The Clause in Christmas Page 16
When she’d heard Frank’s footsteps echo down the hallway, she’d quickly slipped the photograph between the pages, shoving the book back inside the drawer. Her heart wrenched with guilt. She didn’t want to hide anything from Frank. But she also wasn’t sure she could face the repercussions. Their relationship had come so far, barely surviving one secret. How would he feel if he found out she’d uncovered another one?
Somehow, Cassie managed to conceal her newfound knowledge. When they’d concluded their work, Cassie bid Frank goodbye and slipped away to her car.
Pulse still racing, Cassie fidgeted with her phone, debating her next move. Acting on instinct, she found herself dialing Eliza’s number.
“Hey, Cass! What’s up?” Eliza asked over Christmas music blaring in the background.
Cassie hesitated, suddenly realizing the peculiarity of her request. “Can you… give me Luke’s address?”
A long silence followed, and Cassie could imagine the huge grin plastered across Eliza’s face.
She instantly regretted not calling Luke instead. But hearing his deep, spine-tingling voice would have made Cassie lose her nerve.
“Sure,” Eliza said with an impish lilt to her voice.
Blushing even in the privacy of her car, Cassie punched the address into her GPS. “Thanks, Eliza.” Before her inquisitive friend could pepper her with questions, Cassie hung up the phone.
As she headed back to the main road, Cassie’s cautious inner voice implored her to turn around and go home. Showing up on Luke’s doorstep unannounced was a risky idea. Especially as the sun dipped below the horizon. But in a moment when Cassie needed advice, she instantly thought of Luke. Not only could she trust him with Frank’s secret, but she’d come to value his input… more so than anyone else’s in her life.
Suddenly, Cassie had an overwhelming urge to see Luke’s home—and the insights it would provide into the man himself. And the closer she got to her destination, the more her curiosity grew.
Rounding the final bend in the road, Cassie nearly slammed on the brakes as a breathtaking, two-story home came into view. A blend of wood and stone, the lodge-style estate stood on several acres of sprawling land, bordered by a thick forest of pines. An enormous A-frame picture window showcased a dazzling Christmas tree at least nine feet tall. Large, colored bulbs outlined nearly every inch of the house, which was pretty enough to be on a Hallmark card.
After ringing the doorbell—which Luke had somehow programmed to play “Jingle Bells”—Cassie drew in a shaky breath, doubts running through her mind. She should have called first. What if he wasn’t home?
Admonishing herself for her impulsivity, Cassie whirled around and bounded down the front steps. But as she headed for her car, the whirring of a saw cut through the stillness of the brisk, wintry air. Her pulse matching the speed of a spinning blade, Cassie rounded the corner of the house and crunched along the gravel path, anxiously closing the distance between her and the sound.
Light streamed through the open barn door, casting curious shadows on the ground. As Cassie inched closer and peered inside, her breath caught in her throat.
Luke leaned over a table saw, the sleeves of his flannel shirt pushed up to his elbows. Even from a distance, Cassie could see the muscles in his forearms flex as he guided the plank of wood toward the rotating blade.
Cassie swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Alarmed by the rush of emotions rippling through her, she backed away, rear-ending a pile of wood. The logs toppled over, clattering to the ground.
Startled, Luke glanced up, pushing his safety goggles on top of his forehead as he clicked off the saw. “Hello?” He squinted in her direction, where she stood partially shrouded in darkness.
The hairs on Cassie’s arms tingled at the hopeful catch in Luke’s voice as he asked, “Cassie, is that you?”
Chapter 21
Luke blinked a few times to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Could it really be her?
Timidly, Cassie stepped from the shadows into the warmth of the barn. “Hi.” She tucked a curl behind her ear, blushing slightly as she met his gaze.
Luke’s heart sputtered to a stop. Something about having the woman he loved here in his workshop made breathing impossible. It took him a moment to string the right words together. “Wow, this is a nice surprise.”
“I should have called,” Cassie blurted, then flushed an even deeper shade of pink.
