Chapter Seventeen
To say breakfast had been awkward was an understatement.
Derek had made no effort to hide his irritation at having his loan denied.
Maybe you could spend more time with them…
At the memory of Amber’s words, Michael had a hard time hiding his irritation at Derek, too. But he’d shut up on that subject, both last night and at breakfast. In the long run, seeing his stepbrother’s true colors would give Amber a better idea of what he’d meant about his family.
He was almost glad when Derek insisted on driving down to the valley alone.
“I need my wheels, man. You never know when something might come up.” He grinned. “Like maybe you’ll need me to pick up some stuff for the auction.”
“That’s nice of you to volunteer,” Amber told him. “And I need to take my own car today, too. I have some errands to run, and later, I’ll have to drop Penny off at a friend’s house. My mom and dad will be as busy as we are this afternoon and at the ball tonight.”
“Your whole family’s going to be there, right?” Raymond asked.
“Oh, yes,” she said with a smile. “None of us would miss it.”
Both Raymond and Lee looked happy at hearing her answer.
Michael had been less happy about losing the chance to ride alone with her and Penny. He’d taken the two younger boys along with him. In convoy, they’d headed down the mountain and into Snowflake Valley.
Callie and her teacher friends had taken the first shift at the community center. He and Amber—and the boys—were all free until after lunch.
They agreed to meet at the local arcade. Not too long after he’d arrived with the boys, Amber showed up, with both her brothers along for the ride.
“I should have guessed,” he told her. “Even the games here have a holiday theme. Little kids fishing for Christmas ornaments instead of goldfish. Playing ‘Submerge the Santa’ instead of ‘Dunk the Clown.’ And nowhere else but in Snowflake Valley would they think of this.” He gestured at what should have been the bottle toss. In this town, players tried to settle plastic wreaths around pint-sized pine trees.
“What do you think,” Amber asked. “Are you ready to give it a shot?”
“Why not?” He handed over a couple of dollars and received a handful of wreaths. They made him think of the medallion and ribbon he had won yesterday, then given to Amber.
The trees made him think of twinkling lights reflecting in golden-brown hair.
Everything in this town reminded him of Amber and Christmas and family and other things he didn’t want to think about. But there was no getting away from any of those things today.
He tossed a wreath and watched it bounce off the star on top of a tree. Luckily, Amber had turned to talk to one of Callie’s teacher friends.
A few feet away, Raymond and Lee stood talking with Nick.
“Sorry about him putting you and Mr. Barnett and Michael on the spot last night,” Raymond said.
“Yeah, me, too,” Lee said. “He’s a real jerk sometimes.”
They were apologizing to Nick for Derek’s behavior, the same way he’d done to Amber after Derek’s crack about her. He didn’t like seeing the boys’ embarrassment. He didn’t like knowing they felt the need to take on that responsibility. But he respected them for stepping up.
“No worries,” Nick told them. “I may not have brothers or sisters, but I know you’ve got to take the bad with the good in a family. Or, from what I can tell from the Barnetts, you can just focus on the good.”
“Works for me.” Raymond walked off with Nick.
Michael turned back to the game.
Lee moved up to stand beside him. He held several of the wreaths. Laughing, he shook his head. “I’m not having much luck with this one.”
“It’s harder than it looks,” Michael agreed. That was true for too many things in life. He thought of something else Amber had said last night. Not about Derek but a compliment regarding his younger brothers. “You and Raymond did some good work yesterday, helping out with setting up for the auction. Thanks.”
“No problem.” Lee tossed a wreath that went wide, then said, “Hey, Michael…”
“What’s up?”
He shrugged. “Just wanted to say thanks to you, too. Raymond and I weren’t sure you’d want us coming here, but Derek said you wouldn’t mind putting us up.”
Exactly what freeloader Derek would say. He skipped over that fact, as well as mentioning any specific names, and went to the important part. “I’m glad you came.”
Lee grinned. “Me, too.”
“If you stick around a few days, we can do some skiing.”
“We have to leave tomorrow to get back for school. Maybe some other time?” Lee sounded hopeful.
