Welcome To Winterville: A Small Town Holiday Romance Read online

  Then she’d have to stand in front of a judge and testify that one complainant had been trying to screw the other over.

  “Speaking of divorces,” North said, looking at Holly. “Your mom’s in town.”

  Holly pulled her lip between her teeth. “I guessed she might be. I haven’t spoken to her in a while. What about her husband, is he here?”

  “She’s married again?” Gabe blinked. “When did that happen?”

  “A few months ago. She called in the middle of the night from Italy to tell me.”

  “Who’s this one? An Italian Prince? A French Playboy?”

  “Some British guy. Son of a duke or something.” Holly shrugged, trying to be nonchalant. Her relationship with her mom could be described as ‘complicated’ these days. The youngest daughter of Candy Winter, Susannah had inherited all of her beauty, but none of her empathy. She’d given birth to Holly when she was twenty-two, and unmarried. Holly still had no idea who her father was.

  Their relationship had always been difficult. As a child, she’d been desperate to please her mom. She could be bewitching and fun, and when she concentrated all her charms on you, it felt a little like staring into the sun.

  But she got bored easily. Not just of husbands, but of Holly, too. She flitted in and out of her life on a whim. Maybe that’s why Holly had been so close to her grandmother. Candy Winter had been the one consistent person she could rely on growing up.

  North shrugged. “I don’t know if her husband is here or not. She’s staying in the house she inherited from grandma. And that brings me to my other piece of news.”

  Gabe raised an eyebrow. “You’re full of news today.”

  “Yeah, well this part isn’t good. The reason she’s in town is because all of our parents have a meeting with the new owners of Winterville.”

  For a moment there was silence. Holly blinked, trying to let the words sink in. “So they already found a buyer?” Her chest clenched.

  “Yep. They were trying to hide it for as long as they could. Didn’t want us to interfere. From what I can tell, there’s a lot of money involved.”

  “I can’t believe they went through with it.” Alaska’s eyes were shiny.

  “Believe it. They’ve agreed on a sale with some company in Cincinnati for ten million dollars.”

  “We could never hope to match that,” Holly murmured.

  “Nope.” North’s smile was grim. “And no bank would lend us the money. Believe me, I’ve already asked.”

  “So what happens next?” Everley inquired. “If the sale has already gone through, it’s over, right? What else can we do?”

  “I don’t know.” North blinked, his eyelashes sweeping down. “But we have to do something. We can’t let this place go without a fight. Our grandma loved this town. She built it brick by brick.” He ran his tongue along his bottom lip, as though he was thinking.

  “You think we stand a chance?” Gabe tipped his head to the side.

  “I have no idea. All I know is that Grandma wouldn’t want this. So we keep fighting until there’s nothing left to fight for.”

  “And how do we do that?”

  He let out a sigh. “I have absolutely no idea.

  Holly’s heart clenched, because he looked defeated before they’d even started. She knew enough about business and contract law to know he was probably right.

  “Do you know who the new owners are?” she asked him.

  “No. But they’ll be here this week.”

  “Then let’s see what they have to say,” Holly suggested. “Find out who they are. We can’t do anything until we know that, right?”

  North nodded, his gaze meeting hers. “Right.”

  Gabe clapped his hands together. “In the meantime, let’s eat lunch. I’m starving.”

  4

  Holly pulled on her hat and gloves, looping her scarf around her neck before she pushed open the Inn door and stepped into the fresh morning air. It had snowed overnight but had since stopped, and a fluffy light layer carpeted the lawn in front of her. At some point in the early hours, Charlie Shaw must have plowed the roads, because the blacktop was gleaming in the early morning sun.

  She’d been here for four days now, and she still hadn’t been able to sleep properly. Maybe it was a combination of being in a strange bed, and the firmness of Alaska’s beloved Great Night mattress. Whatever it was, she was wide awake at six a.m., and had tossed and turned until seven, before she decided to go for a walk.

