Page 2 of Sleigh My Name
“I’m sorry,” I finally reply. “If there’s anything I can help with, don’t hesitate?—”
“Actually,” Linda interrupts, moving closer, “the girls could use a warm place to sleep. The hostel is no place for two young ladies, Liam. Penny is only seven. As soon as Nancy mentioned they didn’t have even a single bed for them to sleep in, well, I thought of putting them up in my guest bedroom. But it’s piled to the ceiling with my unfinished sewing and knitting projects, so that wouldn’t work. Then I thought about you and all those empty rooms up at the main house.”
Linda’s smile is sweet, giving, and hopeful. It falters as she takes my extended silence as a bad sign. “I’m here four or five times a week. I can help them settle in and teach Charley the ropes so she can take over some of my duties. I may not look my age, but I won’t be around forever, dear.”
“I…” I pause, thinking about how horrible Linda’s plan sounds. “I don’t know…” My eyes bounce from Linda’s pleading gaze to Charley’s green one.
Penny’s attention is glued to the working Clydesdale horses gathering at the fence line to take sugar cubes from the tour group. “Can I go check out the horses?”
Linda waves her off before she’s in my ear again. “Country life would do that girl some good.”
I suppress a groan, casting a sidelong glance at Charley, who avoids my gaze. My heart cracks as I look at her. The weariness etched on her features is so different from the girl I remember—a girl who was full of life. The inquisitive sparkle that always danced in her eyes is dimmed, clouded with a sorrow I can’t decipher. It’s been years. Her misery shouldn’t be a bullet hitting me directly in the heart. But it is because I can’t forget what Charley meant to me, what we were to each other.
She was the girl who pressed her lips to mine in an epic first kiss. Held me when my life crumbled. Inspired me to invest every ounce of my heart into this business. Uprooted every plan for my future when she moved away. The girl who’s always owned my fucking soul.
“Fine.” I grit out, not at all sure what I’m agreeing to. “But only because it’s Christmas time.”
Linda claps joyously. “It’s not often we see your festive side.”
Charley’s eyes narrow. “This is festive Liam?”
I glare at her, uncomfortable with the idea of her piercing the cushy little bubble I’ve created for myself here at the farm. “I’m festive as fuck.”
Charley cracks a grin, and Linda stifles a giggle before they both burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“This is going to be the best Christmas at Whiskey Heart Distillery yet. You wait and see,” Linda predicts as she wraps an arm around Charley and guides her toward the main house. “There’s still hope for you, dear. We’ll un-Scrooge that attitude of yours, you’ll see!”
CHAPTER 2
Charley
It’sfunny how someone you knew so intimately can also feel like a stranger. Seeing Liam again felt exactly like being in his house, familiar yet foreign at the same time.
The house has remnants of Liam but doesn’t feel like him. A mix of old-school charm and modern comfort. The remnants of deep mahogany wood juxtaposing the flashy marble flooring somehow work in a way that’s both jarring and inviting—just like the moment our eyes connected.
Sunlight streams through enormous arched windows, lending warmth and welcome to the space. The decor is minimalist and clean, with nothing overtly lavish, except for a grand piano sitting silently in the corner, its ebony finish gleaming. It’s the only part of the space that screams Liam. The rest, though beautiful, shows no signs of the man I knew. That Liam lived in a cramped, cluttered apartment that smelled of stale cigarettes and rancid beer.
It was hard to look into his eyes. Those piercing blue orbs reflected hurt and fury. Liam has never looked at me that way. Knowing he hates me now is torture. I deserve it. Truthfully, I deserve far more than his icy glares.
I still remember how gut-wrenching it was to climb into that station wagon and drive away. The highway was an endless ribbon, each mile a painful reminder of what he’d done and the consequences that followed. Little did I know that getting over Liam wasn’t a simple matter of distance. Apparently, you can’t forget someone by changing location, not when they’ve imprinted themselves on your very soul.
But as I look around his house, I know I made the right decision. I knew Liam’s brilliance and ambition would create something fantastic.
I smile, thinking about our young love. It was like Mount Everest: dangerous yet majestic and bold. We scaled that mountain together and thought we could conquer anything. But we couldn’t conquer the beliefs of my father and his mother—a man who didn’t have the resources to save his own life and a woman with immense wealth. I did what I had to do. I can’t regret the decision I made for my family.
Life is cruel, riddled with impossible choices that break your heart and shatter your soul.
“Charley, you have to see those horses. They’re huge, and they look so pretty.” Penny runs into the room as I’m putting away our few belongings. Other than some donated clothing, not much remains of our old life. We had to sell almost everything to survive. The only things I saved were an old photo album and my parents’ wedding rings. No matter how bad things got, I couldn’t bear to sell those.
“Yeah? Maybe we can ask Liam if you can ride one.” I put my arm around my kid sister and kiss the top of her head. She’s such a great kid.
“You think I could? That would be amazing.”
Losing our parents was hard on me, but it changed Penny’s universe. I was twenty and in college, but Penny was only a little girl, a toddler whose entire world was ripped apart in a heartbeat. She barely remembers our parents. Her life has been filled with hardship and struggle; yet, no matter how bad things get, she has never lost her spirit. She’s the sweetest, kindest kid, always smiling and making the best of any situation. Everyone thought I was remarkable for taking care of Penny when I was so young, but Penny is the real wonder. She’s my rock. Without her, I don’t think I would have survived.
“Knock, knock!” Linda peeks her head inside the bedroom door. She enters the room carrying a plate of freshly baked cookies. “I thought you ladies would like a little snack,” she says, holding the plate in front of Penny.
“Cookies!” Penny shrieks, turning to me. “Can I have one, Charley?”
