Lila

After talking to the owner of the house, Tom had worked out a rental agreement until their closing was final. They’d set that date for January, so in the meantime, they could move in—they just couldn’t make any major changes until the house was officially theirs.

At this point, anything was better than living at the Whitmore. If she had any sense, Lila would’ve gone back to Macon, but something kept her in Sweethaven. The magic of the holidays, maybe. Or the promise of being with her best friends.

Or the nagging thought that somehow she had to help Charlotte.

Tom pulled into the driveway of their new home and turned off the engine. “It’s almost ours.”

Lila admired the simplicity of the home. After the snowfall, it looked even more beautiful, and the views of the lake were spectacular.

“I may never go back to Georgia,” Lila said.

Tom laughed. “This cold isn’t getting to you?”

“I’m getting used to it.”

Tom led the way up the front walk and stopped when he reached the porch. “I’m glad we’re doing this,” he said. “It’s the perfect way to start a new chapter.”

“Definitely.” Lila smiled. She needed a new chapter.

Later that night, after they’d somewhat settled in, Lila watched Tom pack for his trip. He’d taken a couple of weeks off and wanted another one at Christmas, so Lila understood he had to go, but that didn’t make his leaving any easier.

“Maybe you should go stay with Adele while I’m gone,” Tom said, zipping his small suitcase closed.

She studied him in his pilot’s uniform and smiled. “Are you worried about me, Captain?”

He met her eyes. “I just hate that I have to leave you right now.”

Lila waved him off. “Are you kidding? You’d just be in the way. I’m going to have this place redecorated by the time you get back.”

Tom sat on the bed beside her. “Lila, I know you, and I know that as soon as I walk out that door you’re going to start moving furniture and hanging curtains and removing wallpaper.”

“Well, not in that order.”

“I’m serious. You need to be careful. You’re under enough stress as it is.”

She forced a smile. The truth was she wanted something to occupy her mind more than anything else. She didn’t want to question whether or not that day was the day she’d finally find it in her heart to forgive her parents for their phony life.

“Can I at least put up the Christmas tree?”

Tom stared at her. “Will you get someone to help you?”

“You worry too much.”

He kissed her and said good-bye, leaving her alone with the waning sunlight.

Hours later, Lila had finally gotten the prickly tree she and Tom had picked out the night before to stand upright in the stand. She’d strung lights and added ornaments, most of them new purchases from the Gingerbread House. She had brought a few of her favorites with her from home. She removed them from their careful packaging one by one, each with its own story, memories attached like a price tag to a new dress.

At the very bottom of the box, Lila found one more ornament, wrapped in white tissue paper. As she pulled off the paper, she uncovered her oldest ornament. Her father had given it to her when she was five. Unlike most parents who bought cartoon-inspired ornaments, her parents chose a Swarovski crystal heart with the words “Daddy’s Little Girl” etched inside.

Lila turned over the ornament in her hand as her mind drifted back to the happier times she’d had with her family. She had been so fortunate to grow up in a home where she wanted for nothing. And while Mama had been unbearable at times, Lila decided not to let that turn her cold. In this new chapter she’d purpose to treat other people the opposite of the way Mama did.

She hung the crystal on the tree, the weight of it bending the branch.

Her mind jumped to Charlotte. She sighed. Treating Charlotte the opposite of the way Mama would treat her meant treating her like her sister.

If she was serious about changing, then it was time to put the theory to the test.

Lila grabbed her purse, pulled on her coat and headed toward the car.

As she drove toward town, Lila called Charlotte to make sure she was still staying at the Whitmore.

“I’m still here.”

Lila could hear the sadness in her sister’s voice. “Have you been home at all?”

After a pause, Charlotte said, “No, but I’m packing up to head out tomorrow.”

Why did that make Lila sad?

“Can I stop by? I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Of course, I’ll come down.”

Poor Charlotte. Hanging around hoping that Daddy would change his mind. That Mama would loosen her grip.

Did Charlotte hope she’d finally get through to Daddy? Would Lila be that dedicated in fighting for her own child? Lila pulled in front of the Whitmore and parked the car. She walked up the icy walk just as the front door opened and Charlotte appeared in the doorway. “Lila?”

Before Lila could respond, her foot caught on a slick patch of ice. Like a kid falling down on the ice rink, Lila tumbled to the ground, crashing to the pavement, the cold, wet snow chilling her hands.

“Lila!” Charlotte rushed to her side. “Are you okay?”

Lila looked up at Charlotte, whose face looked pale even in the moonlight. “The baby.”

Charlotte gasped.

Lila let her head rest on the cold pavement, afraid to move. Afraid to find out that she’d lost another baby.

“It’s going to be okay.” Charlotte grabbed her phone and dialed 911. “Yes, I need an ambulance at the Whitmore Bed-and-Breakfast. It’s for—my sister—she’s pregnant and she just slipped on the ice.”

Charlotte listened to the voice on the other end of the line. “How far along are you?”

Lila could feel tears trickling down her cheeks. “Sixteen weeks.”

“She’s sixteen weeks.” Charlotte’s face fell. “Okay. We’ll keep her still.” She hung up and turned her attention to Lila. “I’m going to get you a blanket. Don’t move.”

