The ice storm pelted Bluebonnet with bouts of sleet and freezing drizzle for three straight days, coating the streets with a wintry mix that, for all practical purposes, shut down the entire town. Schools issued snow-day notices. Businesses either announced delayed start times or closed altogether. Life in the Hill Country came to a screeching halt.
Since Adaline’s apartment was located directly above Cherry on Top, her bakery remained open. The pipes hadn’t frozen and the electricity kept chugging along, so she made specialty “snowball cupcakes” topped with white buttercream frosting she shaped into a perfect ball with an ice cream scooper. Teenagers and families with small children flocked to the town square to try sledding across the park on makeshift sleds.
On any other winter day, Adaline would’ve loved watching the kids, all bundled up in mittens, brightly colored puffer coats and pom-pom hats. But the square didn’t seem the same without the Christmas tree lot. Icicles dripped from the dogwood trees that flanked the gazebo, so she knew Jace’s lovely fir trees wouldn’t have stood a chance. Still, she missed them.
She missed him.
Gus’s farm was located on the outskirts of town at the bottom of a steep hill that made the drive far too treacherous while the roads were still iced over. Adaline was lucky she’d gotten out of there after the pizza party. If she stayed with Jace in the barn much longer, she might not have made it home. By the time she’d collected Fuzzy from Belle and gotten back to her apartment, sleet had been coming down hard. Ice pellets dotted the entire town square.
Now three days had passed, and she hadn’t seen or spoken to Jace since. Tomorrow morning called for warmer temperatures, which meant life could return to normal in Bluebonnet. The only trouble was that Adaline didn’t quite know what normal looked like anymore.
She’d tried to think of the past three days as a cleanse, like when people went cold turkey and stopped eating sugar. Although, did anyone really stick to those things? A total sugar blackout sounded completely miserable. A baker would never.
In any case, as she’d explained to Fuzzy in great detail numerous times over the past seventy-two hours, this forced break from Jace was a good thing. She’d started to feel way too cozy with him. Too close—not just physically, but emotionally too. Adaline was already in flagrant violation of half the fake dating rules she herself had insisted upon. Even worse, she’d begun to think she might have genuine feelings for her fake boyfriend.
“Not going to happen,” she told Fuzzy as she climbed into bed and pulled up the pink-and-red crocheted blanket Gram had given her for her sweet sixteen birthday to her chin.
The Cavalier yawned from atop the pillow beside her. Great. Even her dog didn’t believe her. He’d been on the receiving end of enough talk about Jace lately to recognize this particular lie when he heard it.
“I’m serious,” she said as she burrowed further under the covers.
She got nothing in response but a snort followed by the sound of Fuzzy’s deep, rhythmic breathing as he drifted off to sleep.
Adaline wished she could fall asleep half that easily. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind spun with all the things she wasn’t getting done during Frosty the Snowstorm, as the local weatherman had dubbed it, despite the notable lack of actual snow.
She hadn’t managed to get any new information on the retail space for lease next door to Jenna’s dance school because the property company had shut down during the storm. Nor had she been able to do any research on Gram’s wedding announcement because the library had been closed as well. Also, since the Christmas tree lot had been dismantled for the past four nights, Comfort Paws hadn’t brought in a dime of hot chocolate money. While the world had been hibernating, so had each and every one of Adaline’s plans.
Even her visions of Santa Claus pictures as part of her grand plans for the Comfort Paws fundraiser had gone up in flames. Tomorrow afternoon, Bluebonnet Chapel was hosting a Santa photo event and had invited the Comfort Paws dogs to provide support. The therapy dogs would help calm children who were nervous or scared about meeting Santa Claus. Adaline was really looking forward to it, but she couldn’t help thinking about what could have been.
“Everything is going to be okay. Tomorrow is another day,” she whispered to her sleeping dog.
In the stillness of Adaline’s quiet apartment, all was calm. All was bright. And even though she never would’ve admitted as much to anyone else, her last thought as she closed her eyes was that Gram just might be right.
I’m lonely.
It was a terrible thing to realize, made worse by the knowledge that she’d been just fine before Jace came along. Their pretend romance had uncovered some very real truths, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to face whatever else this nutty holiday season had in store for her.
It’s only until Christmas Eve. Just a few more days.
A tear slipped down her cheek, and Fuzzy blinked his little eyes open and shimmied close to lick it away. But the tears kept falling, one right after another. And for the life of her, she didn’t know whether she was crying because the end was barreling toward her at warp speed, or because she wished she could rewind the clock before it struck midnight.
A knock sounded on Jace’s door the morning after the ice storm ended, and the sound was so unfamiliar that he almost didn’t recognize it.
He stood in Gus’s kitchen with a cereal bowl in hand, spoon paused halfway to his mouth. For a second, he’d thought he might’ve been hearing things. Then it happened again—three sharp knocks on the front door.
