The Christmas Inn

by Pamela Kelley

Genres: Women's Fiction; Holiday Romance; Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Explore this delightfully cozy and joyful novel of second chances at the most wonderful time of the year, from USA Today bestselling author Pamela Kelley.

A feel-good novel as delightful and comforting as a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, The Christmas Inn is bestselling author Pamela Kelley’s most heartwarming and magical book yet.

Riley Sanders didn’t plan on losing her job as a content marketing manager right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns that their mother has broken her leg and could really use some help at the inn. Riley decides to head home to the inn, nestled along the shores of Cape Cod, in time for the Christmas rush. She is happy to help and needs something to distract her as mistletoe is hung and snowflakes begin to fall.

When she gets there, she not only finds delicious cookies and a crackling fire to lift her spirits, but also the sense of family she’s been missing all along. There’s Franny, a woman who has just lost her sister and has four unopened letters from her that she plans to use to open her up to new experiences on the Cape. And there’s Aidan, her high school sweetheart, now a widower, who is staying at the inn with his nine year-old son, Luke. What begins as a quick stay over the holidays to help her mom turns into something that means much more—a second chance at romance, a deeper sense of found family, and all the joy and wonder that comes with Christmastime on Cape Cod.

Release date: September 24, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Print pages: 336

Sample

CHAPTER ONE



Riley Sanders sipped a caramel latte as she walked back to her office. It was a little past three and all around her fat snowflakes swirled and danced on their way to the ground. The first snowfall of the year always gave her a thrill. It made her want to go home, curl up on the sofa, and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie.

But she couldn’t do that tonight. She and Jack had dinner plans. They were going to their favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant, which was a good thing, because it was close to home. There was barely a dusting on the ground now, but it might get messy later.

Riley turned onto Madison Avenue and walked half a block to her building. She said hello to Gerry, at the security desk, and took the elevator to the fourth floor.

“Boost Marketing, please hold.” Marissa, the normally bubbly front desk receptionist, paused when she saw Riley. “They’re all in the conference room. Hank said to tell you to join them as soon as you returned.” She looked serious, worried even.

Riley dropped her purse on her desk, then went to the conference room where the entire content team of eight people was gathered. In January, she had been promoted to a senior content manager role, which came with a nice raise. She’d loved the role so far, as her responsibilities were still writing related—and included writing content for their website, social media, email, and print. They were also expanded to managing a small team and working more directly with several of their top clients. Hank looked up and nodded when he saw her. He wasn’t smiling. Hank normally always smiled. He was the director of the group and was one of the most upbeat managers Riley had ever worked for.

“Riley, come on in. You haven’t missed anything.” Hank cleared his throat. “Well, I’ll just come right out and say it. I’m afraid I don’t have good news. We’re laying the content team off, effective immediately. Myself included.”

The room was silent. Riley was in shock. She glanced around, and everyone looked equally confused. Finally Sheila, the most senior-level person on the team, spoke. “I don’t understand. I thought the company was doing so well. We just landed two big accounts.”

“The company is doing better than ever. But apparently we are replaceable,” Hank said shortly.

Sheila’s jaw dropped. “AI?”

Hank nodded. “Yes. Half of the copywriting team is being laid off as well. Those who remain will oversee all content work done by the AI tools.”

“Terrible timing, so close to Christmas,” someone else said. It was barely December and normally it was Riley’s favorite time of year. This put a huge damper on things.

“Please feel free to use me as a reference,” Hank said. “I’m hopeful that we’ll all easily find new jobs. I don’t think every company is embracing AI the same way. We still have plenty of value to offer.”

They all went back to their desks and started packing up their belongings. Riley was just about done when her phone rang and she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw who it was. “Hi, Jack.”

She was looking forward to their dinner even more now. After such unexpected news, she welcomed the chance to get out and vent about it.

“Hey, Riley, I can’t talk long. I need to cancel for tonight. This case is a killer. I won’t get out of here until nine or ten.” Jack was a senior associate on the partner track at a big law firm. He was smart and very successful, but he worked long hours. It wasn’t unusual for him to cancel last minute like this. Riley understood, though it was a disappointment.

“No worries. Another night.” She didn’t want to talk about the layoff over the phone, especially since her cubicle was in an open area where others could overhear. Even though she knew they’d be sympathetic, she valued her privacy.

“Definitely. How’s tomorrow? I’ll be out early and we can have a nice long dinner, anywhere you like.”

Riley smiled. “Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

* * *

All of her personal belongings fit easily into the cardboard box that had appeared on all their desks while they were in the conference room. Marissa nodded sadly as Riley said goodbye as she walked past the reception desk on her way out.

She sighed as she stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the ground level. It didn’t seem real yet. Thankfully, she had enough savings to tide her over until she landed something new. Riley wondered how easy it would actually be to find another job. She enjoyed her work, which was mostly writing company blogs, newsletters, white papers, website content, and social media posts. She hoped that Hank was right and there would be plenty of companies that would still hire people to do the work.

Her one-bedroom apartment was a fifteen-minute walk from the office and she didn’t even mind that it was cold and snowflakes kept falling on her face. Riley walked along in a daze. It didn’t seem real that they’d all lost their jobs. It was just starting to sink in by the time she reached her apartment. She let herself in and dropped the box onto the kitchen table, hung her coat up, and rubbed her hands together to warm them.

