When they got back to the lodge, Haley headed up to her room. Halfway up the stairs, she stopped and backtracked to find Jeff where she’d left him in the sitting room. He was putting the pinecone he had picked up at Star Peak into the basket of pinecones by the fireplace.
“Jeff?”
He looked up, surprised to see her.
“I wanted to ask you . . .” She struggled to get the words out. “I mean, you can say no. It’s okay. I’d totally understand. I was just thinking, hoping, that maybe . . .”
“Haley, what is it?”
She took a deep breath. “Sorry. Okay. I know we have another activity tonight, and we’ll probably get our phones and computers back pretty late . . .”
“So?” Jeff asked.
“So, I was just wondering if I could borrow my phone for two minutes. I wanted to call my parents. It’s not a work call, I promise, and I totally understand if . . .”
But Jeff was already heading out of the room.
Haley covered her face with her hands. She’d ruined it again. But before she could beat herself up any more, he was back, and without a word, he handed her the phone.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m just making the one call. I’ll bring it right back. I promise . . .”
Jeff slowly smiled. “I believe you.”
Haley looked into his eyes. “Thank you.”
“For the phone?”
“And for believing me.” She turned and hurried up to her room, where she called her parents on FaceTime.
When her mom answered, she looked concerned. “Hi, honey, is everything okay?”
Haley laughed. “Why do you always assume something’s wrong when I call?”
Her dad popped into the picture. “Because we know how busy you are with work, and you don’t have a lot of time to call us. So, is everything okay?”
Haley smiled back at them. “Everything’s fine . . .”
“Oh, then I bet you’re calling to make sure we got our plane tickets for the Caribbean,” Haley’s mom said. “Don’t worry, they just came, and we’re all set. We can’t wait to see you! Your dad even has new swim trunks.”
Haley laughed. “That’s great. I’m actually calling because I had a quick question . . .” When she hesitated, her mom and dad leaned in, trying to see her better.
“What is it, honey?” Haley’s mom asked.
“You’re sure everything’s okay?” her dad added.
Haley smiled so her parents could see everything was fine. “I promise, everything is fine. I just wanted to ask you guys about going to the Caribbean for Christmas. I know we always go. It’s what we do . . .”
“So you can work and we can still all be together,” Haley’s mom jumped in.
“Right,” Haley said. “But you guys like going to the Caribbean for Christmas, right?”
Haley’s mom and dad exchanged a quick look.
“Honey, as long as we’re with you at Christmas, we’re happy,” her mom said.
“We know how busy you are,” her dad added.
She glanced around her room, saw all the angels looking back at her, and knew what she needed to do.
“Well, what would you say if we changed things up this year? How about we just stay home and celebrate. We could get a tree, make cookies . . .”
“Really?” Haley’s mom looked like she was about to cry.
Haley’s dad put his arm around her. He looked equally excited. “That sounds wonderful, honey. We would both really love it.”
Haley’s mom nodded enthusiastically. “We would. We really would . . .”
“We can’t wait to have you home,” her dad said. “We’ve missed you.”
Now Haley was fighting back her own tears. “I love you guys . . .”
“We love you, too,” said her parents in unison.
Haley kissed her fingers and touched the screen. “Bye. I’ll see you soon.” She was still smiling after she hung up and ran back downstairs. But when she entered the sitting room, Jeff wasn’t there anymore, but Ben was. When he saw her phone, he looked surprised.
“It’s not what you think,” she said, rushing over to him and handing it to him. “Jeff said I could borrow it to call my parents.”
Ben looked concerned. “Is everything okay?”
Haley smiled. “Everything’s good. Really good, actually. We’re going to celebrate Christmas at home this year and my parents seem really excited about it; and honestly, I am, too. It’ll be a nice change.”
Ben looked very pleased. “So, you’ll actually be celebrating Christmas this year?”
Haley nodded. “I guess it will be this year. Do you know where Jeff is? I wanted to tell him. He’s the one who actually gave me the idea to talk to my parents about it.”
“I think Blake and Madison roped him into taking them into town. They wanted to try that ice cream place you and Gail went to.”
