Page 51 of The Christmas Lodge
Colette sighed. “I wish I could be so sure of a good outcome. I just…” Colette reached out and took Emma’s hand. “I just don’t want you to be disappointed if things don’t turn out the way you expect, that’s all.”
Emma patted Colette’s hand reassuringly. “There’s my sweet Colette, always looking out for my best interests. Don’t worry, dear. Things have a way of working themselves out.”
Colette leaned back in her chair, hoping Emma was right. Emma had such a soft heart, and she knew that although Emma hoped for the best, it would be a crushing blow to the older woman if Lacy continued to hate her grandfather and believe the worst in him. She reached for a second muffin, biting into it and chewing thoughtfully. No one could control the outcome of things—whatever would happen, would happen—but Colette instinctively wanted to protect Emma from anything bad, even from disappointments such as this.
A knock at the door interrupted the moment and Colette rose to her feet. “Are we expecting anyone?”
“Not that I know of, dear.”
Colette set her muffin on the plate beside her chair then, wiping her hands, she hurried to the front door and pulled it open. She felt her jaw drop open a little. To her utter surprise, Lacy stood on the front porch, her cheeks pink and her shoulders hunched against the cold. “Lacy! I thought you were supposed to be in St. Louis!”
“I couldn’t wait and I came back early.”
Colette stared at her, her mind trying to catch up. Lacy gave a nervous smile.
“Can I come in?”
Colette blinked, pulling herself together. “Of course, it’s freezing out. Come in!”
Lacy hurried into the foyer, shivering. She carried two boxes in her arms, and Colette instantly recognized the wooden box Nicholas had left for her. Her heart began to thump painfully in her chest and she wondered what news Lacy would have for them and what it contained.
“I’m so sorry to just barge in like this,” Lacy said, setting the boxes down and taking off her coat.
By then, Emma had gotten up from her chair and was walking toward them. “Hello, my dear! We weren’t expecting you.”
“I should have called ahead,” Lacy said apologetically. “I know it’s rude to show up unannounced, but…” She looked at the boxes resting by her feet, then up to Colette and Emma. “I haven’t opened the box yet,” she blurted. “I couldn’t bear to do it alone in St. Louis, so I rushed back here. And knowing how special you were to Nicholas, Emma, I thought it only appropriate to open it with you here.”
Emma reached out and touched Lacy’s arm. “That was incredibly thoughtful of you.”
Lacy flushed a little. “It’s nothing. Besides, like I said, I couldn’t bear to be alone, not after everything I’ve been learning over the past couple of days.”
“What do you mean?” Colette asked.
Lacy gestured to the second box sitting atop Nicholas’s wooden box. She opened it and showed them mounds of unopened letters. “My mother kept these from me. My father and grandfather tried to write to me over and over again for years, and I never knew.”
“Oh, Lacy…” Colette reached out impulsively and gave her a hug. “Are you all right?”
Lacy clutched her back. “I’m not right now, but I will be.” She let go of Colette and wiped at a stray tear, giving a little laugh. “See? This is why I didn’t want to do this alone. Discovering the letters alone was a lot to handle.”
“We understand, dear,” Emma said, patting Lacy’s arm. “Come sit down with us and we’ll take all the time you want to open the box.”
“Thank you,” Lacy said gratefully, gathering up the boxes.
Colette led the way to the sitting area, gesturing to the sofa, where Lacy settled herself. Her heart was already beating harder with the excitement of the moment, but also with some fear. It already seemed that Lacy had softened toward Nicholas, but now that left Colette hoping desperately that whatever was in the box would not hurt, but help, Lacy. She didn’t know Lacy all that well, but she already held a liking for the woman.
“Well… I guess there’s no point in putting it off,” Lacy said nervously.
“Take all the time you need to,” Emma said, her voice gentle. “The box isn’t going anywhere.”
“Thanks. I do think I’m ready now, though. It’s all I’ve been thinking about since you gave it to me.”
Lacy settled Nicholas’s box on her lap and then pulled a necklace out from beneath her shirt, revealing an intricate and delicate silver key. Lacy pulled in a deep breath, unclasping the necklace and looking at them for reassurance. Colette smiled at Lacy encouragingly and Lacy gave a somewhat wobbly smile back. With shaking fingers, Lacy finally managed to fit the key into the lock and turned it. Colette heard the audible click as the box unlocked and Lacy slowly lifted the lid.
Colette gasped aloud as she saw the stacks upon stacks of neatly bound money resting inside. Her eyes flew to Lacy’s face, who had become pale as a ghost and sat, frozen, staring at the money with wide eyes and an open mouth.
“Mercy,” Emma whispered beside her.
“What in the world,” Lacy breathed. Her fingers still trembling violently, she reached in and picked up the letter that rested on top of the money and tore it open carefully, pulling a sheet of paper from within. “Colette, Emma, will one of you two read it for me? I don’t think I can.”
