Christmas at Fireside Cabins - Jenny Hale Page 0,11
over at Eleanor’s cabin.
“I wonder why Eleanor’s out here all alone,” Lila said, sinking down into the sofa, Edie handing her a glass of wine.
“I don’t know. It’s awfully spooky over there,” Charlotte said with a shudder, before she pinched a sugar cookie and took a bite.
“Should we invite her to the cabin tonight?” Lila asked. In all the years they’d been doing this, they’d never invited anyone else into their little circle, and she could see the mix of emotions on their faces. But Lila knew all too well the feelings that being alone on the holiday could bring, and she couldn’t relax with Eleanor on her mind. “It’s Christmas, we’ve brought so much life to the cabin, and she’s all alone in that drafty old house.”
“It wouldn’t be the Christmas spirit if we didn’t at least extend the offer,” Edie said, siding with Lila. Charlotte and Piper agreed.
“I’ll go ask her,” Lila said, popping up and setting her wine on the old trunk. “I’ll be right back.” She grabbed her coat and scarf from the rack beside the front door, and slid on her boots.
“Be careful,” Piper told her as she plunged herself into darkness.
The snow had started to fall, little flakes drifting down from a jet-black sky. The only sound was her boots crunching against the weedy grass underneath her feet as she paced across the yard as quickly as she could. She jammed her hands into her pockets, pushing herself against the wind with every step, the breeze blowing through her thin candy cane-covered pajama bottoms.
She was in a full shiver by the time she got to the door and knocked. But luckily, Eleanor’s voice came from the other side more quickly than she’d expected.
“Hello? Who’s there?” she asked from behind the closed door.
“It’s Lila.”
The locks clicked as she unbolted them and then the door opened. “Is everything all right?” she asked, worry deepening the lines around her eyes. “Do you need me?” She opened the door wider to reveal her long flannel nightgown and oversized slippers. She had her reading glasses on her nose and her hair pinned back at the sides.
“Everything’s fine,” Lila reassured her. “We decorated for Christmas and made some snacks and cookies. And we wanted to invite you over.”
The old woman’s hand flew to her chest in surprise. “Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for offering.” She seemed genuinely touched by the gesture. “But I wouldn’t want to impose…”
“You won’t impose. I wouldn’t be on your porch right now if we didn’t want you to be there. We’d like to have you.” Lila moved her long coat to reveal her pajama bottoms. “You don’t even have to get dressed. Pajamas are just fine.”
“That’s so very kind of you…” Her gaze darted around the room. “I should have something Christmassy for y’all. Let me bring over a box of chocolates my friend sent me, and I’ll grab my coat too.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
“Come into the house, out of the cold while you wait,” Eleanor said, ushering Lila inside in a rush. Presley shot up the stairs.
She seemed eager to get herself together, and Lila was glad she’d asked her. It didn’t seem right for an elderly lady like Eleanor to be all by herself way out in the hills on an icy winter’s night. Especially as she and her friends were there to celebrate the holiday. Since this was most likely the last time they’d all get together, they should mix things up a little bit, do things they hadn’t done in holidays past. Their last holiday… As Lila stood alone, waiting for Eleanor, with a pang she looked around the entryway of the old cabin, and it occurred to her that this could easily be her own fate one day. She hadn’t met that one person in life she wanted to share her world with, nor had she found a place to put down roots.
Eleanor bustled into the entryway with her coat, and when Lila met her gaze, again she saw herself in the old woman’s eyes, and the back of her neck prickled in fear. She pushed aside the uncomfortable thought as they headed out and crossed the yard back to the cabin, opening the door to a waft of buttery smells from the cookies filling the air around them.
Eleanor stood in the center of the main room in her nightgown, coat, and boots, gripping her little tin of chocolate. “Oh my goodness, ladies,” she said, blinking rapidly as she