Page 16 of Healing Hearts at the Christmas Inn
Jane's hand trembled slightly against her stomach, as if cradling a ghost. Then she blinked, and the professional smile snapped back into place like a mask, polite and warm but dead behind the eyes.
Holly looked away, her throat tight. She recognized that look. She'd seen it in her own mirror often enough after miscarrying her second child almost thirty years ago.
"Alright," Jack said, breaking the moment. He held up a key attached to a wooden fob carved in the shape of a lighthouse. "Let me show you to your suite."
They followed him up a wide staircase, the wood creaking softly beneath their feet. The walls were lined with more photographs, images of the inn through the decades. Holly caught glimpses of smiling families, festive gatherings, and a younger version of Julie standing beside a man who must have been her husband, as Jack bore a striking resemblance to the man. They were a very handsome family.
They climbed to the third floor, and Jack led them down a hallway adorned with wreaths and ribbon. He stopped at the last door on the left and unlocked it with a flourish.
"Your home away from home," Jack said, pushing the door open.
Holly stepped inside and stopped, her breath catching.
The suite was beautiful.
The main living area was spacious and filled with light, even at this hour. A plush sofa and armchairs were arranged around a low coffee table, and a small Christmas tree stood in the corner, its branches hung with handmade ornaments and twinkling lights. The walls were painted a soft cream, and the floors were polished wood covered with thick rugs that muffled their footsteps.
To the left was a mini kitchen, complete with a small stove, a refrigerator, and a farmhouse sink. A basket sat on the counter,overflowing with fresh fruit, homemade cookies, and a bottle of sparkling cider.
Straight ahead, French doors opened onto a balcony that overlooked the ocean. The sound of the waves was louder here, a constant, soothing rhythm that seemed to fill the entire space.
"There are four bedrooms," Jack said, setting their luggage just inside the door. He pointed down a short hallway. "Two on the left, two on the right. Each has its own bathroom. The master suite is the one at the end. It has the best view."
Trinity was already racing toward the balcony, her excitement impossible to contain. Holly followed more slowly, taking it all in. The suite wasn't perfect. The paint was slightly chipped in places, and the furniture had the worn, comfortable look of pieces that had been loved for years. But it was decorated with care, every surface adorned with holiday cheer. Garland draped the mantel of a small fireplace, and stockings hung from hooks shaped like seashells.
"It's lovely," Holly said, turning to Jack. "Thank you."
He smiled, and there was something in his eyes that made her pulse quicken. "I'm glad you think so. Dinner is ready anytime you are. Just head down to the dining room when you're settled. Jane will show you where it is."
He moved toward the door, then paused, glancing back at her. "Welcome to the Christmas Inn, Holly. I hope your stay is everything you're hoping for."
And then he was gone, the door clicking softly shut behind him.
Holly stood there for a moment, her hand pressed to her chest, feeling the wild flutter of her heart.
What was she hoping for?
She wasn't sure. But standing here, in this place that glowed with light and warmth and the promise of something she couldn't name, she thought maybe she was ready to find out.
"Gran!" Trinity's voice called from the balcony. "Come look! You can see forever!"
Holly smiled and went to join her granddaughter, leaving the question unanswered for the time being.
6
JACK
Jack pulled the door closed behind him and stood in the hallway for a moment, his hand still resting on the doorknob. His heart was doing something strange in his chest, a quick, unsteady rhythm that had nothing to do with carrying luggage up three flights of stairs.
Holly Bennett.
He'd noticed her the moment he'd climbed out of his truck and seen her struggling with bags in the parking lot. Something about the way she'd moved, the determined set of her shoulders as she wrestled with that oversized duffel, had caught his attention. He'd approached to help, fully expecting her to accept with a polite smile and maybe some small talk about the drive.
But then she'd turned around.
And something had jolted inside him. Something sharp and unexpected, like the first breath of air after surfacing from deep water.
She was beautiful. That much was obvious. Tall and slender, with dark hair streaked with gold that caught the light from theinn's decorations. Her eyes were a bright, striking green, the kind that seemed to see straight through you. But it wasn't just her looks that had stopped him in his tracks. It was the way she'd immediately stepped closer to her granddaughter, protective and fierce. The way her smile had been cautious at first, then softened when she realized he wasn't a threat. The way she'd looked at the inn like it was something precious.
