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Love & Peace - Holidays in Hallbrook (Book 3)

By Elsie Davis

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Chapter One

“Turn left onto Christmas Tree Lane. Continue for two point two miles. Your destination will be on the right.” The level tones of the woman’s British accent didn’t vary as she repeated the directions.

Megan maneuvered her way down the back road, grateful they would arrive at the log cabin before it got pitch black outside. The snowflakes were getting bigger and falling with splats against the windshield, reducing her visibility. The wipers tried to keep up as they pushed the wet snow to the sides of the glass, the white hard mass causing the blade to thunk against it with every swish.

Having never been to the cabin before, she peered at each mailbox they passed, trying to make out a number. The last thing she wanted to do was show up at the wrong house, or worse still, get stuck somewhere. The realtor said it was the last driveway on the road, but they didn’t exactly tell her when the road ended.

The cabin had been her mother’s favorite place to visit, and she’d invited Megan on several occasions, but life was always too busy and had managed to get in the way every time. Being a single parent meant having almost zero time to relax, much less vacation. Her mother’s death six months ago from breast cancer had left a great void in Megan’s heart, although it was her husband Andy’s death years ago that had started her emotional shutdown. It was her daughter and her sister who managed to keep her grounded and moving forward.

Her mother had described the place as magical, which was exactly what they all needed this Christmas. Her sister Rachael’s suggestion to come here for their first Christmas without their mom had been perfect. When they’d discovered the place available for rent, it was as if their mom was smiling down upon them from heaven.

Megan had packed all her mother’s Christmas decorations and loaded them in the SUV with one simple plan in mind—honor their mother in her favorite place for her favorite holiday of the year.

These past few months had been difficult without her mom around. The bond they’d shared had been deeper than a normal mother-daughter relationship. Susan Milner had been her best friend, confidante, and second parent to Rebecca after Andy’s skiing accident.

Her mother loved her daughters, but her granddaughter had become the center of her world. It had been hard for Becca to understand why her daddy was never coming home, while at the same time trying to understand why her mommy’s job kept her from returning home right away. Without either parent available, Becca had turned to her grandmother for comfort, a bond forming between the two that left them inseparable.

It hadn’t taken Megan long to get a hardship discharge from the Air Force, but nothing took away the guilt she felt for not being there when her daughter needed her the most. It had taken her everything she possessed to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart and life and move on. She couldn’t have done it without the help of her mother.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, she drew in a deep breath and then exhaled. It was hard to believe three years had passed since Andy’s fatal accident, but Becca was seven now, and the difference from preschooler to second-grader was nothing short of amazing. Megan was looking forward to spending some quality time with her daughter. Lately, her work hours had been grueling, something she vowed to change in the future. But for now, this trip would have to make up for all her absences at school events.

“Mom, are we there yet?” Becca covered her mouth as she yawned.

“Yes, honey. The GPS says it’s another couple of miles. We just need to go slow because the snow is starting to cover the roads, and I’m trying to be super careful.”

Her daughter had been patient for the last four hours in the car, mostly because she was listening to her own music or playing games on her tablet. But apparently, her electronics had a limited hold on her attention. Becca preferred more active things, just like her father. This trip would do her good and give her a chance to play outdoors and embrace her free-spirited side. Living inside the city limits of Boston and having a mother tied on a short leash to the hospital with long hours didn’t give a kid much chance to get out and play.

“Look. A deer.” Becca sat up straighter, her face pressed to the window.

“The snow makes it easier to spot them. If you keep a close look-out, you might see more, especially if they look our way and our headlights are reflected in their eyes.”

The snow was getting thicker on the road, the lines now completely gone.
She hoped Rachael was already at the cabin because it wouldn’t be long before the roads were impassable. The road crews would be far more concerned with keeping the streets in Hallbrook plowed for the local town residents than the few homes located on the back-country roads just outside the town limits.

“The snow is pretty, and I can’t wait to play in it tomorrow. Can we make snow cream, Mom? Did you bring the evaporated milk and vanilla?” Megan caught Becca’s hopeful expression in the rearview mirror.

“Of course, honey. All this fresh snow will make terrific snow cream. I’m sure your Aunt Rachael will be on board to try our special treat.” She had forgotten it, and the extra trip back to the store had put them on the road later than she’d intended. But she’d also known her daughter wouldn’t forget the delicious concoction they made every year, and the last thing she wanted to do was disappoint her. Megan was trying to do the job of both parents, which sometimes meant going out of her way even when she was exhausted at the end of a long workday.

“Yay!” Her daughter’s smile made it all worthwhile.

They passed several farmhouses lit up against the darkened sky. Megan wished they had time to stop and take a picture, although she knew from experience it wouldn’t come out first-rate because the flash would reflect off the snow and white out the photo. But there was something magical about trying to capture the perfect shot that always kept her trying. This picturesque country Christmas setting would need to remain etched in her memory, at least for the time being.
The tracks in the road had dwindled to one set, and they were partially covered in snow.

