Chapter Six
There was plenty of noise coming from a room on the left side of the hallway, but Priscilla Hathaway shepherded Linnea straight past the open door, back to the wide vestibule by the front door and in through a semi-closed door to the right. Linnea blinked as she took in a cozy room, dominated by filled bookshelves, plump, cushion-covered love seats and a piano. There were only three occupants; Lacey, Nat, and a tall, dark man who, by the way Lacey was looking up at him, Linnea was pretty sure must be her fiancé.
She came to a stop, self-conscious as the three of them stopped their animated discussion and turned, as one, to stare at her.
“Just as I thought, my niece and nephew are hiding out in the den rather than making polite conversation with the other guests. Shame on you children.” But Priscilla’s fond smile belied her words. “Nat, Lacey, Zac”—her smile turned up a notch as she beamed at Zac—“Linnea is here.”
Linnea knew her smile must look fake, too wide and unconvincing. She gave a small wave, fighting the urge to tug at the skirt of her dress, to pull the clinging red wool away from her body. To hide.
“Hi,” Nat said softly and their eyes locked.
Linnea’s heart began to thump so loudly it was almost painful. What was she really doing here? Was coming to the party really for the girls or because she wanted to see Nat again? For him to see her in the dress that suddenly felt too tight, with her hair styled and her makeup on?
“Hello, Nat.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Linnea, I’m so glad you made it. This gorgeous man is my fiancé, Zac. He’s not much of a talker, more the brooding type.” Lacey bounded over to give Linnea a quick hug.
“I’m sure if you remember Lacey at all then you’ll appreciate that Zac doesn’t get much of an opportunity to talk,” Nat said and their eyes met again.
Linnea swallowed. There was a world in that look. A feeling of coming home, of familiar worlds yet unexplored.
She pulled her gaze away and smiled over at Lacey’s fiancé. “Hi, Zac, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Zac pushed himself up off the chair to take Linnea’s out-stretched hand. “Lacey tells me you just moved to everyone’s favorite town.”
“That’s right, my daughters and I returned to Marietta just under a couple of months ago.” She pulled a mock-frustrated face. “It feels like no time at all. I may have lived here once, but there’s been a lot of change. We’re still finding our feet.”
“How old are your daughters?” Lacey asked.
“Elsie just turned eight, Betsy is six.”
She caught sight of Nat’s face as she said the ages and tried not to wince at the surprise and shock she saw there as he obviously did the math. Linnea knew she would have been last on any potential teen pregnancy list; a scholarship, Ivy League student who barely dated? And Nat knew better than anyone how ambitious she had been, how she had had no intentions of settling down until her thirties, all her focus strictly on her career.
Instead, here she was, two years shy of thirty, well and truly settled and her own career dreams put aside. There was no use mourning what might have been—the instant Elsie had been laid in Linnea’s arms, she had given up all her regrets without a second’s thought. Her daughter was all that mattered.
If only Logan had felt the same way. Hadn’t tried to cling onto his old life then maybe she wouldn’t have to raise their daughters alone.
She tried another smile as she took a seat, gripping her drink tightly, trying not to glance over at Nat again, although every part of her was aware of every part of him.
A peal of laughter floated into the room from the hallway recalling her to her purpose for attending the party. She was here to socialize and instead she was hiding out in the cozy den, with people she already knew. Shouldn’t she be making more of an effort to start rebuilding her networks?
Lacey nodded as if reading her mind. “Yes, we should all be sociable and move into the living room and join the rest of the party, but I warn you, it’s safer in here.”
“Safer?”
“The aunts’ annual Thanksgiving party is always open season. Within thirty seconds you’ll be button-holed by some well-meaning relative of mine, or a neighbor who has known you since you were in your cradle, or a happily-settled schoolmate who will proceed to interrogate you to within an inch of your life. Have I set a date yet? What about children—I do know I’m not getting any younger, don’t I? How do I manage with Zac in a different state half the week? Am I sure I can trust him?” She shuddered. “Why do you think we escaped to the den? They all mean well, but once all the aunts’ social circle gets into one room it becomes a feeding frenzy.”
“What did they ask you?” Linnea smiled over at Nat and he winced.
