CHAPTER 1
Noelle
Ninety days till Christmas, which means there’s only ninety-one days until my grandmother finally retires and leaves the Holly House Inn to me.
Finally.
For as far back as I can remember, Grandma Mary has told me that on her eightieth birthday, which happens to be the day after Christmas, she would hand me the keys to the Holly House Inn and name me owner. And for the last twenty-five years of my life, I’ve been dreaming of the day of calling the inn mine. Ever since my fifth birthday and I came to live with her after my parents passed away in a car accident. They were on their way to come pick me up from spending the weekend with her. The weather was bad like it almost always is in Evergreen Hollow during that time of year. It was dark and a blizzard was blanketing the entire state of Vermont in a thick sheet of ice and snow. That paired with a deer running across the road ended in tragedy. Ever since then, I’ve lived with Grandma Mary.
Some might think that Christmas would be a sad time of year for me seeing as how my parents died just a few daysbefore the holiday. But it’s actually the opposite. Grandma Mary always did what she could to make Christmas special—to make it a time of remembering my parents instead of a time to mourn them. Anytime I think about Christmas I can’t help but smile at all the memories I have from this time of year. How, on my first Christmas here, Mary and several of the townspeople who had heard what happened came and opened gifts with me on Christmas morning. And how, every night during the twelve nights leading up to Christmas, we light a candle at the inn to remember my parents. Growing up in Evergreen Hollow wasn’t the most normal experience but I loved it more than anything.
Just like I love the inn more than anything.
Well, not anything,anything.
I shake my head as the voice pops into my head uninvited. My eyes focus on my reflection in the mirror in front of me as I get ready for the morning and I scowl at myself.
“Don’t you even go there, missy. Now is not the time to get soft. Now’s the time to prove yourself. To prove that you’re ready to take over the business like you’ve been wanting to do for years.Stay focused,” I whisper to myself, setting my makeup brush down. I lean into the mirror and give my cheeks a sharp pinch and quick slap before nodding at my own reflection, looking determined.
Standing from the vanity, I turn on my heels and look at myself in the full-length mirror across my bedroom. Fairy lights twinkle around the light-wood mirror as they do year-round while the sound of Christmas music lingers out of my computer. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s completely appropriate to listen to holiday music all year long. And once the ‘Ber months hit, there’s really nothing else I want to listen to anyway.
I scan my outfit and smile at how sharp I look. My emerald and red tartan patterned trousers hug my legs like a dream,leading your eye down to my favorite pair of double-strap red Mary Jane’s. I’ve topped the look with a crisp white button down and thin sweater as the weather is already starting to cool off outside. I slip a black velvet headband into my hair, pulling my bangs out of my face like Grams always did when I was small. I run my fingers through my dark brown hair and pull a few pieces forward on my shoulders. Standing tall, I lift my chin and take myself in before heading out to meet Grams for breakfast like she asked me to do.
“Noelle Holly, you were made for this.” I give myself a pep talk. “You’ve worked at the inn since you were fifteen and have proven to everyone, Grams included, that you can do this. You practically run the place now as it is, don’t over think it. This is the final stretch, this is what you’ve been working so hard for. This morning she’s finally going to tell you that the inn is yours like she’s been promising all these years.”
I brush my cardigan down, pulling the end of it straight in the mirror. My head tips to one side as I hyperfixate on the top of my sweater and button the top buttons closed. My nose pinches up at how stupid it looks and I immediately unbutton it again. Everything needs to be perfect when she tells me I’m finally taking over the inn. Including my outfit. My hands run down the tops of my thighs, smoothing out the already smooth fabric.
“Stop it,” I snap at myself, balling up my fists at my sides. “You’re fine. Leave already before you decide you hate your outfit and need to change.”
I hesitate for a moment and stare at myself when the thought pops into my head that I mightactuallyhate my outfit suddenly but force my feet to move away from the mirror before I start to change. I don’t have time to change; I need to get to the inn before Grams does so I can check in and make sure everything is running smoothly. I know I can trust Belle to manage without me but all the same. If I want toshow Grams I’m serious about taking over, I need to go above and beyond.
I pause the music streaming out of my computer before shutting it off and tucking it into my bag to take with me. Slinging it over my shoulder, I swipe my keys off my kitchen counter and head for the inn. Ready to start another day as manager of the Holly House Inn but even more ready to end the day as the futureownerof it instead.
CHAPTER 2
Noelle
With it being the end of September, the walk through town is cool and comfortable. Living in Vermont means getting four seasons a year. Sure, winter feels like it is three seasons long but that doesn’t bother me. I love when the first snow hits and everything is sparkly and new. There’s a softness that comes with the first snow that I always look forward to. Plus, winter clothes are the best clothes to shop for.
Evergreen Hollow has been my home now for twenty-five years. Ever since I came to live with Grams after my parents died. Sure, I left for college but as soon as I graduated, I came back. There’s a certain charm to this place that I can’t seem to stay away from. It’s the kind of small town where everyone knows everyone and we all look out for one another. Sometimes, that’s a good thing. Like when it’s your sixth birthday and people know you’ve been recently orphaned so the entire town throws you a birthday party. But it’s also annoying like when your high school sweetheart dumps you before leaving for college and the whole town is talking about it. I guess that’s what you get when you live the small town life.
“There she goes, off to tackle another day,” a friendly voice calls out. Turning to look at it, I smile when I see Carol, the town dance teacher and Grandma Mary’s best friend, waving at me from her studio door.
“Good morning, Ms. Carol.” I wave back with a smile.
“On your way to the inn?”
“Of course, where else would I be going?” I say back, pausing in the middle of the road to talk with her. Evergreen Hollow is small enough to where we don’t even need traffic lights so I’m not in any real danger standing in the middle of the road.
“Maybe on your way to find a man?” she jokes with a wicked look in her eye.
I brush her off with a wave of my hand.
“That’s a pretty archaic thing for someone like you to say, Ms. Carol. How many husbands have you had? Three?” I tease, trying to cover up the annoyance in my voice.
“Ahh, but at least I’vehada husband,” she retorts. “A woman of your standing needs a man to support her, to help her through life.”
“I’m doing just fine standing on my own, Ms. Carol. I’ll let ya know if I need a shoulder to lean on, though.” I wave a hand at her and continue towards the inn.