Jace set the bowl and spoon on the counter and made his way to the log cabin’s entryway. His heart gave a rebellious twinge of hope before he could shut down any runaway thoughts that Adaline might be stopping by. He’d thought about her countless times while he’d been trapped out here during the storm. Part of him wished he’d asked her to stay that night in the barn. If he could live that evening all over again, he probably would have. She could’ve picked up Fuzzy from Belle’s house and come right back. A thousand images had invaded his mind over the course of the past three days—Adaline snuggled beside him on Gus’s patchwork sofa, warming her hands on a mug of hot tea. Fuzzy zipping around the barn in a little red sweater, weaving among the Christmas trees. Adaline in his kitchen, baking one of her mouthwatering pies that they’d eat for dinner straight from the pan with two forks, picnic-style, on a blanket in front of the fire.
Not that Jace had a single ingredient suitable for baking pies or anything else that might be on the menu. But if he was going to fantasize, he may as well fully commit.
As tempting as those thoughts had been, he knew the time apart was probably for the best. Their charade was proving to be far more complicated than he’d anticipated. Or, as Adaline had so accurately predicted...confusing. She was the first person Jace thought about when he woke up in the morning, and her lovely, heart-shaped face was the last thing he pictured in his mind’s eye when he drifted off to sleep at night. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d nearly picked up the phone the past few days, just so he could her voice, tell her a silly joke and make her laugh.
But he wasn’t supposed to do that, and he knew it. Their relationship wasn’t real. Jace didn’t know why he had such a hard time remembering that.
This entire episode had been his idea. He’d practically had to talk her into it, and she’d given him no real reason to believe anything had changed.
Then why does it feel like everything has?
Frustration coursed through him as reached for the doorknob, along with a whirl of feelings he didn’t care to examine too closely. Then he swung the door open to find not Adaline but her brother waiting on the faded welcome mat.
“Ford. Good to see you. Come on in.” Jace waved him inside. The icicles hanging from the roofline of the cabin were melting, along with the frost on the oak trees that lined the drive to Gus’s property. In just a few hours, all traces of the ice storm would be replaced by a bright winter day.
Ford stepped inside and glanced around.
Jace was acutely aware of the austere, old man vibes the cabin gave off, and wished he’d done something to make it look more homey. He still had no concrete plans to stay in Bluebonnet permanently, but a few creature comforts would’ve been nice.
Too late now.
“Good to see you too.” Ford gave him an easy grin. There wasn’t a trace of judgment in his expression. “Sorry to catch you off-guard like this, but I figured with the weather warming up this morning, you might be ready to open up the Christmas tree lot again. I’m happy to help get you back up and running if you need an extra pair of hands and a truck to transport trees back to the square.”
“That’s a generous offer. Are you sure?” Jace couldn’t believe it. The other day, he’d been in a race against the weather. He’d had no choice but to accept help from the community. Today, he hadn’t even considered asking for assistance.
Texas Tidings was his responsibility. He certainly hadn’t expected anyone to just drop by, ready to haul trees around again.
But then Ford eye’s crinkled in the corners the exact same way Adaline’s did sometimes, and Jace understood. Ford was here because Jace was supposed to be his sister’s serious boyfriend. Of course he’d want to pitch in, and if Ford was anything like Adaline, he probably wanted to get to know Jace a bit while he was at it. Family was important to the Bishops, which was exactly how Jace knew Adaline’s no family involvement rule would never work. There was no world—real or pretend—where Adaline’s significant other wouldn’t be deeply engaged with her family. Anything else wouldn’t be believable.
What he hadn’t anticipated was her buddying up to Uncle Gus. No one could’ve seen that coming. It was pure Adaline, though. If anyone could soothe his uncle’s rough edges, it was her.
She kept trying when most sane people would’ve given up. Jace’s chest filled with warmth just thinking about it.
“Of course I’m sure. Today’s my day off. My practice is closed on Fridays, and I don’t have to go in to the hospital until later tonight.” Ford shrugged, as if a pediatrician offering to do manual labor was a totally normal thing to happen around here. It probably was, considering Bluebonnet was such a close-knit community.
Even so, Jace knew this offer had more to do with Adaline than any small-town code of conduct.
“If you’re sure you’ve got the time, I’d appreciate the help,” Jace said, and he meant it. “Your sister didn’t strong-arm you into this, though, did she?”
He wouldn’t put it past her.
“You know Adaline pretty well, don’t you?” Ford laughed. “That does sound like something my sister would do, but no. I actually haven’t talked to her today. Maple said something about a meeting she’s hoping to get scheduled this morning with a real estate management company about a training facility for Comfort Paws. Plus, they’ve got a therapy dog gig today helping out with Santa photos, so I know she’s tied up. Otherwise, Adaline would probably be here to help, too. I’m sure she told you all about that, though.”
“Right... Santa photos. And the meeting with the folks at the leasing company.” Jace nodded and pretended he knew what Ford was talking about. Adaline hadn’t mentioned a thing about Santa pictures or renting space for Comfort Paws.
Then again, she wasn’t really his girlfriend, so why would she?
Jace switched gears before it became apparent just how oblivious he was. He hitched a thumb toward the kitchen. “Can I offer you a cup of coffee before we get started in the barn?”
Ford grinned. “I never turn down coffee.”
“Black? Cream and sugar?” Jace asked. The options were limited since Gus’s coffee maker was an avocado-green monstrosity straight off the set of The Brady Bunch.