“You have arrived at your destination.” Megan flipped the GPS off and turned into the driveway of the well-lit log cabin home. Warm and welcoming and theirs for the week. Nice place, Mom.

“Look at the pretty tree.” Becca spotted the decorated flagpole in the center of the yard, the colored lights twinkling brightly against the snowy backdrop in the shape of a Christmas tree. Her voice held a note of renewed excitement now that they’d arrived.

The vehicle tracks led right up to the house, disappearing into the garage. Megan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing her sister had already arrived. “It looks like Aunt Rachael is already here. Hopefully, she’s got the house all warmed up. The bad news is she got the garage, and we’re stuck unloading our luggage in the snow.” Megan chuckled, shutting off the engine.

“Can I come back outside after we unpack?”

“Not tonight, sweetie. The thermometer says it’s eighteen degrees outside, cold enough for us to freeze between the car and the house if we’re not bundled up. Zip up your jacket and make sure your hood is on. Hopefully, it will warm up tomorrow, and we can play outside then. The snow isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.” Not to mention, Megan was tired. After an eight-hour day at the hospital, followed by a five-hour drive, it had been a long day.

“Okay, Mom.” She loved Becca’s sweet spirit. It was rare for her to argue about anything, a trait Megan considered a total blessing after she’d returned home to care for her daughter full-time.

Becca gathered up her belongings and stuffed them in her duffle bag.
Megan grabbed her phone, slid it in her purse, and hooked the straps over her shoulder to free up her hands. Her motto had always been to carry everything in one trip, if possible. And on a cold, snowy night, one trip sounded like the perfect plan.

Becca bounded out of the car and started dancing in the driveway as she tried to catch the falling flakes.

Megan smiled as she popped open the trunk. “I know you’re excited, and we will have plenty of time to play, I promise. Use the shoulder strap on your bag and put it over your head, and then you can carry our bag of snacks and toiletries for me. Time for teamwork.”

“I’m coming. I can’t believe we’re finally here.” Becca took hold of the two beach bags and headed for the front door. “Hurry, Mom. I just saw two eyes glowing in the dark. It looked like a wild animal.” Her daughter pointed toward the side of the garage and ran for the porch and safety.

“I’m sure it’s more afraid of you than you are of it.” Megan glanced in the direction she’d pointed but didn’t see a thing. She would check for tracks in the morning to err on the side of caution, but she wasn’t too concerned at this point. “I don’t see anything. It’s probably long gone. I’ll be right there.”

Megan grabbed the rest of their belongings, leaving the boxes of Christmas decorations for another trip in the morning. She made her way up the snow-covered path to the front porch. After hoisting the largest of the cases onto the Adirondack chair, she tried to open the door.

Locked. Of course. Rachael was always sensible, but this was one time Megan wished her sister had put sensibility aside.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Brrrr. After coming from the heat of the car, the cold quickly replaced the warmth, seeping past the warm layer of her coat. They both tried to keep moving while they waited for Rachael to answer.

“Hurry, Mom. It’s freezing out here.” Becca’s teeth started to chatter.

“I’m sorry, honey. She must not be able to hear our knock. Hang on, and I’ll be right back. I left the letter with the code for the front door in the center console.”

Megan slid her purse and the other bags off her shoulders and set them down. She carefully made her way back to the SUV, large snowflakes plastering to her hair and face. Thankfully, the confirmation letter was right where she’d put it, and it wasn’t long before she was back under cover on the porch. A lantern light illuminating the entire area made it easy to read the code, and she punched in the numbers on the keypad.

The sound of the bolt sliding open on the first try was like a touch of Christmas magic answering their prayers. She pushed the door open and let Becca enter first. Megan picked up her luggage and followed her inside, using her foot to close the door behind her. She dropped everything in the tiled foyer area. It would be easier to wipe up any water tracks they left behind. Happy to be inside and out of the cold, she shrugged out of her jacket. She looked around the room, the cozy cabin as pleasing on the inside as it looked outside.

A large window in the living room framed out by curtains embellished with bear and deer images overlooked the front yard. The matching brown leather sofa and armchair were plush and inviting, an old red and white patchwork quilt thrown across the back. The furniture all looked handmade, with a classic rustic charm of their own. The huge ceiling beams added to the appeal, giving her an appreciation for the solidly built structure.

“Aunt Rachael started a fire.” Becca dropped her bags on the couch and moved closer to the crackling fire, holding her hands out to warm them.

“Just be careful. No horsing around near the fireplace. This place is still cold, so she couldn’t have been here long.” Megan rubbed her arms vigorously, trying to warm up. The room smelled of fresh pine and cinnamon, two of her favorite Christmas scents.

