seems so quiet without all the people and music and holiday cheer of the past two days,” Winnie said.
“Don’t worry. All of that will be back tomorrow,” Abby said.
“Why aren’t you doing your fundraiser on Sunday?” Ethan had to ask.
“Everybody wanted a day to rest their voices and be with their own families,” Winnie explained. “It’s such a busy time of year, it’s hard to schedule something every single night. Maybe next year we’ll start earlier in the season and only do it four nights a week or something.”
“That makes sense.”
“I can’t believe we have already done it two nights and only have six more to go. Next Sunday at this time, we’ll be all finished with them and will have money to start work on the adaptive lodge. It’s going to be so marvelous to break ground for it in the spring.”
His grandmother glowed when she talked about her latest pet project. Winnie loved helping other people. She always had. She was happiest when she was doing something to make the world better.
Too bad that altruistic, compassionate gene had completely passed over her son. Ethan’s father generally only cared about himself.
“Do you think you’ll make enough?” Lucy asked.
“Between that and the gingerbread contest next week for Rodrigo’s birthday, we should at least have enough for the initial construction. The endowment fund will help us with the continuing cost of running it and we should be able to supplement with the proceeds from future house tours. If we decide to continue them, anyway.”
“Have you already chosen the site of the lodge?” Abby asked.
Ethan answered her. “This has been in the works for a while. We did the preliminary survey work last year.”
He did not add that he had intended to have Lancaster Hotels donate the materials and labor portion of the construction costs. He hadn’t even told Winnie that yet. He thought he would surprise her with it at Christmas.
“Speaking of the gingerbread contest next week, you’re taking me again, right?” Winnie asked him.
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Ethan has been my partner at the annual gingerbread contest for years,” Winifred told Abby. “Before this year and our own fundraiser here at Holiday House, that was always the highlight of the season for me. We can’t win, unfortunately, since Lancaster Hotels always donates the grand prize. Personally, I don’t think the rule disqualifying us is particularly fair, but I’m outvoted on that year after year.”
Ethan laughed. “I don’t think it would be a very good look if two Lancasters won a week’s all-expenses-paid stay at one of their own hotels.”
“Whatever,” Winnie said. “If not for that rule, I’m sure we would have won the competition at least twice by now.”
“Maybe we ought to sit this one out and simply enjoy the day, since you’re on the injured list.”
“Forget that! I’ve been working on designs all year long.”
“Can I build a gingerbread house?” Christopher asked. “We did one at my preschool last year. I put crushed candy canes on the roof.”
“I bet that looked great,” Ethan said, smiling down at the boy. He shifted his gaze in time to see Abby looking at him with an odd, arrested look on her face.
She quickly looked away. “Maybe we can go watch.”
“This is a pretty heated competition,” Lucy said. “If you show up you have to come ready to throw down.”
“Why do you want to throw gingerbread down? Won’t it be ruined?” Christopher asked, looking genuinely concerned.
“It’s a saying. It means come ready to do your best work. There is a kids’ competition,” Lucy said. “You should definitely join in the fun.”
For the rest of the meal, they discussed the competition and the themes of previous years. The food was delicious and the company enjoyable, making Ethan glad he had let Winnie talk him into it.
Finally, after Lucy brought out a dessert of lemon cake she admitted she had bought from Emily Tsu’s bakery, Abby slid her chair back.
“That was delicious. Thank you for including me, but somebody here needs to go to bed.”
It was almost nine, Ethan realized with shock. They had been eating and talking for almost two hours.
“Not me,” Christopher said sleepily.
“You’ve had a big day, sweetie. And will have an even bigger one tomorrow. Say good-night, and then we had better get you to bed before you fall asleep in the tub.”
“I won’t fall asleep because I’m not tired,” he claimed, but ruined it with a big yawn that had the adults at the table all trying to hide