Chapter 6

Chapter Six

The next afternoon, Elle hobbled into the music room at the inn only to find Kate and her sister’s best friend, Jane, already ensconced there.

“Hey. This is my hiding place,” she complained.

“You have a built-in excuse to get out of decorating today,” Kate pointed out. “You don’t need a hiding place.”

The Friday after Thanksgiving was traditionally the day Elle’s mom finished decking out the inn for the Christmas holiday. The male McAlisters were assigned the outdoor duties of stringing lights and tying bows among the greenery draped along the wraparound veranda. Elle’s mom, her daughters and daughters-in-law took care of the public rooms. Elle’s mom and Lori were decorating the fifteen-foot tree in the grand salon. Since Jane was dating Ryan, she’d likely been conned into helping, too.

Except it was always Elle’s job to unpack and arrange the dozens of nutcrackers throughout the music room. Every year, she’d blast Tchaikovsky and move the wooden soldiers as if they were dancing the ballet. She was looking forward to having the room to herself today so she could mope in peace.

Aside from a quick text last night asking how she felt, she hadn’t talked to Hayden. Not that she knew what she would say to him. She was still trying to come to terms with his over-the-top reaction yesterday.

“How’s the ankle?” Kate asked.

Elle plopped down on the piano bench. “Better. The swelling is almost gone.”

“Continue to take it easy today,” Kate advised.

“Sure,” Elle replied absently as she took in the martini glasses and bottles of liquors spread out on the side table between the two women. “Are you day drinking?”

Jane chuckled. “That would be somewhat irresponsible since I have patients this afternoon. Although it might make things a lot more enjoyable.” Her brother’s girlfriend was a top-notch physical therapist in Chances Inlet.

“We are trying to decide which martini to make for the cocktail-making contest tomorrow night at the ugly sweater party,” Kate explained.

“The peppermint martini was a favorite at the bridal shower we had for Ginger and Lori last Christmas.” Jane held up a glass filled with a frothy white liquid. Its rim was dusted with crushed candy canes.

“But it was the gingerbread martini that got our girl here tipsy enough to finally do something about her feelings for our brother Ryan.” Kate wiggled her eyebrows. “We didn’t see either of them for daaayyys . Maybe we should call it the horny-tini?”

Jane hopped to her feet. “We are not calling it that. Besides the peppermint one is easier to make. I’m sure we can win with it.” She checked her watch. “I have to get back. Come by the clinic tomorrow morning, Elle. I’ll work on that ankle with some heat therapy,” she offered. “That will help with any residual inflammation.”

“Or you could get Hayden to kiss it,” Kate suggested. “That would certainly make your boo-boo all better.”

Elle snatched the peppermint martini from Jane’s hand. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said before taking a sip. She had to give her sister props. The drink was a winner.

Jane patted her chest right over her heart. “It wasn’t ridiculous. It was romantic.”

“There was nothing romantic about it. We’re just friends,” Elle insisted before taking another sip. Anything to get her through this conversation.

“If you say so.” Jane waved as she left the room.

Kate remained quiet as she piled all the ingredients on a tray. A silent Kate was never a good sign. Meanwhile, Elle enjoyed the rest of the martini. Why not? It wasn’t as if she was able to do much else.

“How are you sleeping?” her sister asked eventually.

“Fine,” Elle lied. Not only was she stressed about Hayden, but her nightmares had returned to torment her. There was no point in telling her sister she’d slept in her clothes the night before.

“Hmm.”

Elle grew defensive. “I’m not your patient.”

“No. You aren’t. But you are my little sister. And I care about you.”

Kate was the family champion at dropping guilt bombs.

“I know. And I appreciate you. I really do. I’m handling it, though,” Elle said.

“Did you talk to someone like I recommended?”

“I read some articles. Like I said, I’m handling it.”

Elle couldn’t meet her sister’s eyes. She shifted her gaze to the big, mullioned windows with their view of the lawn where her brothers laughed together while they arranged the light-up deer in obscene positions.

Kate tsked, obviously following her gaze. “You’d think they were still in middle school.”

“Speaking of annoying man-children, have you seen West?”

