Mistletoe in Maine (8 page)

Daniel caught Amy’s eye and nodded toward the kitchen door. She smiled and followed after him as Beth watched the exchange. “Young love,” she said with a sigh after they had gone.

“Hmm,” Paul said, stroking his chin. “If you’ll excuse me a second…” He stood and walked to the kitchen door, swinging it open—just in time to spy Daniel and Amy, hand in hand, sneaking up the stairs. “I meant relax down here!”

They halted in their tracks, then eased back down the steps.

Beth stared at him with amazement. “Wow, you’re good,” she said when he came and sat beside her.

“I was young once.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I recall.”

Paul combated a rash of heat with a swig of wine. “Yeah, me too,” he said, surveying her with a tender melancholy.

“What is it?” she asked, seeming to note his wistful look.

“I was just remembering,” he said with a laugh, “when we got caught necking in your old man’s barn.”

“Oh God!” She giggled. “I thought I was going to be grounded for the rest of my life!”

“Back then, three weeks felt like the rest of our lives.”

She studied him sweetly then clinked his glass. “Good times.”

“Yeah.”

She studied him a beat, then set down her wine. “Paul, I’m not quite sure how to say this. But I want you to know that good times are possible again.”

“I’m sorry?” he asked with a cough.

“For you,” she said kindly. “Now, I know things have seemed glum, but there’s always a rainbow after every storm.”

“Beth? What on earth are you talking about?”

She lowered her voice and leaned forward. “Your mother told me about your…
depression.
”

“My what?”

“It’s all right. You don’t have to pretend with me.” She reached forward and took his hand. “I want you to know you have someone to talk to. I mean, I know it’s been a while, and things between us ended kind of badly—”

“Kind of…?” Paul withdrew his hand. “You left me for my best friend!”

She dropped her chin. “I know, and I feel terrible about that. But Jack was just so…hot!”

Paul blinked hard, wondering how this was helping things.

“It was high school, Paul.”

“Our freshman year in college, actually.”

“A million years ago and a billion miles away… A lot has changed since then.
I’ve
changed
.
”

“Yes, I’m sure you have. Time does that to us all. But”—he crooked a finger in her direction—“I have to tell you something.” She leaned toward him; then he said in a whisper, “I am…not…depressed.”

“What?” she asked with alarm.

“In fact, I have no idea why my mom would say that.”

“But she said you weren’t in your right mind! Were about to do something drastic!”

“Drastic?”

The kitchen door swung open, and Daniel looked from his dad to Beth, then back at his dad again. “I was just coming to grab some eggnog for me and Amy.”

“Daniel,” Paul said, lowering his voice. “Would you happen to have any clue how Velma got the notion I was down in the dumps?”

Daniel thumbed his chest with a blank look. “Dumps, Dad? No, sir. Not at all. Frankly, you’re looking pretty chipper to me!”

Paul narrowed his eyes at the boy, scrutinizing. “You didn’t mention anything to her? Nothing at all?”

Daniel scratched the back of his head, then spouted out with a squeak, “I might have said some little, tiny thing about you possibly selling the inn.” He swallowed hard. “And moving to Montreal.”

“Montreal?” Beth said as Daniel scooted off, apparently having forgotten all about his mission for eggnog.

Paul slowly stroked his chin, a bigger picture coming together. “I’m afraid I need to apologize for my mom. It appears we’ve been set up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Daniel spilled the beans to her about me leaving to retire in Canada. She obviously doesn’t want that happening any more than the kids do.”

“So when she saw me at the airport, she thought that I, somehow, was the solution?”

“Who knows what my mom thought. I am guessing, though, that she figured your being here might help me change my mind.”

“Because we have a history?”

He raised his brow. “Maybe because she thought we’d have a future.”

Beth caught her breath. “I have an admission to make.”

He looked at her.

“I still have feelings for Jack”

Paul paused a beat. “Does he know?”

Her shoulders sagged. “We’ve been talking. Texting back and forth. All this uncertainty has had me really on edge. I apologize if I’ve been crabby.”

“When do you plan to speak with him again?”

“He’s promised to call on Christmas Eve.”

“That’s great.”

All at once, she seemed fragile. “I hope so,” she said, wrapping her hands around her wine.

