Gabe was trying to maneuver himself on his crutches, clearly wanting to put himself between Simon and Holly despite his injury. Trinity pressed against Holly’s side, her eyes filled with confusion.
Holly found her voice, and she was grateful when it came out strong and clear. “You need to leave.”
Simon opened his mouth to respond, but Gabe cut him off. “You heard my mother. We have nothing to say to either of you. Now leave.”
Father and son stared at each other across the lobby. Simon’s expression shifted. Holly knew that look. He was calculating, deciding that he wouldn’t win this confrontation tonight. Simon had always been good at tactical retreats, at knowing when to push and when to pull back and regroup.
“We’ll be in touch through proper channels,” Simon said, his voice cool and professional. Like this was just business. Like he wasn’t trying to take away the Christmas family’s home that had been in their family for generations.
They turned toward the door, but Simon paused. He looked back at Holly, and there was something in his expression that made her skin crawl. She noticed Simon was about to say something, but then thought better of it. Then they were gone, the door closing behind them with a soft click thatseemed too quiet for the magnitude of what had just happened.
The tension didn’t release with their departure. If anything, it intensified.
Charlie appeared from the library with Logan right behind her.
“Did I hear Simon’s voice?” Charlie demanded, her brow creasing in confusion.
Holly filled them in quickly that Simon and Terry were the attorney and agent for the mystery client. They were here to acquire the inn.
Charlie’s expression shifted into the focused intensity Holly recognized. Her sister was now in full lawyer mode. “Don’t speak to either of them without me present,” Charlie said, looking at everyone in the lobby. “I mean it. No contact whatsoever.”
Logan was already thinking tactically. “Now that we know who the agent and attorney are, it should make finding the actual client easier. They’ll have filed paperwork, disclosure forms.”
Charlie shook her head. “Simon’s as cagey about his clientele as Terry is about hers. They’ll have covered their tracks well. But at least now we know who’s representing the development company.”
Christopher asked what they needed from him, clearly ready to help however necessary.
“Go be with Isabella and Maddy,” Charlie told him. “We’ll catch you up later.”
Christopher looked reluctant but nodded and headed toward the door.
Logan was already pulling out his phone. “I’ll start digging into their recent filings, corporate connections, and any paper trail we can find.”
“I mean it, Holly. No contact with Simon or Terry.” Charlie turned to her sister, her expression serious. “Not even to discuss divorce papers. Do you understand me? All communication goes through me.”
Holly nodded. “I understand.”
“Agreed,” Jack answered. “We will all reconvene tomorrow if Charlie and Logan find anything.”
“Are you sure, Dad?” Jane glanced at her father.
“I’m sure,” Jack said. “Let’s not let them spoil our plans.” His eyes moved to Holly, making her heart skip a beat.
The group began to slowly disperse, each processing what had just happened in their own way.
Gabe and Trinity were heading toward the dining room for dinner. They’d planned to watch Christmas movies in Gabe and Christopher’s suite afterward. Trinity was going to stay in Christopher’s room since he was at Isabella’s for the night.
Holly and Jack had a dinner reservation in St. Augustine. They’d made it that morning while they had beenworking on a restoration project at the inn. But that was before the chaos, both of them looking forward to time alone together. Now it felt weighted with everything that had just happened.
There was a moment when everyone went their separate ways, the family scattering after rallying together. Holly caught Jack’s expression. He looked troubled, and he had a right to be. It made her stomach clench with worry.
This was more evident as they walked toward his pickup truck. Both were quiet as they crossed the parking lot.
The first few minutes of the drive were silent. Jack focused on the road, his hands steady on the wheel. Holly stared out the window, her mind still reeling from Simon and Terry’s appearance.
That pamphlet of the Christmas Inn in Simon’s drawer made sense now. Simon hadn’t been planning a vacation. He’d been researching the inn as a potential acquisition target. And Holly had inadvertently walked her family and herself right into the middle of his business scheme.
What an awful mess. Holly had taken Trinity and Charlie away from Miami to have a magical Christmas as the inn had promised, and right up until a few moments ago, they were all healing and having a good time.