The reporter was invited to join the family for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, but he declined. Of course, her mother delivered a tray to his suite later that evening. As far as Elle knew he was still up there. She said a little prayer that he was working on his manuscript.

“He left about an hour ago. Paige was giddy that he’d agreed to do a reading for the kids today. Of course, whatever he reads will pale compared to my husband’s rendition of The Polar Express .”

“Most certainly,” Elle said, her tongue firmly in her cheek.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think West is sleeping well, either.”

It took Elle a moment to process her sister’s left-field comment. “Why do you say that?”

Kate reached down and gently traced a finger beneath one of Elle’s eyes. “You both have the same telltale battle scars.” She moved her hand back to the tray she was balancing awkwardly. “But you’ll be delighted to hear that Mom said West was hammering away at his keyboard in the study all morning.”

Elle let out a long sigh of relief. Finally.

“You want to come to town to listen to my husband’s melodic voice as he reads to the kids?” Kate asked.

“Nah. My doctor told me to rest my ankle today.”

“Suit yourself. Enjoy your alone time with the nutcrackers.”

When Kate left, she dug through the plastic bins to find her favorite. A bagpiper. She fingered the pompom on his Glengarry hat.

“Oh, Daddy,” she sighed. “Why is life so complicated?”

After no epiphany was forthcoming from her father, she pulled out her phone, swiped it to her music, tapped on The Nutcracker ballet and reacquainted herself with her old friends.

The bell above the door jingled when Everett stepped inside Knotical. He wasn’t sure what possessed him to visit the knit shop again. It certainly wasn’t because he’d spied Kitty through the window when he’d left the bookstore. At least, that was what he told himself.

“Mr. West.”

Kitty’s warm smile had him smiling like a loony in return.

“Welcome back. Is there something special you’re looking for today?” she asked.

You.

The thought hit him squarely in the solar plexus. The woman had occupied his mind for the past two days. When she’d waved at him as he ran by the store during yesterday’s race, his steps had grown much lighter. His vision clearer.

Until the guilt set in.

Along with it came a painful stitch in his side that had him pulling up and returning to the inn to hide out and lick his wounds. He’d wrestled with his emotions until he thought he had them under control enough to return to the bookstore today.

But then he’d laid eyes on her again.

And, frankly, he was damn tired of waiting for a ghost.

“In fact, there is something special you can help me out with today.” He clasped his hands behind his back and rocked back on his heels. “I was wondering if you could show me where I can find a slice of pizza in this town. I’ve been out of New York City for three days, and I’m starting to have withdrawal.”

She curled in her lips as she seemed to ponder his question. Just when he thought he’d totally misread her friendliness, she rewarded him with another one of those breath-stealing smiles.

“You know, I was thinking that pizza sounded good for dinner myself. Claire,” she called into the back room. “I’m taking my dinner break. I’ll be back in time for the Christmas Bazaar meeting in an hour.”

Kitty didn’t wait for her sister’s response before swiping her jacket off a hook by the counter and hurrying to the door where Everett stood waiting.

“It’s not exactly New York pizza, but the Slice and Sip is as close as you get here in North Carolina.”

Everett didn’t care if the pizza tasted like cardboard. As long as he spent time with this beautiful creature who had captivated his imagination for the past forty-eight hours, his hunger would be satiated.

They strolled across the town square, the white Christmas lights of the gazebo beginning to sparkle as dusk fell. The storefronts all boasted fresh wreaths on their doors and poinsettias in the windows. The scent of a wood fire burning nearby filled the air.

“This place is remarkable. I almost feel as if I’m inside a giant holiday snow globe,” Everett remarked.

Kitty laughed. “It’s pretty special.”

“Have you always lived here?”

“Oh gosh, no. Claire and I grew up in Virginia. When Claire’s husband got out of the military, he wanted to start his dental practice in a small town. Coincidentally, a neighbor of his parents wanted someone to take over his dental office here in Chances Inlet and voilà. Tim and Claire ended up back in the town where he grew up. After all, it is the home of second chances.” She gestured to the mural painted on the side of a building proclaiming as much. “She’s been here thirty-five years. I visited often. Especially for holidays.” She gestured. “I mean, come on?”