“Why?” Luke asked, flashing a teasing grin. “If you haven’t noticed, no one calls ahead in Poppy Creek.”
The corners of Cassie’s lips curved in a small smile. “That’s true.”
“What brings you by?” Luke pulled out two stools from beneath his drafting table, dragging them in front of the space heater.
But Cassie’s gaze traveled past them to the unfinished rocking chair. “Luke, this is beautiful.” As though drawn to it, she reached out a hand, running it along the unpolished surface.
“Thanks.” Luke felt a similar sense of pride when his mother had praised the same chair the night before. But coming from Cassie, the words sent a different sensation coursing through him—one that ran so much deeper. “I have a few more hours of work left before it’s finished, but it’s coming along.”
“Is it for sale?”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with it, to be honest. I just enjoy the process.”
Cassie turned to face him, a softness in her eyes. “I think I know what you mean.”
Resisting the urge to pull her into his arms, Luke offered, “If you want, I can teach you a little woodworking. I’ll even let you use the table saw.”
Cassie grinned. “Is it anything like a chain saw?”
“Pretty close.” Luke chuckled, fondly recalling the night they’d cut down Cassie’s Christmas tree. “You’ll want to remove your coat and scarf first. I try not to wear anything too bulky or loose. Nothing that could get caught in the blade.”
As Cassie slipped off her outerwear, revealing the softest looking beige sweater Luke had ever seen, he asked, “Before I forget, was there something specific that brought you by?” Anything to distract him from how completely huggable she looked.
“Yes! Something huge, actually.”
Luke’s stomach churned, and he prayed it was good news. “Should I be sitting down?” he asked, hoping humor would calm his flash of nerves.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Cassie said, then drew in a breath.
Luke waited, perched on the edge of the stool.
“Frank Barrie…” She paused and glanced at the ceiling as if the words to follow would fall from the sky.
Luke scooted even closer to the edge, barely able to contain his curiosity.
When Cassie met his gaze again, the words escaped her lips in a rush. “Frank Barrie was engaged to my grandmother!”
“What?” Luke lurched forward, catching himself before he fell off the stool.
Cassie laughed softly. “That’s basically how I reacted, too.”
“How did you find out? Did he tell you?” Luke still couldn’t believe it.
“It was sort of… an accident. I stumbled across an old engagement photo.”
“Wow,” Luke breathed, running a hand through his hair. “I had no idea.”
“I don’t think anyone did,” Cassie said.
“Does Frank know you found out?”
“No. And I’m not sure how to tell him.” Distress settled across Cassie’s features. “We’ve come so far. I feel like he’s finally trusting me. I’m afraid if I tell him, he’ll get angry and…”
“Not want to see you anymore?” Luke finished gently.
Cassie’s eyes clouded with sadness.
Leaping from the stool, Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Hey, don’t worry. Once you explain it to him, I’m sure he’ll understand.” He ran his hand up and down her arm for comfort. “And I have no doubt you’ll find the perfect moment to tell him.”
“Thank you.” Cassie smiled up at him.
<
br /> Luke’s breath hitched in his throat as their eyes locked.
Suddenly, he was all too aware of the sensation of his fingertips against her feather-soft sweater. And the heat from her body so close to his. He cleared his throat, but before he could voice any of his thoughts, Cassie asked, “Should we get to work on that rocking chair?”
“Uh, yeah,” Luke stammered. Sliding his arm from around her shoulders, he passed her a pair of safety goggles.
“This feels vaguely familiar.” Cassie smirked.
“Yep! But it’ll be even better. Trust me.”
After Luke walked her through all the steps, including safety tips, he moved off to the side, where he could watch from a close enough distance to intervene if she needed help.
Her features set in determination, Cassie eased the walnut plank toward the spinning blade. But as she leaned forward, a glint of metal caught Luke’s eye.
Quickly, he leaped forward and flipped off the switch, and the machine rumbled to a stop.
“What’s wrong?” Cassie asked, yanking off the goggles.
