Page 48 of Christmas at Pine Ridge Inn
“I think that’s a brilliant plan.”
They finished their coffee while making plans—a few quiet days at the inn, then a trip to Denver where Sarah could show Lila her house, her school, and even where she grew up nearby in Broomfield.
“We should probably get downstairs for breakfast,” Sarah said eventually. “Everyone else is probably in a hurry to get on the road today.”
As they made their way to the lobby, Lila felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness about sharing their news. But looking at Sarah beside her, practically glowing with happiness, she knew they were making the right choice.
The dining room was quieter than usual when they arrived. Carol was setting up the breakfast buffet, but only six places were set at the table instead of the usual eight.
“It feels weird with Mike and Ali gone. Has anyone heard from her?” Lila asked.
Tom appeared from the kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee. “Ali called about an hour ago. Her sister had the baby. It was a healthy little girl born at 11:57 p.m. on Christmas Day.”
“Another Christmas baby,” Brady said, looking up from where he was folding napkins. His eyes met Lila’s across the room, and her chest fluttered.
“How wonderful,” Sarah said softly. “I’m sure they’re thrilled.”
“Lila,” Carol said, “Ali said to make sure and tell you she wrapped the baby’s gift in birthday paper and not Christmas paper.
“I’m glad I was here to train her right,” Lila joked.
The remaining guests filtered in as Carol finished setting out breakfast. Sophie and Miles looked rested and content, while Kimberly and Kendall seemed subdued at the prospect of leaving. Everyone filled their plates and settled around the table, the conversation quieter and more reflective than usual.
“I can’t believe it’s time to go home already,” Kendall said, pushing her scrambled eggs around on her plate. “This week has gone by so fast.”
“It really has,” Sophie agreed. “Miles and I were just saying this morning how this has been one of our most memorable Christmases ever.”
“Mine too,” Kimberly said, glancing around the table. “I know we just met a week ago, but I feel like we’re all family now.”
Lila caught Sarah’s eye across the table, and they shared a look of perfect understanding. This was their moment.
“Actually,” Lila said, her heart beginning to race, “I have something I’d like to share with all of you.”
The conversation stilled as everyone turned their attention to her. Brady set down his coffee mug and gave her an encouraging nod.
“You all know why I came to Pine Ridge,” Lila continued. “I was looking for answers about my birth mother after discovering my baby quilt was made here by Emily.”
“Have you learned anything new?” Miles asked gently.
Lila looked at Sarah, who reached over and took her hand. “We found each other,” Sarah said, her voice thick with emotion.
The table went completely quiet for a moment as everyone processed what they’d just heard. Then Sophie gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Sarah?” she whispered. “You’re Lila’s mother?”
Sarah nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I am. I’ve been coming back to Pine Ridge every Christmas for thirty-four years because this is where she was born. I never dreamed that one day she’d find her way back here too.”
The explosion of emotion that followed was loud and joyous. Kimberly burst into tears, Kendall jumped up to hug them both, and Miles had to wipe his eyes with his napkin. Even Tom looked misty-eyed as he watched the scene unfold.
“That’s why you two seemed so connected from the very beginning,” Sophie said, tears in her own eyes. “There was something there that none of us could quite put our finger on.”
“The way you took care of each other,” Kendall added. “It was like you already knew each other.”
“In a way, we did,” Sarah said, squeezing Lila’s hand. “Sometimes there’s an invisible string that connects you for reasons you don’t know or understand at first.”
Brady had remained quietly supportive throughout the revelation, but now he spoke up. “I’ve watched Sarah come here every Christmas for nearly twenty years,” he said. “I always wondered what brought her back, what made this place so special to her. Now it all makes sense.”
“It does,” Carol said, wiping at her eyes. “Sarah, honey, I’m so happy for you. For both of you. To think that all these years, you were coming back to be close to her, and now you’ve found each other.”