He nodded. “The only thing missing is snow.”

She shivered. “I got plenty of that in Maine. My husband and I ran an art studio in Kennebunkport. He was a gifted painter.”

“Was?” The journalist in him couldn’t leave well enough alone. Thankfully, Kitty didn’t seem to mind his gentle probing.

“Mm-hmm.” Her smile was wistful but sad. “Yes. I lost him three years ago. Parkinson’s. It was a long goodbye.”

Jealousy clawed at his chest. What he would have given for a chance to say goodbye.

Kitty seemed to sense his sudden mood change and shifted a bit closer. “I confess to having googled you last night. You lost someone dear to you, too.”

He swallowed the boulder in his throat. “I did. Two years ago. At Christmas, in fact.”

She slipped her arm through his. “They keep telling me it’s going to get easier.”

“Didn’t you know? Everybody lies.”

The Tide Me Over Inn’s kitchen was bumping again that evening. Elle’s mother hosted breakfast with Santa every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The money from the tickets went to a local youth center sponsored by one of the town’s favorite sons who was a professional football player. The event had become a huge draw since being featured in a national magazine a few years earlier.

Elle tried to stay out of the way as she fixed herself a turkey sandwich for dinner.

“I hope you don’t need an extra Santa tomorrow,” Ryan McAlister said to his mother. “Jane and I have a few things we need to get done while Henry is occupied here.”

Their brother Gavin snorted as he poured half a bag of chips onto his plate. “Uh-huh. I think we all know what things will be getting done .”

Tatum snickered from across the room where she prepared the dough for her cinnamon rolls. Lois joined in from the coffee bar, where she was putting together the urns for the peppermint hot cocoa the kids would enjoy at the breakfast.

“Boys, please.” Their mother held up a hand as she navigated her mouse over her computer screen with her other one. “I have enough on my plate without having to hear all the details about your sex lives. None of these ads are serving. Dammit.”

The three siblings looked at one another. Their mother rarely swore.

“What ads, Mom?” Elle set her plate down next to the desk where her mom sat.

“These stupid social media ads. I have no idea what I’m doing. No one is clicking on them.”

“What’s with everyone in this town and social media ads?” Elle asked. “Bernice and Paige both mentioned the same issue the other day.”

“It’s because we don’t have a local paper anymore. Or a local magazine,” her mom complained. “We have no place to advertise except social media. And every time I figure something out, they change it up. It’s so frustrating that it’s the only way to promote a business nowadays.”

“Tell me about it,” Tatum added. “I used to always include a coupon in my print ads. It brought a lot of visitors from the beach houses on the island during the summer. Now, I’m lucky if they find me when they come into town on a rainy day.”

“Those dadgum computers are too complicated for me,” Lois grumbled. “Give me a good old-fashioned cash register and a newspaper. Now it’s all about those crazy tablets you have to touch all the time.” She shook her head. “Is that even sanitary?”

Elle waved her mother away from the computer. “Here’s your problem. You need a better image. And a stronger call to action.”

“A what?” Lois asked.

“Never mind. Can I play with this? This is right in my wheelhouse. I have some ideas.”

“Knock yourself out. I’m sure you’ll do a better job.” She leaned down and kissed her daughter on the head. “I have to make ten dozen cookies tonight anyway.”

“Let me know when you’re ready for some quality control taste testing,” Ryan offered.

“Both of you, out,” their mother ordered. “If any cookies are left tomorrow you may have one.”

Ryan grumbled under his breath. “Come on, Gav. Let’s go get a burger at Pier Pressure.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Gavin tipped the bag of potato chips into his mouth.

“Seriously?” Elle said. “You’ve been eating nonstop for an hour now.”

“I worked outside all day,” her brother replied. “What can I say? Fresh air makes me hungry.”

“Everything makes you hungry. You’re as bad as your dog,” Ryan joked as the two strolled out of the kitchen door.

“If you’re looking for something to keep you busy while Mr. West is writing, Elle, I could use a little tutorial on how to get more clicks on my ads,” Tatum said. “I’ll pay you.”