“Yeah, that would be good.” He’d forgotten he wouldn’t be around that long himself. The thought didn’t sit right. Probably because he’d be sitting behind a desk again, doing his paper-pushing job. But he’d arrange another ski trip at the lodge, and it wouldn’t be too long before he’d be back in Snowflake Valley. That thought didn’t bother him at all.
He’d meant his offer to Lee, and he’d been happy to hear the boy’s hopeful tone. Didn’t mean he’d get all sappy and big brotherly, looking back fondly at the days he had changed Raymond and Lee’s diapers on a regular basis. The truth, though…Amber’s comments about the boys had made him do some thinking. Some remembering.
He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told her about Carmen bailing out her older sons, his stepbrothers. But the two youngest boys, his half-brothers, had always caused less trouble than the rest. Maybe Amber was right, and his job taking care of them as kids had made a difference.
Or maybe he’d just let her optimism get to him.
And it wasn’t only Amber.
He’d tried to hang onto his belief that families were nothing but trouble. Instead, she and her parents and brothers and sisters had shown him how supportive and loving a family could be. As Nick had said to the boys a few minutes ago, the Barnetts focused on the positive.
He was beginning to believe they had the right idea.
His next wreath clattered to the table and bounced up against one of the trees. He turned to Lee. “That long weekend you’re off from school in February. We’ll still have plenty of snow here.” We’ll? He shoved the thought aside. “Plan to come up with me then. I’ll put it on my schedule.”
“Me, too,” Lee said. “I’ll go find Raymond and tell him.”
“Do that.”
Lee walked away. Smiling, Michael tossed his last wreath and watched it settle into place around a star-topped tree. He looked in Amber’s direction.
Her conversation had ended. She eyed him, her lips curving gently. “See, it’s not so hard, is it?”
“You don’t think so? Why don’t you give it a try?”
“I’m not talking about tossing a wreath,” she said softly. “And you know it.”
She had overheard his conversation with Lee. Shrugging, he glanced at the wall display of prizes. “Go ahead and take your pick.”
“No, thanks. You’ve already given me a gift.”
“The medal and dessert? That was yesterday. Today’s a new day.”
“That’s not what I meant. Although you’re right about it being a new day.” She gave him the gift of her brilliant smile.
He smiled back. Then he looked at the wall again and nodded to the man behind the counter. “I’ll take the one on the second shelf, far left.” The man handed him the small bean-filled doll. Michael held it up to show Amber. “Think Penny will like it?”
“She’ll love it. It’s a Santa.” Her smile grew as broad as the doll’s. “I’ll keep it for her Christmas collection.”
Of course. He thought he’d given her something special for the baby. But naturally a mom like Amber, who lived for the holiday, would have her daughter covered. “I should have known she would already have a Christmas collection.”
She blushed. “Well, actually…this will be the first item in it.”
“Good. We’ve all got to start somewhere.” He handed her the Santa, then couldn’t resist dropping a kiss on her cheek.
…
After lunch, they reported to the community center to work the final hours of the silent auction. Once it had closed, the crew split up, half to check the bids and draw the names of the winners. The other half of the crew began cleaning and rearranging the room for tonight.
Amber helped set aside the prizes in a back room, where they would stay until claimed. The auction had been a huge success. She was thrilled for both Callie and the elementary school.
She was also thrilled for herself. This morning, between Michael’s conversation with Lee and the gift he’d won for Penny, he had made so much progress toward accepting family and Christmas.
He might not know it, but the magic of Snowflake Valley was settling on him like the first snowflakes of the season.
She desperately needed some of that magic, too. The clock was ticking. Soon, Michael would leave town. But she still had some time. And she still had tonight to look forward to…
In only a few hours, she would be at the Snow Ball. When the crowd counted down to midnight, she wanted to be in Michael’s arms. That meant more to her than anything. More than the possibility of winning the Snow Ball Queen crown.
I don’t know about me, but Amber’s a sure win for Queen.
She smiled. Michael had said that at the skating rink. And, growing up, she’d coveted that crown. But now winning one seemed so much less important. For her. And even for Michael.
