Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley (6 page)

“Oh, Ethan,” she murmured, squeezing his hand. “Aren't they wonderful?”

He nodded, watching for a moment, before his gaze began to roam the crowd again. She let go of his hand, and after listening to another few songs, she waved to the widows and continued to walk up Main Street.

The tree was a massive evergreen planted on the grounds of the town hall long ago. The hall itself had spotlights highlighting the stone clock tower and the wreaths on the doors. Crowds of people mingled there, but it didn't take Kate long to spot her brother, whose three-year-old was perched on his shoulders. Diana had the baby, and their six-year-old held Walt's hand. Barney moved among them eagerly, rubbing against legs as he begged to be petted.

Once reunited with family, Ethan seemed to take that as permission to start texting on his flip phone. Kate let it go on awhile, knowing he and a friend were supposed to meet up.

Ethan briefly glanced at her. “Dad's here. He got away from the tavern after all.”

“Good for him,” Kate said, though inside she winced. Tony was going to be sick of her after just a couple days. But then again, at least she didn't have to feel bad about depriving him of a holiday tradition with his son.

A band started playing Christmas carols, and she tapped her foot to “Joy to the World.” She wasn't feeling exactly joyous this holiday, but maybe she could fake it until she really felt it.

And then she saw Tony, crossing First Street, head down against the wind. He was wearing a ski hat and snowboarding jacket that had obviously seen a lot of use; his jean-clad thighs showed a long line of muscles as he strolled. He looked healthy and tan, like a man who spent most of his time outdoors. It suddenly dawned on her that she hadn't dated many men like him since the divorce. She'd stuck to lawyers and bankers and doctors who wore expensive ski jackets and went to après-ski in wine bars at the base of the slopes. For the first time, she wondered if she'd deliberately steered clear of men like her ex-husband. And what was that supposed to say about her?

But she couldn't dwell on it, because she noticed Lyndsay at Tony's side. Kate's Christmas spirit kicked into overdrive in preparation. She and Lyndsay weren't enemies, after all—they were just no longer best friends. They could be polite to each other.

But they'd been the
best
of friends from the time Kate was in fourth grade. On the playground, she'd rescued third-grader Lyndsay from a bully when Tony had been home sick. They'd discovered they both liked to hand-sew Barbie clothes and make them little homemade houses. Kate had even gone through a phase when she'd sewed little beanbag frogs her aunt had once made for her, and Lyndsay had followed Kate's lead. They'd talked school and boys, and since both had only brothers, it had been a relief to talk to a girl. They'd competed in marching band together, kept each other company on long school bus trips to football games and band competitions, helped each other with their homework.

At first, Lyndsay had seemed leery of Kate's growing friendship with Tony, but Kate had just taken that as a girl not wanting her older brother hanging around. But Tony was Kate's age, in a lot of her classes, and he'd liked riding bikes on the trails of the Elk Mountains just as much as they had. Having him around had started to seem natural.

Dating
Tony had actually been an easier hurdle to cross. Sometimes they'd all even double-dated, for Lyndsay was always dating someone or other.

The first thing Kate had had trouble talking to Lyndsay about? Her pregnancy. She hadn't wanted to confide in anyone at first, except for Tony, because she'd been so scared and upset that her well-planned life had taken a major turn. At nineteen, who knew antibiotics and birth control pills didn't mix well?

But Lyndsay had been thrilled when they'd gotten married, had wiped away tears as Kate's maid of honor, then Ethan's godmother. But the end of Kate's marriage had been the end of Kate's friendship with Lyndsay. The divorce had meant the loss of two of the most important people in her life. Lyndsay felt her brother's pain and blamed Kate for all of it. Kate certainly knew she'd been partly to blame for all the mistakes, but she'd hardly been in a position to ask Tony's sister for advice as the problems had piled up. So the marriage breakup had completely blindsided Lyndsay, since Tony hadn't exactly been talkative either. Kate had lost her best friend, and she'd never really replaced her. Oh, she had friends, but they weren't—Lyndsay.

Lyndsay came to a stop next to Tony, her hands stuffed in the pockets of her ski jacket. She wore tight jeans tucked into knee-high leather boots, her wavy brown hair pulled into a ponytail, a winter headband protecting her ears. She was even wearing bangs now, feathery ones that looked good with her highlighted hair.

