Mitch glanced around the restaurant. It was relatively quiet for the moment. The lunch crowd wouldn’t hit for another half hour. When he’d mentioned that he was meeting Brian Everson, the hostess had seated Mitch along the window, where there was more space and handicap accessibility.
Mitch interlocked his hands in front of him on the table and blew out a pent-up, nervous-as-hell breath. He was a little shocked that Brian had even agreed to meet with him when he’d called earlier. Mitch just needed to say his piece. He wanted to look Brian in the eyes and tell him how sorry he was about everything that happened on that cold, icy night that changed so many lives.
Friendly voices filled the air as the restaurant’s entrance opened and Brian rolled in with his wheelchair. Mitch kept his head down and listened to the greetings.
After a moment, the hostess headed back down the aisle, leading Brian toward Mitch.
Mitch took a breath and looked up, meeting his former classmate’s youthful face. It was almost as if nothing had changed in the last decade. But appearances could be misleading. For instance, looking at Mitch, one might not be able to tell that he was terrified right now. But he was. Sitting across from Brian was scarier than any scene he’d ever walked in on as an MPO. Mitch had learned to hide his emotions well over the years, starting after the time his dad passed away.
Brian extended his hand first. “Hey, Mitch. Looks like you beat me here,” he said in a friendly voice.
Mitch smiled stiffly. “Hey, Brian. I’ve only been here a few minutes.” Lunch had been Brian’s suggestion but maybe meeting for drinks would’ve been a better idea. Then Mitch wouldn’t be facing at least an hour of what promised to be an awkward conversation. “Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”
“Of course.” With ease, Brian positioned himself at the table across from him.
“What can I get you to drink?” the waitress asked.
Brian tapped a finger to his mouth thoughtfully. “I think I’ll have a sweet tea, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, Mr. Everson,” the waitress said with a bright smile that told Mitch Brian came often and tipped well.
“I’ll have the same.” Mitch willed his heart to slow down as the waitress scribbled on her notepad.
“You got it. I’ll be right back with those,” she promised in a cheery voice before walking away.
When she was gone, Mitch looked Brian in the eye for the first time since the accident. Ten years seemed to evaporate before him. “I’m sorry,” Mitch said.
Those two words broke out of him and threatened to shatter his very existence. His heart hammered despite his efforts to stay calm, cool, and relaxed.
Brian smiled back at him. It wasn’t a fake gesture. Brian’s smile radiated from more than his lips. It poured through his twinkling eyes and beamed from the glow of his skin. “Me too.”
Mitch sat there a second, trying to process that response. He would have understood a go to hell more readily. “What?”
“I should’ve reached out to you. I know it wasn’t easy dealing with the aftermath of the accident. I also know my family fired your mom. My dad threatened you and asked you to leave the only home you ever knew. I’m sorry for that, Mitch. No one should ever feel run off from their hometown.”
“But I’m the one who ran into you. I’m the reason you’re in that chair,” Mitch said, working hard to control his emotion.
Brian laughed softly. “Well, if it’s true, then maybe I ought to thank you as well.”
“You are confusing the hell out of me right now, man,” Mitch said. He could feel the corners of his mouth pulling up in a tiny smile though.
“Come on, Mitch. Life doesn’t just happen.”
“It doesn’t?” Because that’s exactly how life seemed to go. Things just happened, and sometimes they sucked.
“I don’t think so, at least,” Brian said, sounding a lot like Dawanda. “If that accident had never happened, who knows where I’d be.”
Mitch stared across the table at the man he barely knew. If the accident had never happened, Brian would have walked into this restaurant. He might have two or three gold medals on display in his home.
“Sure, I was angry when I first found out I was paralyzed. It wasn’t fair. I spent my entire life up to that point training for something that I couldn’t do anymore. But because of my accident and my training before that, I’m able to help hundreds of kids now.”
“So I hear,” Mitch said.
The waitress sat the drinks down in front of them. They both thanked her and waited to continue talking until she had walked away.
“I’ve spent the last decade trying to pay penance for your injuries. Now you’re telling me it’s okay.”
Brian took a sip of his sweet tea. There was a thoughtful look on his face. “Yeah, it’s okay. Honestly, I snuck out of my parents’ house that night. I shouldn’t have been on that road either.” He shook his head. “It was all just one big mistake. Or it was orchestrated by some higher power for a reason we’ll never begin to understand.”
Mitch had been feeling sorry for Brian all this time but now some part of him was jealous. Brian was happy. Mitch could see it on his face. It wasn’t an act. It was real.
For the next hour, they talked like old friends over burgers and fries.