Since he had agreed to run for Snow Ball King, she’d seen him in conversation with Mayor Corrigan several times, and at least once with almost every member of the town council. They liked Michael for himself. Whether or not he became King, she felt sure he would get his contract.
Whether or not he won didn’t matter to her, either. He’d still be her Prince Charming.
For now, she had the pleasure of watching her prince from across the room. Once in a while, she caught him looking in her direction. Every glance kicked up her anticipation.
On a break, she found him in the community center’s kitchen.
“Lemonade?” He handed her the paper cup he was holding, then filled another one for himself. “So, what time’s the dance tonight?”
“It starts at eight, but I’ll have to be here early. I’ll go back up to the lodge before then to get ready and get into my dress.”
“A dress?”
“Yes. Why so surprised?”
“Maybe because I’ve never seen you wear one before. But you can bet that’s something I’ll be wanting to see tonight.”
She smiled up at him. A warm cozy feeling settled inside her at knowing he would be thinking of her. That he might be looking forward to the ball as much as she was.
Raymond and Lee entered the kitchen. As they approached, the sight of their wooden expressions made her smile slip away.
Michael must have noticed their faces, too. “What’s going on?”
“We’re leaving,” Lee said.
He frowned. “I thought you were staying for the dance tonight and heading out in the morning.”
“Derek wants to go home now. On the radio, they said the storm front passed, and he wants to get going before another one hits. He’s got the truck pulled around to the front of the building.”
“I see.” Michael dropped the crumpled cup in the trash. “What about your stuff?”
“We loaded everything into the truck after breakfast this morning,” Raymond admitted. “He said after he yelled at you last night, you’d kick us out sometime today, anyway.”
“That would never happen. You believed him?”
“No,” Lee protested. “But he’s our ride home.”
“You don’t need to miss the party. I can arrange flights for you two tomorrow.”
“That’s okay,” Raymond said. “We’d better head back with him, or he’ll probably get lost on the way.”
“And he…” Lee hesitated, then said in a rush, “He said he doesn’t want to talk to you. He didn’t want us to tell you we were leaving. But we told him we had to say good-bye to you and Amber and the rest of the Barnetts.”
“Good for you.” Michael shook hands with them both. “Don’t forget we’re on for the ski party in February. I’ll be in touch to make arrangements.”
You won’t need to rely on Derek for a ride.
Amber could hear the words Michael had been too kind to say.
As the boys headed across the room toward Lyssa and Nick, she slipped her arm through Michael’s. “You should be proud of them for coming back in to say good-bye,” she told him quietly. “As proud of them as I am of you.”
“Me? For what?”
“For not letting Derek get to you. For complimenting Raymond and Lee. And most of all, for not going back on your promise to them.”
“If it hadn’t been for you, I might not even have made that promise.”
“And I didn’t even have to dare you.”
His smile made her insides tremble. “No, you didn’t.” His kiss left her head swimming. The tang of lemonade mixed with the taste of Michael. Forget lightheaded. She was ready for a good old-fashioned faint, right into his arms. “Are you blaming me for your promise?”
“Does this look like blame? I’m thanking you.”
He kissed her again, and she wished she had the nerve to respond the way she had at the skating rink. But she didn’t. Not here. Not now, in front of so many friends and family. Not when that response of hers had left her melting like a sun-warmed snowman. Later though… “You can thank me again any time,” she said with a laugh.
One of the teachers waved to Michael. “We’ve got reinforcements on the drinks. Want to give me a hand?”
“Sure.”
She watched the men lift a huge metal cooler and set it on the countertop. Mental note. The coolers would have to be refilled for the party tonight. Along with the soft drinks she had mentioned to Michael, they would have sweet tea and lemonade.
Plenty of lemonade. She licked her lip.
Callie entered the kitchen doorway and paused, looking their way. She was smiling, but Amber tensed. Just as with Michael’s brothers, she saw the stiffness in that expression. Michael had noticed her noticing now, too.
“I’d better go see what’s up,” she murmured.
Before she could reach the doorway, Callie turned away, heading across the main room and then down the hall to the community center’s back office. Amber followed, trying to walk casually. She passed the room where they had stored the auction prizes, then made her way to the office.
Callie stood beside the desk. Lyssa had taken the seat behind it.