She moved her suitcase and the other stuff into the room. “Rachael?” she hollered. Megan turned to Becca when Rachael didn’t answer. “We need to haul our things to the bedroom and to the kitchen.”

“Can’t we warm up first? Please?” The slight whine in Becca’s voice was to be expected, the effects of a long drive having taken a toll.

“I guess it won’t hurt.” Stopping to relax for a few minutes sounded heavenly and wouldn’t change a thing. They had the entire night to unpack.

Becca slipped off her jacket and dropped it on top of her duffle bag.

They stood side by side, holding out their hands to the fire, trying to draw the heat toward their bodies as the flames danced and licked at the barely burned logs. Megan let out a deep breath. “Aunt Rachael must be out back getting more firewood. It was a great idea to warm up, and the fire is just getting toasty.” Megan laughed, turning her backside to the flames.

“It’s pretty here. And I love the flagpole out front. It’s so Christmassy. But there are no decorations inside, so I’m glad we brought all of Grandma’s stuff.”
“Yes. It will be wonderful. I’ll get the boxes of decorations out of the backseat of the car tomorrow when I can see better.” And when it wasn’t so cold outside.

“We have a flagpole at school. Charlie dared me to stick my tongue on it, but Jessie told me not to do it, that my tongue would stay stuck to the pole. She said Charlie was trying to trick me. He even double-dared me. I was afraid to try, but I don’t like being called chicken. I try not to be afraid of anything.”

Megan couldn’t help but laugh, remembering another little girl who didn’t believe it was true. Must be part of some ritual passed from generation to generation. Dare. Double-dare. Double-dog-dare. She knew the routine all too well.

“It’s absolutely true. Unfortunately, when I was your age, I didn’t believe it, and I did it anyway, even though I was warned. Worst thing ever. My tongue stayed stuck for almost ten minutes before the other kids stopped laughing long enough to get help. They had to use hot water and a washcloth to get my tongue off the pole. It hurt for days, and it was hard to eat. I can laugh about it now, but trust me, I wasn’t laughing then.”

Becca giggled. “I’m glad I didn’t do it.”

“You were smart. Always remember that even if you’re dared to do something, you always have the right to say no. Being dared is never a reason to do anything, especially not something you’re unsure of or don’t want to do. Sometimes it’s better to ask a grown-up first, just to be on the safe side. You should ask yourself if it’s such a terrific idea, why do you have to be dared in the first place?”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Becca was deep in thought as Megan wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. Her daughter was a smart girl, and Megan was proud of her for making the right choice all on her own.

A loud crashing noise startled them, sending a rush of adrenaline coursing through Megan. Her daughter screamed, the sound sending chills down Megan’s spine. Instinctively, Megan pushed Becca behind her, going into defense mode to shield her daughter from danger.

Megan turned to discover the source of the sound and was stunned to see a man; his gaze shooting daggers at her. The logs at his feet explained the crashing sound, but not the man himself.

“I don’t know who you think you are, or why you’re here, but you don’t belong and need to leave.” The man’s steely voice grated on her nerves. If looks were anything to go by, the man wasn’t an ogre, nor did he set off any alarm bells in her internal radar, something she’d learned to trust over the years. But the haunted expression on his face, as well as his words, had managed to catch her off guard.

Her sister hadn’t mentioned anything about bringing a friend, which left the question, just who was this guy? “There must be some mistake. I’m Megan Langley. My sister and I rented this place for the week. I assume you’re the property manager.” He looked the part, dressed in jeans and a leather bomber jacket, clean-cut, and delivering wood.

“Impossible.” He ran a hand through his sandy-blond hair, his brow furrowed.

“Not impossible.” His attitude and presence strained her good mood, keeping her on the defensive. “Look, mister, I’m not sure what you’re doing here, but if you’re not the property manager, then you’re the one who needs to leave.”
Megan took a few steps toward the couch and retrieved her jacket to fish the confirmation letter out of the pocket where she’d stuffed it after unlocking the door. “Becca, stay put.” She shot her daughter a warning glance, letting her know she expected her to listen.

Unfolding the letter, Megan walked directly up to the man, who still hadn’t moved an inch from the doorway of what she presumed led to the kitchen. She held up the document in her hand for his inspection. “I have a confirmation letter.”

If anything, the strained look on his face intensified. “Impossible.”

“You keep saying that, but this is proof.” Megan wasn’t backing down.
The man walked over to the front door where a coat tree stood, one she hadn’t noticed on her way into the house. He retrieved a paper from the pocket of the suit coat hanging there. Without a word, he unfolded it and walked back toward her.

Megan had a bad feeling. The man seemed so assured of himself.

He handed her the letter. “My letter. Notice the date.”

“Impossible.” The word slipped out, echoing the man’s own sentiment. “There must be some mix-up, some explanation. This much I do know, we are not leaving.”
 

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