“I’m not sure if you’re planning to stay in Sweetwater Springs for any amount of time,” Brian said, “but I can guarantee my family won’t stand in your way. This is just as much your home as it is ours. And my dad is all talk, little action.”
“From what I hear, you hold all the power around here now,” Mitch said.
Brian gave his head a shake. “I don’t know about that. I own a lot of property, yeah. I might even run for mayor next year.”
Mitch’s brows rose. He wouldn’t hesitate to vote for the guy in front of him if he was a citizen in this town.
“What my dad never understood is that power doesn’t come from threatening people. It comes from serving them.”
When the bill came, Brian insisted on paying for Mitch’s meal.
“I can’t let you do that,” Mitch argued.
“You can pay for mine next time. I enjoyed catching up with you. Let’s do this again, man,” Brian said. He laid enough cash down to more than cover the charge and they left the restaurant.
Mitch hit the unlock button on his truck. “Honestly, I’m supposed to be leaving in the next couple of days. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
“Supposed to be?” Brian asked. “You don’t sound so sure about that.”
Mitch shrugged. “Either way, next time I’m in town, I’ll call you. We’ll definitely grab a bite. Seeing that you bought my lunch today, I owe you.”
Brian shook his head. “You don’t owe me a thing.” And that statement held more meaning than just who had paid for lunch.
Mitch watched Brian get into his vehicle and load his wheelchair effortlessly. He was doing okay. More than okay.
When Mitch got back into his truck, he expelled a heavy breath. A weight had been lifted off his chest and shoulders. Brian didn’t blame him for what happened. Mitch didn’t need to steer clear from him, and the Everson family was no threat to the Sweetwater Bed and Breakfast. Frank’s threat had been as empty as the current gas tank of Mitch’s truck.
He’d fuel up first. Then he’d work on figuring out his life. There was no reason he had to leave unless that was truly what he wanted. If he were creating his own wish list for Santa, what he truly wanted was Kaitlyn.
Could she ever forgive him though? He’d cut her off like a loose end. The hurt in her eyes was something he’d been revisiting in his head for the last couple of days. He’d never meant to hurt her but it’d seemed like the right thing to do at the time. A sacrifice for the greater good. He couldn’t just walk back into the inn now and say, “Just kidding. I want to stay.”
Can I?
* * *
Bah humbug.
It was the day before Christmas, and that’s what Kaitlyn was really thinking as she smiled across the breakfast table at her guests, including her parents. Festive music jingled in the air along with the delicious aroma of cinnamon and butter from the pastries she’d served this morning. There was lively conversation going on at the table about what the guests had done last night.
“We were thinking we’d go out tonight,” Kaitlyn’s mother said. “What do you suggest we do, Kaitlyn?”
Kaitlyn blinked them all back into focus. “You could go downtown to Dawanda’s Fudge Shop. It’s world-class.”
Numbness radiated through her, from her cheeks, still puffed up from smiling, to her toes.
“And ask for a cappuccino,” Gina said, walking into the room with a pot of coffee. She’d shown up this morning, bright and early, to help with breakfast. Kaitlyn was more than capable of doing this on her own but she’d been grateful anyway. Gina said Mitch wasn’t staying with her but didn’t elaborate. Maybe he’d called Alex or Tuck. Or maybe he’d gone home with that waitress from the Tipsy Tavern for another baggage-free one-night stand. What she and Mitch had was supposed to be baggage-free as well.
It would all be over soon though. Mitch would go to Mr. Garrison’s office to sign the necessary paperwork to sell his portion of the inn to her. She could wait until after Christmas to do her part. They wouldn’t even have to see each other again. The idea of that made her breakfast sit unsettled in the pit of her stomach. She’d fallen in love with him, despite her head knowing that it was a bad idea. Her heart had overridden that truth.
“A cappuccino would hit the spot,” her father said at the table, pulling her attention back to the here and now.
“It’s too bad you missed the Hope for the Holidays Auction the other night,” Gina continued, making easy chitchat. “We raised over ten thousand dollars for one of our families in need. One of Kaitlyn’s gingerbread cheesecakes brought in over three hundred dollars itself!”
Kaitlyn’s smile was sincere for the first time this morning. “Really?” she asked. She hadn’t heard that detail yet.
“Oh yes. Our ten cakes alone brought in a thousand dollars combined.”
“That’s wonderful!” her mom said. “Was it Mable’s recipe?”
Kaitlyn nodded. “The money from the auction is helping Cassie Martin, a single mother from town who’s battling cancer.”