“I hope so too,” he said quietly. “Beth?” She raised her chin to look at him. “You’re still one terrific catch for the right guy. I’m sure Jack will see that.”

“Thanks, Paul. You’re still quite a catch yourself.

The tips of his ears flashed hot. “Oh yeah?” he said with a laugh.

“Something tells me Carol Baker thinks so.”

“Carol Baker’s one of my guests.”

“Oh, Paul,” she said, swatting his arm. “Don’t be such an old fuddy-duddy. Some chances only come around once, you know.”

Chapter Seven

Carol stood on the inn’s front porch, bundled in her coat, hat, and mittens. All around her, snow lightly fell, dotting the scenic landscape. The weather was predicted to get worse later, but right now, as dusk settled over the mountains, the setting seemed perfect. Almost like something from an old-fashioned Christmas card, complete with a…horse-drawn sleigh? The horses turned and headed up the hill in her direction. Their driver sat upright in the front seat, dressed in an old-timey winter coat and snow-dusted top hat. But wait! Was that Paul seated in back behind him?

Carol grinned with childlike delight as the sleigh, decorated in winter greenery and jingle bells, pulled up to the porch and Paul hopped out. He held out a hand to help her aboard. “I needed some fresh air too.”

“Oh, Paul, it’s wonderful,” she said, settling in. He opened a large woolen blanket to cover her, then sat beside her, tucking his legs under the blanket as well.

“Where to?” the driver asked them.

“Let’s take a pass through town and around the lake. Okay by you?” he asked Carol.

She felt her face warm. “Sounds like a dream.” She’d never had anyone do anything like this for her before. Something so nice and unexpected.

The driver snapped his reins, and they took off in a trot down the snowy slope. Paul pulled two insulated tumblers of hot chocolate from a basket on the floor and handed one to Carol. She took a sip, delighting in its rich, creamy warmth.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked with a grin.

He cocked his chin, studying her. “Well, I can’t have you suing me for landing you under the ski patrol hut, now can I?”

Carol laughed out loud. “That wasn’t your fault.”

“Maybe not,” he said, leaning close to talk through the chilly winds, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel guilty about it.”

“Well, don’t! Klutzing out was my doing entirely. I take full responsibility. I’ll even sign a waiver if you’d like.”

Paul chuckled and toasted her tumbler with his. “Something tells me that won’t be necessary.”

As they approached town, the winds picked up, and she shivered a little under the blanket. “A bit colder than you’re used to in Virginia?”

“More than a bit,” she said with a laugh.

“Ah,” he said, scooting a tad closer. “Maybe this will help.” He placed his sturdy arm around her, snuggling her close. Carol’s heart thumped wildly as she gazed up at this wonderful man. Down below, the town was strung with Christmas lights, the frozen lake in its center catching their magical glow. “I hope you don’t mind?” he asked her.

“No,” she said, a little breathless. “This feels nice.”

“I don’t normally take my guests sleigh riding, you know.”

She looked up into his dark brown eyes. “I didn’t figure you did.”

“I hope that you don’t feel that it’s wrong, unprofessional of me, to want to spend time with you this way.”

Nothing had ever felt more
right
in her entire life. Being here with Paul in this wonderful place was more fantastic than she ever could have imagined. “I don’t think it’s wrong for us to be together as friends.”

“Or make-believe neighbors?” he asked with a grin.

“Or that either.” Her chin was tilted up toward his, and Carol found herself wishing he would kiss her. It was a deep longing inside, and one she hadn’t felt for anyone in such a long while, she’d almost forgotten what this yearning was like.

“I hope you’re having a good time, Carol,” he said, his eyes dancing. “You and your kids too.”

“We’re having the best time,” she said. “In a way, it’s a miracle we came here, but I’m so glad we did after all.”

“What do you mean?”

“In truth? Maine wasn’t my first choice.”

He blinked in disbelief. “But why not? Just look around,” he said, sweeping his arm across their surroundings. “It’s a winter wonderland!”

“Yes, it is,” she said softly. “It’s just that, initially, I had our sights set on a vacation locale a little closer to home.”

“Oh? Where was that?”

“Asheville.”

“North Carolina? How far is that from where you live?”

“Only a couple of hours. A short drive. And,” she said with a sigh, “an economical one.”

