Mary returned to the Clark Creek B&B to answer some emails that had come in from more potential sponsors about the parade. She’d seen the barrage of new messages loading on her phone, but needed her computer notes in front of her before responding. She’d also had more groups apply to enter floats in the parade, which was fantastic. She’d started a second spreadsheet to help keep all the information straight.
Once she’d taken care of that bit of work, she’d head into town for dinner. Several restaurants on Main Street were within walking distance, and she’d seen a cool-looking place, Taverna Italiana, that looked fun. Mary was in the mood for pasta. Something hearty like lasagna would be excellent.
She parked behind the inn and came in the back door, like Marshall had instructed her to do. She passed him in the downstairs hall, which had two large suites behind the common living areas. Marshall’s private quarters were upstairs, overlooking the backyard.
He carried a chilled champagne bucket, wrapped in a towel and loaded with a corked bottle of bubbly. He’d secured a box of designer chocolate truffles between his side and his elbow. He could barely reach the knob on the guest room door, so Mary opened it for him. She’d seen Jeremy making up the suite earlier, and he’d said new guests were coming in this evening.
“Thanks, Mary,” Marshall said.
She smiled at her gregarious host, happy to help. “Champagne,” she said. “Ooh-la-la.”
But the champagne and chocolates were only the half of it. The huge gas fireplace on the far side of the four-poster bed had been turned on, its flames flickering softly. A small table sat in front of the hearth, covered with a linen tablecloth and complemented by two carved wooden chairs with cushiony seats. On the table sat a gorgeous vase of dark red roses, two champagne flutes, and a carafe of ice water, as well as a bottle of red wine and a delicious-looking fruit and cheese platter. A separate plate of crackers sat off to one side.
“Whoa,” she said, impressed. “Fancy.”
“The Taylors are arriving shortly,” Marshall said. “Gerald texted from the road. I asked him to give me a twenty-minute warning, so I could get everything set up.”
“This is fabulous! Is it a surprise, or do they know?”
“I wanted to surprise them. It’s their golden anniversary. Fifty years.”
“Oh my. That’s something.”
“They have dinner reservations later, but I thought they might enjoy a snack when they arrive.”
“How thoughtful.” From her vantage point, she could see through the open bathroom door. A wicker shelf held an array of plush towels, a candle and some matches. It stood next to an antique clawfoot tub. Most Romantic Getaway, for sure.
Marshall set the champagne bucket down on the table and placed the chocolate box on the bed with an envelope.
“Anniversary card?”
He smiled. “Gift certificate. For a horse-drawn sleigh ride at Nash’s farm.”
Mary caught her breath. That sounded fantastic and fabulously romantic. “He does those?”
“Not generally,” Marshall said. “Only for special occasions when I ask him. Leroy sets it up and does the driving.”
“Five decades is really special, all right,” Mary said.
“Yeah.” Marshall crossed his arms in front of him. “I love seeing people in love.”
She wondered about his background. “What did you do before running the inn?”
“I taught literature.”
Huh. “University level?”
“Yeah.”
“Ever think about writing?”
“No, I’d much rather read.” She wasn’t really surprised, given his large library. Guests were encouraged to peruse it and pick out a book or two to read by the library’s fireplace or in their rooms.
“What made you come back to Clark Creek?”
“I heard about this place being for sale.” He shifted on his feet. “And, well. There was someone.”
Mary didn’t know what to say. She felt like she’d trodden into invasive territory. He continued without her prompting.
“She was going to come with me.” He gestured around. “Help me run this place, but then…” He shrugged. “I guess she got cold feet. Said she had her doubts about being in the hospitality business.”
“Oh no.”
“It’s all right.” He smiled warmly. “Sometimes things work out the way they’re meant to. That’s what I like to believe.”
“Yeah,” Mary said. “Me too.”
“Anyway,” he said. “It’s been good being back and around my family.”
“I think it’s cool how you’re all so close.”
“You said you don’t have brothers and sisters? How about your folks?”
“My parents divorced when I was little, and my mom lives in Portland now.”