“Your necklace.” Luke strode to her side. “You don’t want anything dangling near the blade.”
Taking the charm in his fingertips, he moved to tuck it behind the collar of her sweater, but the engraving caught his eye. “Cass…” he began, peering closer. “What do the initials MC stand for?”
Cassie tugged the wool blanket around her shoulders as Luke placed another log on the campfire, the embers sparking into the inky black sky.
When he appeared satisfied with the strength of the flames, Luke settled on the Adirondack-style bench next to her.
Cassie held the blanket open, allowing Luke to sidle in next to her, instantly feeling the heat surge between them.
“Warm enough?” he asked, tucking the edges around her.
“Yes, thanks.” Cassie toyed with the silver heart charm at her throat—the reason for Luke’s effort. When she’d said it was a long story, he’d insisted on making her more comfortable first. And, almost as if he’d known she’d be more at ease outside, he’d set to work adding kindling to the large built-in firepit made from mortared stones.
Nestled beside him, Cassie marveled at how in tune they’d become. He seemed to know what she needed almost before she did.
“So.” Luke’s gaze traveled to the necklace. “Now that we’re settled, what does MC stand for?”
“It stands for Megan Conway,” Cassie said simply, staring into the coppery flames.
“Who’s Megan Conway?”
Running her finger along the smooth edge of the charm, Cassie blinked back hot tears. “I don’t know. We never met.”
Luke placed a hand on her knee. “I’m sorry, Cass. But I still don’t understand.”
Cassie squeezed her eyes shut, and a single tear escaped and slid down her cheek.
Gently, Luke brushed it aside, sending tremors coursing through her. He pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, drawing her closer against him.
“Derek, my ex, gave me this necklace our first Christmas together,” Cassie explained past the lump in her throat. “It was the first time anyone had given me a Christmas present beyond the occasional Secret Santa gift exchange at work. It was special. Something he’d picked out just for me.” Her voice trembled, and she had to pause, sucking in a breath to steady her emotions.
“Your mother never gave you a Christmas present?” Luke asked, tracing a comforting circle on her upper arm with his thumb.
“Mom never really did Christmas,” Cassie admitted. “So, when I opened my gift from Derek and saw this beautiful necklace…” Her voice broke off.
Luke didn’t pressure her to continue, merely tightening his embrace.
Cassie leaned into him, gathering comfort from his closeness. “It took me a minute to realize the wrong initials were engraved on the charm. Derek tried to play it off, saying the jeweler made a mistake. But he sounded so nervous, so unlike himself, I didn’t believe him.”
Cassie felt Luke’s fingers clench against her arm, and the small display of outrage on her behalf was like a balm to her broken heart. There wasn’t a doubt in Cassie’s mind that Luke was different than Derek, or, really, any man she’d ever met. And as the bitterness from her past slowly loosened its grip around her heart, she said, “Derek finally told me the truth, admitting he’d been seeing someone else and bought us the same present, mixing them up by mistake.”
“I’m so sorry, Cassie.” Luke’s voice strained with empathy.
“It’s okay,” she murmured, not meaning Derek’s actions, but rather her own state of mind. Nuzzling her head against his chest, Cassie savored how safe and protected she felt in his arms… how loved.
“Can I ask you something?” he said quietly.
“Anything.”
“Why do you still wear the necklace?”
Cassie didn’t respond for several seconds, the sound of the crackling embers filling the silence between them. How could she explain something so deeply personal? Explaining that a flimsy silver necklace felt like the strongest piece of armor in the world didn’t make any sense. Not to anyone but her.
Finally, she answered in a voice barely above a whisper. “It’s… a reminder.”
“Of what?”
“That hope causes nothing but heartache.” The words slipped from her lips easily and yet… they didn’t quite seem true anymore.
For a moment, Luke said nothing. He continued to run his thumb along her arm in comforting circles, staring intently into the fire. When he finally spoke, his words rang with a gentle truth. “You know, I’ve always thought hope cured heartache.”