Haley tried to hide her disappointment. “I guess I’ll just tell him later.”
“I bet Laura could use some help in the kitchen with dinner if you’re up for it?”
She laughed. “I’m not sure how much I can help but I’ll go see if there’s anything I can do.”
IT TURNED OUT Haley was worth more in the kitchen than she thought as Laura put her to work peeling potatoes and cutting up vegetables for a homemade turkey vegetable soup. What was even more surprising to Haley was that she enjoyed helping. She felt a real sense of accomplishment learning how to make something from scratch. She was just finishing up with the soup when Jeff came into the kitchen looking for a snack. When he reached for a sugar cookie, Laura swatted his hand away.
“Dinner is almost ready,” she scolded him.
Haley laughed. “And didn’t you just take Blake and Madison for ice cream?”
Jeff gave her an incredulous look. “Really? You’re selling me out after I let you use your cell phone?”
Now it was Laura’s turn to look surprised. She turned to Haley. “He let you use your cell phone? Even when it’s totally against the rules? Rules he loves to enforce,” she said. She gave Jeff a teasing look.
Haley played along. “You know it really was pretty shocking considering he is the Christmas Camp police and all . . .”
“You two are hilarious,” Jeff shot back at them. He then looked quite pleased with himself as he held up a sugar cookie he’d managed to get his hands on. He was about to take a big bite when Laura snatched it away and gave him an apple instead.
“Wait, what!” He tried to grab the cookie back, but Laura was too quick.
Haley laughed. “You know what they say, an apple a day keeps the—”
“—Christmas spirit away!” Jeff finished for her. “I want my cookie!”
Laura and Haley laughed.
AT DINNER THAT night, everyone looked afraid when Laura told them Haley had made the soup, but Jeff stuck up for her.
“Hey, I’ve tasted it myself, and let me tell you, it’s pretty good.”
Haley smiled at Jeff. “Thank you. Laura and I might let you have dessert after all.”
Jeff laughed. “I’m easily bribed with treats.”
“You and Max, good to know,” Haley said.
Everyone laughed.
At the end of the meal, Ben stood up and raised his glass of wine. “Let’s all toast Laura and Haley for a delicious dinner. To another special holiday meal.”
As everyone lifted their wineglasses, the teenagers lifted their water glasses.
“Cheers!” Ben said as he clinked glasses with Gail, Susie, Ian, John, Jeff, and finally with Haley. Looking into her eyes, he said, “Nice job. I think you’re starting to find—”
“My unknown cooking skills?” Haley finished for him.
Ben smiled at her. “That too.” He then addressed the rest of the group. “And that brings us to our next Christmas Camp activity Laura’s going to help us with.”
As he sat down Laura stood up. “First of all, thank you. You’re all so wonderful to cook for because you’re so appreciative . . .”
“We love your pie!” Madison grinned at her.
“We really do!” Blake agreed.
Everyone laughed and nodded in agreement.
“And your cookies!” Jeff added. “Even when you try to hide them from me.” When he gave Haley a pointed look, she just feigned innocence.
Laura blushed a little at all the praise. “I’m so glad you enjoy everything. You know Christmas is a time when family and friends get together to share a meal. The food we eat becomes part of our Christmas traditions.”
Ben stood back up. “And that’s why you’re all going to help Laura put together a special Christmas menu for tomorrow night since it will be our last night and meal together.”
Haley’s smile faded a little. She knew she should be relieved that Christmas Camp was almost over and she could get back to work, but instead she felt . . . sad.
She told herself it must just be because she still hadn’t figured out her Tyler Toys campaign pitch, and she was just stressed about work. But as she snuck a peek at Jeff, she knew that wasn’t the only reason for her sadness. There was no denying she felt something for him. What exactly that was she wasn’t sure, and it scared her to think about it too much. She had told him more about her past than she had told most people, and she knew that had to mean something; she just wasn’t sure what.
Laura picked up a pen and notepad. “So, let’s get started. Madison and Blake, what are some of your favorite things to have for Christmas dinner?”