“Portland, Oregon? Do you see her much?”
“Not really, to tell you the truth. I might see more of her once I…” She trailed off. For some reason she felt weird mentioning her potential move to Marshall, or to anyone in Clark Creek, really. It wasn’t set in stone, anyway. She still had to earn that promotion. “I mean, after the holidays.”
“It’s a shame you can’t see her for Christmas,” he said.
“I’ll be all right.”
“Will you stay here?”
Mary hadn’t even considered the idea. She’d always assumed she’d leave after wrapping up the parade. “Probably not. I’ll need to head back to Richmond.”
She thought she saw sympathy in his eyes. “My mom and dad always have an extra place at their table.”
“Thanks, Marshall. You’re very kind.”
The inn’s front door chime sounded, and an older woman called out. “Hel-lo! Is anybody home?”
Marshall said, “That would be Geraldine.”
“Taylor? And her husband is Gerald?” Their similar-sounding names were super cute.
He grinned. “It seems they’re a great match.”
The next day, Mary was thrilled to see the town square so packed for the tree-lighting ceremony. She stood in the gazebo with Connie and Jesse observing the crowd.
“It’s just outstanding what you’ve done,” Connie said. “So fab, Mary.”
“And in one short week,” Jesse added from beside her.
“I did have a few days in Richmond before that,” Mary said modestly.
The were bundled up in their winter coats against the evening chill, but Mary felt warm inside. The parade hadn’t happened yet, but everything had worked out well so far, including with Evan. She scanned the faces by the skating rink and those of others milling about near the town tree. They hadn’t agreed to meet here or anything, but she still hoped to see him. He was on duty today, so his uniform should be easy to spot in the crowd.
She’d had a busy day. She’d spent her morning hours preparing an update for the mayor and the town council on the parade. There was so much to share and she’d wanted to provide some graphics with her presentation. When she’d delivered it at the courthouse this afternoon, the council members had stood and applauded. She’d cautioned them that her job wasn’t finished yet, but they’d indicated they had faith in her.
Mary felt happy that Evan was starting to share that faith, because—no matter what she’d tried to tell herself earlier—his opinion did matter to her. She wanted him to be as happy and excited about her parade on Christmas Avenue as she was. Okay, so maybe asking Evan to show “excitement” was a bit of a stretch, since he was a more subdued guy. But he was warming to the idea of her parade, as well as to her. There’d been no mistaking the look in his eyes when he’d asked her about going ice skating. Or putting up that mistletoe.
Itzel entered the gazebo, giving everyone a friendly smile. “Mary,” she said, “this is fantastic. Look at all the people here.”
“Yes, and these are only the locals,” Connie said.
Jesse nodded. “There will be more at the parade.”
“That’s going to be a lot of folks in Clark Creek,” Itzel commented.
“Yeah,” Mary said. “But we’re prepared.”
Marshall and Nash walked up next. Nash held Chloe’s hand, and the kid’s cheeks glowed as she glanced around. “Look at that big tree, Daddy,” she said, pointing.
“Yeah, I know,” he said. “I see it.”
“Evening, folks,” Marshall said when he, Nash and Chloe joined the group. Mary scanned the crowd again, but still didn’t see Evan.
Nash addressed his parents and Mary. “Quite a crowd. Kudos. When do the tree lights go on?”
Mary checked her watch, hoping the timer worked as well as Ken had promised it would. Dusk had fallen and shadows stretched across the town square in the lightly falling snow. “Ten minutes.” That’s when the gazebo lights would turn on, too.
Marshall spoke to Itzel. “Nice haircut,” he said, noticing the wispy short layers beneath her hat. “Suits you.”
“Thanks.” She fiddled with her hat, casting a sidelong glance at Nash, who gave her a puzzled look.
“You cut your hair?”
“Yeah, last week.”
Nash observed her carefully. “Oh. Looks nice.”
Chloe tugged at his hand. “Can Itzel take me skating again? It was fun.”