“Will I ever settle down, I do know these boyish looks don’t last forever, don’t I? How do I feel knowing I’ve probably reached the peak of my career and what will I do next? It was brutal. But you’re tougher than me if you want to risk it.” The blue eyes twinkled a dare. He’d always enjoyed daring her to venture out of her comfort zone—and she’d always jumped at the challenge, glad of the opportunity to be someone other than reliable Linnea Olsen for a few short hours.
But she wasn’t biting this time. Older? Sure. Wiser? She hoped so. “I think I’d rather stay here with you, if that’s okay.” Linnea was used to intrusive questions, she’d been peppered with them ever since Logan died, some genuinely concerned, many curiosity masquerading as care, but she didn’t feel up to facing them today. Not after her busy morning and the conflicting feelings stirred up by her reunion with Nat.
“Of course. In fact…” Lacey turned to her, her blue eyes so disconcertingly like Nat’s, alight with excitement. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you. I’m a roving reporter for Meeting Montana, covering community events across the state. From next week onwards it’s Christmas all the way, and I thought I could finish the season with a live report from your concert. Children, Christmas songs—it’s perfect. What do you think?”
“Concert?” Nat leaned forward, eyes alight with interest and Lacey turned to him eagerly.
“Yes, Linnea is organizing a Christmas concert for all four schools together, to raise money for musical instruments and equipment. Isn’t that genius? The Graff is letting her have the ballroom to hold it. It’s going to look amazing.”
“Nothing changes.” Nat grinned at Linnea and she tried to summon a smile back. “Back in Marietta for five minutes and already pulling together fundraisers and events. I’ve lost track of how many times I was ordered to help out at school events and I only spent one year at school with you. How many people have been ordered into line this time? I might get a ticket. It’ll be fun watching them jump to obey!”
Linnea’s mouth had dried when Lacey first mentioned the concert—and the possibility of filming it. Now Nat’s affectionate teasing robbed her of the power of speech altogether and she shook her head, furiously aware that tears were a very real possibility. “I haven’t got—” She stopped as Nat, Lacey, and Zac gave her concerned looks. “There’s a lot to do still. I don’t know any details yet”
“But—” Lacey began, stopping abruptly when Zac nudged her meaningfully. “These things have a way of sorting themselves out.” She finished brightly. “That’s always half the fun.”
Usually, Linnea would agree, but this concert was so far from being fun it wasn’t even in the same state. “The truth is…” Linnea took a deep breath.
She was here to build networks, to try and establish herself back in Marietta. Surely Lacey would be a good person to confide in—after all, she knew everybody and everything in and around the town. And once upon a time Linnea had told Nat everything. Nearly everything.
“I was a little…” She searched for the right words. “Hasty.”
Nat’s lips twitched at the word. “Always the first to volunteer,” he murmured and Linnea couldn’t disagree.
“It’s worse. I didn’t just volunteer. I proposed the idea and offered to organize it.”
“Let me get this straight,” Nat said. “You just moved back, you had to take on your family business, your dad is sick, you’re a single mom and you thought it was a good idea to organize a concert single-handedly? In a couple of months?” He whistled. “You always did like a challenge…”
Although his tone was light, his words teasing, Nat’s eyes were full of sympathy and emboldened, Linnea tried to explain. To get the whole mess straight in her own head. “Elsie, my eldest, is struggling with my decision to move back. She’s only ever lived in Milchester, she went to kindergarten there, then school. All Logan’s family live there—their head office is one of the town’s biggest employers, so everyone knows who she is. It’s a very safe, familiar place for her.”
“I spent my whole childhood moving around. It’s not easy upping sticks and starting again, even when you’re used to it,” Lacey said.
“No. I do empathize with her with all my heart, but at the same time I really think this move is the right thing for all of us. I wouldn’t have made the decision if I didn’t. I just want her to give Marietta a chance.” She looked down at her hands. “What makes things a more complicated is that this time of year has always been really special. Logan’s family is very big on traditions—it’s less than an hour by train to the center of Manhattan so every Christmas there was ice-skating at the Rockefeller Center, a Broadway show, and dinner at the same restaurant. She feels that Christmas isn’t going to be Christmas this year without all those events and it’s breaking her heart.”