“That’s right.” Gina sat at the dining room table with her own cup of coffee. “My son has been helping out at the police department these last few weeks. Cassie’s son got in a little bit of trouble with the law, trying to acquire money for his mom’s cancer treatments. Once Sweetwater Springs found out she was sick, well, the whole community rallied around to help. That’s just how townsfolk here are. Your mother was one of the finest for that,” Gina told Kaitlyn’s dad.
“Her heart was always in the right place,” he agreed.
“Sweetwater Springs sounds like a great community,” her mom said, eyes suspiciously shining. “Is Ms. Martin’s son still in trouble?”
Gina shook her head. “Since he’s a minor, Judge Ables let him off with a stern warning and a whole lot of community service.”
“Really?” Kaitlyn asked. “I didn’t know that either.”
Gina nodded. “It’s amazing how things work out.”
“Three hundred dollars is a lot to pay for a cake,” Kaitlyn’s dad said, “but I’d pay as much to taste Mom’s recipe one more time. It really was the best.”
“Who knows?” Kaitlyn said, swallowing past a tight throat. “Maybe Santa will bring you one this year.”
“Speaking of Santa, we need to finish up our shopping,” her mom said. “What do you want this year, Kaitlyn?”
Nothing that her parents could buy in downtown Sweetwater Springs. Kaitlyn either wanted Mitch or a shiny, brand-new heart. “Just having you two here with me this holiday is enough.”
* * *
The doorbell rang later that afternoon while Kaitlyn sat reading a book. With her parents occupying the last room, the inn was full. The sign out front indicated as much. Hopefully, Kaitlyn wasn’t going to have to disappoint a prospective customer and turn them away.
When she opened the door though, Kaitlyn was greeted by two familiar faces. “Halona and Theo, what a lovely surprise!”
Halona held out a large poinsettia plant. “Here you go. This is from my flower shop. I always brought Mable one this time of year.”
“That’s so nice of you. Please, come in.” Kaitlyn led them through the front room, noticing that young Theo stuck close to his mother’s side. Kaitlyn hadn’t asked but she didn’t think there was a father in the picture. She’d run into Halona several times over the last month and she’d always been alone or with her brother, Tuck. “Would you like some tea and cookies?”
Theo’s eyes widened but he didn’t make a sound.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Kaitlyn said with a grin. “If it’s okay with your mom.” She looked at Halona.
“Of course. Cookies are his favorite. He’ll love you forever,” she promised.
Kaitlyn took them to the dining room and placed the poinsettia at the center of one of the tables. “You two have a seat. I’ll grab the refreshments.” She walked to the serving table that she kept stocked for the guests during the day and made two cups of hot tea. She grabbed the plate of cookies and turned back to her visitors.
“It looks great in here,” Halona commented.
“Thanks. It’s been a lot of work, but totally worth it.” Kaitlyn slid the plate of cookies beside the poinsettia and then placed Halona’s cup of tea in front of her. “Do you bring gifts to a lot of townspeople?” Kaitlyn asked, sitting across from them with her own cup.
Halona nodded. “We like to thank the business owners who support the flower shop. Mable always sent her guests my way for special occasions. She didn’t really have a choice, I guess. I’m the only florist in town.”
Kaitlyn laughed. “Well, I’m sure she would’ve sent guests to you anyway.”
Theo chomped happily on his treat as they chatted.
“I grew up with Mitch, you know,” Halona said after a lull in the conversation. “I always hoped he’d find peace after the accident.” She looked down at her hands and then to her son. “We lost Theo’s father in an accident last year. He and I weren’t married but Theo has taken the loss hard. I wonder if there are some things that people just don’t ever recover from.”
Kaitlyn’s heart pinched hard for the child sitting in front of her. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
Halona broke off a piece of her cookie. “Thanks. Mitch seems different these days than he has during his past visits home. I was wondering if it had anything to do with you.”
Kaitlyn shook her head. “I don’t think so. We aren’t really talking anymore.”
“Oh.” Halona’s beautiful features twisted. She looked sincerely disappointed. “Well, seeing his difference gave me hope that people can let go of the things that haunt them.”
Kaitlyn wanted to believe that too. Even if Mitch was leaving, even if he’d broken her heart beyond repair, she did hope he found peace one day. She wanted him to be happy wherever he was.
She looked at little Theo. She wished him peace too. It couldn’t be easy for him losing a parent so young. Finishing off his last bite, he stared at the plate of cookies.
Kaitlyn lifted one and offered it to him. “Here you go, sweetheart. One more won’t hurt. But after that, I have to save the rest for Santa. He’s coming tonight, you know.”
Theo’s eyes rounded.
