CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The New Plan.

Cullen woke with a start.

Last night, he’d come back inside to find Hillman and Trudy sitting in the kitchen with Troy and Bethany. No Veronica.

“We’d like to hear your new plan,” Hillman said.

“Not without Veronica.”

“She needs time, Cullen,” Trudy said. “She’s been through so much and she’s struggling with her feelings for you.”

“She’ll never forgive me.”

“No, she’ll never forgive herself,” Trudy had told him. “But she might get over things if we find out what you’ve got cooked up—and do not hold anything back this time.”

So he’d told them his plan, all the while hoping Veronica would listen to it this morning.

But everyone came down for Christmas breakfast except Veronica.

Bethany and Troy came into the kitchen first. “Oh, that smells fantastic,” Bethany said, touching her growing tummy. “I’m so glad we have power on again.”

“A Christmas breakfast casserole,” he said. “Full of eggs and cream, asparagus and rosemary and Gouda. Along with fruit and bacon.”

They poured coffee for Troy and herbal tea for Bethany. Then Trudy floated in, wearing a burgundy caftan trimmed in gold. Hillman followed, but he searched around. “Where is Lulu?”

“Where is Veronica?” Trudy asked. “I know Elle and Chase were leaving early to reach his parents in Savannah in time for Christmas brunch, so they’re gone already.”

Cullen hurried to the side window of the kitchen and looked out front. “Her car isn’t there,” he said, a hurt that burned like a bullet against his chest. “She must have left early too.”

“But she needs to hear the plan,” Bethany said.

Trudy glanced at Hillman and then back to Cullen. “As I told you, Veronica needs some time. I’d give her a few days.”

“But she’s alone,” Cullen said. “Shouldn’t I go and try to talk to her?”

“Not yet.” Trudy touched his arm. “You’re not alone anymore, Cullen. Together, we’ll get Veronica in on this. But we have to tread lightly, or that woman will bolt.”

Cullen didn’t want to wait, but if he showed up at her door today, she’d probably shut it in his face. He’d hurt her in the worst way and now he’d lost her. He thought he’d wanted the house, but really, he wanted the woman who lived there. Veronica had forced him to face so many things in his life.

And . . . he’d fallen in love with her. He couldn’t deny that, and he sure wasn’t going to walk away.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, lifting his mimosa to the group he’d come to care about. “We’ll get her back, I promise.”

New Year’s Eve Veronica sat on the old leather sofa, a cup of hot chocolate on the table and some popcorn in her lap. This had been the longest week of her life. She didn’t know where Cullen was or what he’d been up to, but Trudy had called her twice and Bethany had sent her flowers and a sweet card. Hillman had left fresh oranges and some chocolate at her door. Elle kept texting and calling to make sure she was all right.

Being back here and alone again in limbo hurt, but Veronica knew what she had to do. She’d start fresh in the new year and go on with her plan to find fulfilling work, and she’d keep in touch with her new friends.

Having a new purpose made being alone a lot more tolerable.

Lulu strolled and paced, each sound on the street making the dog bound toward the front door.

“No one is coming, girl,” Veronica told her dog. “Just you and me again.”

Cullen didn’t need to rush in to rescue her. She’d needed to be rescued, but from herself. And she’d done that with the help of her X-Mas Club friends, to save her relationship with her daughter.

Refusing to go back into that dark place, she wanted life again, a real life with texture and color and love.

She’d drink her hot cocoa and watch the fireworks on TV, then go to bed and try to forget the whole month of December. But she would not retreat from the world, no. Veronica planned to volunteer at Concord Place, to visit the retirement center more often, and keep her closets sparse and practical by giving away clothes she didn’t need.

She’d go back to her daily walks and wave to neighbors and . . . she’d forgive her former friends for leaving her adrift, because she’d been the one to close herself off. She’d reach out to Sarah Sullivan, and they would have coffee together.

God had granted her a season in the wilderness, but she’d emerged stronger and bolder and . . . she’d learned a broken heart could love again. But mainly, she’d gotten her daughter back and she had a wedding to plan.