“Hi, Lyndsay,” Kate said cheerfully.

Lyndsay gave her a perfunctory smile. “Kate.” She bestowed a more natural smile on Walt and Diana, who were pointing out the Christmas decorations to their kids and trying to get the littlest to say “tree.”

Lyndsay glanced at Kate again. “I bet Ethan's glad to have you home for Thanksgiving.”

They both turned to see Ethan looking down at his flip phone, as if he really didn't care if his mom was there or not. Kate exchanged a glance with Tony, who rolled his eyes. For just a moment, she felt like they were on the same side.

“Ethan, who are you texting?” Tony asked.

“Brad,” Ethan said absently, head still bent. “He's here somewhere with his girlfriend.” His voice sounded a little sour as he said the last word.

“Girlfriend?” Tony and Kate both echoed at the same time, then gave each other a surprised look.

It was Lyndsay's turn to roll her eyes before looking toward Mayor Galimi, who was getting ready to speak at a podium on the raised steps of town hall.

“Yeah, they're dating,” Ethan said irritably. “It's a pain. It's not like anybody can drive yet, but they have to do everything together now.”

Ethan wouldn't be driving for three more years, but he made it sound like it was only next week. And it might go by that fast, too, Kate thought balefully.

“Be nice about it to Brad,” Tony said. “He can't help it.”

“Sure he can,” Ethan mumbled, but then he waved to someone.

Kate turned and saw a tall, lanky boy holding the hand of a girl whose braces glinted in the lamplight. “Do they want to join us?” she asked, giving a wave.

The two kids looked at each other and the girl waved back, then they bent their heads together and laughed. Kate knew she wasn't being thought of as “cool” at the moment.

“They just got away from their parents . . .” Ethan began. “Do you mind, Mom?”

“No, of course not. Just listen for your phone.”

He brightened, nodded, and hurried to join his friends.

“They seem awfully young,” Kate said wistfully.

“You two were practically dating at that age,” Lyndsay said. “Guess you guys know the kinds of mistakes they could be making.”

Kate was only a little taken back. “Yeah, you're right, Lynds,” she agreed. “It's a different world now that my son is almost in high school.”

T
ony didn't know if he should step between his sister and his ex-wife or let them fight it out at last. They looked at each other like strangers. In some ways, that was almost as bad as his ruined marriage. But they were polite to each other, and Lyndsay had a big smile for Walt and Diana and their kids. Yet when Lyndsay looked away, Walt glanced at Tony and gave him a raised eyebrow. Well, there wasn't anything Tony could do to make this reunion between former best friends less awkward, so he just shrugged.

He remembered how Kate had ducked calls from his sister when he and Kate had first started having problems. Or she would only tell Lyndsay about school stuff. He, too, had felt bad for not confiding in his family, but how would he have been able to tell them he'd made a terrible mistake, when he'd been so certain marrying Kate had been his destiny?

During the lead-up to the divorce, he'd had to deal with his own sadness and feelings of betrayal while answering his sister's endless confused questions at the same time. Once everything had settled down and they'd gone on with their lives, things had worked out fine, but now, looking at the invisible shield Lyndsay seemed to be wearing, he wondered what she could be thinking.

As the band played “O Holy Night,” Kate offered a paper sleeve of roasted chestnuts. Tony helped himself while Lyndsay politely declined. Kate handed them off to her brother, whose middle child grabbed for it and almost knocked it to the ground.

“So what did you do with yourself today?” Tony asked Kate, just to fill the awkward silence.

She shook her head. “You'd think I'd be used to holidays, but it felt so unusual to have nothing to do. I went to the restaurant for lunch, I hung out at the bookstore. Barney and I sometimes kept each other company.” She rubbed her dog's ears.

“I never thought to send Ethan over to you,” Tony admitted. “And you usually have weekends, too.”

She chuckled. “I didn't know how to handle it either. But he's right next door.”

“It's not the same as having him with you twenty-four-seven,” he said.

She met his gaze, her smile softening. “Yeah, thanks for understanding.”

Lyndsay pointedly cleared her throat, but he ignored her.