“Meow!” Lily, her beautiful silver-and-brown Maine coon cat, hopped down from her favorite perch by the window that overlooked the busy street below and ambled over to say hello. She rubbed against Riley’s leg, purring loudly. Riley bent down and scratched her behind her ears. Lily then threw herself onto the floor and rolled around so Riley could scratch her back and pet her belly. This was their daily routine. When Lily’d had enough, Riley fed her, then stared blankly at her empty refrigerator, wondering what to make herself for dinner.

She hadn’t planned anything because she’d thought she was going out to eat. She found a can of pea soup in a cupboard, and while it heated on the stove, she toasted an English muffin and buttered it liberally. She ate in her small dining area and searched on her laptop for her resume. It had been five years since she’d last updated it. Riley sighed, dreading the start of a new job search. She felt numb with the shock and disappointment of the layoff. She’d finally earned her dream job only to have it snatched away too soon.

She stared at the old resume, which needed a major rewrite. She didn’t have the energy to do that yet. She closed her laptop, and decided to deal with it all tomorrow. Tonight she was going to pretend that all was well and get lost in a cheerful Christmas movie.

She changed into comfy pajamas, made herself a cup of cinnamon tea, and settled on the sofa. Lily jumped up next to her and Riley picked up the remote as her cell phone rang. It was her sister. Which was odd, Amy almost never called Riley in the evening. They usually spoke in the morning, though it had been a few days since they’d talked.

“Hey, Amy, is everything okay?”

“It’s Mom.” Amy sounded stressed and a bit shaken. Not at all like her usual calm and annoyingly organized sister. “She broke her leg a few days ago. Is there any chance you could come home for a week or two? She won’t ask you—but she really needs some help.”

“What happened?”

“She fell off a ladder. She was trying to change the lightbulb in the foyer and lost her balance.”

“Oh no. She’s okay, though, otherwise?”

“She is. But she can’t put any weight on it for at least a month. So, she’s going to need help at the inn. I can help a little for a few days, but it’s really impossible to do more than that with the girls—they need me at the same time Mom does.”

Riley thought for a moment. “Lily and I can drive home tomorrow and stay for at least a few weeks, maybe longer.”

“That’s great. You can take that much time off work?”

Riley chuckled. “I can now.” She told her sister about the layoff.

Amy sounded furious on her behalf. “That’s just awful. Can they actually do that? It doesn’t seem right.”

“There’s no law against it. I’m sure I’ll be able to find something else. As Mom always says, everything happens for a reason.”

“Well, I’m sorry it happened, but I’m so glad you can take the time to come home. It will be nice to hang out. It has been way too long.” Riley had only made it home twice in the past year—at Christmas and for a long weekend over the Fourth of July. She’d meant to get back again but the weeks seemed to fly by.

“It really has. I can’t wait to see the girls, too.” Amy had twin girls that were four years old. Bethany and Emily were adorable and Riley looked forward to a reading session. The girls loved when Auntie Riley read to them. They’d snuggle together on the sofa, a girl on each side, and Riley would read book after book until the girls fell asleep.

She looked forward to seeing her sister in person, too. Amy was four years younger and they’d always been close. Though with Riley living in Manhattan and Amy and her family in Chatham, they didn’t see each other often enough. And of course, Riley looked forward to seeing her mother, too. Her parents had divorced years ago, when Riley was twelve, and her father remarried a year later to someone less than half his age. Her father lived in Maine, and they didn’t seem him often, maybe once a year, if that.

But they had a much closer relationship with their mother. After the divorce, it had felt like the three of them against the world. Her father hadn’t worked steadily back then because of a back injury, so child support was minimal. Her mother had worked for two different restaurants, waitressing the lunch shift and often the dinner shift, too, to make enough to pay the mounting bills. She always managed, but there wasn’t much left over.

When her grandparents on her mother’s side passed, they left everything to her. It wasn’t a fortune but it was enough that her mother was able to pay off her mortgage and buy a bed-and-breakfast that was walking distance to her home. That was about five years ago and her mother finally seemed happy and more relaxed.

Not that running the Chatham Coastal Inn was a relaxing job—it definitely had its stresses—but it was a different kind of stress. Her mother had explained that it was exciting to own the business and do everything her way. She’d always loved taking care of people and the guests enjoyed the extra attention to detail. There were only ten rooms, so it wasn’t overwhelming. And she had help now to do the cleaning. She’d done it all herself at the beginning and that was definitely too much.

Riley called home as soon as she hung up with her sister. Her mother didn’t mention the broken leg right away and Riley didn’t want it to seem like Amy had called to ask her to go home. She wanted to have it come up in conversation so she could just offer to and her mother wouldn’t feel that she’d been forced into it. Her mother always worried about being a burden, which was the furthest thing from the truth. So, instead Riley shared her news about the layoff.

“Oh, Riley, honey, I’m so sorry. I know how much you loved that job. And right before Christmas, too.” Her mother sounded as disappointed as Riley felt and her supportive sympathy made Riley’s eyes unexpectedly well up.

Riley took a deep breath. “The timing isn’t the best,” she agreed. “But I’m sure I’ll find something else easily enough. I haven’t taken any time off in ages, so I’m looking forward to a little break. I thought I might come and visit, if it’s a good time?”