Nash smiled at his daughter. “Maybe some time.” His words didn’t sound like a commitment, and Itzel appeared as if she was trying hard not to frown. “Thanks for taking her, by the way,” Nash told Itzel. “That was really helpful.”
“No problem,” she said. “Always happy to help out.” Poor Itzel was desperately into Nash, and he hadn’t a clue. Connie, Jesse, and Marshall all picked up on the vibe and raised their eyebrows at each other.
Nash gestured around the gazebo and out across the snowy lawn. “Your mom would have loved all this,” he told Chloe. “She loved everything about winter and the holidays.”
“Mommy was a teacher!” Chloe reported proudly.
The adults smiled at her innocence. She had to have been so small when her mom passed, Mary wondered if she remembered much about her at all. It was good of Nash to keep her memory alive by bringing her up to his daughter.
“She liked to ride horses, too,” Chloe said. “She’s an angel now.” She smiled contentedly like she thought this was cool, and Itzel sniffed, digging a tissue from her pocket to wipe her eye.
Connie laid her hand on Itzel’s arm, and Itzel shook her head. “Allergies.”
Marshall met Mary’s eyes with a sad look, and she knew that he saw what was going on. While Nash was oblivious, nobody seemed more in tune with love than Marshall.
“You’re going to have a new neighbor soon,” Connie told Marshall, thankfully changing the subject.
“Yeah,” he said. “I saw the Sold sign on Miss Miller’s place. Do you have any notion who’s moving in?”
“In fact, I do.” She cast a look at Jesse and he nodded for her to continue. Connie apparently knew some sort of secret and Jesse was in on it. “She came down to the courthouse on Friday to take out a business license.”
“Business?” Nash questioned. “On Maple?”
Marshall stroked his beard.
“She’s opening another B&B,” Connie told her youngest son.
Beneath all that facial hair of his, Mary could have sworn Marshall paled. “What?”
“Probably not bad to have another lodging establishment in town,” Nash said.
“Especially at times like these, with a big parade coming,” Itzel chimed in, trying to back him up.
“She won’t be operational before the parade,” Jesse offered. “Not until after the first of the year.”
“Who is this woman?” Marshall asked. “Does she have experience?” Mary hadn’t thought Marshall would have a competitive nature, then she recalled his extreme pride in winning those three awards.
“Don’t know about the experience part,” Connie said, “but her name is Karen Johnson. She’s a little quiet but very nice, and on the younger side. Roughly your age.” She got a twinkle in her eye. “And single.”
Marshall furrowed his brow, and Mary could tell he wasn’t at all focused on the single part. Itzel noticed this too, and shot Mary a look.
“It’s fine to have another inn in town, of course,” Marshall said. “I only wish she wasn’t opening one right across the street from my place.”
“It’s a prime location,” Connie said.
Jesse concurred. “Close to dining and shopping.”
“Maybe your two businesses will be good for each other?” Itzel added hopefully.
Marshalled seemed lost in his private thoughts. “Yeah, maybe.”
Based on her worries about lodging and the parade, Mary conceded that Clark Creek probably could use at least one more inn, but she decided to keep her opinion to herself out of respect for Marshall, who was obviously still stewing about it.
“Look!” Chloe shouted, and the adults glanced around as the gazebo lights came on and the town tree lights shone out in the darkness, its decorations shimmering in the falling snow.
“Oh wow,” Itzel said. “Gorgeous.”
Those were Mary’s thoughts exactly, because that’s when she saw Evan standing beside Dennis and the town tree, his handsome face bathed in its glow as he stared up at the star on top. Then, slowly, as if he could feel her watching him, he turned his eyes to Mary, picking her out among the people in the illuminated gazebo.
He smiled and Mary’s heart took a happy leap. Evan was so kind and caring. Strong and capable. Dedicated to his family and to Clark Creek. The tiniest part of her couldn’t help but wish he felt an ounce of dedication toward her. She was going to be in so much trouble ice skating with him tomorrow, because there was no mistaking what was happening here.
She was falling for Evan Clark, and falling hard.