Before the teenagers could answer, their dad jumped in. “Madison loves the dinner rolls. When she was little, that’s all she wanted to eat.” John smiled, remembering. “And Blake loves sweet potatoes.”
“Dad! I don’t eat rolls anymore. They have too many carbs!” Madison gave her dad a look like she was wondering what was wrong with him.
“And I like mashed potatoes now. Not sweet potatoes,” Blake said.
John’s smile faded. Now he looked apologetic. “Oh, okay, sorry. Good to know. Scratch the rolls and sweet potatoes; we’ll buy some mashed potatoes this year.”
Madison laughed. “Dad, you don’t buy mashed potatoes, you have to make them.”
John’s eyes widened. “Got it. Of course, we’ll make them.”
Laura gave him a look that said, Hang in there, and then turned her attention to Susie and Ian. “What about you two? What are some of your favorite Christmas dinner dishes?”
“My family always has turkey,” Susie said with a smile.
“And we usually do Italian. Lasagna or baked ziti,” Ian added.
Susie shook her head. “But you’re not Italian.”
“But that’s our tradition.”
Susie and Ian looked at each other like they still had a lot of things to figure out.
“Who’s next?” Laura asked.
Gail raised her hand. “I always make a special cranberry sauce for my son. It’s his favorite.”
“And my mom makes the best pie,” Susie jumped in.
Excited, John looked at his kids. “And our favorite pie is apple, right?”
“Pumpkin!” they said in unison.
“I give up!” John said in mock despair and dropped his head into his hands.
“Apple’s your favorite, Dad, not ours,” Blake said.
John lifted his head. “Well, see. I even forgot that!”
When the teenagers laughed, John joined them.
Laura turned her attention to Haley. “Okay, Haley, what about you?”
Haley looked at Jeff and at Ben before answering. “Well, honestly, I haven’t really done the traditional Christmas dinner in a while . . .”
“What about when you were little? Do you remember anything from then?”
Haley tried to think and then remembered one time when her mom had made stuffing. They hadn’t had a turkey, but they’d had the box stuffing. “Stuffing! We had stuffing,” she said proudly.
“Stuffing, perfect. Do you like it with gravy from the turkey?” Laura asked.
“I think we probably had gravy from a can, if we had any at all,” Haley said. “But I’m sure gravy from the turkey would be great.”
“I love turkey gravy,” Gail said.
“Me too,” Susie said, and then looked at Ian. “Don’t worry, you can put the gravy on your Italian food.”
Everyone laughed.
“Okay, it sounds like we have our Christmas menu!” Ben said. “I know it’s been a long day, so everyone, you’re on your own. We won’t have any more activities tonight. You can take some time to relax and enjoy one of your last nights here, and yes, Haley, that means you can have your computer and cell phone.”
Haley tried to look innocent. “I didn’t say a thing.”
“But you were going to.” Jeff smiled at her.
“Am I that predictable?” she asked.
“Yes!” everyone said at the same time.
When Haley laughed, everyone laughed with her.
A FEW MINUTES later she was pacing around her room talking with Kathy on FaceTime.
“So, you’ll be home in two days. We definitely need to celebrate,” Kathy said while doing a little celebratory dance.
Haley forced a smile. “Sounds good.”
Kathy gave her a suspicious look. “What’s wrong? You should be dancing around, too. You’re almost out of your Christmas jail sentence.”
“It hasn’t been that bad . . .”
Now Kathy looked really intrigued. “What? What do you mean it hasn’t been that bad? That place is Christmas twenty-four/seven, and you don’t do Christmas. It’s that guy, isn’t it? The owner’s son? You said you were staying away from him, concentrating on work. What happened?”
“Nothing . . . everything. I don’t know,” Haley said, looking more confused than ever.
Kathy took a deep breath. “Okay, at least tell me you’re done with your Tyler Toys pitch, because Tom finished yesterday, and I hate to say it, but from what I’ve seen, it’s pretty amazing.”
Haley looked out her window and watched Jeff playing with Max.
“Haley, are you still there?”
“Sorry. I’m here.”
“So, what are you doing to beat Tom?” Kathy asked.
