Page 55 of The Christmas Lodge
Lacy was smiling, her eyes reflecting the glow of the lights as he parked the truck. “It’s everything I hoped it would be. And more.”
“I’m glad,” he said simply.
Once inside the mansion, they walked through each room, checking that everything was in place and ready for the guests who were set to arrive within the next half hour. Sarah was busy setting up her booth full of delicious-looking baked goods, the live band was tuning up their instruments in the ballroom, and the girl running coat-check was getting set up.
In the ballroom, small round tables covered in green and red checked tablecloths lined the perimeter of the dance floor. All of the rooms were lavishly decorated and the heady scent of fresh pine permeated the mansion.
Derek reached out and took Lacy’s hand as they returned to the front foyer. “Are you ready?”
“I think so,” she replied, absentmindedly running her thumb across the side of his hand, sending electric sparks up the length of his arm. “It’s beautiful to think of seeing this place filled with laughter and love the way my grandfather—St. Nick—loved it to be.”
“I like to think he’s watching over us tonight and that he’s pleased.”
“I hope so. I want to learn more about him from Emma as time goes on. As much as I can. Maybe it will help to make up for all the time I lost with him.”
Derek pulled in a breath, wondering if she realized what she had just said. If she was hoping to learn more from Emma as time went on, maybe that meant she wasn’t planning to stay away from Snowy Pine Ridge for good…
Don’t get your hopes up,he reminded himself sternly,and don’t bring it up right now. Guests are about to arrive, and Lacy doesn’t need to be distracted by your foolish hopes and dreams.
As if on cue, the first group of guests arrived, walking up the front steps and spilling into the foyer. Lacy stepped forward to greet them, smiling graciously and introducing herself as the guests began handing their coats and wraps to the coat-check girl. Derek, seeing that Lacy was in her element and didn’t appear to need any help, began to mingle with the guests as well. He knew most of the townspeople, and he was soon caught up in catching up with old friends and directing guests to the ballroom and to the vendors’ booths.
A jovial and festive atmosphere enveloped everyone at the party as more and more guests arrived, dressed up in their best Christmas gowns and suits. Derek was just about to go check on the guests in the ballroom when Colette and Emma arrived. He called to Lacy and hurried over to greet them, helping Emma to take off her coat. She was lavishly dressed in a maroon gown with sparkles and rhinestones, her fluffy white hair swept up into a French twist. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears of happiness as she took in the beautifully restored and decorated mansion. She raised a trembling hand and pressed it against her lips.
“Oh,” she breathed. “Oh, Nicholas would have been so proud.” She turned to Lacy, taking Derek’s arm and leaning against him. “I wish he could see how beautifully you’ve arranged everything.”
Derek patted her hand. “I’m certain he is seeing it.” He glanced over at Lacy, who he realized was standing still and silent, and saw that a conflict was raging in her eyes.
“Thank you so much,” Lacy finally choked out. “I have to see to something, please excuse me.”
Without another word of explanation, Lacy turned on her heel and plunged into the crowd, disappearing from sight. Derek ached for her, knowing that something was deeply wrong and wanting very much to talk to her about it, but Emma still hung on his arm. Colette, seeing his distress, stepped up and gently disengaged Emma, telling her they should go and try some of Sarah’s baked goods. Derek sent her a thankful glance and then scanned the party—he needed to go find Lacy.
* * *
Lacy slipped through the guests in the ballroom and stepped out onto the beautifully lit wrap-around porch. Wrapping her arms around herself for warmth, she relished a break from the happy noise inside and gulped in the fresh, icy air. Although she was pleased that the party was going so well, she was suddenly overcome with a storm of emotion. Seeing Emma enjoying the party had struck a raw chord inside of herself. It wasn’t that she was jealous, exactly, but she had realized only moments before that Emma knew her grandfather so deeply—something she herself would never experience.
Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes and a lump grew in her throat. How she wished that she could turn back the years and get to spend them with her father and grandfather.
Stop wishing for something you can never have, she scolded herself.
In that moment, she realized more than ever that she had misunderstood Harv and Nicholas her whole life. Nicholas had never stopped believing in her, as was all too evident from the legacy he had left for her.
But as for herself? She had stopped believing in them as soon as her mother had told her they had been abandoned. She had built her entire life, her education, her career, around distancing herself from Harv and Nicholas. It made her wonder what the point was of the life she had built in St. Louis.
Had it been built out of spite? She cringed as she knew that the answer was a resoundingyes.
Hearing footsteps coming up behind her, Lacy straightened and tried to look carefree and unaffected. She turned around, ready to greet another guest and then sighed with relief as she saw Derek walking toward her, his forehead creased with concern.
“Are you all right?”
Lacy bit her lip. “I don’t know. I think so?”
Derek reached for her, pulling her into his arms and nestling her close to him. “If you’re worried about the party, it’s going splendidly. Everyone’s talking about what an amazing job you’ve done.”
“I’m glad. I hoped it would be a success,” she replied.
“Now that we’ve all seen what you can do, I think I speak for everyone when I say you better come back to visit often. Snowy Pine Ridge won’t be the same without you.”
Lacy hesitated, the idea she’d been mulling over for days resting on the edge of her tongue. Gathering her courage, she pulled back enough to search his eyes. “What would you think if I stayed in Snowy Pine Ridge for good?”
