Rocky Mountain Holiday (To Love Again Book 4)
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Authors: Kate Fargo
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY
To Love Again - Book 4
Kate Fargo
Rocky Mountain Holiday
Copyright
©
2015 by Kate Fargo
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons or organizations, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use”, without the express written permission of the author.
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~ ~ ~
This book is dedicated to all the Issy’s I have known,
Who were courageous enough to take a leap of faith,
And who - against all odds - were willing to love again.
~ ~ ~
DECEMBER 24 ~ NIGHT
“Is it snowing there?”
She glanced out the window. “Lightly. There?”
“No, it’s clear. And brittle cold.”
“I could warm you up …” she teased.
“How will you do that from there?”
“Mmmm, let me think … I could tell you a story …”
“Like the story you made me tell you in the Jeep?”
She giggled. “Don’t make me think of that right now.”
“Why not? You’re alone, right?”
“Yes, but, I’ll never be able to sleep if I starting thinking about that.”
“I can’t wait to see you. Only four more sleeps.”
“That sounds like forever,” she sighed.
“I know, but you have work to do. And tomorrow?”
“Going to dinner with Jenny where the girls are staying. You?”
“My nieces and nephews will all be up by five or six.”
“I remember those Christmas mornings. Can’t say I miss them.”
“I miss you.”
The silence enveloped her in the dim light of her room. She closed her eyes and imagined him next to her. “I miss you, too.”
“What would we do without the phone?”
“I don’t know. I hate to think how much time we’ve spent on the phone the last few weeks.”
“Not enough.”
“Never enough,” she agreed.
“I have some surprises in store for you when I get there.”
“You do? Maybe I have some surprises in store for you, too.”
He laughed softly. “We better say goodnight. I just wanted to be first to wish you Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you, too.”
“I can’t wait to see you.”
“Me, either.” She listened to him breathing over the line. The connection between them palpable. She didn’t want to break it, but it was time to hang up. “Good night, Tray.”
“Merry Christmas, baby.”
DECEMBER 25 ~ AFTERNOON
“The snow is right on schedule,” said Jenny as they hurried along Main Street. “I feel like there should be a film crew somewhere - maybe the sequel to Miracle on 34th Street.”
“It’s breathtaking,” Isabel said. Every storefront was decked out in lights and festive decorations. Against the back-drop of the snow-capped peaks, the village looked spectacular. “I hope they’re not planning an early dinner. I don’t think I can eat again for a few hours.”
The hood of Jenny’s jacket moved, indicating a nod from deep inside. Isabel felt like the Michelin man. They were bundled up - hats, mittens, scarves, the works. The party was only a couple of blocks away, but in this cold it seemed like forever. “Brunch was delicious, but I’m stuffed, too,” agreed Jenny. “I’m sorry the girls didn’t get to join us.”
“You think they wanted to come?” Isabel laughed. “I’m pretty sure one of them has a crush on Barbie’s older brother. They were delighted to be off the hook for this morning. Still … it’s the first Christmas morning I’ve spent without them. They’re growing up.”
“They’re great kids, Issy.” She turned right onto a side street. “This one? Shit, it’s cold. What number is it?”
“I’m guessing the one with the waving Santa at the end of the walk?” Isabel pointed across the street and a few doors down. The driveway was filled with cars, their owners milling about behind the picture window at the front of the house.
It was a beautiful house. Like a gingerbread house come-to-life or a Swiss chalet dropped into the center of the mountain township. But, in Banff, it didn’t look out of place.
Jenny bowed to the almost life-size plastic Santa as they started up the walk and they both laughed. “Jean, right?” she asked, as she pushed the doorbell.
“And Josh,” Isabel nodded, stamping her feet on the Welcome mat.
The door opened and a blast of warm air, music and the sound of people laughing greeted them.
“Merry Christmas,” smiled Josh. “Come in out of the cold.”
They stepped into the foyer and, in between shrugging out of coats, were welcomed by Josh who called Jean in from the kitchen.
“I’m so glad you could make it,” said Jean. “Barbie was thrilled to be able to have Karin and Shelly here for the holidays.”
Isabel nodded. “The twins were delighted, too. Our kids are growing up.”
“Not too fast, I hope,” said Jean, passing their coats over to Josh who headed down the hallway with them.
“I think you’ll know a lot of people here,” Jean said, nodding toward the group in the front room. “First though, let me introduce you to my cousin, Billy. You remember me talking about him, right, Isabel? He’s also a therapist, up in Smith Falls.” She lowered her voice. “His wife left him this summer.”
The last thing Isabel needed was to be set up on Christmas Day but she reluctantly followed along behind her hostess. She glanced back at Jenny, who rolled her eyes just as Josh returned to take her over to the drink table.