When Haley looked away, Kathy’s eyes grew huge. “You’re still not done? But you have your pitch in just a few days . . .”
“I know!” Haley shouted into the phone then immediately looked apologetic. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve never had such a hard time coming up with a campaign pitch. I have some time to work right now, so I’m going to put something together. You know I work best under pressure.”
“Okay, but if you want me to put together a storyboard for your pitch, you’re going to need to start sending me some of your ideas. Anything. Tonight. Or else I won’t be able to get it done.”
“Got it. I promise I’ll send something tonight. I have some ideas, I just need to pull everything together.”
“Okay, well, don’t let me keep you. Go to work! Text me once you’ve sent it.”
“Thank you. I’m on it. Talk soon.” Haley hung up and with a look of determination sat down on her bed, opened up her laptop, and brought up the file of Tyler Toys campaign ideas. With her fingers posed over the keyboard, she squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself to come up with a fabulous idea.
But when after a few minutes nothing came to her, she stood up, went back to her window, and looked outside, where Jeff and Max were still playing. “Go back to work,” she told herself. “You need to come up with something. Anything.” She marched back over and picked up her computer, and this time she sat down at the little desk. She moved an angel so her laptop would fit on it. “Okay, let’s do this.” She sat up straight and forced herself to smile, but when still nothing came to her, she stared forlornly at the angel. “I need help.”
She jumped up, went to her closet, and took out the shopping bag that had the Tyler Toys doll that she’d bought for Anna. She put the doll next to the angel, stood back, and stared at them. “Okay, you two. Help me come up with something amazing for this Christmas pitch. It needs to be traditional, heartfelt, authentic, magical, and charming.” Haley picked up the Tyler Toys doll and the angel. “It needs to be a love story to Christmas.” As soon as she said the words out loud, her face lit up. She had an idea! Excited, she quickly sat back down at the desk and put the angel and Tyler Toys doll next to each other again. When her fingers started flying over the keyboard, she knew she was onto something special. She didn’t even realize she had started humming “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” . . .
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, when Haley finally pulled herself away from her laptop, she wandered into the sitting room looking for Ben but found Gail sitting by the fireplace knitting a red scarf.
“That’s really pretty,” she said, admiring the work.
“Do you knit?” Gail asked.
Haley laughed. “I wish I had time to knit. I don’t even have time to order a scarf online.”
“I’d be happy to show you how if you’re interested. It’s really easy and relaxing.”
“Thank you, that’s very sweet. I’m actually looking for Ben. Have you seen him?”
“I think he’s in the library.”
“Great. I’ll try to catch up with him. Enjoy your knitting!”
A minute later, when she peeked her head into the library, she found Ben putting away some books.
“Gail said I might find you in here . . .”
“Haley, what can I do for you? You’re all done with work already?” Ben’s eyes twinkled. It was clear he was teasing her.
“How did you know I was working?”
“Because that’s what you do with any free time you have.”
“Okay, true, but I was working on my Christmas toy pitch and it is all about Christmas, so that should make things better.”
Ben laughed. “Whatever you want to tell yourself. So, what can I do for you?”
Haley held out her hand. In her palm was the pinecone she had found at Star Peak earlier.
Ben looked surprised when he saw it.
“It’s from Star Peak. It’s a Christmas wish pinecone,” she said.
Now Ben looked even more surprised. “That’s where Jeff took you earlier?”
She nodded. “You seem surprised?”
“I am. Star Peak is our special place. As far as I know, he’s never taken anyone there before.”
“Really?”
“But I’m glad he took you.”
Haley handed him the pinecone.
“What’s this? I thought this was your Christmas wish pinecone.”
“It is,” Haley said. “And my Christmas wish is for you to get your wish. You’re always helping all of us, and I wanted to give you something, whatever it is that you wish for.”
Ben looked touched. “That means a lot to me, Haley. Thank you.” He gave her an affectionate pat on the back. “It looks like you might have found it . . .”
“What? The pinecone?” Haley asked, confused.
“No.” Ben smiled back at her. “Your Christmas spirit.”