Page 41 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“Okay, you have your evidence. Now let’s get out of here before we’re found snooping,” Will said, pacing by the door. Juliet enjoyed seeing him unsettled – nervous, even. It made a change from her being the one driven up the wall.
“You can leave. I’ll be downstairs in a minute.” She carefully folded the photocopy into her back pocket before putting the documents back and sealing the safe, only to hesitate when she spotted a red envelope dated before her grandfather’s response to her mom.
“You shouldn’t take any originals in case your father checks when he gets home,” Will warned.
“I’ll return it before he comes back,” Juliet reasoned, but the way his eyes darted to the letter made her think that he didn’t want her reading it.Did Mom warn him to conceal certain letters?She didn’t care either way; shehadto know what her mom had written to her grandfather before deciding to give her up for good.
Before Will could argue, they both froze at voices in the hallway.
“Did you hear something?” Diana’s voice was barely audible through the thick door. With Will distracted, Juliet slipped the red envelope into her back pocket.
“Maybe Dad came back early?” Beth suggested.
Their footsteps grew louder as Will and Juliet stared at each other in horror.
“Mr Frost?” Diana knocked on the door to the office. The doorknob turned.
Before Juliet could think, Will wrapped his arms around her.
“What are you—?” But she didn’t get to finish her sentence before the room around them melted away.
Instead of being greeted with Diana’s questioning gaze, Juliet found herself standing in a library surrounded by narrow shelves.Not again!she grumbled to herself.
The terrifying part wasn’t whereshe was, but that she was alone. Her heart hammered as she searched row after row of books for Will with no luck. She leaned over the wooden balcony to see if he was on the floor below, but all she saw were readers perusing shelves, unaware about her freak-out.
She tried to call him, but her phone wouldn’t connect; Yule clearly wasn’t part of her phone plan. Shouting his name through the library might work, but wouldn’t be the most subtle option.
Eventually she decided to make her way down a winding staircase decorated with garlands in hope of finding him. A large Christmas tree stood behind the reception desk, decorated with huge, sparkling ornaments which, on closer inspection, were books. Engraved in the wall behind several staff members organising carts of books was a sign that proclaimedLibrary of Yule.
Wandering off last time was a mistake, so if I stay put, he might find me?Juliet didn’t have much of a choice.If he doesn’t turn up in the next few hours, then I’ll find my way to his place.She was only wearing a thin cardigan, so going outside was the last thing she wanted. Luckily, she was wearing her boots.
Taking a seat at one of the long tables lit by antique lamps, she removed the red envelope from her back pocket.It looked like it’d been crumpled up more than once. Her desire to know the truth, to know what Will wanted to keep from her when he’d already revealed so much, won over her need to protect herself.
Mr Frost,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well. I promised to stop all communication with your son, and I have. As a guardian of Yule, I’m ashamed to admit to the part I played in my relationship with your son. I won’t pretend that I didn’t know any better, but I loved your son as I love my daughter, who is now in your care. The council of Yule and Mr Klaus have agreed to allow me to keep my position and to spare the Heart name the shame of my actions. However, I hope you’ll understand as a parent yourself why I’ve opened a petition with the council of Yule to grant me custody of Juliet. I need you to support my petition, otherwise I will not be allowed to have any contact with my daughter for the next twenty-six years in accordance with legacy laws. I know I’m in no position to ask for your help, but for the sake of Juliet’s happiness, I’m asking for your assistance.
Thank you for taking care of her while I can’t. I understand if you need time to consider, but I beg of you to help me reunite with my daughter. Again, I apologise for the hurt my actions have caused your family.
Eloise Heart
Juliet wipedthe tears from her cheeks and placed the letter back in the envelope.Twenty-six years… This confirms why Mom sent Will now. This legacy law came into effect.She wasn’t surprised her grandfather hadn’t helped Eloise with the petition, but to know her mom had tried to fight for her told Juliet she had never been just a mistake to be forgotten. Still, for a moment she was relieved never to have known this. Over twenty years of waiting would’ve been an unbearable pain.
“Excuse me.” A guy in his late teens tapped her on the shoulder. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I wanted to ask if you were alright. I was studying at the table across from you and noticed you crying.”
Embarrassed to have made a scene, Juliet tucked the envelope in her pocket and out of sight. “Sorry if I disturbed you– I’m fine. Just got a little choked up. Family stuff.” She wiped her eyes, making sure there was no trace of smudged mascara.
“The holidays can be emotional; can I help at all? I noticed you searching different rows. I wasn’t watching you or anything, I was just procrastinating studying and wondered if you were looking for something?” He ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair as it flopped over his eyes.
“I was, but I couldn’t find it,” Juliet admitted, knowing she wasn’t supposed to be talking to anyone. She didn’t want to reveal that Will was the ‘it’.
“Okay. Sorry again for disturbing you.”
As he started to walk away, she noticed the Klaus name embroidered in gold thread on his black backpack. He might not be able to help her find Will, but what if he could help her find answers about her family’s past? It was someone in his family who’d written to her grandfather about upholding the Frost family’s banishment.
“Sorry.” She got up and followed him down the row. He paused, turning back to face her. “Actually, I’m doing some research on old families in Yule. Specifically, those who’ve been banished, and legacies,” she explained, taking a gamble in trusting a considerate stranger.
“Banishment records?” His brows pulled together as he thought it through, clutching his laptop to his chest. “They would be in the archives beneath the town hall, and you’d need permission from the council or the current Klaus to see them.”