“Of course! It’s always a good time to see my girls. Actually, I had a bit of an accident the other day.” She told Riley about the fall and the broken leg.

“Oh no! Are you able to get around at all?”

“I’m on crutches. I can still get things done, I’m just slower. At least I have help for the cleaning. And Amy has popped over with the girls to visit. She’s manned the front desk while I read to the girls. We’re managing.”

Riley smiled. Her mother always looked on the bright side even when things were challenging. “Well, I can help, too. I’ll be looking for things to do to keep busy. I thought I’d head home tomorrow, if that works for you?”

“That’s perfect. I’ll see you then, honey.”

* * *

Beth felt pensive as she ended the call with Riley. She was relieved that she hadn’t had to ask Riley to help—she hated to do that as it wasn’t like her daughter lived nearby. She didn’t want to have her use vacation time to help out. She was excited to see her but also worried to hear about the layoff, especially at this time of year.

As she glanced at the clock, there was a knock at the door. It was exactly seven. She hollered for her best friend, Donna, to let herself in. Donna entered the room holding a big bag of takeout from their favorite Thai restaurant and a bottle of Pinot Noir.

“You didn’t have to bring wine, too,” Beth said as Donna set the bag on the counter and fished around in a drawer for a wine opener.

“We don’t usually drink Pinot, but the guy at the wine shop said it goes well with Thai if you prefer red. So let’s see.” She poured them each a glass and Beth went to get up to help her with the food, but Donna shot her a look.

“Don’t be silly. I’ve got this. I know where the paper plates are.”

Beth laughed and sat back down as Donna handed her a glass of wine. She took a sip. It was smooth and light and a bit peppery. Donna returned a moment later with paper plates, napkins, and utensils and she put all the boxes of Thai food on the coffee table, within easy reach for Beth. They loaded their plates with pad Thai, spring rolls, and Massaman curry with rice. As they ate, Beth told her that Riley was coming the next day. Donna looked thrilled to hear it.

“That’s awful about the layoff. But great timing. I’m glad she’s able to come and stay for a while. We don’t see enough of Riley these days.”

That was true. Riley was busy with her job and boyfriend in Manhattan and made it home just a few times a year and usually just for a long weekend. It would be nice to have her around a bit longer.

“She doesn’t seem worried about finding a new job, but it seems like a tough time of year for that,” Beth said.

“If she’s not worried, I wouldn’t be. Riley is good at what she does. She’ll find something soon enough. And it will be nice for you to have company this time of year especially.”

Beth nodded. Donna was right about that. She was one of the few people that knew that Beth suffered from mild depression, mostly around the holidays. Every year, ever since her marriage ended a week before Christmas, Beth had struggled with the blues at what should be one of the happiest times of the year. She hid it well and forced herself to go all out for the holidays. It kept her busy and she’d created some wonderful memories with Riley and Amy.

Beth had always tried to make sure that the girls never had any idea that this was a tough time of year for her. The heaviness usually lifted a few weeks after the New Year. And over time, it seemed to lessen some. But it was still there. When she broke her leg so suddenly, it was all she could do not to give in to the self-pity and wallow in it for a few days. But of course, she couldn’t do that.

“How’s Bill?” she asked. Donna’s husband was traveling for work this week. Donna was an attorney and had a thriving practice right on Main Street. Many years ago, Bill had been one of her clients and they’d been attracted instantly. Once her work was finished for him, he asked her out to dinner and that was it for them. They married six months later. Beth liked Bill. He was fun to be around and she often went out to dinner with the two of them.

“He’s good. He’s not crazy about the food in Louisiana, though. At least not the fried alligator. Says it does not taste like chicken!”

Beth laughed. “At least he tried it.”

“True. Speaking of trying things—have you given any thought to putting a profile up and trying online dating? Don’t you want someone fun like Bill to do things with?”

“I do. I’d love that,” Beth said. “But I don’t think I’m ready for online dating. I’m not sure I ever will be.”

Donna sighed. “Well, I’m keeping an eye out for you as I always do. But you know all of our friends. I ask Bill all the time if he knows anyone but he says they are all married or people he wouldn’t want his friend dating.”

Beth smiled. “I appreciate that. I’m not even thinking about any of that right now … might be a little difficult to date at the moment anyway.” She glanced at her leg, which was propped up on the ottoman. The cast was heavy and it itched occasionally. She couldn’t wait to get it off. But until then, she knew she had to be careful so she didn’t reinjure herself.

“True. It will be fun for you having Riley around at least. Do you two have anything planned?”

“Just the usual holiday things. It will be a huge help just having her with me at the inn during the day.”

“And next weekend with the Christmas Stroll, I’m sure you’ll be extra busy,” Donna said.

Beth took a sip of her wine. “This is actually very good with the Thai food. We’ll have to remember that.” She took a bite of a spring roll. “I’m actually not as busy as I was last year at this time. I’m hoping Riley might have some marketing ideas for me.”

Donna frowned. “You’re not sold out for next weekend?”

“No. Not yet.”

“Hmm. Well, hopefully you fill up at the last minute with people that couldn’t get to the Nantucket Stroll the night before.”

“Maybe. We’ll see.”