  Winterville was always at its prettiest at this time of year. The icy air was so still that the vapor from her breath lingered long after she exhaled. She made it to the end of the driveway and turned left, the sight of the Town Square warming her heart.

  When her grandma had bought this town – or rather the land that now housed it – she’d wanted to carve out somewhere that she’d truly belong. Candy Winter had grown up about ten miles away, in a small cabin on the slopes of the mountain, where her family had lived a hand-to-mouth existence. She’d been discovered at the age of fifteen by a Hollywood Scout who’d heard her singing at a bar, and was whisked off to LA to be glamorized and trained. At sixteen, she was given her first movie role – a small supporting gig playing a maid in a musical. It was a blink and you’d miss her kind of part, but the director had seen something in her, because he’d cast her in his next movie.

  By the time she was twenty-years-old, Candy Winter was in her first starring role. The movie itself – Every Day Feels Like Christmas – would have been forgettable if it wasn’t for the pretty blonde with a voice like an angel. And the title song that gave her grandma her first radio hit.

  For five years, she was America’s first sweetheart. And then came her first scandal, when she became pregnant outside of wedlock. According to Candy, there was huge pressure to get married – not particularly to the father but to anybody who would have her. So many people in Hollywood had a vested interest in keeping her pristine image. It took a strong woman – one like Candy Winter – to avoid them.

  And that’s how Holly’s Uncle Noel came to have Candy’s surname. Two years later, Joe was born, also given Candy’s surname, even though at that time she was living with a man – much to the scandal rags’ disgust.

  It wasn’t until she was pregnant with Holly’s mom – by a shocking third man – that Candy turned her back on Hollywood and came home to the mountains. She’d saved enough money to be set for life, and had looked for a place to settle down, away from prying eyes.

  It took a lot of guts to build a town up from nothing, but Candy did it anyway, working with local architects and builders, with business owners looking for new ventures. And the public had loved her for her strength, eating up the newspaper reports on her progress.

  By the seventies, Winterville was up and running, with people loving to visit the town and feel its Christmassy vibes. The Jingle Bell Theater had been added in the mid-seventies, and every year Candy would put on a Christmas Revue, from September to January, which always sold out.

  When Holly’s grandma had finally slowed down, North had helped her as much as he could – even though he had his own business to run. And Everley had stepped up to help with the Christmas Revue, using a recorded version of Candy to make sure she was always involved, even when she was too tired or sick to come to the theater in person.

  But for the past couple of years, her grandma had been too sick to do much at all. The revue had stopped, and the constant gush of visitors had slowed to a trickle. Sure, the town had decorated the streets, but the sparkling lights and decorations didn’t hide the peeling paint on the signs or the potholes filled with melted snow on the roads. If Candy could see her town now, she’d cry.

  Holly blinked that thought away. Maybe whoever bought the town would repair it. Make it look modern and sparkling new.

  Sure, and maybe the fake reindeer around the town square tree will sprout some wings and fly.

  At the corner of the square was the Cold Start Garage. The slidin
g doors at the front were open, revealing an old car up on the ramp, over the pit. Holly walked in and peered down, trying to see if Charlie Shaw, the owner was there.

  Then she heard a cough from her right.

  Upon seeing her, Charlie’s eyes widened. He quickly closed his hand into a fist, then let out a howl before opening it again. And a crumpled cigarette fell to the ground.

  “Sheey-it.” He grimaced, shaking his hand. “You didn’t see me smoking, right?”

  “That stuff is bad for you,” Holly pointed out.

  He looked down at the red mark on his palm. “You’re telling me.”

  “I thought you quit years ago.”

  Charlie had worked at the Cold Start Garage for as long as she could remember. He had two sons that she’d grown up with.

  “I did. Or at least that’s what I tell them. If you see Dolores, don’t tell her you caught me, okay?”

  Dolores ran the local café. She was one of Holly’s favorite people in town. “I won’t tell her, if you promise to try quitting again.”