“Just black is fine, thanks.”
“Got it. Have a seat and I’ll be right back.” Jace tapped his knuckles on the kitchen table. He’d been using it as a makeshift desk while he’d been staying here, but there was still plenty of space to sit and talk for a minute before they got to work.
Jace was only gone a few minutes, and the kitchen was close enough to exchange more pleasantries while he made the coffee. He asked Ford how the wedding plans were coming along, but before he had a chance to answer, Jace walked back into the room with a coffee cup in each hand, careful not to spill.
“Here you go,” he said as he offered one of the mugs to Ford. That’s when he looked up and realized Ford’s gaze had landed on the paperwork from Briarwood Properties, spread across the table.
“Sorry.” Ford help up his hands. “I wasn’t snooping, I swear.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t think you were.” Jace handed Ford his coffee and sat down opposite him.
Ford took a sip and nodded. “So you’re selling your farm, then?”
“Actually, I’m not sure. I’ve been putting off signing the paperwork. It’s a good offer, but I’m not sure I’m ready to make a decision.” Jace cleared his throat. Had he just screwed up? Would a real boyfriend admit he might not be staying in Bluebonnet for the long haul?
If Ford’s spidey senses were tingling, he didn’t let on. He sat back in his chair, asked about Uncle Gus and otherwise made casual conversation until they were ready to get to work.
Once they got to the barn, they didn’t talk much. Jace cleared out one row of trees while Ford loaded up another. Sunlight filtered in through the wide barn doors, casting a soft golden glow over the trees. It was such a stark contrast to the stormy night when they’d moved the lot that Jace’s spirits couldn’t help but lift.
Maybe this Christmas really would turn out to be merry and bright. Maybe, little by little, Gus would embrace the holiday season and he’d get to know his uncle while there was still time. Maybe things with Adaline didn’t really have to come to a screeching halt at midnight on Christmas Eve.
After all, Christmas was supposed to be the season of miracles, wasn’t it?
“Hey, Jace?” Ford’s voice echoed off the knotty pine walls of the barn. “Have you got any more rope? I’m out, and I could use more to tie everything down in the bed of my truck.”
“I’m sure I’ve got some around here someplace,” Jace said as he peeled off his gloves and looked around.
He’d used all the bungee cords he’d brought with him from the farm, along with the rope he’d picked up at the local hardware store in downtown Bluebonnet the morning of the storm. Surely Gus had something they could use.
The workbench on the far left side of the barn was scattered with tools, dusty from years of neglect. He poked around but didn’t find anything. Then his attention snagged on the door to a storage closet behind the table saw.
Jace had forgotten about that door, probably because the storage closet had been strictly off-limits to him as a kid. Gus told him it was filled with tack and horse supplies back from the days he’d raised quarter horses—nothing that would be of interest to a boy who was stuck on a horse farm that no longer had a single pony. Jace had believed him, because why would his uncle lie?
Now, Jace wasn’t so sure.
The Gus he knew as an adult would definitely lie to a child. Even if he’d been telling the truth and the closet contained nothing but horse tack, there was still a good chance Jace might find something they could use to secure the trees in Jace’s truck. What would Uncle Gus care if he went inside the storage area now, after all this time? Chances were, his uncle would never even find out. Jace would have to clear out the space eventually, anyway, once Uncle Gus was gone and he prepared the property to be sold.
You’re really going to walk away from this place? Again? Didn’t you learn anything the first time around?
Jace pushed that thought away and tugged at the door. It was a slider, and at first, it wouldn’t budge. But once he put some heft behind his effort, it jerked open to reveal a whole side of Gus that Jace knew nothing whatsoever about.
He squinted into the darkness and tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Sure, there was some horse tack, but there was also so much more. Horse show ribbons hung from the rafters, and trophies tarnished with age lined the shelves, alongside dozens of dusty frames, all filled with pictures of the same beautiful woman dressed in riding breeches, a crisp blazer and shiny equestrian boots.
Cardboard boxes had been neatly stacked along the back wall, and when Jace lifted the lid of one of them, he found a delicate wedding veil, yellowed with age.
Jace’s heart nearly stopped. Gus had been married?
No, not possible. Surely Jace would’ve heard about a wife at some point. There had to be another explanation.
He flipped open box after box, looking for answers. There were so many memories locked away in the closet that Jace didn’t know where to focus or how to take it all in.
Then his gaze landed on the one picture that just might explain it all—not a framed horse show portrait, but a simple snapshot with a crease down the middle as if it had once been folded in half and placed into someone’s wallet, like a sentimental treasure. Jace picked it up for closer inspection, and part of the mystery that was Gus Martin clicked neatly in place.
Jace took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. He couldn’t deal with all of this now. Adaline’s brother was waiting for him somewhere in the barn.
He folded along the crease and tucked it into the breast pocket of his flannel shirt just as Ford called out for him.
“Jace? Did you find anything?”
He took one last gulp of air and grabbed a coil of rope from a nearby box of tack. “I’ll be right there.”
Ford’s question snaked its way under his skin.
Had he found anything?
You have no idea.