Donna looked at her quietly for a moment, then smiled and lifted her glass, tapping it lightly against Beth’s. “Well, cheers to a happier holiday season than usual.”

Beth grinned. She was looking forward to spending more time with her girls this year. “Cheers to that.”

* * *

Riley got up early the next day and packed her biggest suitcase with a wide assortment of clothes—lots of layers as it was the time of year when the temperature in New England could be all over the place. She’d rented a car the night before. After breakfast she’d scoot back to her apartment, and as soon as her rental arrived, she’d grab her suitcase and Lily, and head to the Cape.

She met Jack at seven thirty sharp at their favorite bagel shop. She’d texted him the evening before to share the news about her mother and her trip to the Cape and suggested they meet for a quick breakfast before she left. He was there already when she walked in, which didn’t surprise her. Jack was always early. He smiled, and she saw that he’d already ordered for both of them.

“Tall, black, no sugar, and an everything bagel toasted with chive cream cheese. How’d I do?” The flash of annoyance that he hadn’t waited to see what she wanted faded when she realized that it was exactly what she would have ordered.

“Perfect, thanks.”

“So, you’re heading to the Cape today? The agency didn’t mind a last-minute day off?” Jack asked.

Riley sighed and told him about the layoff.

His eyes radiated sympathy as she finished recounting the events of the day before. She noticed as usual that not one of his hairs was out of place. Jack was always dressed and groomed impeccably. Today’s suit was black with pinstripes, a crisp white shirt, a charcoal-gray tie, and his thick, wavy black hair had just enough gel to give it a polished look and keep the waves under control.

“That’s rough. It’s not entirely surprising, though. We expect to see more of this now that AI can be used in so many ways. Have you thought about shifting gears a little and doing something slightly different, maybe more analytical or strategic? Something the AI can’t easily take over?”

Riley nodded. “You’re probably right. I thought I’d take some time to mull that over and see what other skills I have that might be a good complement to the writing. I’m looking forward to not thinking about it at all for a week or two and just helping out my mom and relaxing on the Cape.”

Jack frowned. “Don’t take too long. The sooner you get back out there the easier it will be to find something new. You know companies hate gaps on resumes.” Riley knew he was right. She also knew Jack had never had a gap to worry about.

She smiled. “Of course. This tends to be a slow time of year for hiring. Lots of hires are put on hold until after the holidays. It always picks up in January.”

Jack didn’t look convinced. “It’s still a good idea to get the ball rolling.”

Riley felt a rush of annoyance. She hated when he lectured her—especially when she knew he was probably right. “I need to update my resume. That’s the first step.”

Jack checked his watch as it beeped with a new text message.

“I need to run. I have a client call in fifteen minutes. That was just my reminder alert. Text me when you get to the Cape safely.”

Riley stood. “I will. Good luck with your case.” She gave him a quick kiss goodbye and they walked out together, then turned in opposite directions as she headed back to her apartment.

Her rental car was delivered at ten, so she could avoid rush hour traffic. She quickly brought her suitcase and tote bag with cat food and her laptop down first and put it in the back of the small Honda SUV. Then she ran back upstairs for her purse and for Lily in her soft pink cat carrier. Lily was already not happy about the situation and was meowing in protest as Riley carried her downstairs and settled her onto the passenger seat. Riley climbed in, and turned on the ignition.

Riley’s stress about the layoff eased up some as she stepped on the gas. In a few hours she’d be crossing the bridge to the Cape Cod Canal and that always brought a sense of peace, knowing that she was almost home. She was looking forward to relaxing and spending time with her mother and not thinking about her job search for at least a few days.

“Okay, Lily, we’re off.”



CHAPTER TWO

Riley crossed the bridge at the Cape Cod Canal a few minutes past four. She’d hit the beginning of rush hour traffic when she came through Providence, but it wasn’t too bad. She relaxed as she glanced out the window at the ocean below and a barge making its way through the canal. She was almost there.

Forty minutes later she made it to Chatham and drove down Main Street. Chatham was one of those quaint small towns that looked like it belonged in a Hallmark movie. She drove by the renovated movie theater and cute shops, including her favorite bookshop. She passed by the Chatham Squire, a casual restaurant and bar where she’d spent many fun nights. She drove a little farther, turned to the left, and into the driveway of her childhood home. Her mother’s car was in the driveway.

Riley parked and walked to the front door, holding Lily’s carrier. She knocked lightly and her mother called for her to come on in.

She stepped inside and smiled when she saw her mother sitting in her favorite recliner with her leg up on an ottoman. She moved to get up.

“Stay where you are, Mom. Don’t get up.” Riley set Lily’s carrier down and unlocked the door. Lily bolted out and stopped short when she didn’t recognize her surroundings. “I’ll get you some water in a minute, Lily.”

Riley walked over to her mother and gave her a hug. She glanced at her mother’s leg, which had a cast on it. “Does it hurt?”

Her mother shook her head. “Not anymore. It just itches now and then.” She grinned. “I can handle that. It’s so good to see you, honey. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course! Lily and I would have just been moping around the apartment, looking at job listings. I’d much rather be here. What did the doctor say? How long will you have to wear the cast?”

“He said it’s a clean break, so it should heal quickly as long as I don’t overdo it. I’m supposed to keep my weight off it for at least a month, then he’ll take another X-ray and maybe it can come off.”

