“You’re the only lodging in Poppy Creek?” Kat asked, speaking for the first time since her arrival.
“Officially, yes. And let me tell you, it can put quite the strain on two old-timers who’ve been running this place for nearly forty years. Although, Dolores Whittaker has been known to put up a guest or two in her large farmhouse. She lives by herself, you know. And I think she likes the company. Would you believe she does it all online? It’s amazing what you can do with technology these days. But I prefer to handle everything the old-fashioned way.”
She plucked a brass key from a wall of hooks behind her, passing it to Kat by the end of a green satin ribbon. “You’ll be staying in the Cedar Suite upstairs. It doesn’t face the garden, but you have a prime view of the forest, which looks lovely covered in snow. And we’re supposed to get a nice storm sometime this weekend. Not according to the weather station, of course. But Bill Tucker’s pig, Peggy Sue, has been accurately predicting snowstorms for years.”
“Unfortunately, I’ll only be staying one night.” For a fleeting moment, Kat regretted her brief visit. Since she’d lived her whole life on the coast of California, she’d never seen snow before.
“Oh, now that’s a shame.” Trudy made atsk-tsksound in tandem with a disappointed shake of her head. “Well, I’ll hold off on booking your room for the rest of the week in case you change your mind. Christmas in Poppy Creek is a magical time of year. You really can’t appreciate it unless you stay a few days, at least.”
Before Kat could respond, a loudtrillreverberated down the hallway.
Trudy clapped her hands, scattering a puff of flour. “Oh, heavens! I forgot all about the cookies.” Scampering from behind the desk, she said, “I’ll have George carry your bags up to your room. I’d love to stay and chat, but time waits for no man, as the saying goes.”
Something about the woman’s words resonated with Kat, but she wasn’t sure why. “I can carry my own bags, but thanks for the offer. You take care of those cookies.”
“Thank you, dear. Do come down once you’re settled in. We’re watchingWhite Christmastonight and we’d love for you to join us.” With a fluttering wave, Trudy scuttled down the hallway and disappeared from sight.
Lifting her bags off the floor, Kat smiled. Trudy was an interesting woman, to say the least, but Kat appreciated her warm, gregarious demeanor.
As she mounted the creaking staircase, admiring the eclectic assortment of artwork hanging on the wall, Trudy’s words echoed inside her head.
Time waits for no man….
Why did the phrase sound so familiar?
Juggling her belongings, she eased open the door to her suite. Her breath immediately caught in her throat. Directly across from the threshold, a fully decorated Christmas tree sparkled in front of an expansive bay window, its silvery lights glittering around the room like tiny prisms. The fragrant branches dispersed the most delightful aroma of fresh cedar, and Kat briefly closed her eyes, savoring the scent.
As her eyelids drifted open, she noticed two snug reading chairs arranged in front of a quaint potbelly stove. A queen-size canopy bed rested against the opposite wall, its thick quilt dotted with embroidered evergreen trees.
She set the shopping bags on the tufted bench at the foot of the bed before crossing the room to inspect an exquisite grandfather clock similar to one she’d seen in Penny’s apartment. Rather than numbers on the dial, the hands ticked past images depicting the various phases of the moon and sun.
As she studied the unusual design, Trudy’s words flooded her mind.
Time waits for no man.
Retrieving her cell phone from her coat pocket, Kat pulled up the photo she’d taken of the riddle.
The stars wait for no man.
That’s why it sounded so familiar! Her pulse quickened as the pieces started to fall into place.
The stars wait for no man, and neither does the sun. Once you think it’s over, it’s really just begun.
Each line could be referring to the passage of time. Which meant…
She hastily scrolled through her contacts, looking for the number Penny had programmed into her phone earlier, then remembered her date with Colt—the one her fiancé had attempted to turn into a double date.
While sweet, the offer had been grossly misguided. Not only did being around Penny elicit too many painful memories, but spending time with Jack evoked an emotion far worse…hope.
* * *
Grateful for his one remaining single friend, Jack welcomed Reed Hollis into his home with a boisterous grin, which broadened when he caught sight of the white paper bag in his hand. The Sadie’s Sweet Shop logo stamped on the front instantly made his mouth water and he snatched it from Reed’s grasp.
“What’d you bring?” The paper crinkled as Jack rooted around inside.
“All your favorites, don’t worry.” Reed shrugged out of his sherpa-lined coat, hanging it on a rustic hook by the front door. “I wasn’t sure if Grant would be home, so I brought enough for three of us.”
Jack shoved a pecan caramel square into his mouth, amused by Reed’s comment. Although Grant lived in the cozy guesthouse behind his cabin—which he’d originally built for his sister’s visits—he rarely saw him anymore. Ever since he got engaged, Grant spent most of his time with Eliza, Ben, and their dog, Vinny, basically using the guesthouse as a place to sleep. “It’s just you and me tonight. Two sad bachelors stuffing their faces with chocolate.”
