Nolan nodded as if expecting that. “I saw his truck out front. I hope I didn’t interrupt…”
“You didn’t,” she said quickly. She moved close enough to hand him the photo. “It’s not as nicely wrapped as the gift you gave me, but here. I found this and thought you might want it.”
When Nolan looked at the photo, his smile slipped. “That’s my mom.”
Julie tucked her hands in the pockets of her jeans. “She and your dad must have come to one of Gram’s Christmas Eve parties. I found that picture in an old album.”
Nolan grazed his thumb along the edge of the photograph. He said nothing. Maybe he couldn’t. When he looked up, she thought she noticed unshed tears in his eyes.
“Thank you. I… I really can’t thank you enough. I have to go give this to my dad. Maybe it’ll be what he needs to help him realize that memories of Mom are happy ones, not to be avoided. He was hurting when he threw out those old photos. But this…” Nolan carefully held the photo to his chest with one hand. “This could change everything.”
Julie opened her mouth, but before she could say anything in response, he swept her up in a hug. It was every bit as fierce as the one she’d given him earlier. Maybe more so. She hugged him back until he pulled away.
He was already sidling toward the door. Snowball, sensing the change, was on her feet and following after him. “I’m sorry to just up and leave like this…”
Julie waved him off. “Go.”
He left her smiling. She still felt the echo of Nolan’s arms around her.
And a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Stan wasn’t the only person in for a change this holiday season.
Chapter 28
Stan liked to keep busy at this time of year, as evidenced by the fact that Nolan found him hefting a pail of cleaning supplies after cleaning one of the client bathrooms. They hired a woman to do the cleaning for them. She must be on holiday—grinches though they were, Gramps and his dad didn’t deprive anyone of their vacation days.
Seeing Nolan, his dad stopped in his tracks and grunted. “Wanna give me a hand?” Stan wouldn’t admit it, but age was creeping up on him, too, especially in his hands, which had developed arthritis.
Nolan took the pail. “Do you have a minute? I want to show you something.”
“Sure. I could use a coffee break anyway.” Stan led the way to the kitchen, but Nolan stopped him just before the door.
“Wait. I have something for you.”
Stan paused in the doorway. Snowball, the traitor, was lounging on the tiles in front of the oven. Nolan had a chicken roasting in there that he should baste soon. When his dad turned to him, he put all thoughts of supper from his mind and instead gently removed the picture from his shirt pocket. He’d been careful not to crease it on the way home. Holding it, he could still smell a whiff of Julie’s strawberry shampoo.
Or maybe that smell was clinging to him. Hehadhugged her, after all. Twice. The first time, he couldn’t take credit for. She’d been so moved that he hadn’t been able to turn her away. But the second?
Don’t get attached.
Too late.
He knew there could be no future with her, but the feel of her in his arms had been worth the future pain he’d feel when she left. How far was Boston from here? Maybe they could manage something long-distance…
Stan cleared his throat.
Feeling the heat climb into his cheeks, Nolan looked down at the picture cupped in his palm. His mom looked so happy. It would kill him if Stan ripped this one up. It might be the last Christmas photo he would ever have of her.
He held it out to his dad, lump in his throat, and said thickly, “Please don’t destroy this one.”
Stan took the photo.
For a full minute, he didn’t say a word. His lips were pressed tight together. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. When he looked up, tears were gathered in the corners of his eyes, not that a man like his dad would ever admit it.
“Where did you get this?”
“Julie Green. She found it in one of the photo albums in the inn.” Nolan hesitated then ventured, “I didn’t remember that you and Mom went to any of the Cozy Holly Inn parties. I thought Gramps didn’t like Ida.”
The tension in Stan’s mouth went away. His mouth curved into a wistful smile. “You know your mom. She couldn’t pass up a Christmas party, and she loved everyone no matter what your grandfather’s feelings were. I swear we went to every single party thrown by any of her coworkers. And yes, the Cozy Holly Inn too. I remember this.”