“What have you been doing about the inn?” Riley wondered how she’d been getting to and fro and how she was managing.

“I’ve had help, and your sister has done what she can. She’s been great about driving me if I need to go somewhere. And filling in at the inn. But of course, I’m limited and can’t do much more than sit at the front desk. Thankfully, Ethel has been in charge of cleaning the rooms since I took over the inn. I don’t know what I’d do without her. She assured me that I won’t have to worry about housekeeping.”

“Oh, that’s a relief.” Riley could pitch in and help with the cleaning if she had to, but she’d never liked doing it.

“We’re not too busy at the moment either. It’s actually been slower than usual for the past six months or so. Two of the rooms need some repairs that I haven’t rushed to do yet since we haven’t been full in a while.” That was surprising to hear.

Riley just nodded. “How are you managing with breakfast?” The inn was a bed-and-breakfast, and every morning her mother set out coffee, juice, an assortment of pastries, bagels and breads, cereals, and usually a hot dish of some kind, scrambled eggs or a quiche.

“That’s been a little trickier to navigate. Ethel has helped me carry the coffee and food out from the inn’s kitchen. And I’ve just heated up some store-bought quiches. Your sister did the grocery shopping for me.” Her mother winced a little as she shifted position and looked exhausted just thinking about it all.

“Well, I can take over and help with all of that.” Riley smiled. “I’m going to get Lily settled and then we can catch up.”

“Perfect. I thought we could have a pizza delivered for supper, if that works for you? And there’s a cold bottle of Chardonnay in the refrigerator. Your sister picked it up when she went shopping yesterday.”

“That sounds good to me.” Riley went to the kitchen and got two bowls out and filled one with cold water for Lily and put some of her favorite dry food in the other and set the bowls in a corner of the kitchen. Lily came running and ate as though she hadn’t seen food in days. Riley found the wine, opened it, and poured two glasses while her mother ordered the pizza.

“So how did you manage to fall off a ladder?” Riley asked, once she was settled in a comfy leather armchair facing her mother. Her mother was in good health and in her mid-fifties. It wasn’t like she was too old to use a ladder.

“I was startled by a knock at the door and lost my balance. It was just the mailman and he heard me scream when I fell. He called 911 and felt terrible thinking he’d caused me to fall. I told him it wasn’t his fault, but it sort of was. Though, I should have been more focused.”

“How’s everything else going? You said business has been slow?”

Her mother nodded. “It’s been off this past year. We’re almost never full and if I’m more than half booked that’s a good week. That’s why I haven’t rushed to make the repairs in those two rooms.”

“Any idea why the slowdown?” Riley asked.

“There are two other bed-and-breakfasts that opened in the past few years. It was gradual at first, just a few off weeks here and there, but then it stayed steadily lower. I had to start cutting some expenses like the advertising I was doing. It dropped even more after that unfortunately. Though I suppose that’s not too surprising. I used to wonder if the ads were worth it, but I guess they do help. I can’t afford to turn them back on yet.”

“You need things to pick up first.”

“Yes. I’m watching what I spend very closely.”

Riley sipped her wine and thought for a moment. “Paid ads are great, but it’s not the only way to generate traffic. I can help you with some free stuff, like social media and blogging.”

Her mother looked grateful but also a little confused. “I don’t have a blog. Just a website.”

“I can add the blog. I’ll start posting a few times a week. Little articles that match things people might search for, like Chatham bed-and-breakfasts or inns. I can do some fun ones, too, like where to stay to see sharks in Chatham.”

Her mother laughed. “You really think people search for that?”

“I do. You’d be surprised.”

“The shark tours have become popular. Some of the guests have asked me about them,” her mother said.

A few minutes later, the pizza was delivered and Riley got paper plates and napkins and put a few slices on a plate for her mother. It was their favorite, pepperoni with pineapple.

While they ate, Riley asked about Amy. “I can’t wait to see her and the girls. Do you really think she won’t go back to work? I assumed she would once the girls were in school, but she said she likes being a stay-at-home mother. Said they ran the numbers and with twins, the math didn’t make sense once they paid for daycare, not until they are in school full-time.”

“Daycare is expensive. And Rob’s job pays well enough that they can get by on one income.”

“I suppose. But I would think she’d want to get out of the house and be around adults again. I couldn’t imagine not working. Amy used to love her job and she was good at it,” Riley said. Her sister had worked in finance. Riley never understood what she did but knew it had something to do with numbers.

“People’s priorities change when they have a family,” her mother said.

“Hmm.” Riley got up for another slice of pizza and handed one to her mother as well.

“How are things with you and Jack?” her mother asked.

Riley smiled. “Good. I have fun when I see him. We were supposed to have dinner last night, but he had to cancel because of work. That happens a lot,” she admitted.

“He’s on the partner track at his law firm? How much longer will he have to work these long hours?” Her mother lifted her wineglass and took a sip. Riley could see the concern in her eyes. She knew her mother would like Jack as much as she did once she met him. But he hadn’t been able to come to Chatham yet. Something had always come up.

“Not for a while,” Riley said. “He still has a few more years before it will be his turn for partner consideration and the long hours will continue for a few more years after that. It’s all about billable hours and profitability at the firm.”

“That sounds exhausting,” her mother said.

