle of water and then carried it with her to the bedroom.

Even as she was getting in the bath and sinking down into the bubbles, she heard the voice.

And so it begins.

The big reveal had forever changed their world. Trey’s fans and followers would be coming. She needed to be ready for the onslaught, and the first thing to come down the next morning was the Christmas tree.

All four of them, Marley and Trey, Jack and Wanda were busy packing up the precious memories and putting them back in the attic.

Another snowy mountain Christmas marked as done.