Page 19 of Lakehouse Mistletoe
“It’s my own special recipe. It’s a cream cheese coffee cake. I made it last night for Thanksgiving and, if I don’t get it out of my house, I’ll eat it all.” She widened her eyes in feigned dismay.
Helen laughed. “Thank you for bringing me some. Coffee cake is my favorite.” She took a bite and sighed as the flavors melted on her tongue.
“This is the best coffee cake I’ve ever had,” Helen acknowledged.
Carolina brightened. “Thank you. I’ll remember that for next time when I visit. So, Rebecca tells me you are new to North Carolina. It must be exciting to move to a new state. Where are you from, Helen?”
Helen set her coffee down and swallowed. “I’m from Arkansas. Originally from Tennessee but lived in Arkansas close to twenty years.”
Carolina nodded. “I’m from North Carolina and recently moved to the lake house full time after my divorce. My ex got his twenty-something-year-old mistress pregnant. I found out in front of everyone at a dinner party.” Carolina shrugged as if she were talking about something as boring as the weather.
Helen felt her eyes widen. “I’m … I’m so sorry.”
Carolina snorted. “Don’t be. Getting a divorce was the best thing that ever happened to me. Have you ever felt like you really didn’t know a person? That’s how it was with my husband. He tried to get me back after he found out the grass wasn’t greener on the other side, but now he’s stuck with Kylie.”
Helen grinned. “Sounds like he got a big dose of karma. I wonder if that will happen with my ex? I’m recently divorced.”
Carolina cocked her head. “How long were you married?”
Helen sighed. “Almost twenty years. Same as your husband, my ex is now with his much younger mistress. I wish I were as confident as you about your divorce. It seems like the holidays don’t feel the same anymore. Like I have to learn what a new normal is.”
Carolina nodded. “I went through that too. I had to get a job, a new career, and found that I could do hard things, like renovating my lake house. It’s the hard times that build our character. Lean into the pain. You’ll come out on the other side better than before. Trust me.”
Helen smiled. “I hope you are right.”
Carolina smirked. “I am.” Her eyes widened suddenly. “Oh, I brought some ideas to see how you’d like the front porch decorated. I want to show you so you can decide what direction you want to go.”
Helen frowned. “Shouldn’t you ask Rebecca and Kacey? They are the owners. I’m just the caretaker, after all.”
Carolina froze and gave her an odd look. “Oh no, Helen. You’re more than that. You are the heart of this house.”
Helen was floored by her new friend’s words. She’d never thought she would feel so emotional over such simple words.
They meant the world to her.
As Carolina shifted through images of Christmas décor ideas, Helen’s vision came into focus. She decided on a theme.
Chapter 14
Helen stood before the house, appreciating all the hard work they had done.
Carolina helped take all the autumn décor down and put it in the back of her truck to take away after they had both unloaded the Christmas poinsettias, small Christmas trees, and garland.
Once they’d gotten the small Christmas trees in the large black planters, they moved on to hanging the Christmas garland, draping it over the windows and front door. Carolina had suggested making some wreaths to hang in each window, but Helen thought it might impede the view too much. Instead, they hung decorative red ribbon and tiny white Christmas lights in the garland. They even weaved clusters of pinecones in the greenery for a more cozy look. The poinsettias, both red and white, were positioned around the small Christmas trees and trailed down either side of the steps.
By the time they were finished, the house looked like a house in a storybook Christmas village.
After Carolina left, Helen looked at the end of the porch and squinted her eyes. That’s where she would put a full-size Christmas tree. Carolina was set to have two Christmas trees delivered tomorrow. One for the porch and one for inside the living room.
Helen had checked the shed and found three large totes with Christmas ornaments and lights. There was a smaller box filled with decorative ribbon. Excitement bubbled up within her as she thought how she was going to decorate the two Christmas trees.
The phone rang, and she plucked it out of the pocket of her coat.
“Laurel Cove Bed and Breakfast. How may I help you?” She started up the steps.
“Helen, it’s Carolina.”
Helen laughed. “You just left fifteen minutes ago. You didn’t forget something, did you?” She opened the front door and headed inside to the warmth of the fire.