“But Marietta has loads of amazing Christmas traditions,” Lacey said. “The stroll is coming up, there’s the Christmas tree auction…”
“Absolutely! My plan is to give her new traditions, to help her realize that Christmas can be wonderful wherever you are. My family is Swedish so I am going to resurrect the Santa Lucia ceremony for the girls, and my dad has carved an awesome winter village which we’re going to add to every day of advent.”
“That sounds like a good plan.” The warm expression in Nat’s eyes warmed her through.
“Milchester always holds a concert on the last afternoon of the semester. It marks the start of the Christmas vacation. Kids from every school, kindergarten upwards take part, that’s what makes it so special. The whole town comes together. Elsie is a really keen singer and it’s the absolute highlight of her year—it was taking part in the concert two years ago which really helped her come to terms with Logan’s death. She was so distraught about missing it that I promised her we would have a concert right here in Marietta.”
“What a lovely idea, bridging her two homes like that.” Lacey leaned against Zac and smiled up at him with such love and trust that Linnea’s heart hurt just looking at them.
Would she ever have that kind of partnership again? Had she even had it during her marriage? It hadn’t been a bad marriage, but there had certainly been times when she had felt more alone than she would ever have believed possible while sharing a life with someone else.
She took a sip of the tart drink, trying to gather her thoughts. “I’ve helped organize it since Elsie started kindergarten, so I thought it would be pretty easy to just repeat the formula here. My role was always behind the scenes—tapping up local businesses for sponsorship, organizing the raffle, putting committees together to deal with costumes and refreshments. The music side was always looked after by the high school teachers. But it’s very different continuing a time-honored tradition to kicking one off. I don’t have the contacts here to start the committees I need—and there’s so much to do back at the orchard I don’t have the time to make the contacts. Worst of all, the high school doesn’t have anyone with the time to sort out the music. I have a venue, lots of kids signed up, and an excited daughter who is over the moon that she can take part in her usual concert, but I don’t have a theme, a musical director, and I have to work out sponsorship, costumes, and all the other details—with one month to go until the concert. If it wasn’t for Elsie, I would cancel it this year, but I just can’t let her down. She already feels that she can’t trust the adults in her life to keep their word…”
The words had just poured out of her. Linnea hadn’t even known just how stressed she was until she finished speaking. She’d been telling herself it was all fine for the last couple of weeks, reminding herself she organized events all the time and not one had ever gone horribly wrong yet—she always salvaged something. But this time, when it really mattered, when her own daughter’s trust and faith and happiness was at stake? This time Linnea didn’t think she could do it. Not alone.
And she was so alone.
She swallowed back the lump in her throat, forcing a bright smile onto her face. “I’m sorry, I’m just having a wobble, I’m sure I can manage.”
“Not alone you can’t,” Lacey said as Nat spoke up.
“I’ll take over the music.”
A sudden silence filled the room as all three turned and stared at Nat. “You?” Lacey managed finally. “What do you know about school concerts?”
“Not much, but I know about music. I can arrange, conduct, lead… I’m in town until the New Year anyway.”
“Nat, I can’t ask you to do that…” Linnea was torn between hope and apprehension.
Working with Nat? Was that really a wise idea? Not, she admitted as a she felt a speck of much-needed, optimism, that she had any alternative.
Nat gave her no time to dissuade him. “This time I volunteered.” His eyes gleamed. “See, I’m a reformed character, no co-opting required.
“Why don’t I take over the raffle and helping organize chaperons and stalls?” Lacey suggested.
Before Linnea could reply, Nat was nodding. “You know everyone so that makes sense. Zac, you can take on sponsorship; after your bake-off performance the town thinks you’re a fundraising hero. Besides”—Nat grinned at his sister’s fiancé—“you have that strong, silent, won’t take no for an answer vibe going on. The aunts and mom can tackle costumes. What else?”
Linnea flung her hands up to stop the flow of words. “Wait. I didn’t mean to dump the concert on you…”
“Linnea, you haven’t. You’re still overseeing it. We’re just your obedient minions, taking some of the responsibility of your shoulders.” Nat nodded towards the old piano, gleaming in a corner of the room. “Do you still play?”
“Play? I… a little.”
“Good, then you can help me with the arrangements. I’ll need an accompanist at the rehearsals.” The grin he flashed her was pure mischief. “I’ll bet you have an entire rehearsal schedule worked out if nothing else, admit it.”