Riley agreed. It sounded horrible to her, too. “Jack loves the work, though. I don’t think he minds the hours because he knows it’s working toward a goal and for the most part, he enjoys it.”

Her mother nodded. “I suppose that does make sense. When I was waitressing all those double shifts I was just going through the motions. But once I opened the inn, the hours would sometimes be even longer, but I have never minded, because it’s my business. And I love it.”

“It’s perfect for you, Mom.” Riley had been thrilled when her mother bought the inn. It was hard work for sure, but she’d never seen her mother so happy. “I’ll get started on the web marketing and that blog tomorrow. We’ll see what we can do to get the inn fully booked again.”

“Thanks, honey. Oh, I have a bit of news. Remember Aidan Shaw? He and his son are staying at the inn probably through the holidays.”

Aidan Shaw?! “Why is Aidan staying there?” Even though it had been many years since she’d dated Aidan, her heart still fluttered a little at the mention of his name. Aidan had been her first love, and she’d written Mrs. Aidan Shaw over and over in her notebook. They’d started dating in tenth grade and during the summer before they both went away to college they had talked about getting engaged someday.

And that’s where it all fell apart. Aidan had his future planned out. He was going to college at UMass Dartmouth, getting his CPA, and then he’d be moving back to Chatham and joining his father in his accounting business. He was excited about working with his father and someday taking over the business. And he loved working with numbers. He assumed that Riley would be part of that plan, too.

But, like many of her classmates, Riley was eager to cross the bridge and leave the Cape behind. Employment opportunities for college graduates were limited on Cape Cod, unless one had a family business or worked in the hospitality industry. Riley had always dreamed of living in the city, either Boston or New York, and doing something with writing and business. She didn’t want to move home to Chatham after graduating.

So, sadly, they decided to break up then, before heading off to college. She’d run into Aidan a few times over the years and heard updates from friends. She wasn’t entirely surprised when he married a local girl a year after getting his CPA. They had a child a year later, a boy. Riley guessed that he must be nine by now. She knew that Aidan’s wife passed unexpectedly a few years ago, a tragic car accident. She’d thought about him now and then over the years and wondered how he was doing. They’d lost touch when she ended things and moved away from Chatham.

“How is he?” she asked.

“You know Aidan, he’s always upbeat. His son, Luke, is adorable, looks like a mini-Aidan. He’s a serious little thing. Always has his head in a book. I do feel for them both, though. I’m sure the holidays are bad enough without Nicole. This is only their third Christmas without her. But now they’re stuck in a hotel during the holidays.”

“Why are they here?” Riley asked.

“The two of them went away for the weekend and the hot water heater burst while they were gone. Flooded the whole first floor and it has to be completely cleaned out and renovated.”

“Ugh. That sounds awful.”

“It was a disaster. And those types of projects always take longer than anticipated. Aidan was hoping to be home by Christmas but it looks like it will be after the New Year now.”

“That has to be hard for them. Maybe they can get a small tree in their room? You probably have them in the Johnson suite?” The Johnson suite was their biggest room—it was two bedrooms and a sitting area in the middle.

“They are, and I suggested that. There’s definitely room for a tree. But Aidan won’t hear of it. He said they are basically skipping Christmas this year. It surprised me because he’s usually so cheery.”

“Skipping Christmas!” That sounded extreme to Riley. “What about Luke?”

“He said Luke will still have plenty of Christmas presents, but he’s not partaking in all the fuss. He told me that since Nicole passed, he has felt more Scrooge-like this time of year. He just wants it over with. I feel for him.”

“I do, too.” Riley loved all things Christmas. She couldn’t imagine the amount of pain Aidan must be in to feel that way about the holiday. She smiled as an idea came to her. “We’ll have to get an extra big tree in the inn’s living room. Really go all-out this year with the decorations. If Aidan won’t get a tree, then we will just bring one to him that everyone can enjoy.”

Her mother’s eyes lit up. “I like that idea, honey. Let’s do it.”



CHAPTER THREE

Riley and Lily slept soundly in Riley’s old room. Her mother’s house was a classic Cape Cod–style with gray wooden shingles along the side of the house. Riley’s bedroom was on the top floor and had slanted ceilings and a small window that looked out over Main Street and in the distance, the ocean. It was a cozy room and it always felt good to be home.

She made her way downstairs, fed Lily, and made a pot of coffee. She’d just taken her first sip when her mother slowly came into the kitchen, on her crutches. Her hair was still damp from the shower. Riley got her a coffee and they sat at the kitchen table and split a blueberry muffin.

Her mother had two bites, and said she didn’t want more. She’d never been a big eater at breakfast. Riley always woke up starving. She finished the muffin, refilled her mother’s coffee mug, and took a quick shower while her mother read the paper.

“Do we need to cook anything?” Riley asked as they drove the short distance to the inn.

“No, your sister stocked the kitchen yesterday for us. We don’t have to go grocery shopping for a few days. There’s a quiche defrosting in the refrigerator. It’s fully cooked, we just need to heat it up in the oven and set it on a hot plate to keep warm.”

It was seven thirty when they pulled into the driveway and made their way inside. Breakfast service started at eight and went until ten. The inn was silent as they walked through the living room to the kitchen. The living room was lovely. Her mother had all the rooms painted when she bought it. It had a big gas fireplace and creamy white ceiling moldings. The walls were a deep cranberry shade and the rich color popped against the moldings. With the fire glowing merrily, it already felt ready for the holidays. All it needed was a green Christmas tree in the corner and a few other holiday decorations.