Halona ruffled the hair on top of her son’s head. “Oh, we know. We have cookies at home for him too.”
By the time Kaitlyn opened the door to say goodbye to her visitors, the temperature had notably dropped outside. Santa was coming, and according to the local meteorologist, so was a snowstorm.
Mitch, on the other hand, was likely packing his bags to leave at this very moment.
* * *
In addition to being Christmas Eve, today was Mitch’s last day on the job with SSPD. Since he was still in town, he’d told Alex he’d work so that the officers with family could be home.
The day had been uneventful so far. Everyone in Sweetwater Springs seemed to be celebrating quietly with the ones they loved. Mitch had spoken to his mom earlier. She’d gone to the inn to help Kaitlyn and was planning on spending the afternoon with Nettie. Two peas in a pod, they were. He really didn’t have to worry about her anymore. She was taking care of herself, splitting her workload with Mitch’s aunt, and was living a good life.
Mitch pulled the SSPD cruiser he’d been driving for the last month up to Cassie Martin’s house. Kyle was on the front porch stringing festive multicolored lights.
Mitch put the car in park and headed up the driveway. Hearing him approach, Kyle glanced back, his gaze turning wary when he saw Mitch dressed in uniform.
“Whatever it is, I didn’t do it this time,” the teen called out, continuing with his task.
Mitch laughed softly under his breath. “I’m not here for the department, although I hear you’re doing a good job keeping up with your community service sentence.”
Kyle shrugged. “Beats serving time in juvie.”
“Decorating the day before Christmas, huh?” Mitch asked, taking the end of the string of lights and holding them up to the banister for Kyle to attach.
“Better late than never, my mom always says. Plus, some women brought a bunch of decorations over for us. They offered to help put them up too, but my mom volunteered me to do the work. The women said the decorations would be good for my mom’s spirits. If that’s true, then I’ll do it.”
Mitch nodded. He understood exactly how the kid felt. Ever since his dad had died, Mitch had felt the same way about his own mother. Whatever it took to make her smile. To keep her safe. Secure. He’d failed at that task often enough but it had always been his not-so-secret mission in life.
“Your mom is lucky to have you,” he told Kyle.
“Yeah, well, I’m lucky to have her too. She’s all I got.”
Mitch understood that as well. At least, that’s how he used to feel. All this time, he’d had more than he realized though. He’d had Mable and Henry. Aunt Nettie. Dawanda. Alex and Tuck. Even Halona. There was a whole town full of people here that had readily welcomed him back these last two months, even though he’d abandoned them in some ways.
“Just don’t forget to be a kid, okay?” Mitch said.
Kyle’s gaze slid over to him. “I’m not a kid.”
“Right. Don’t forget to enjoy your youth a little, then. Do things for yourself while looking out for your mom. Live your life and be happy, because that’s what she really wants for you.” Maybe it was the holiday making him sappy but his throat tightened as he gave Kyle his best advice.
Kyle didn’t look all that impressed. “What are you? One of the wise men?”
“Kyle Martin!” Cassie said, waving a finger as she stepped out the screen door and onto the porch. “That is no way to talk to Officer Hargrove.” Mitch was glad to see the single mom in good spirits. Hopefully, this time next year, she’d be cancer-free.
“Mom, you’re supposed to be resting.”
Mitch closed his eyes as he listened. If the similarities between his family and this one got any stronger, he’d wonder if God was pulling his chain. Or Mable in heaven with her meddling ways.
“And it’s cold out here. You’re supposed to stay warm inside,” the teenager nagged.
Cassie tsked, ignoring him. “Merry Christmas, Officer Hargrove,” she said.
“Please, call me Mitch. Merry Christmas to you too. How are you doing?”
“Good, thanks to you and the community. I have high hopes for the new year too.” She smiled brightly. “I have pie in the house if you’d like a slice.”
“Afraid I can’t stay,” he said. “I’m on the job. Just thought I’d play the role of one of the wise men while passing through.”
Kyle cracked a smile.
And since Mitch was still feeling wise and sappy, he pointed a finger at the teen. “Also, don’t do drugs and stay in school.”
With a wave, he started to walk away until a little yellow furball darted out of the bushes. Once it stopped moving, he saw that it was a golden retriever mix.
“That’s the stray that’s been coming around here all week,” Cassie called from the porch. “He doesn’t seem to belong to any of my neighbors so I wish I could take him inside, but my immune system is low right now. Do you want a puppy, Mitch?” she asked with a hopeful lift in her voice.
“I’m afraid I’m not in the market for a dog,” he said, turning back to Cassie.
