Page 10 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“We’re actually up to fifty-three!” said Elaine.
“That’s wonderful. And how many applications for the ice-sculpting competition?”
“Last time I checked with Agnes, there were six.”
Fallon nodded. “Okay, hopefully a few more come in between now and next Sunday. I’ve reached out to the organizers of the ice festival in Minneapolis for a list of past participants. I’ll contact them to see if they want to make the trek up here.” Twelve sculptors was her target number.
Elaine crossed her ankles and leaned against the back of the couch. “I have to warn you: Agnes has big ideas, but when it comes to implementing them, she kind of freezes.” She elicited a quiet grumble at the back of her throat. Fallon hid her smile behind the mug. It wasn’t the first time she detected a frenemy vibe between Elaine and Agnes.
At their first meeting in September, Agnes suggested so many changes to the Holly Days Festival the conversation had grown heated amongst some of the people attending the meeting, including Elaine. There was no reason to break traditions for the sake of change, Elaine had argued. But attendance had been in decline the last few years, judging by the number of parade entries and the vendors for the craft fair. Even Elaine said she’d recorded a noticeable drop in visitors to her open house. Something had to change. That was the reason Fallon had been brought on board after all, to make changes.
“It’s a good thing she’s in charge of the tree auction then, right? She stays out of your hair that way.”
The older woman smiled tightly. “I suppose.”
“I’ll have to catch up with her somehow since I missed meeting with her.” Fallon chuckled. “Though I suppose I’ll have time to reschedule now that I’m in Hendricks indefinitely.”
Elaine sat forward again and clasped her hands in her lap. “Where are you staying tonight?”
“I’ll probably head to the little motel I saw on my way into town. Flint Hills Motel, I think it’s called.” She’d taken Sara’s word that they’d be full, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.
Elaine’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, honey. That will already be full with this weather. They only have twelve rooms.”
“And I heard Blueberry Point Lodge is full already, of course.”
Elaine nodded. “It’s one of their theme weekends, being the first of the month tomorrow. They’ve probably been booked for months now.”
“But maybe with the weather…”
Elaine shook her head. “I checked a few days ago for a relative coming into town. The owner Darcy Stetman said there’s a waiting list all month.”
Fallon deflated. “Oh.”
She wasn’t above sleeping in her car. Fallon carried an extra blanket and other cold weather necessities for that purpose in case of car trouble like any sensible Upper Midwesterner. But said car was now in the possession of Bart. She doubted he’d allow her to spend the night sleeping in his car lot.
Elaine leaned closer and put a hand on Fallon’s arm. “You’re more than welcome to stay the night. We have plenty of room.”
“Oh, I couldn’t. With all that you have going on?”
“But I insist!”
This was her third time meeting with Elaine in person and already she felt like an old friend. They’d been emailing and talking by phone for months. But staying in her home? That felt way too intimate for the same reason she would never stay at a bed-and-breakfast again. Still, what choice did she have? It was only one night. Maybe rooms at the motel would open up tomorrow when road crews had a chance to get the plows onto the highway.
“That’s very kind of you, Elaine. I owe you for this.”
Elaine made a face. “Nonsense,” she said, which Fallon had quickly realized was one of Elaine’s favorite words.
And even as she accepted Elaine’s hospitality, the image of Kade’s winter-kissed face swam into her consciousness, of him kneeling in the deep snow to examine her car, and how he’d introduced her to Sara at Bart’s instead of just dropping her off at the door to let her fend for herself.
Apparently, kindness ran in the family.
* * *
The house was quiet.
Elaine had shown Fallon to her room after dinner, excited to have a houseguest.
“I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have someone staying here,” Elaine had said as she bustled around the room, drawing the shades, fluffing the shams, and swiping one finger along the surface of the night table, presumably checking for dust. “After Tyler and Tim moved out, I redid their rooms. I can count on one hand the number of people who have stayed overnight since then.”