  He gave her a narrow-eyed stare. “I promise.”

  She grinned, because she knew he was lying.

  “So how long you back for?” he asked Holly, walking back toward the car he’d been working on.

  “A few weeks. Until after Christmas.”

  “It’s nice that you’re spending some time with your family.” He pressed his lips together. “Candy would have liked that.”

  Holly’s throat felt tight. “She would. And how’s your family?” she asked.

  “They’re good. Graham made partner at his firm. He’s going to Europe for the holidays. Asked if I wanted to go. Told him I didn’t want to spend Christmas anywhere else but here.”

  “And Dylan?” Holly asked, referring to his youngest son.

  “He’s still working in Africa.” Charlie pointed at some photos tacked to his wall. “There he is.”

  Holly looked at the photo he was pointing at. A tall, broad man was staring at the camera, surrounded by children. He had a stethoscope around his neck, his face tanned and handsome.

  “He looks good.” She wondered if Everley had seen this photograph. Once upon a time, she and Dylan had been a thing.

  “Yeah he does. He’s a good man. Everybody says so.” Charlie sounded full of pride.

  “Will he be home for Christmas?” Holly asked him.

  “Nope.” Charlie shrugged. “I’ll probably go over to Dolores’ place for the holidays.”

  “That’s nice.” There had been rumors about a romance between the mechanic and the café owner for years. Holly had no idea if they were true or not. “And hey, if you don’t go there, you could come to the Inn. We’ll be having lunch there for anybody who has nowhere else to go.”

  “You’re a good girl,” Charlie said, patting her arm. “It’s nice that you take care of so many people. I hear you’re doing well in Chicago.”

  “Yeah, it’s good there.” She nodded.

  “And do you have a special someone?” He wiggled his gray brows.

  “Nope. I’m still single.” It was a perpetual joke that she spent so much time on other people’s divorces that it had made her jaded.

  And like all good jokes, maybe there was a hint of truth there. Though it wasn’t her job that made her guarded when it came to relationships. It was experience. Her mom was on her fourth husband in twenty years, her grandma had three baby daddies and goodness only knew how many failed relationships.

  Maybe being bad at relationships was in her genes. And that was okay. She had a great job. She could take care of herself. Even if she got a little lonely sometimes.

  “I can’t understand it,” Charlie muttered, shaking his head. “A pretty woman like you. If I was thirty years younger, I’d take you out.”

  “If you were thirty years younger, I’d let you.” Holly smiled at him.

  “Ah, I can still take care of your car though. What are you driving at the moment?”

  “A Jeep Grand Cherokee.”

  Charlie nodded, his face serious. “Good car for the snowy roads. Drop it over and I’ll give it a tune up.”

  Holly smiled, because he really was sweet. “It’s a rental. No need to tune it up.”

  He grimaced. “Those are the worst. People hammer the heck out of them.”

  “It drives fine. But thank you anyway.” Impulsively she leaned forward to hug him. He took it stoically, patting her back like she needed a burping. “It’s so good to see you.” She released him, and there were two bright red discs on his cheeks.

  He cleared his throat. “And you, too. Welcome home, sweetheart.”

  Holly spent the morning walking around Winterville, trying not to notice how shabby the Jingle Bell Theater was looking, or how empty the gift shop and bookstore were. It was early in December. Maybe things would get better as the month progressed.

  When she arrived back at the Inn, Everley was waiting for her, stalking up and down the huge covered porch like she was on a mission. She was wearing a cashmere sweater, her long blonde hair cascading down her back.

  “You’re here, thank god.” She threw Holly a pointed glance. “I’ve been waiting for you for hours.”

  “You sent me a message ten minutes ago.” Holly smiled at her cousin’s exaggeration. “I came right back. So what’s up?”

  “They’re here.”

  “Who’s here?” Holly frowned.

  “The buyers. They’re in the conference room with our parents. Which means this meeting is important.”

