Christmas at Fireside Cabins - Jenny Hale Page 0,21

out the final bowls of candy canes and plates of macaroons, Piper’s apple pie pita chips, chocolate fudge, and Lila’s vanilla bean cookies, and Piper gave a last nudge to arrange the stack of beautifully wrapped gifts in silver-and-red paper under the tree. When they’d put the finishing touches on everything, Lila texted Charlotte and Edie to let them know they were ready, and then she ran around and switched on a couple of lamps, turning off the overhead light for ambience.

“Let’s go meet them on the front porch,” Lila said, excited.

They went outside just as Eleanor and the other two were crossing the lawn, confusion already spreading across the elderly lady’s newly made-up face. With professional hair and makeup she looked about twenty years younger. Her skin was softer, her cheeks pink with blush, her hair combed into a soft wave. She had on a blouse under her open coat and a pearl necklace.

“You look amazing,” Lila said as she made her way to the porch.

“Thank you,” Eleanor said, touching her new hairstyle. “I had no idea I could ever look like this.” She gave a thankful nod to Charlotte. “What are y’all doing here on my porch? I thought you were out shopping.”

“Well, we all were. Charlotte and Edie told you a little fib.” Lila opened the door. “You see, we hated to leave you over here by yourself when we were hogging all the Christmas excitement in our cabin…” She led Eleanor into the living room.

Eleanor stood in silence, her lips open just slightly as she took in all the festive decorations. She didn’t move but her eyes glistened, tears spilling down her cheeks. She placed her fingers over her mouth, clearly still in shock.

“Merry Christmas,” Lila said.

Eleanor turned her streaming eyes toward the four of them. “Y’all are like a group of Christmas angels,” she said. “You have no idea what this means to me.”

She wobbled on her feet, needing to sit down. Lila helped her to the sofa. With jittering hands, Eleanor motioned for them all to take a seat.

“I’ve been by myself for two years now, and Christmas is really hard on me. I never thought I’d find myself out here all alone.” Her lip wobbled, but then she turned toward the Christmas tree, and it subsided. “Y’all have brought life back into this place.”

Lila felt a surge of purpose and affection for Eleanor.

They stayed and chatted with Eleanor for quite a while before she started to look tired. The sun had gone down, plunging them into the kind of darkness that was only possible in the depths of the countryside.

“We still have a little greenery left,” Lila said when they’d gotten back to their cabin. “What should we do with it?” She walked over and stretched it out on the kitchen counter. Suddenly, it hit her. “I could sneak over and decorate the coffee shop door.” She put her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggle.

Edie nodded. “That would serve him right for racing you around today like you were some sort of jockey.”

Lila laughed, but inwardly she couldn’t get her mind off it. It was the first time she’d really been surprised in a while, and she actually enjoyed it. So much so that she wouldn’t mind riding with him again sometime.

“I’ll toast to that,” Charlotte said, clinking her glass with the others.

“I’m gonna do it,” Lila told them, grabbing the leftover garland and then putting some scissors and wire into one of the boxes they’d used to bring the decorations home from the farm.

“I wish we could be a fly on the wall when he sees it!” Piper said.

Lila slid on her coat. “I’ll be right back.” She grabbed her purse and phone and ran outside to her car. She drove right off, not even letting the car warm up, the winter cold giving her a shiver from her head to her toes.

Merging onto the main road, the sharp turns caused her to have to grab the supplies to keep them from sliding from the passenger seat onto the floor. The dark sky above was an endless expanse, the clouds hiding any hint of a star. As she drove, she thought about how much Theo confused her. He went from ice cold when they’d first met to whatever that was during their ride, and then he’d left again, barely even making eye contact. She’d never met anyone so difficult to read.

When she arrived at the coffee shop, she pulled up