The kitchen was small but efficient and after insisting that her mother sit and prop her leg up on a stool, Riley got to work. She put the quiche in the oven to warm up and made two pots of coffee, one regular and one decaf, and put both in thermoses to stay warm. She also filled an electric teakettle so if anyone wanted hot water, it would be ready in a minute or two.

Breakfast was served in the adjoining dining room and Riley brought everything out to an antique wooden side table. In addition to the coffee and teakettle, she filled several carafes with milk, cream, and orange and cranberry juice, and set them in a tray of ice to keep cool. She cut up fresh cantaloupe and sliced strawberries and added them to a platter with blueberries. She brought out an assortment of cold cereals, bagels, and bread, as well as butter and cream cheese. There were also blueberry muffins. Her mother liked guests to have a choice of something healthy or more of a treat like the muffin. And she also liked to always have one hot item.

As soon as the quiche was ready, Riley put it on the heated warmer in the dining room. Her mother sat at the kitchen table, writing out checks and paying bills. She smiled when Riley returned to the kitchen.

“That’s the last of them. Would you mind popping these in the mailbox so they go out with today’s mail?” She handed Riley a stack of stamped envelopes and she went to drop them in the mailbox at the door. On her way back to the kitchen, she paused at the sight of a familiar face coming down the stairs. It was Aidan, followed by a young boy that she assumed must be his son, Luke. Aidan stopped short when he saw her. Aidan had once been everything to her. It was surreal to see him again after so long. He looked the same and yet very different.

“Riley. This is a surprise. It’s good to see you,” he said warmly. He still had the same dark brown hair, brown eyes, and easy smile. Riley glanced at the boy beside him. He really was like a mini-Aidan.

“This must be Luke?”

“Yes!” Aidan turned to his son. “Luke, this is Riley. She’s … an old friend. We went to school together.”

“Cool. Dad, can I have a muffin?”

“Sure, buddy, help yourself.” Luke ran ahead of them into the dining room.

Riley’s mother had relocated to the dining room and was sitting at a corner table with her coffee and a slice of quiche. She looked pleased to see Riley and Aidan walk in together. Aidan said hello to her.

“You’re welcome to join us,” her mother invited. “The quiche is excellent. It’s ham and cheese, from a local bakery.”

“That sounds good to me.” Aidan headed over to help himself to a slice and Riley did the same. Luke sat next to Riley’s mother and the two of them were deep in conversation when Riley and Aidan joined them. Her mother always liked to eat her breakfast with the guests. They liked the attention and she enjoyed meeting everyone.

“My mother told me about the water heater breaking. I’m so sorry,” Riley said.

Aidan cut into his quiche. “Thanks. The timing is pretty bad. Though I don’t suppose there is a good time for this sort of thing. Hopefully they will get it resolved and cleaned up soon.”

“How are your parents doing?” Riley wondered why Aidan and Luke didn’t stay with them.

“They’re good. They’re in Arizona now. They moved there two years ago when my mother’s arthritis got really bad. The warm, dry air is better for her.”

“Did your father retire already?” Riley guessed he was only in his late fifties or maybe early sixties.

Aidan shook his head. “No. I’m taking over more of the business here, but he still works with his clients remotely. I miss having them around, but they still get back for a few weeks every summer. They sold their house and just stay with us now.”

So, there was no house here for them to go to. Now it made sense why they’d chosen to stay at the inn. In the summer months, there were plenty of short-term rentals, but not in the winter.

“It definitely is warmer there. I bet they appreciate it this time of year,” Riley said. There was a damp chill in the air that promised snow soon. It was in the forecast for later that day.

Aidan smiled. “They are liking it, though of course they miss seeing us as often. What brings you back here? Are you just visiting?” He glanced at Riley’s mother’s leg in its cast.

“I’m just back for a few weeks to help out and to enjoy the holidays. I also just got laid off unexpectedly,” she admitted. “But the silver lining is that I don’t have to rush back.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. Layoffs are rough anytime, but especially just before the holidays. I don’t know why companies do that.”

“I don’t either. But if it was going to happen anyway, at least the timing worked out. I’m sure I’ll find something after the holidays,” she said cheerfully. She’d checked online and it seemed like there were plenty of job opportunities. She planned to update her resume over the next few days and start applying for positions. She knew hiring typically slowed this time of year, but she could still get the ball rolling and hopefully get something lined up for early January. She was looking forward to relaxing a bit and helping out her mother, but she was also anxious to get settled into a new job and back to her life in the city.

“Are you still in New York City?” Aidan asked.

“Yes. I live right in Manhattan.”

There was a long moment of quiet before Aidan simply said, “Just like you always wanted.” There was no edge to his tone, but Riley still felt a twinge of sadness.

“Where are you two off to today?” her mother asked.

“We’re heading over to the house to check on progress and after that we’re off to Hyannis to run some errands,” Aidan said.

“Do you think you might be back later this afternoon? If so, I could use your help.”

“Sure, we’ll be back early afternoon. What do you need?”

“Would you mind giving us a hand getting a tree in here? Riley and I both have small cars and your truck would be perfect. If it’s not too much trouble?”