There were probably 20 people in different groupings in the large open concept living and dining area. Young, old, even younger and even older. Many of them were clearly family, plus - like her - family of the kids. Isabel recognized Barbie’s grandparents, who she’d met a number of times at school plays and sporting events. They were relaxing on the sofa chatting with another older couple. The man looked identical to Josh and she guessed them to be his parents.
In the corner, she spotted Jean’s sister and brother-in-law talking with a tall, ruddy complexioned man built like a football player. Beefy but all brawn. Handsome in a rugged way. Maybe being set up wouldn’t be a complete waste of time - he was exactly Jenny’s type. She caught her eye across the room. Jenny gaped and mouthed “Wow.”
“And this,” said Jean, stopping in front of a lean man whose demeanor said sadness was a country he inhabited full-time, “is my cousin Billy.”
Isabel extended her hand and Billy smiled widely as he shook it. “Of course, you must be Isabel. Jean hasn’t stopped threatening to introduce me to you since I arrived.”
They both laughed, despite the look of horror that swept over Jean’s face. Isabel was grateful to have the mood lightened.
“Well,” Jean sputtered, dis-armed but quickly composing herself, “you’re both therapists. I’m sure you’ll find something in common. Maybe you can figure out why I’m always matchmaking.” With a wry smile, she moved across the room to speak to her parents.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “By the way, most people outside the family call me Will.”
“You prefer Will?”
“Lord, yes, Billy makes me feel like a sailor with a peg leg. Or a clumsy boy with short pants and skinned knees, which is how my family still sees me, I guess.”
Isabel chuckled again and thought perhaps she’d been too hasty in her assessment of Will. He might have an air of sadness around him, but he was quick-witted and self-deprecating. A quality she always found endearing.
“You drive down from Smith Falls?” she asked.
Nodding, he said, “Wild. A complete white-out through the pass and we were stranded over three hours while they cleared a small avalanche.”
“Don’t you love traveling in the mountains during winter? Always a challenge.”
“If by challenge you mean dangerous, then yes, I agree,” he said.
“You came down on your own?”
“My sons are with me. They’re about the same age as Barbie and your daughters. They seem like nice girls.”
“Thanks.” Her glance swept the room, wondering where her daughters were.
“They’re all up in the family room playing World of Warcraft, or maybe Call of Duty,” he said, reading her mind. “Was Jean so anxious to get you to me that you didn’t have time to get a drink? Let me fix that right now. White wine okay?”
“Perfect, thanks.”
With that, he headed in the direction of the table set up as a bar in the far corner.
“Well?” asked Jenny, suddenly appearing beside her. “Did you meet the infamous cousin?”
“He seems nice,” she shrugged. “And just as horrified as me to be set-up.”
“I thought she was taking you over to that hunk in the corner,” Jenny winked. “He might be able to give Tray a run for his money.”
Isabel laughed. “That’s not going to happen. Anyway, he looks more like your type. Want me to introduce you?”
“Of course, but … I’ve been watching him. I think the woman joined to his hip is probably his wife.”
“The good ones are always taken,” she said. “Too bad, maybe you could have skied with him.”
“Don’t worry about me. Remember Barry? My neighbor who was with Tray at The Shore that night.”
“Sure, your friend the cop.”
“I ran into him at the coffee shop yesterday. He’s here for the week, too. We’ll probably ski together.”
“That’s great,” she said. “I feel like I’m bailing on you a little.”
“Just focus on the deadline for your book. We’ll ski together later in the week,” Jenny said. “Don’t worry. If I don’t see Barry, I’m sure to run into people I know on the hill.”
Isabel nodded and followed her friend’s gaze across the room to the tall man laughing at something the woman had said. Jenny shrugged her shoulders.
Isabel changed the subject. “This is a lot of people to feed for dinner. I hope they have a big bird.”
“Josh told me they’re cooking a twenty-pounder, plus a small goose
and
a ham.”
“We won’t go hungry. I better say hi to the girls. Let Will know I’ll be back in a bit?”
“You bet,” said Jenny.
Isabel circled back to the foyer and headed up the stairs.
~~~
Dinner was delicious. Somehow, Josh and Jean had managed to seat everyone at the same table. It was almost twenty feet long and stretched from one end of the living room to the other. After dinner, there was a small gift exchange where numbers were drawn and people got to choose from the tree or from the other guests. Isabel had lost her gift three times, but, in the end, had unwrapped a beautiful hand-made scarf.
Following the gift exchange, things slowed down while people chatted quietly over coffee and desert trays that seemed to have no end. It all looked delicious but she couldn’t stuff another bite in. On the far side of the room, Jenny had been pinned down by a tall, bearded man in a tweed jacket with elbow patches. Isabel had spent her time chatting with Will and hadn’t touched base with her since before the meal.