All the words of protest died as Linnea looked from Nat to Lacey to Zac and saw not just acceptance, but enthusiasm. She needed help and here they were, offering it wholeheartedly. She leaned back in her chair, feeling a little of the tension slip away. Maybe she wasn’t alone after all. And that was the biggest relief of all. She swallowed her last vestiges of the old pride that wanted to insist that actually she could manage, thank you. Pushed back the Linnea who never admitted defeat and summoned a wobbly smile. “Thank you. Everyone. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. And I’m horribly out of practice, Nat but, yes, I’ll accompany you. If you need me to.”
Nat paused and turned, his blue eyes fixing on Linnea with an intensity that almost took her breath away, turning back the years, whisking her back to an enchanted evening by the lake. “If I need…” he began, a husky tinge to his voice. He stopped and inhaled. “Great. We’ll need to get together to look at some music. What are you thinking?”
Thinking? The look in Nat’s eyes when he said “need” had robbed Linnea of all thought. She did her best to pull her mind back to what really mattered—the concert. “We had a different theme every year in New York. I’m not sure what works best…”
“We’d better decide soon. When’s the first rehearsal?”
“Tuesday.”
“Right, I’ll see how many singers we actually have and what the standard is like and we’ll take it from there. Lacey, Zac, does that work for you.”
“Yes, sir.” Lacey gave a mock salute. “Sergeant Lacey reporting for duty, sir!”
Nat reached out to swat his sister and, as the two tussled, Linnea picked up her glass with trembling hands. She was so used to doing everything by herself it was difficult to hand over to anyone else—difficult and yet a huge relief. Strange that it was Nat helping her out. Not just because of their history, but because he’d never been the community-minded type before. Not unless she’d forced him into it. Which to be fair, she had several times. In fact, it was music that had brought them together. She had volunteered him to help her with a project in the retirement home. Not that she’d expected him to agree…
“Mommy, Mommy!” At the shout Linnea’s memories disappeared as Elsie and Betsy came flying into the room, their mouths sticky, their dark hair tumbling around their shoulders.
“Slow down, girls.” She put out a hand to steady them as they skidded to a stop. “Say hello to Miss Hathaway, Mr. Hathaway and…” She paused, realizing she had no idea what Zac’s surname was.
“Call me Lacey.” Lacey broke away from Nat and smiled at the girls. “And this is Zac and Nat. Now, let me guess, you must be Elsie, which makes you Betsy. Am I right?”
“How did you guess?” Betsy asked, round-eyed.
“Magic,” Lacey whispered.
But Elsie wasn’t to be sidetracked. “Mommy, can we make gingerbread houses for the Stroll? Please? I want to make a scary castle—with bats and trees and ghosts. Can I?”
“I… a house, absolutely. A castle might be a little too ambitious, Elsie, for our first attempt.”
“The lady said it would be okay.”
“Lady?” Linnea cursed herself as the excitement faded from her daughter’s eyes and her mouth began to assume its all-too familiar droop.
She shouldn’t have been so quick to curb her daughter’s ideas, terrifying as they were—she doubted she could manage the simplest of houses, let alone a gothic castle.
“I believe she means me.” An imposingly tall, elegant woman walked into the den as if she were on a Paris catwalk.
Elsie stepped away from Linnea and gazed up at the woman with imploring eyes.
“Hello, Mrs. Hathaway.” Linnea had always been rather in awe of Nat’s great-aunt; she had the kind of cutting-edge look that would turn heads on Madison Avenue let alone in Marietta.
Today she wore a jade silk jumpsuit teamed with a silver chain belt and the kind of heels guaranteed to break Linnea’s ankles if she ever dared wear them. Her hair was cut into a fierce, choppy bob, the ends dyed black and red, the rest a smooth silver.
“Patty, please, and it’s lovely to see you, Linnea. I’d love to give the girls a hand with their houses if that’s okay with you. Bring them over any evening next week.”
Linnea’s first instinct was to refuse, out of politeness, out of a need not to be beholden, out of the stubbornness she knew made life harder, her need to do everything herself, to excel. She had already practically begged for help from the younger Hathaways, she didn’t want to be more indebted to the family. But something stilled the refusal before she uttered it. She wanted to set down roots. She wanted the girls to set down roots. This would be a good place to start.