“Mom offered the futon in her office if he wanted to spend the night with us,” Kate continued. “I'd feel stupid asking him to stay, when his own room is so close.”

“It does seem silly,” Lyndsay agreed.

Kate's smile faltered.

“Mothers sometimes do that kind of stuff to be with their kids,” Diana interjected, then made a grab at her three-year-old's hand before he could chase after Father Christmas. “Or so I hear,” she added dryly.

Tony saw his sister's eyes flicker with some kind of pain before they became simply polite again. What was that about? Diana hadn't tried to be rude.

The microphone at the podium suddenly gave a piercing whistle that made them all wince. Mayor Galimi, her short silver hair glimmering under the lights aimed at town hall, smiled broadly and said, “Happy holidays, Valentine Valley!” Her voice echoed and her breath misted.

People cheered amidst the muffled sound of gloves and mittens clapping.

The mayor spoke about the town councilpeople who'd help make the day possible, the Dickens actors, the food booths. She mentioned the Christmas market at Silver Creek Park, and open skating on the frozen pond in the Rose Garden. At last the band played “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and Mayor Galimi threw the switch. The Christmas tree lit up with what had to have been thousands of lights. Tony glanced around for Ethan. He and his friends stared up at the tree, wonder still reflected in their bright eyes.

As Kate's smile deepened with contentment, Tony knew that she'd noticed their son, too.

“He's still our little boy,” she murmured.

The multicolored lights played across her face and danced in her wide violet eyes as she stared at the festivities. For a moment, he found it hard to look away. Christmas Past briefly haunted him with memories of their first Christmas tree, when she was eight months pregnant, and Ethan taking his first steps the next year, arms wide as he tried to tackle the tree.

And then he noticed Lyndsay frowning at him, and he shrugged, mouthing, “What?”

His sister gave an aggrieved sigh and turned back to stare up at the towering Christmas tree. He didn't know what her problem was.

“Kate!” called a feminine voice.

They all turned to see Emily Thalberg approaching, bringing along her best friends: her sister-in-law cowgirl Brooke Thalberg; her other sister-in-law, Whitney Winslow-Thalberg, who owned the new lingerie store; Monica Shaw, owner of Monica's Flowers and Gifts; and Heather Armstrong, the new local caterer. Whitney carried her baby on her hip. Olivia had been born the previous May, making her big appearance at the wedding reception of the son of the US president. Things were always exciting in Valentine Valley, Tony thought, shaking his head.

Kate looked a little wide-eyed at the group of lovely women bearing down on her. Brooke had almost the same reserved look Lyndsay wore, and behind Kate's back, Tony gave his friend an exasperated frown. Dark-haired Brooke worked on her family ranch, along with her fiancé, Adam Desantis. She could hold a grudge, and Tony wondered why all his women friends felt like he needed to be defended from his ex-wife. At least Monica looked friendly and cheerful, her amber skin glowing in the cold, her curly black hair sticking out beneath a winter hat. Brooke and Monica were three years younger than him, and the only two who knew Kate, although not all that well. Whenever Kate came to Valentine, she always focused on Ethan and the rest of her family. Consequently, she didn't know a lot of the newer residents.

He listened with hidden amusement as Emily introduced Kate to Heather and Whitney, the other newcomers in town. Whitney smiled as Kate leaned down to grin at Olivia. Whitney was the only one not wearing a hat or winter headband, obviously preferring the cold to ruining her hair. She came from an extremely wealthy, well-traveled family, and though she never came off as obnoxious, you couldn't miss by her clothes or her hair that she'd been raised differently.

“How come I haven't met you before, Kate?” Whitney asked innocently.

Kate glanced at him, and so did every other female pair of eyes in the know. He sighed. “Because she's my ex-wife, and she lives in Vail.”

“Oh,” Whitney said, eyes widening.

“I'll be in town for a while,” Kate admitted. “I came to the tree-lighting ceremony with our son.”

“You must be having a nice holiday vacation,” Whitney said.

“Something like that,” Kate answered vaguely.

Tony saw Lyndsay studying Kate with narrowed eyes, and he gave her shoulder a brush with his to jar her out of her suspicious behavior. She shot him a look but started making faces at little Olivia, who seemed to be having trouble waving her arms inside her snowsuit.