“Oh, Grams, thank you. Thank you.” The smile finally breaks free on my face as I reach for her hand to take. Again, she lifts it to stop me.
“I have no doubt you can handle the business on your own, you’ve proven that to me and the entire town these last several years. You’re a strong woman, Noelle, I raised you to be as such. Unfortunately, there’s one small thing you don’t have that is required for you to be able to become the owner of Holly House.” She pauses and holds my gaze for a moment that feels long enough to last a year. My heart is beating so loud behind my chest that I swear she and everyone else in town can hear it.
“What’s that, Grams? I’ll do anything you ask of me, youknow how much I love this place. I want to keep it in the family like you did. Anything, I’ll do anything.”
“A husband.”
My face instantly falls at the two words that have just fallen from her lips.
“Awhat?” I mutter, feeling my shoulders slump at the same time.
“You need to have a husband. I know, it’s old fashioned, but it isn’t my rule in the first place. Holly House has been passed down through three generations of Holly’s, each time going to amarriedcouple. My parents inherited it and passed it to me once I was married and I intended to pass it to your parents when they decided they wanted it. Now, it’s time to pass it to you.”
“So long as I have a husband?” I confirm. My face is contorted from a mixture of shock and horror.
She simply smiles at me and nods. “So long as you have a husband.”
“But, Grams,” I sputter. “I’m doing just fine on my own, you said it yourself. You raised me to be independent and I’m doing a good job running this place without anyone’s help.”
“And I have no doubt that youcanrun this place, even run it better than I ever did, on your own. But I promise you, Noelle, there’s going to be days when you’re going to want someone in your corner to help you through the hard times. Days where you will want a partner to lean on.”
Am I tilting or something? What’s with everyone telling me I need someone to help me out or someone to lean on today?
“That’s why I have Belle, she helps me out all the time,” I explain, waving my hand in the direction of the front desk. Grams won’t hear it.
“Belle is a fine friend, but in order to become the owner of Holly House, you must have a husband. It’s written into the will and the only way you can become the new owner.”
“What happens if I don’t get married?” I ask.
“Well, I guess I would have to consider selling.”
“Selling?” I almost shout at her. The thought of her selling the inn makes me want to hurl.
“I’m far too old to run this place much longer and I’d hoped by now you’d be able to take it on. The only other option is to sell the place to a suitable owner who can take it over.”
“But—” I try to object but I can’t come up with any kind of counter.
“Come now, Noelle, I know this is a shock. But you are almost thirty, it’s time you settle down and find someone to share your life with, don’t you think?”
I’m about to argue that I’ve been fine on my own all this time but I bite back my words when our breakfast is delivered to our table. Without hesitating, she begins to eat and I know our conversation is over. I glance down at my food and the sinking feeling in my gut makes me not feel very hungry anymore. I look around the dining room and take in every part of the inn I can see. I love this place and have my heart set on calling it mine before the year’s over. Taking a deep breath, I finally pick up my fork and take a bite. This isn’t the hardest thing I’ve had to live through. And if I’ve been able to handle everything else life has thrown at me in the past, surely I can figure out my way around this too.
Seven days to find a new Frank.
Ninety days until Christmas.
And only ninety-one days to find a husband and get married so I can inherit the inn.
How hard can it be?
CHAPTER 3
Nick
“Nick Winters,” I answer the phone brusquely as I make my way back to my brownstone. It’s the second week of October and the weather is cooling off significantly. Before long, I’m going to have to make sure to pull out my knit caps and figure out where the hell my gloves are. Living on the Boston Harbor means winter comes early and strong. Being prepared is the most important step when it does. You’d think that after growing up in a place like Evergreen Hollow, I’d have a better understanding of where my winter clothes are but year after year I’m having to track them down. My gloves especially.
“Nicholas, what have I said about answering my calls like I’m some sort of business obligation?”
I chuckle and pull my phone away from my ear, smiling at the irritated tone of my mother’s voice.