Aidan didn’t hesitate. “Of course. Just let me know where and when.”

“Why don’t you and Luke meet us at the tree lot at four? It’s about a mile from here, in the church parking lot.”

“I know the one you mean. We’ll see you there.”

“Dad, can we get a tree, too?” Luke asked hopefully.

But Aidan shook his head. “We don’t have room, buddy. We’ll have to enjoy the one in the lobby.”

“You can hang a stocking by the fire here, honey,” Riley’s mother said.

Luke stared at the fireplace. “Okay. I wish we were going to be in our own house for Christmas. With our own tree!” He looked miserable and Riley didn’t blame him. It couldn’t be fun to be a kid stuck in a bed-and-breakfast over the holidays.

“You and me both,” Aidan said. “We’ll just have to make the best of it.” He grinned. “Santa will still be able to find you.”

That made Luke laugh. “Very funny, Dad. Are you ready to go?” Luke stood by his seat hopping from one leg to the other, anxious to get going.

Riley smiled. At nine, Luke clearly knew the truth about Santa. He was at that age where he wanted to be a grown-up but was still very much a kid.

Aidan took his last bite of quiche and swallowed the rest of his coffee in one sip. “Okay, let’s go.” He glanced at Riley and her mother. “I’ll see you two at the tree lot at four.”

Once Aidan and Luke left, the room felt oddly quiet. Riley took the empty dishes to the kitchen, rinsed them, and put them in the dishwasher. Once that was done, she topped off her coffee and her mother’s as well.

“So, what did you think of Aidan? It’s been a long time since you’ve seen him,” Beth asked. Riley was unusually quiet and she wondered what was going through her daughter’s mind.

Riley smiled. “He looked good and Luke is his spitting image. It was a little strange seeing him. I’ve run into him a few times over the years, but not in a long time. He looks exactly the same. Almost like time has stopped.”

“Except for the wife and child,” Beth said.

Riley laughed. “Right. It is so sad about his wife. How long has it been now?”

“Three years, I think. Luke seems to be doing well, though. I’m sure the holidays are hard for both of them. We’ll have to make it as festive as possible. It might be good for both of them to be around people.”

“It might be, actually. I imagine it must be lonely this time of year with just the two of them left in the house.”

Beth thought the same. “Aidan doesn’t seem very into the holiday but Luke, like all kids his age, is excited about it. I thought that asking for their help with the tree might be good for both of them.”

Riley laughed. “I wondered about that request. I probably could have managed getting it onto the top of my car, using bungee cords or something.”

“I wouldn’t want to risk you scratching your rental. This will be easier. I suspect Luke might enjoy helping us decorate the tree. Can you get the decorations out of the basement before we leave?”

“Of course. I’ll bring them right into the living room, so we are ready to go when the tree arrives. And we can make hot chocolate for after.”

“Perfect,” Beth agreed.

Riley pulled her laptop out of her tote bag and set it on the table. She opened it and they were both quiet for a few minutes as Riley checked email and was typing away on her keyboard. She paused for a moment and looked up with a smile. “The stroll starts next weekend, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it kicks off Friday night with a tree lighting downtown.”

“And how many rooms do we have rented?”

“At the moment it’s just Franny and Aidan and another couple that is checking out tomorrow. I have one more room booked for stroll weekend, but that leaves five available.”

Riley bit her lower lip, thinking. Beth smiled as she watched her daughter trying to work out a solution to their lack of guests. After a long moment, she smiled and looked excited.

“I think I can get those rooms rented. Chatham’s stroll isn’t as well known as the Nantucket one. It also sells out and is more expensive to go there. I can get some blog posts up today and for the next few days and maybe we can offer some kind of special?”

“What did you have in mind? I’ve already dropped the rates as low as I can go,” Beth said with concern.

Riley smiled big. “Yes, I’ve been thinking about that and I actually think we should raise the room rates in general, but especially for that weekend. If we position the inn as a bit more exclusive we can charge more and it could make it more in demand. We can price it a bit above the other inns in town, kind of reposition it. People often equate price with quality and in this case I think they are right.”

“You do?” Beth wasn’t sure about this idea at all. It worried her that if she raised prices, her bookings could decrease even further.

“Trust me, Mom. We can make some little tweaks that will add value. Now that I’m here, I can make the quiches from scratch, for instance, and the muffins, too. We could do a chocolate turndown service. That won’t cost much, and people love it. All we have to do is leave a little chocolate for each person in the room.”

“I like it when places leave chocolate,” Beth agreed.

“And I thought for stroll weekend, we could experiment with having wine and cheese before the dinner hour in the living room or cookies and hot chocolate.”

Beth liked that idea, too. “That could be interesting.”

Riley’s eyes lit up. “I love the concept. It will bring the guests together and everyone can enjoy the warmth of the fire and the beautiful tree all decorated for Christmas. By including these extras, we can bump our rates a bit. And after the holiday maybe we keep the wine and cheese going—depending on how people like it?”

“And then we could keep the rates up, too?” Beth asked.

Riley nodded. “Yes, exactly. I will post all over social media about the special stroll package. What do you think?”

“I think it’s a great idea. I hope others do, too.”

Riley grinned. “I think they will.”


Copyright © 2024 by Pamela Kelley