“Not so bad, after all,” she said to Lulu. Her faithful dog barked in agreement and went back to her New Year’s Eve chew bone.

Soon, they were both asleep on the couch.

The doorbell rang, causing Lulu to jump up and skid across the rug, and causing Veronica to push at her hair and stare down at her pink velour leggings and matching long hoodie.

She wanted to call out and tell whoever it was to leave, but she remembered her pledge to live life. She’d tell them to their face.

When she opened the door, she first saw Cullen standing there with a huge, wonderful-smelling Casablanca lily and a bottle of really good champagne. She didn’t know whether to laugh and haul him inside, or cry and shut the door in his face.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice slightly above a croak.

“I have a proposition for you,” he said. “And before you shut the door, I brought a few people with me.”

He stood back to reveal Trudy and Hillman, Bethany and Troy, and . . . Elle and Chase. They were all dressed fancy and smiling. “May we come in?”

Veronica blinked, thinking she’d had too much hot chocolate (laced with Amaretto.) “Is this couples’ night? Because if it is, I’m not coupled. Or is it an intervention? I am not in the mood to be intervened.”

“Oh, for the love of Pete, it’s us coming to see you,” Trudy said, pushing her way past the others. “Go comb your hair and put on some color and maybe something a little more party appropriate than that pink fluff you’re wearing. We need to talk.”

Veronica held up a finger. “Can I hug my daughter first?”

“Of course,” Trudy said, letting Elle into the foyer.

Lulu jumped for joy and woofed a hello while Veronica held Elle close. “What’s going on?”

“They’ll explain,” Elle said. “But Mom, don’t blow this, okay?”

Veronica frowned and hurried upstairs to brush her teeth and put on some lipstick and blush. Then she grabbed a long gray sweater duster and a white silk blouse and shoved some jeans on. Taking the first shoes she found, she slipped the red pumps on and hurriedly put her hair up in a messy bun.

She tried to gracefully ascend the stairs as if this was a perfectly normal night in her home.

The invaders had put out cheese and crackers, spreads and dips, olives and fruits, and all kinds of petit fours. Along with the champagne.

She glanced at Cullen first, giving him a hard stare before she moved to the others. “What’s going on?”

Cullen sat down at the breakfast table and pulled out a printed article. “This will run in the next Hidden Mountain Gazette,” he said. “But only if you agree to all of it. By the way, your friend Mark wrote it. He’s waiting to hear your approval.”

Veronica took the article, but Cullen held her hand. “Before you read it, let me explain.”

“Not this again,” she said. “I’m done with you explaining.”

“This might be the last time he ever has to do that, in a big way, I mean,” Trudy said, giving Veronica a heavy frown that shouted, Listen to the man, already.

So she listened, with a glass of champagne waiting. Veronica glared at him. “Explain.”

“After meeting you and being around the other members of the X-Mas Club, I’ve decided I will not tear down the lodge and destroy the campground to build chateaus and condos. I want to keep it, renovate it, and open up the campgrounds again, not only for the rich and affluent, but for everyone. I want to sponsor under served and marginal children of all ages, so they can have a place where they won’t be alone, a safe place they can run to if they need it. Even during Christmas.”

Veronica swallowed some of her pride. “That’s a vast undertaking.”

“Yes, and I’ll need a lot of help,” he said, his eyes shining in that way he had—that conquering-hero way. “Hillman has agreed to be my CEO and Trudy has agreed to serve as head of my board of directors. And—”

“And I’ll be your assistant,” Bethany told Veronica. “I mean, if you agree.”

“Agree to what?” Veronica asked, thinking she’d fallen into a deep, disturbing, but kind of cool, dream.

Cullen took her hands in his. “First, I’d like you to agree to help me manage the place. You’d be in charge of a lot of the everyday demands, and I’ll be in and out. Well, Troy and I will be in and out, but mostly in.”

Veronica rubbed her forehead. No, no hangover. This was real. “I don’t know if I can absorb all of this.”

“Let the man finish,” Trudy ordered with her judge tone.

Veronica shot Trudy a focused frown, took a healthy sip of champagne, and waited for the rest.