One look at their faces made Amber’s heart sink.
…
As Michael grabbed another cup of lemonade, one of the teachers stopped to wish him good luck in the competition. Even before the man had turned away, Michael’s thoughts flew to Amber and what she’d look like wearing a crown. What that dress of hers would look like. How many times he’d get to dance with her.
She had gone down the hall after that unspoken summons from her sister. Callie had seemed calm enough. But something about her manner reminded him of his brothers when they’d come to deliver their bad news. And Amber had stayed by his side while he received it.
He tossed the empty cup in the trash and headed across the room. He’d made it halfway down the hall when she came out of the office. Her shaken expression made him rest a steadying hand on her shoulder. “What is it?”
She shot a look past him, then motioned toward the storage room. Inside, she closed the door and turned to him, her eyes misty. “We’re missing money from the auction.”
A fist seemed to slam into his gut. No wonder Derek was in such a hurry to get away. “All of it?”
“We haven’t taken it all in yet. There are some coins left, and a pile of checks from local people. But the rest of what we collected so far is gone.”
“Have you called the police?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Callie knows making this public would spoil the night and probably the whole festival.”
And for Amber it would take away some of the magic of Snowflake Valley.
“I’ll make good on the money,” he said.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s not a case of have to, it’s want to. Thanks to you and your family, I…I’ve been involved with this auction from the beginning. I’m just as invested in the outcome as you all are.” He forced a grin. “And I worked just as hard as everyone else did.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to take money out of your own pocket.”
“Why not? I told you that’s where my heart is. In my wallet. Let’s just call it a donation.”
She blinked, then looked away.
When he got his hands on his thieving, freeloading stepbrother… “It was Derek,” he said flatly.
“You can’t know that,” she said, her voice soft.
“I do know it.”
“We can’t accuse anyone without proof.”
“I’m telling you, it was Derek. He was ticked off because I refused to give him another handout last night. And it’s my fault he was here in Snowflake Valley to begin with.”
“No, it’s mine.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He called the lodge the other day,” she said with obvious reluctance. “I told him about the festival.”
“You didn’t think to mention the call to me?”
“He told me not to.”
“And you take orders from him?” He struggled to keep his breathing steady. Just the thought of what she had done, when she knew how he felt… “I’m your boss, remember? The owner of that lodge. And you invited guests to drop in—”
“No, I—”
“—and worse, you set up that unwanted reunion.”
“I didn’t set it up.” Her voice faltered. “But I admit, I had hoped—”
“I know what you hoped, but it didn’t happen. And it’s never going to happen. As I keep telling you, all families are not like yours.” Holding back a sigh, he shoved his hand through his hair. “Your sisters, your brothers, your parents—they all see me as a person. The way you do. My family sees me as a handy source of income.”
“That’s not true. Look at Raymond and Lee. They didn’t mention coming back to the valley for a ski party. You did. They don’t want anything from you, except the chance to be with you. Not everyone’s like Derek.”
This time, he did sigh. “You don’t get it. You can’t. You didn’t grow up in a family like mine. We can debate this for the rest of our lives. But we can’t change it. Or the real problem here. And we both know it.” He reached toward her, then let his hand drop. “You believe in things that I don’t. Christmas and holidays and magic and family.”
“And you,” she said softly. “I believe in you. I can’t change that, either.”
“Don’t think about me. Think about yourself. And Penny.”
Her family of two. One he couldn’t make a family of three, no matter how much he might want to be with her. Not with his history.
Whether she had engineered his family reunion—or would admit to it—didn’t matter, either. She had hoped for it, ignoring everything he’d told her. He should’ve trusted his gut all along.
Amber lived in a fantasy town a world apart from his reality. And considering everything she loved and believed in, getting more involved with her might work for the short-term. For a few weeks, they’d do fine. But the Barnetts would take him in—hadn’t they already?—and soon holiday would pile on holiday, then birthday on birthday. The family events would only remind Amber of the kids she wanted to have. Would only drag up old memories he’d spent years trying to outrun.
They’d both be better off if this fake relationship ended now.
But, unable to say those words, he yanked open the door and left the room.