Lila nodded. When Charlotte returned, she covered Lila with the comforter from her room. “Just stay still.”

“I can’t lose another baby,” Lila said.

Charlotte’s face went pale, then, as if she were putting on her brave face, she smiled. “You won’t. It’s going to be fine.”

But Lila knew her baby was at risk. She wasn’t far enough along to have the proper insulation to withstand a fall like the one she’d just taken. Already, she could tell her tail bone had been bruised.

After what seemed like an eternity, an ambulance—the only one in town—roared down the block, stopping in front of the bed-and-breakfast.

“I’m fine, I’m sure I’m fine,” Lila said. Charlotte had insisted she not move. She tucked the blankets around Lila and did her best to keep her warm. Now, two paramedics rushed toward them with a stretcher.

“Are you in pain?”

Lila nodded. “Just from where I fell. My backside.”

“Okay, we’re going to get you to the hospital,” one of the paramedics said. He pulled the blankets back. “They said you’re pregnant.”

Lila blinked back her tears, remembering the other babies she’d lost. So many times she’d almost been a mother. She thought this time would be different. This time, she’d told herself, it was okay to hope.

But as they lifted her into the ambulance, panic swept through her. She glanced at Charlotte, who stood under the street lamp, hands clasped in front of her like she was praying.

“Can she come with?” Lila asked the paramedic.

“If she hurries.” He glanced at Charlotte and motioned for her to get in the ambulance. She rushed in and sat beside Lila.

Lila closed her eyes. “I’m scared,” she said.

Charlotte took her hand. “It’s going to be okay.”

The siren sounded and they sped toward the hospital one town over. When they arrived, Lila was rushed inside where doctors and nurses threw around words like “miscarriage” as if they were part of their normal vocabulary.

“Can you call my husband? My friends?” Lila asked Charlotte as the doctor asked her to leave the room.

Charlotte nodded, took Lila’s phone and disappeared into the hallway, leaving Lila alone with her doctor, Dr. Simpson. She welcomed the familiar face. He’d taken over her care while she was in Sweethaven.

“Tell me what happened.”

A knot formed in her throat. “I slipped on the ice.”

“It’s pretty slick out there.” He lifted her shirt just above her belly and hooked her up to a fetal heart monitor.

“Is the baby okay?” she asked, swiping away a tear.

“I’m going to do an ultrasound and check the heart rate.” He gave her a reassuring smile.

The jelly he squirted on her belly came as a shock of cold, but in moments, she saw her baby’s face on the screen of the ultrasound. Emotion clogged her throat.

“Is it . . . ?” She closed her eyes, unable to imagine what would come next.

Then, like the sound of a bass drum, Lila heard the baby’s heartbeat, and it sounded strong.

She glanced at Dr. Simpson. He smiled at her.

“You’ve got a fighter in here. The heart rate sounds good.”

Relief washed over her as tears sprang to her eyes.

“I’m going to want to keep you overnight, but yes, it seems like the baby is doing fine. No need to panic.”

“Oh, thank God.”

Thank You, God.

“You need to wear better shoes if you’re going to go out in this weather,” Dr. Simpson said, looking at her heels. “Would you like to know what you’re having?”

Lila’s eyes shot to the screen, but she couldn’t make out where to look or what to look for. She saw a perfect head in profile, with the most beautiful nose and a hand up by the little face, but she couldn’t tell if she would soon hold a boy or a girl.

A knock on the door drew her attention away from the screen and Charlotte walked in. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, but Tom’s on the phone. He insisted I find out what was going on.”

Dr. Simpson smiled. “He’s out of town?”

Lila nodded. “Can I take the call?”

“Of course.”

“Honey?” She heard the panic in his voice.

“It’s okay. We’re fine.” Lila smiled through fresh tears and saw a look of relief wash over Charlotte’s face. “Listen to the heartbeat.” Lila held up the phone, so he could hear. “Dr. Simpson wants to know if we want to find out what we’re having.”

Lila glanced at Charlotte, who started to walk out. “No, Charlotte. Stay. Please.”

Her sister’s eyes widened and she closed the door, then moved closer to Lila.

“Tom, I’m going to put you on speaker.”

Dr. Simpson moved the ultrasound around until a new image popped up on the screen. “You sure you want to know?”

Lila smiled, then wiped away another tear. “Yes. Please.”

Charlotte took her hand and squeezed.

“Looks like you two are having . . . a boy,” the doctor said.

“A boy?”

Lila’s heart jumped. She thought it was a boy.

“Did you hear that, Tom? We’re going to have a son.”

She took the phone off speaker. “Tom?”

“I’m here,” he said, his voice cracking. “I’m just really happy.”

Lila closed her eyes and smiled. “We’re going to have a son.” Tears escaped her closed eyes. She opened them and saw Charlotte beaming at her side.

“I’m glad you’re here, Charlotte,” Lila said. “Thank you.”

Charlotte’s expression changed and she nodded. “Me too.”

Lila let her head rest on the stiff hospital pillow. If this is what it meant to have a sister, Lila thought she could get used to it.