“Second, and most important, you have to agree that we love each other, and we belong together,” he said. “Because I can’t see this as a real team effort until I have you by my side. You’ve called me out on everything, and I think I’d like to keep it that way. You’re snarky and sarcastic and beautiful and bold and . . . I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you all you needed to know. I’m in love with you, by the way, and from now on, you’ll be my confidante. Always.”

“That sounded like a proposal,” Hillman said, rocking back on his heels, as pleased as a peach. “Sure did.”

“The most romantic proposal ever,” Elle said, clapping her hands together. “You’ve been offered a great job with great people and a marriage proposal to a great man. Mom?”

Veronica knew that plea, but fear held her. “I’m not sure—”

Cullen kissed her, right there in the kitchen, with her friends and her daughter watching. “Be sure,” he whispered. “Please, Veronica, be sure.”

She stood and took him by the hand, then glanced at the others. “We need a minute.”

They left the kitchen, and she shoved him out onto the cold porch. “Are you insane?”

“Nope. I’m in love. With you, with this project, with our friends. I want you in my life, Veronica.”

She took a breath, closed her eyes, and opened them again. He was still there. “But would you be in my life? Or will you come and go and have all these secret projects? Will you trick other people the way you tricked me? Will you try to manipulate me to have things your way?”

“I’ll be in your life. I’ll redo this house and make it our home if you want that, or you can sell it and we’ll build our own wing at the lodge. I don’t care. No more secrets. I came here wanting this house and now I want you. Just you.”

Veronica didn’t want to cry, but her heart filled with everything she’d given up on—love, compassion, and a fierce need to keep exploring the mystery of this man. But on her terms.

“You’d have to pay me a very good salary,” she said, watching his face. “And you’d need to be honest, from the beginning.”

“I’d give you the world,” he replied. “Because you’re priceless.”

“Oh, you’re good,” she retorted. “But all your pretty words won’t win me over. A kiss might, however.”

He kissed her, and she kissed him back with a confidence she’d rediscovered. Kissing him, holding him, sheltering him felt so right. They’d fought against it, fought each other, and now he’d come to fight for her.

Then she pulled back. “I don’t need the world, Cullen. But I’d like to have you in my world—all in.”

“I’m in, so all in,” he said. “And we’ll take our time. No rush. I’ll follow your lead.”

“I think I can manage that.”

He lifted her up and kissed her again. “And the lodge too?”

“I haven’t worked in years, but yes. What could go wrong?”

“Everything,” he murmured. “But together, we can make it all right.”

“Okay,” she said. “Someone once told me he believed in fate and faith. So I’m going to trust both.”

“So, that’s a yes?”

“That’s a yes,” she replied.

Then the front door burst open, and her daughter and friends all fell out, laughing.

“Time to celebrate the New Year,” Hillman said, his arm around Trudy.

“And plan weddings, either here or at the lodge,” Elle shouted, hugging Veronica. “Happy New Year, Mom.”

“Your wedding only, right now,” Veronica cautioned. “I still need to let this settle in.”

She followed them back inside. Lulu ran from person to person, glad to have so many humans in her life. Veronica was glad too. She’d never lose her Christmas spirit again.

After they’d talked business and celebrated the New Year, Cullen tugged her back out onto the porch. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll go for a walk, and you can show me off.”

Veronica laughed. “Let’s take a different path—the high road.” She kissed him and thanked God that invitation had fallen at her feet. The X-Mas Club had delivered on its promise. She’d make sure she and Cullen delivered on theirs too.

The End.

About the Author

A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Rolls, Lenora Worth writes romance and romantic suspense for Harlequin’s Love Inspired and sweet romance for Tule Publishing. Her books have finally in the ACFW Carol Awards. She also received the Romantic Times Pioneer Award for Inspirational Fiction. Lenora is a NY Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling writer and a 2019 RWA RITA® Finalist. With eighty-plus books published and over three million books in print, she enjoys adventures with her retired husband and loves reading, baking and shopping…especially shoe shopping.

Visit her website at LenoraWorth.com.