“I think you’re right,” Holly said with a smile.
Charlie was next, emerging from the dressing room in a sleek emerald green gown that complemented her dark hair perfectly.
“Wow, Charlie,” Maddy said. “You look amazing!”
“You think?” Charlie asked, turning to see herself from different angles.
“Definitely,” Isabella confirmed. “That color is perfect on you.”
Isabella tried on several dresses before finally settling on a soft champagne-colored gown with delicate beading on the bodice.
“Christopher is going to lose his mind when he sees you in that,” Jane said with a knowing smile.
Isabella blushed but looked pleased.
With dresses selected and purchased, they moved on to the next stop: a Christmas shop where they picked up additional decorations for the lamp decorating event that evening. Holly found herself getting caught up in the excitement, selecting ribbons, ornaments, and little battery-operated tea lights.
“We should get some of these pine-scented candles,” Charlie suggested. “For the guest rooms.”
“Good idea,” Jane agreed, adding several to their basket.
They stopped for a quick lunch at a small café, squeezing around a table meant for four but somehow making it work for seven.
“I can’t believe the ball is in a few nights,” Trinity said, taking a bite of her sandwich. “It feels like we just got here, but also like we’ve been here forever.”
“I know what you mean,” Holly said. “So much has happened in sucha short time.”
“Are you happy we came?” Charlie asked Holly quietly.
Holly looked at her sister, then at Trinity chattering excitedly with Maddy and Jane. She thought about Jack and the inn and all they had accomplished in such a short time.
“Happier than I’ve been in years,” Holly said honestly.
After lunch, they hit a few more shops. Holly found small Christmas gifts for Jack, Jane, and Julie. Charlie picked up books for Logan and Gabe. Jane bought matching scarves for Trinity and Maddy.
By the time they made their way back to where they’d parked the shuttle, they were loaded down with shopping bags and laughing at some joke Maddy had told.
Christopher, Logan, and Gabe were already there, the back of the shuttle loaded with boxes that Holly assumed contained the lanterns.
“Successful shopping trip?” Christopher asked, eyeing all their bags.
“Very,” Isabella said, giving him a quick kiss. “You’ll see tomorrow night.”
They were loading everything into the shuttle when Charlie’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out and frowned slightly at the screen.
“Oh,” she said. “I have to meet someone in town. It’s client business. I’ll take a taxi back to the inn.”
“Are you sure?” Holly asked, immediately worried. “We can wait for you.”
“No, go ahead,” Charlie insisted. “This might take a while, and you all need to get back. The guests will be arriving soon.”
“I can go with you,” Logan offered. Charlie smiled and kissed his cheek. “No. I’m sorry, but it’s a client.”
“Call me if you need a ride back,” Jane said.
“I’ll come get you if you need me to,” Logan said before Jane could finish.
“I will,” Charlie promised.