  Holly followed Everley to the lobby, where Alaska was behind the desk. “They got here about an hour ago, right?” Everley asked Alaska.

  “Yep. They’ve been in the conference room ever since. The kitchen’s already sent in two rounds of coffee.”

  “Have you over heard anything?” Holly asked hopefully. The door to the room was next to the reception desk.

  “Not a thing. Damn walls are too thick.” Alaska shrugged. “They looked nice though.”

  Everley laughed. “Only you would say something like that. Did you catch what the company is called?”

  “Um, Garret something? Or Gurner?” Alaska pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, thinking. “There are three of them. Two guys and a woman. All dressed in business suits.”

  “Garrett something?” Holly repeated.

  “Or Gerber,” Alaska said, wrinkling her nose. “I can’t remember.”

  Gerber. The name sounded uncomfortably familiar.

  “Or maybe Garner.”

  Everley started to laugh again, covering her lips with the back of her hand.

  Before Alaska could say another name, the door to the conference room opened a fraction, and voices spilled into the lobby.

  “We can promise you there won’t be any trouble,” Uncle Noel was saying. “This is a quiet town. Folks around here do as they’re told.”

  Everley’s face wrinkled with disgust.

  “And you’ll arrange that meeting for tomorrow?” The voice was low. Smooth. It sent a shiver down Holly’s spine, triggering a memory from deep in her past.

  “Yes, at the Jingle Bell Theater. We’re on it now.”

  “Meeting?” Holly mouthed at Everley and Alaska. They shrugged.

  “At noon, please. I’d like to get this cleared up before we leave.” There was that voice again. Like honey dripping in June.

  “Of course. The town will all be there to listen. Now are you sure we can’t persuade you to stay here at the Inn? We have some very beautiful suites. At no cost to you, of course.” Uncle Noel chuckled. “And our chef does cook a fine dinner.”

  “We already have accommodations. Just out of town.” A different voice. Female. It had to be the second of the three from Garner or Gurner or whatever they were called.

  “And we’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow.” The third voice. “I have to be back for my kid’s Christmas show.”

  “I understand. But if you need anything at all, just call.”

&
nbsp; “And if you change your mind about dinner, I’d be happy to host you.” That was Holly’s mom. “After all, you’re giving us a heck of a lot of money.”

  Everley pretended to vomit, right as the door opened fully. She almost dislocated her arm at the speed in which she moved her fingers from between her lips.

  Uncle Noel was the first to step out of the conference room. He did a double take when he saw his three nieces standing there, all eyes on him.

  “Uncle Noel.” Holly’s smile was tight. “We thought you were in Florida.”

  “Where all the lizards are,” Everley cough-mumbled, muffling her voice with her hands.

  “I’m only here for a few days. To tie up a few loose ends.” His eyes cooly appraised them. “Is there something you need?”

  “Oh no. We’re just hanging around with Alaska while she works.” Everley flashed him a bright smile.

  “Girls, I didn’t know you were here.” Alaska and Everley’s father followed his older brother out of the conference room. At least he looked embarrassed to be caught. He quickly hugged his daughters before taking a step back. “I left your mom in Florida. She would have come if she knew everybody was here.”

  “I work here, Daddy,” Alaska pointed out.

  “And I called you last week. You didn’t return my messages.” Everley raised her eyebrows at him.

  “Yes, well, it’s just a flying visit. I’ll be going back home very soon. Let’s arrange a video call some time.” He couldn’t meet their eyes. “I should be going. I need to… ah… make some calls.” He shuffled over to the other side of the lobby and turned his back toward the girls.

  “Well at least he has the good grace to be ashamed,” Everley murmured.

  But Holly didn’t reply because a pair of cool blue eyes caught hers. Her mother was looking as beautiful as ever. Though she was fifty years old, she could pass for at least fifteen years younger. Her blonde hair was captured at the nape of her neck in a chignon, and her svelte body was encased in a black silk designer dress.