“I don’t get it. What made you come here?”

The last person Carol wanted to think about on such a romantic afternoon was Jim. He’d been so cruel to her in so many ways, and there were too many hurts she was still getting past. Tears welled within her in spite of herself. She blinked, turning away.

“Carol?” Paul asked softly.

She turned back toward him and tried to keep her voice from breaking. It betrayed her by cracking pitifully anyway. “He found another girl, Paul,” she said as tears streaked from her eyes. “Someone younger and prettier, than me.”

Paul lightly stroked her cheek and gazed at her, his voice growing husky. “No one,” he said surely, “could be younger…or prettier…than you.” He stared at her deeply, and his perusal warmed her through and through. She’d never had a man look at her that way, like she was someone special, just as she was.

He settled back in his seat and tugged her up against him, making her feel safe and comforted in the wintery winds. As they paraded around the lake and through the town, they sat in silence, with only the steady
clip-clop, clip-clop
of the horses to keep them company. It was the perfect rhythm to accompany the beating of Carol’s heart. She’d never felt so removed from reality and yet so completely at home at the same time. It made her life in Virginia seem far away, and this world here very appealing. She settled her head on Paul’s shoulder, giving in to his comfort and strength, knowing this couldn’t last forever. She was just grateful to have experienced it once. Being treated so grandly by a marvelous man.

Later that evening, guests sat at elegant candlelit tables, enjoying their Christmas Eve meal. Amy cleared Zach’s and Velma’s dinner plates with a pleasant smile.

“I’ll be right back with dessert.”

“No dessert for me,” Velma proclaimed. “Pauly’s stew is always delicious. I couldn’t eat another bite!”

Amy shot a perplexed look at Zach, who immediately jumped in. “Come now, Mama Bear, surely you’ve got room for one more little thing?”

“Huh?”

“You really should try the trifle,” Daniel said, breezing by on his way into the kitchen for more coffee.

“Yes, the trifle is good,” Amy agreed.

“I’m partial to the chocolate mousse myself!” Beth called from across the way.

“Hmm, and the pumpkin pie is delicious,” Carol said.

“Very tasty,” Will chimed in.

“Extra good!” Ashley added.

Velma set down her napkin and eyed them all suspiciously. “Is something going on?” she asked slowly, turning her eyes back on Zach. He shrugged with the utmost look of innocence.

Everybody else just stared at her. “Well, okay!” she finally conceded. “I guess I’ll have dessert.”

There was a communal sigh of relief as everyone went back to their business. Seconds later, Paul arrived from the kitchen with something under a silver dome on a tray. “House special,” he said, setting it before her. “Compliments of the gentleman.”

Velma stared at Zach, agape. “You didn’t?”

He nodded smugly.

“You made me a coconut cream pie?”

“Huh?”

Her face warmed into a bright, beautiful grin, causing her to look several years younger. “I’m just teasing, you big hunk!”

All eyes were on them as Zach stood and lifted the dome’s lid. Underneath, a dark ring box sat open, exposing a pretty solitaire offset by emeralds. “The green reminded me of your eyes.

“Velma,” he said, taking her hand. She brought her other to her heart. “I don’t want to walk through the North Woods without you.”

The hush in the room was palpable as candles flickered and snow pinged against the windowpanes. Velma stared at Paul. “You were in on this?” He nodded. “Well, I suppose you told him I generally say no.”

Zach’s face fell as everyone’s heart broke for him.

“Except for this time!” she said, leaping up out of her chair and into his arms.

Carol tucked Ashley in, feeling giddy from the celebratory champagne. What a fun day it had been, right down to that wonderful surprise proposal at dinner. Though she hadn’t known them long, she felt so happy for Velma and Zach. They were clearly suited to each other and would serve each other well as partners and friends in the years to come. Carol wistfully thought of Paul carting that ring box out on a tray. For a moment, when she’d gazed at him, she’d imagined foolishly that he’d been bringing it for her. She’d known in advance it was for Velma. Paul had advised them all of the plan and enlisted their support. It was just hard not to pretend for one split second that a man might feel that forever way about her, then actually stick around to prove it. She even thought Paul had glimpsed her staring at him, and reddened, turning away. How silly he would think her for having such thoughts. Not that she’d ever, in a million years, share them.