As Cassie listened to the sound of Luke’s strong, steady heartbeat, a slow smile spread across her lips. “You know,” she echoed softly, “I think you’re right.”
Chapter 22
After sharing her past with Luke, Cassie was even more assured in her decision to turn down Derek’s job offer. While the temptation to own a piece of her lifelong dream was strong, it wasn’t strong enough to tie herself to Derek. Besides, by staying in Poppy Creek, a different dream was coming true—one far more meaningful.
Cassie spent the morning making specialty coffees at Maggie’s, using the beans from her last roast with Frank. Once again, a line formed out the door for Cassie’s unique and tantalizing concoctions. While she didn’t have any ownership in the bakery itself, she felt a sense of pride in what she created. And the smiles on people’s faces when she crafted something special just for them gave her a sense of purpose. Whether it was making a decaf gingersnap latte for Dolores or a candied lavender mocha for Penny. She’d even invented a spicy chai latte for Jack, incorporating smoked paprika and cardamom from his signature BBQ sauce.
After several hours at the espresso machine, Cassie felt so exhilarated she didn’t want it to end. But she’d exhausted her supply of coffee, which meant several disappointed customers had to leave with their pastries sans latte.
“All done for the day?” Maggie asked.
Her tone carried a hint of weariness. And considering she’d been on her feet all morning glued to the cash register, Cassie couldn’t blame her for being tired.
“I’m all out of coffee, but I’d love to stick around for a bit. Maybe I could fill in for you for a while?”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t ask you to—”
“You didn’t ask,” Cassie interjected with a smile. “I offered. Honestly, I’d love to help out. I think Eliza and I can manage for the rest of the day.”
“Manage what?” Eliza swooped in with a tray of colossal sugar cookies frosted to resemble brightly colored ornaments.
“Cassie graciously offered to fill in for me, but I—”
“That’s a great idea!” Eliza cut in, refilling the dwindling cookie display. “You deserve a break. You haven’t had one since…” She scrunched her nose in thought. “When did you open this place? Thirty years ago?”
Maggie laughed. “Thirty-one. And I suppose you
have a point. It has been a while. But are you sure?”
“Of course!” Eliza beamed. “I’m done baking for the day, so that just leaves the prep for tomorrow. I can show Cassie how to use the register.”
“Oh, I’ve used plenty of registers bef—” Cassie stopped short when her gaze settled on the bronzed antique register. It had more buttons and gears than the espresso machine! “Never mind.” She grinned sheepishly. “You’d better show me. But I’m a quick learner. Honestly, Maggie, we’ll be fine. Better than fine. And considering I’ll be working here after Christmas, I should learn, anyway.”
“Exactly!” Eliza practically shooed Maggie out the door.
“Okay, then.” Maggie slowly tugged the polka dot apron over her head. “It will be nice to have a little time off.” Her hazel eyes glimmered as she appeared to ponder the possibilities. “I have a few presents to wrap, Debbie Macomber’s latest book on my nightstand, and a couple last-minute Christmas cards I still need to send.”
“Oh!” Cassie’s hand flew to her heart. “I almost forgot! I’m so glad you reminded me, Maggie. Today’s activity is Send Someone a Christmas Card. Do you know where I can buy one?”
“Don’t be silly,” Maggie said. “You’ll come by my place tonight and use one of mine. I have dozens of beautiful cards itching to bring a smile to someone’s face.”
“That would be lovely. Thank you.” Cassie decided not to mention she planned to send the card to her mother. And knowing Donna, her smile would be of the upside down variety. But maybe some of the Christmas spirit Cassie found in Poppy Creek would find its way into her mother’s heart, too.
Kissing both girls on the cheek, Maggie said goodbye and sailed out of the bakery with an unmistakable skip in her step.
Grinning after her, Eliza squeezed Cassie’s hand. “I’m so glad you suggested this! She works way too hard. And she’s seemed tired lately. A break will do her some good.”
“Happy to help.” Cassie swiveled on her heels, excitement fluttering in her stomach as she scanned the shop. “Where should I start?”