Page 71 of Christmas at Cozy Holly Inn
The relief Julie felt at the reminder of how this all might have been canceled was palpable. “That was a Christmas miracle, for sure. But why all the secrecy while Gram and your grandfather were talking? What do you think they were saying?”
“Who knows? He wouldn’t tell me. But I know he felt a bit slighted that he’d never been invited to one of these parties.”
Julie groaned. “Then why not just say something? I’m sure Gram just thought he would be too stubborn to attend the party of a business rival. She’s never had a vendetta against him or anything, not that I know.”
Nolan raised his eyebrows. “I think they’re both too stubborn for their own good. Proud too.”
Julie smirked. “You may be right about that.”
Shifting position, Nolan turned his back on the gathering. With his attention fully on her, Julie felt a little self-conscious. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“But you know what really made the difference?You.”
Julie opened her mouth to protest that she hadn’t done anything.
Nolan held up a hand. “You,” he repeated. “And that picture you gave me. It really helped my dad to open up and let go of all that misery he’s been holding in. Gramps too.” Nolan swept a hand to a knot of people in the corner of the room. Stan was red-faced with laughter, and maybe from the punch too. “I haven’t seen him laugh like that in years. Maybe since before Mom’s diagnosis. And it never would have happened without you.”
Again, he turned back to her, making her feel like the only person in the room. He caught her free hand, twining their fingers together. Could he feel the flutter of her pulse against his wrist? He studied her face, and although she wasn’t certain what he was hoping to find in her expression, she couldn’t look away.
So softly she wondered whether she might have misheard, he whispered, “Speaking of Christmas miracles… I wish you weren’t leaving tomorrow.”
Julie parted her lips but couldn’t find her voice. He looked so earnest, so intense that it made her shiver. Was this the punch talking? Or was he asking her to stay in Pinecone Falls… for him?
“There you two are!”
Julie jumped at Gram’s loud exclamation. She pulled her hand free of Nolan’s, though her fingers still tingled. Her face probably matched her dress for color right now.
Gram was beaming. She stopped squarely in between them, putting her hands on the hips of a dress that, quite frankly, made her look a little like a thin Mrs. Claus. Her cheeks were a bit pink, too, likely because she had been no stranger to the Christmas punch.
She grabbed them both by an arm and squeezed. Hard. “I knew you two would get along as adults. Do you remember how you used to fight as kids?”
Julie risked a sidelong glance at Nolan, only to find him looking at her. A bit sheepish, he said, “I did find her a bit annoying.”
Julie gaped. “Youfoundmeannoying?” That was like the pot calling the kettle black.
He laughed and raised his hands. “Not anymore. I think we’ve both grown out of that stage.”
She smiled. “You could say that.”
Myrtle joined them with cheeks just as jolly pink as Gram’s and a smile just as wide. She linked her arm through Gram’s and said in an overly loud voice, “Julie, I must congratulate you. You’ve put on the best Christmas party that I can remember.”
Julie bit her lip and risked a glance at Gram. “I’m sure it’s not the best one…”
Gram winked. “Take credit where credit is due. You did a fantastic job this year.”
Julie hadn’t had a sip of the punch yet, but her veins buzzed as if she had. She grinned.
Leaning closer to Gram but not doing much to lower her voice, Myrtle said, “I wish you would reconsider selling. This place still has a lot of life left in it.”
Julie grimaced. Nolan’s dad, and probably his grandfather, too, were just across the room. At that volume, the whole house probably heard.
Gram didn’t look worried. Instead, she looked a little sad. She wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulders and squeezed. “I would. You know I would, Myrtle. But with no one to help run the inn, it’s just not possible.”
It’s just not possible.That was what Julie had been telling herself the entire time. It was what she had told Kringle every time he rubbed against her palm and purred. What she told Ivy when they met for lunch at the café. What she would have had to tell Nolan if Gram hadn’t interrupted their moment. Her life… it wasn’t here.
At least, it hadn’t been before ten days ago. But everyone around her, laughing, drinking too much punch, and singing Christmas carols off tune—they had each become a part of her. She’d started to build extra time into the errands she ran in town just so she could stop and chat about her family and the party. She loved waking up to birdsong instead of traffic horns. The Cozy Holly Inn was a piece of her childhood, home in a way that no other place had ever been.
Myrtle said, “What about Julie? She’s done such a good job. I’d say that’s a killer job interview.”
