A Bramble House Christmas (Carrigans of the Circle C Book 6) (21 page)

I
n the end, Finn couldn’t keep away from Willa and Scout entirely. It was mid-afternoon as he rounded the bend for the final approach to Miracle Lake. Though the sun had been shining all day, white crystals of hoarfrost still clung to the branches of the trees, making a dazzling contrast against the sapphire-blue sky.

About twenty people were out skating, and at least that number again were standing around the bonfire sipping hot cocoas or rubbing their hands.

It was a cheerful, colorful picture, and on instinct he reached for his Nikon. But he hadn’t brought his camera with him this time.

It didn’t take long to spot the number nineteen Coyotes jersey he’d bought for Scout. The young boy was zipping around the ice like an old pro. The taller girl beside him—Savannah, Finn thought—seemed to be having trouble keeping up.

A few seconds later he saw Willa doing slower laps around the lake with Sage. She wasn’t wearing the scarf he’d bought her, but she had on the skates that had been wrapped under the tree and labeled ‘To: Willa, From: Santa.’ Guess she hadn’t figured out they were from him, too, or she probably wouldn’t be wearing them either.

Finn sat on a wooden bench close to the trees at the far south side of the lake, well apart from the crowd. He was glad to see Scout was in high spirits. He couldn’t read Willa’s mood, though. She was in an animated conversation with Sage, too engrossed to even notice him.

Which was fine.

He hadn’t come here to talk. He knew he had no right to ask that of her. He’d just needed to see them, to know they were having a nice Christmas. Because after all they’d been through they deserved that much.

Eventually he’d have to find a way to convince Willa to keep his dad’s money. He couldn’t let his foolish actions unravel his father’s last act of kindness. But since the will was still in probate, he had time for that.

Finn was standing, preparing to leave, when Scout suddenly spotted him.

“Hey! Finn!” The little boy broke away from the crowd and skated to the other end of the lake, coming right to the edge closest to Finn. “Thanks for my sweater! How did you know Shane Doan is my favorite player?”

“Lucky guess. Looks good on you, buddy.”

“Did you bring your skates?”

“No...I just wanted to say good-bye since we’re both going home tomorrow.”

“Aren’t you coming for Christmas dinner?”

“Uh—don’t think so sport.” When they’d made their reservation a week ago, that had been the plan. But now Finn was prepared to settle for a bowl of Eliza’s homemade soup. Maybe he’d catch a movie after that.

Hopefully the local theater wasn’t still playing
It’s a Wonderful Life.
Finn didn’t think he could handle watching it ever again.

Willa must have noticed him, because she was skating toward them now.

Judging by her expression, she wasn’t pleased that he was here. Finn would have obliged her and left, but Scout was still talking to him.

“Mom really liked the book we made her.”

By now Willa was close enough to hear. “Yes. It’s a great book. Thanks for helping Scout with that.”

The words were polite, but her tone had a frosty edge meant to put him in his place and keep him there.

Finn swallowed. None of this was made easier by the fact that she looked fantastic. Her gorgeous chestnut hair framed her face in soft curls. And her ivory skin glowed as if she’d had the best night’s sleep of her life, which he kind of doubted.

He took a backward step. “It was a fun project. Scout, if you ever want a break from the NHL, you can write children’s books for a living.”

“Maybe we can be partners again,” Scout said hopefully.

Willa went behind her son and placed her hands on his shoulders. “You better say good-bye, honey. I don’t think we’ll see Finn again before we leave.”

In other words, she didn’t
want
to see him. Which was what Finn had expected.

But hearing her say the words broke his heart, all the same.

He turned to oblige her, and get out of her life as quickly as possible.

Then at the last moment he decided there was something he wanted to say. Though Scout had skated off, she was still standing there. Some of the ice had left her eyes. When she blinked, even though he was too far away to see them, he knew she had tears in her eyes.

“I just thought you should know that the envelope you saw last night had the results of a DNA test comparing my DNA with Eliza’s. Turns out we’re cousins.”

The news seemed to stun her. “Do you think your father knew?”

“I wish he had. But, no, I don’t think so.”

After a moment she nodded. “Well. Thanks for telling me that.”

He tried like crazy to think of a way to prolong their conversation, but she was already skating away.

C
hristmas dinner at the beautiful historic Graff Hotel was a scrumptious six-course affair, but the fine food was wasted on Willa and Scout.

She still had almost no appetite. And Scout was no gourmet. He eschewed the chestnut soup and roasted acorn squash salad for extra rolls and butter. And the orange and cranberry glazed Cornish game hens just puzzled him.

“I wish we could have some of Grandma’s turkey.”

“This is sort of like turkey. Let me cut it up for you.” But, she too suddenly found herself homesick for her mom and dad and their unvarying holiday menu—served for Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving—of turkey and mashed potatoes, sweet potato pie and broccoli cheese casserole.

Even as she missed them, though, she did not look forward to flying home tomorrow.