Elle uploaded a few images from her mother’s photos as she quickly came up with copy for several ads. “It’s really easy once you know the basics,” she told Tatum. “You can pay me in those rum balls you make. It isn’t Christmas without one. Or ten.”

“Ooo, it sure smells good in here.” Livi glided into the kitchen wearing a pair of Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots and a cashmere sweater dress. Its berry color highlighted the gold in her brown eyes. Her blond hair was gathered in a neat bun at the back of her head.

Not that Elle really noticed. She only had eyes for the man standing behind Livi. Hayden was dressed equally impressive in gray wool slacks and a black blazer. Beneath it was a crisp white shirt opened at the neck.

The same neck she’d wanted to taste the day before.

“Are you two going out?” her mother, Captain Obvious, asked.

Livi linked her arm through Hayden’s. “I’m taking Hayden up to Wilmington. My client is in town. He’s invited us to dinner before we head over to the island to inspect the site tomorrow.”

He invited “us” to dinner? When had Livi and Hayden become an “us”? More particularly, an “us” who gets invited to business dinners.

You told him to go for her the other night , she admonished herself. You told him they looked good together.

And, damn, did they look good together. If she thought he was sexy in a work-stained T-shirt and worn blue jeans the other night, he was freaking breathtaking tonight. He looked very urbane. Very suited for a fancy dinner in a cosmopolitan setting. Like New York City, even.

She dusted the crumbs off her hands onto her worn leggings.

“How’s the ankle, Elle?” he asked, his tone once again aloof.

“Good,” she replied with a nod because, honestly, she didn’t trust her voice not to squeak with frustration.

“Oh, you poor thing,” Livi said. “Make sure you keep it elevated tonight. You don’t want to miss the ugly sweater party tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I’ll probably pass.”

Livi put her hand on her hip. “Elle, you aren’t going to let that sour puss Mr. West ruin your holiday, are you? He can’t make you work every hour of the day. Promise you’ll come tomorrow. I’ll sit with you. That way, you won’t feel left out when everyone is dancing. Please?”

Elle wanted to scream. Why did Livi have to be so flipping nice? She avoided meeting Hayden’s gaze. “I’ll think about it.”

“Yay!” Livi pulled away from Hayden to give Elle’s neck a squeeze. “It’ll be fun. You’ll see.”

“We should get going if we are going to make it to Wilmington on time,” Hayden said.

“Night all.” Livi waved.

Hayden helped her drape a gorgeous Christmas plaid wrap over her shoulders. Livi smiled up at him with a worshipful expression as they walked to the inn’s foyer. The rest of the kitchen was silent until the front door closed.

“That was . . . sweet,” Tatum said.

“Any sweeter and we’d have a mouth full of cavities,” Lois murmured.

“Now, ladies, she’s a lovely young woman,” Elle’s mother scolded. “And it’s about time Hayden had someone interested in him. Isn’t that right, Elle?”

The turkey sandwich was as dry as dust in Elle’s mouth. She took a long sip of water. “Um, yeah, of course. Mom, is it okay if I take your laptop up to my room and work on this?”

“Have at it, my love.”

Elle scooped up the computer and limped toward the backstairs. Tatum quickly stepped in front of her.

“You’re going tomorrow night,” the other woman announced, her tone brooking no argument.

Elle tossed out the only excuse she could think of. “I don’t have an ugly Christmas sweater.”

Tatum blinked. “No worries. I have three you can choose from.”

“I have a couple she can try,” Lois offered.

“No!” Elle’s mom and Tatum shouted at the same time.

Elle looked from Tatum to her mother.

“Lois’ sweaters are NSFW,” her mother explained.

“They aren’t that bad,” the older woman argued.

Tatum groaned. “Really? Last year’s had Santa’s anatomically correct jingle balls.”

“Like you’ve seen Santa’s good parts to know if they were anatomically correct.” Lois slammed a lid onto one of the urns.

Elle had to laugh. It was either that or cry. She loved these people and this town so much. One person more than everyone else. Too bad that one person only thought of her as a friend. At least, she hoped he still did.

“Bring the sweaters when you come for the breakfast tomorrow,” she told Tatum. “I’ll look over your social media then, too.”

“Atta girl,” her mother said.