She hugged her arms around herself. “I’d hate for the poor thing to be out here when it snows tonight.”
Mitch’s gaze dropped to the pup, who repeatedly propped his paws on Mitch’s leg and then returned to all fours. It woofed softly. “I can take it back to the station and see if someone there wants him.”
“That would be great,” Cassie said. “Thank you so much, for everything.”
Mitch stooped and collected the soft little wiggler into his arms and double-checked that it was indeed a boy. Then he returned to his cruiser and set the puppy in his passenger seat. Apparently tired from his surge of energy outside, the puppy lay down and put his head on his front paws.
“Good boy,” Mitch said. He started the car and continued through the streets, all welcoming and festive with lights and wreaths. Loving Life’s article hadn’t fudged anything. Sweetwater Springs truly was a great place to spend the holidays. He’d forgotten that. Or he’d pushed it out of his mind because it hadn’t seemed like an option for him. It was romantic too. His thoughts took a stroll through the memories of his time here with Kaitlyn. The cappuccino reading at the fudge shop. Their trip to Merry Mountain Farms to get a tree. Even though it’d been cut short, Lights on the Lake had been festive and romantic too. He regretted that every Christmas season couldn’t be spent here, with Kaitlyn, doing the same.
A short drive later, he walked into the station with the puppy under his arm.
“Who’s this?” Alex asked, looking up from the paperwork on his desk as Mitch entered his office.
“Your new pet,” Mitch said.
Alex was already shaking his head. “Nice try, but no. I don’t have time for a dog right now. Especially a puppy. He’s cute though. You should keep him.”
Mitch didn’t have time either. He set the puppy on the floor to run around for a moment and then placed his gun and badge on Alex’s desk.
Alex nodded. “Still scared shitless, huh?”
Mitch shoved his hands on his waist. Once upon a time, those would’ve been fighting words but they were true. “Yeah,” he admitted. “I messed up with her, and there’s nothing to say I won’t do it again.” He couldn’t use his mom or even the Eversons as an excuse for leaving town this time. This was all on him. He was sick of feeling like the bad guy no matter how much good he did.
“If you could have seen the look on Kaitlyn’s face.” Mitch shook his head, hating himself for causing her more pain. She’d been through enough over the last few months with Mable’s passing, getting fired, and giving up the life she was accustomed to in New York to come to the mountains of North Carolina. “It doesn’t matter my reasons; I handled it all wrong. I should have told her that I…I…” He stumbled over his words. There was only one word that completed that sentence.
Love.
He swallowed thickly. “I should’ve told her that I loved her,” he said quietly, more to himself than Alex.
Alex didn’t look surprised when Mitch blinked and looked up at him.
Had Mitch really been that thick skulled? He knew he cared about Kaitlyn. Admired the heck out of her. Knew he was wildly attracted to the woman and could possibly never get enough of her, if given the opportunity. But the way he felt for Kaitlyn Russo went beyond all of that. Over the last two months, he’d fallen in love with her.
Alex leaned forward on his elbows. “Great. So why don’t you go tell her that right now?”
Mitch didn’t move. He felt like he’d just been hit over the head with a large block of ice.
“Listen, I don’t need one of Dawanda’s cappuccinos to predict you’ll screw up and hurt her plenty more times,” Alex said. “You will. But if you leave town tomorrow, you’ll hurt her even more. You deserve to have this, buddy. You are a good man and a good officer.” Alex slid the badge back in Mitch’s direction and looked up.
So much for Mitch’s wise man act. He was the biggest fool of all. Picking up the badge, he nodded at Alex. “Looks like I’ll be reporting for duty tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow’s Christmas, buddy. Spend it with the people you love. And maybe that puppy over there.”
That was good advice and Mitch planned to do just that. He hadn’t known what, if anything, to say to Kaitlyn to fix how he’d behaved. There’d been no fixing it in his mind. Now he knew the answer though. All he had to do was tell Kaitlyn the truth. He loved her. That he was an idiot. And then he planned on begging for a second chance. He wasn’t going to run away from his mistakes this time. He was going to face them head-on.
Mitch stepped over to his little friend, who was spinning in circles while chasing his own tail. He could relate. Scooping him up, he headed down the hall away from Alex’s office and past the reception desk.
“Merry Christmas, Mitch,” Tammy called after him.
“You too, Tammy. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“Glad to hear it!”
The cold air surrounded him as he stepped onto the sidewalk. The sun had dipped below the mountain peaks now, making another ten-degree drop at least. He needed to hurry before daylight dwindled completely and he missed his chance to make things right today. He had one more important person he had to go see before Kaitlyn though.