The condo in her parents’ gated community had been wonderfully practical and convenient when Scout was ill.

But it had never felt like home. All their neighbors were over fifty and Scout’s school was a thirty minute drive away.

There were many nice family-oriented communities in Phoenix, and now that Scout was healthy there was lots to explore in Arizona. But this town had a special aura, a vibrancy and a warmth. The people were friendly—well, except for Aunt Mable—and the surrounding ranchlands and mountains had an in-your-face beauty that continually made her catch her breath. She was even becoming a fan of winter. It certainly suited her son and his love of skating and hockey.

This afternoon, when she’d confessed to Sage how much she was dreading going back to Phoenix, Sage had said, “Why don’t you move here? You’d love living in Marietta. And you already have friends.”

It had been such a sweet thing to say, and it was certainly true that Sage and her family, as well as Eliza and Marshall, already felt like friends she’d known all her life.

But until she paid off her loans, she couldn’t afford to move anywhere. And now that she’d refused Greg Conrad’s bequest, it was going to take twice as long to get her accounts in the black.

Not that she regretted throwing that money back in Finn’s face. She couldn’t abide having Greg Conrad’s family thinking of her as some sort of scam artist.

W
hen they returned to the B&B after a scrumptious dessert offering of pumpkin pie, chocolate mousse or a modern twist on Baked Alaska, Finn was already in his room.

“Can I knock on his door to say goodnight?” Scout asked.

“No. He might be sleeping.”

“But his light is on. Look.” Scout pointed at the thin gap where the door didn’t quite meet the carpeted floor.

“He could still be in bed. Which is where we should be.”

Later, as she tucked her tired son under his covers he yawned.

“It was the best Christmas ever. Wasn’t it, Mom?”

Willa gave her son a smile. Hearing him say those words made everything she’d been through worthwhile. “It sure was, son.

He touched her face the way he often had done when he was younger. “Then why do you look sad?”

She tried to swallow the sudden blockage at her throat. Her dear son was much too perceptive. “Because we have to leave tomorrow.”

“Yeah. I’m sad about that, too.”

Willa squeezed in beside him on the small bed and read aloud his new
Everyday Sam
book—three times, on request. Halfway through the third reading, he fell asleep. Slowly she crept out of his bed, and crawled into her own.

After a last, reassuring glance at her sleeping son, she turned out the light.

Why do you look sad?

Scout’s words kept playing in her mind. And the more she thought about how miserable she felt, the more she had to face the truth. Marietta was a lovely town. But it was leaving Finn that was breaking her heart.

Willa spread out in the large bed, remembering how difficult it had been to adjust to sleeping alone after Jeff left. Whenever Scout wasn’t in hospital, she’d encourage him to sleep with her. Partly to be there to comfort him if he woke up hurting or afraid.

But her son’s presence had comforted her, too. She’d filled the gaping hole Jeff had left in her life, with caring for and protecting their son. It had taken meeting Finn for her to realize all she was missing.

He’d slipped into her heart so easily, not the least because he was so awesome with her son. Being with him just felt right. Finn was steady, rock solid and kind. And yet, he was so much fun, as well. She hadn’t laughed as much in three years as she had these past three weeks.

And what had she done after meeting this great guy?

She’d pushed him away.

A sob pushed up from her heart, and she pressed her face into the pillow to muffle the sound.

Yes, Finn had deceived her. But he’d been trying to protect his family and grieving over his father. Hadn’t she deceived him, too, by withholding the truth about Scout’s cancer? And she’d done that for similar reasons. To protect Scout.

Willa could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks, dampening the pillow. She gave into her need to cry quietly, so as not to disturb her son. It was something she had a lot of practice at.

T
he next morning Willa and Scout found only Eliza waiting for them at the breakfast table. She’d put out fruit salad, muffins and boiled eggs.

“I hope you don’t mind that we’re keeping things simple this morning.”

“It’s perfect.” Willa went straight for the coffee. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could run on coffee and adrenaline. Given the drive ahead of her, she supposed she’d better force down a little bit of food. “Where’s your aunt?”

“She’s exhausted after our dinner at the Circle C last night. It was pretty chaotic.”

“I hope she isn’t ill.”

“No, she just craved quiet, so she’s having tea and toast in the library. Marshall ate earlier so he could take the day off and go skiing. Patricia and Mike booked out an hour ago and...Finn is eating at the diner this morning.”

Willa sighed. Then seeing the sympathy in Eliza’s eyes, quickly changed the subject. “So did your cousins like your book?”

“They did. I haven’t yet told them about the new branch of the family tree though—” Abruptly she went quiet, as if worried she’d said something wrong.

“It’s okay. Finn told me about the DNA test. I guess in a way it’s lucky he followed me here, or you might never have found out the truth.”

“Willa, can I just say how sorry I am? I totally understand how hurt and upset you must feel. But, it just seems like such a shame how things ended. You and Finn were getting along so well.”