Page 35 of The Christmas Lodge
Lacy glanced over at Derek, who was watching her from the driver’s side of his truck. She shook her head. Her stomach had been in knots after she’d left Derek’s the previous night and had gone back to the inn. He had been kind and offered her a ride to Emma’s house, and she’d gratefully accepted, but she knew that whatever was going to happen inside that house was something she needed to face on her own. She shifted slightly to look out the window at Emma’s house—a charming stone cottage with an arched front door in a deep blue that normally would have taken her fancy. Today, though, that charm was entirely lost on her. All she could think about was what might wait for her within. She wasn’t just worried about what Emma might say, she was also worried about the reception she might receive. Colette had seemed nice enough the previous day, but this Emma Cleaver had been Nicholas’s girlfriend, and she surely would not have appreciated Lacy’s contribution to the newspaper article.
“Lacy? Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
Lacy pulled her eyes away from Emma’s cottage and mustered up a tremulous smile. “I’m fine, really. Just got lost in my thoughts for a second.”
Derek looked skeptical, but he finally nodded. “Just know that I’m always here.”
Even though it had been little more than a week or two since she’d arrived in Snowy Pine Ridge, Lacy was surprised to realize that shedidknow that. Her racing heart settled a little and her smile became genuine. “I know, and I’m grateful for it. I’ll be in touch, okay?”
“Good luck.” Derek reached over and squeezed her hand gently, the way one friend would to comfort another. “Remember how we talked about bravery and open-mindedness last night? That’s what’s going to carry you through today, I promise.”
Lacy realized vaguely that she should be uncomfortable with his pep talk. After all, she had next to no one in her life that bolstered her confidence or shared the mental load with her. To her surprise, however, she found it was nice to feel like she had someone on her team, instead of flying solo. With newfound resolve, Lacy opened the truck door and hopped to the ground, then looked back up at Derek.
“Thanks again,” she said softly, then waved. “Now, get out of here before I change my mind and get back in the truck.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, giving her a salute.
She shut the truck door and stepped back to watch as he backed out of the driveway and drove down the lane that led back into town. Taking in a deep breath for courage, she turned and faced Emma’s cottage. Not giving herself time to overthink things again, she marched up the front steps and rapped on the front door. A moment later, Colette opened the door. She stepped back, making space for Lacy to enter, and Lacy noticed that she looked far less timid now that she was back in her element.
“I’m so glad you came,” Colette said, helping Lacy with her coat and hanging it on a coat stand. “Emma’s waiting for you in the living room.”
Colette led the way into a cozy room with a large stone fireplace, flanked by two cushy armchairs with a plush sofa facing them. Emma sat in one of the armchairs, her wrinkled hands folded together on her lap. Lacy studied her secretly as she took a seat on the sofa. Emma was an elderly woman with fluffy white hair pulled back into a banana clip. Reading glasses dangled from a chain around her neck and, for some reason, Lacy found that particular detail reassuring. Colette settled into the armchair opposite Emma’s, and the three sat in awkward silence for a few moments.
Tension began to gather in Lacy’s chest, and she wondered who was supposed to speak first. Forcing herself not to fidget, she reminded herself sternly that she was a successful businesswoman who had faced situations that were far more tense.
Come on, you’ve never been one to sit in the back seat and wait. Pull yourself together and take charge.
With that bracing thought, Lacy cleared her throat and leaned forward.
“Emma, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Lacy Preston, as I’m sure you already know.”
“Yes, dear, I do know,” Emma answered, nodding.
When she didn’t say anything further, Lacy realized she would have to bring up the reason they were all gathered and address the proverbial elephant in the room.
“Well, then. Colette brought it to my attention yesterday that neither of you agree with what I said about Nicholas in the newspaper article.” Lacy glanced at Colette, who was now chewing the side of her lip, her forehead wrinkled with worry.
Well, at least I’m not the only one feeling uncomfortable.
“I know what I’ve been told my whole life,” she continued, taking a deep breath and reminding herself to keep an open mind, “but I’m here to listen to your side of the story.”
“That’s very commendable, dear,” Emma said after a long moment that left Lacy second-guessing herself. She reached across the small space and patted Lacy’s knee, then settled back against her chair. “Oh, my… where to begin…”
Colette and Lacy sat in respectful silence, allowing Emma time to gather her thoughts. Emma’s eyes became dreamy as she drifted down memory lane, her thoughts clearly a million miles away.
“I can still remember the first time I met Nicholas,” she finally began, and her voice was soft as velvet, tender with the recollection. “I was at the farmers market sorting through the plums, when the kindest looking man I’d ever seen beckoned me over to him. He told me the best plums actually came from Briarberry Farms, who had a booth down the row, and he offered me his arm to walk me down to their booth. I put my hands on my hips and asked just who he thought he was telling me I didn’t have perfect plum-picking skills.” Emma’s eyes shone and she laughed at the memory. “He didn’t mind my spitfire at all, though, and he told me I looked like a woman who deserved the sweetest things in life, and that included finding the perfect plums.”
To her surprise, Lacy found herself softening as she listened to Emma’s memory, but then she pulled herself up short.
Just because he knew how to flirt doesn’t mean he was a good man,she told herself.If anything, it shows just what a practiced con-artist he was.
In the very next breath, though, Lacy could hear Derek’s voice in her ear, reminding her to keep an open mind about the grandfather she had never really known. Squashing her uncharitable thoughts, she focused on Emma again and listened.
“That was after his wife—your sweet grandmother, my dear—had passed away. He and I became good friends after that chance meeting at the farmers market, and he courted me in the old-fashioned way. He would come sit with me in the evenings and we would talk for hours. Oh, and he planned the most thoughtful outings—museums, picnics, dinners.” Emma lifted one hand and rested it on her heart, a few tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. “He was the kindest and most thoughtful man I have ever known.”
Lacy felt a lump swell in her throat. These recollections felt too personal, and she felt like an undeserving outsider getting to see a moment meant to be private. When Emma lapsed into reminiscent silence, Colette eventually picked up a photo album resting on the table beside her chair and handed it to Emma. The album pulled Emma back to the present, and she took it, bestowing a kindly smile on Colette.
“Ah, yes, thank you for reminding me.” Emma opened the album, running a wrinkled finger over the first page of photos before turning it to show Lacy. “I made it a project to capture the special impact that Nicholas and your father, Harv, had on this town. Oh, there were so many businesses in Snowy Pine Ridge and the surrounding towns that wouldn’t have made it without their help, so I thought I would gather photos for Nicholas, as a gift.” She nodded, sagely, turning the page and glancing at more photos. “Would you like to see it, Lacy? They provided financing for so many hopeful business owners, making their dreams come true.”
