Page 63 of Healing Hearts at the Christmas Inn
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JACK
Jack pulled the inn's shuttle into the parking lot and killed the engine, his palms slightly damp against the steering wheel. Which was ridiculous. He was fifty-eight years old, not some kid picking up his date for prom.
Except that's exactly how he felt.
He'd spent the last hour getting ready like he was preparing for something momentous instead of just a trip into St. Augustine to see Christmas lights. He'd changed his shirt twice. Actually brushed his hair instead of just running his fingers through it. Even considered cologne before deciding that was taking things too far.
The passenger door opened, and Jane stuck her head in. "Dad? Are you going to help me open this silly back door that sticks, or are you going to sit in there all night meditating?"
"Coming," Jack said, climbing out and moving to jiggle the temperamental lock and slide open the side door.
Trinity and Maddy piled into the back row, already chattering about the tree lighting ceremony. Jane climbed in next to them,her face more animated than Jack had seen in three years. The sight made his chest tight with gratitude and something that felt dangerously close to joy.
Logan approached next, Charlie at his side. They were careful not to touch, Jack noticed. Almost too careful, like they were working hard to maintain distance.Interesting.
They settled into the middle row, leaving a noticeable gap between them that somehow made their awareness of each other more obvious.
Julie appeared last, heading straight for the back row.
"Julie, sit up front," Holly called out. "You'll be more comfortable."
"Nonsense." Julie waved her off, settling in beside Jane and the girls. "I'm perfectly comfortable back here. Additionally, you and Jack organized this outing. Seems fitting you should be the guides." She gave a knowing smile that made Jack's neck heat.
He closed the back door and opened the front passenger door for Holly, trying to ignore his mother's expression. She saw too much, always had.
Jack turned and waved to Isabella, who stood in the inn's doorway. She'd offered to take the front desk for the night, and Jack had accepted gratefully. Isabella picked up extra shifts at the front desk and some administrative work at the office to earn a few more dollars. Jack wished he could pay her what she deserved. Isabella had been so good to them, so loyal despite everything. He didn't know what they would have done without her. It was her cooking that had kept them going. While the inn wasn’t drawing as many guests, the dining room/restaurant was nearly always full.
Jack’s gaze shifted back to the shuttle, to the people inside. His family, his oldest friend, and these new friends who'd become important in just a few days. He didn't know what he'd do without any of them.
Jack shook off the emotion and climbed into the driver's seat.
Before he could start the engine, Trinity leaned forward. "Can we play Christmas music?"
"Please?" Maddy added. "It's not really Christmas without carols."
Jack glanced at Holly, who smiled and shrugged. "Why not?"
He turned on the radio, found a station playing nothing but holiday music, and pulled out of the parking lot to the sound of "Jingle Bell Rock." Within seconds, the girls were singing along, Jane joining in with surprising enthusiasm.
The drive into St. Augustine took about twenty minutes, the conversation flowing easily. Jack pointed out landmarks as they went. But the only one who was really listening was Holly; the rest of the vehicle was trying to out-sing each other.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Holly breathed, her head moving from side to side. “It really is as beautiful and historical as the brochures say.”
"It is," Jack agreed. "The Nights of Lights is one of the oldest and largest light displays in the country. Been going on for over thirty years now."
"How many lights are we talking about?" Charlie asked from behind them.
"Over three million," Jane called out. "Covering the entire historic district." She grinned at Jack. “I did some light reading.”
Trinity and Maddy gasped in unison.
Jack found himself smiling as he drove, the nervousness from earlier melting into something warmer. He glanced at Holly, catching her looking at him. She smiled, and his heart did that stupid flip thing again.
"The tree lighting ceremony is at seven," Jack said, checking the clock on the dashboard. "We're right on time."
They found parking near the plaza, and Jack maneuvered the shuttle into a spot. As everyone started to climb out, he hurried around to Holly's side.
