Celebrate in Good Hope (Good Hope #22)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Twenty minutes later, Roe entered the home of Fin and Jeremy Rakes, filled with confidence that came from knowing she looked her best.

An attractive couple, who looked to be in their late thirties or early forties, stood with Ruby in the foyer, greeting the guests.

The minute she and Boone had stepped through the doorway, a young man dressed in black pants and a crisp white shirt took their coats and handed them a claim check.

Several steps later, Roe stood before the couple and the woman who’d invited her.

“Oh, Roe. I’m so happy you and Boone could make it.” Ruby, looking elegant in blue silk, reached out and took Roe’s hands. Still holding them, she turned to the pretty woman with the sun-streaked hair and the man sporting an impish smile and a mop of unruly blond hair. “Fin and Jeremy, I’d like you to meet Rosalie Carson and Jason Boone. Roe and Boone, my grandson Jeremy Rakes and his wife, Delphinium.”

“It’s a pleasure.” Jeremy spoke first, his gaze shifting from Roe to the man at her side. “I watched that game against the Ravens. Wasn’t that the game where you went over ten thousand career yards on receptions?”

“Eleven thousand.” Boone grinned. “But who’s keeping track?”

Jeremy laughed. “I’d love to hear?—”

Fin’s fingers curving around his bicep stopped him. “Sweetheart, we have guests arriving.”

The woman’s green eyes that settled on Boone were filled with apology. “My husband loves football and could talk about it all night, but?—”

“You have other guests.” Boone flashed an easy smile at Fin, then turned back to Jeremy. “I’ll be here all night.”

Roe could only smile at Fin before the people behind them stepped forward. Judging by the hugs, these had to be people the couple knew well.

She and Boone entered the large parlor and found it as impressive as the outside of the house. As they’d driven up, the sight of the old Victorian had taken her breath away.

Standing three stories tall, the home boasted a wraparound porch with leaded glass above each window. The attention to detail elevated this house into a class of its own.

Roe wasn’t sure she’d ever seen a home painted in salmon, green and yellow, but on this massive structure, it worked. The swaths of evergreen looped on the porch rail and secured with ribbon, as well as the large evergreen wreath hung on the front door, added a festive air without being gaudy.

“It’s just as lovely inside as out.” Roe breathed the words as she stared at the Christmas tree in the corner. Decorated with what she assumed were traditional Victorian decorations, the star on top came only inches short of brushing the ceiling.

Roe pulled her attention from the tree to the massive fireplace, where vintage stockings hung from the mantel.

“Looks like they have two bars set up.” Boone’s words pulled her attention back to him. The warm smile he bestowed on her, coupled with an odd look in his eyes, had her heart shifting into overdrive. “May I get you something?”

You. Naked .

The thought had heat rising up her neck. It took Roe a second to find her voice. Another second to clear it. “Ah, not right now.”

She forced her attention back to the tree. The paper nets hanging from the branches were filled with something that Roe couldn’t identify from where she stood. She gestured vaguely in the direction of the fir. “I thought I’d check out the tree.”

“Cool. I’ll catch you later.” He gave her arm a squeeze.

“What? Oh—” Roe stammered when he strode off without a backward glance.

He didn’t even make it halfway across the room before several men stopped him.

The loud, jovial voices and slaps on the back that quickly followed told her that, like their host, these were football aficionados.

When disappointment shot through her, Roe reminded herself that she and Boone were housemates, nothing more. She’d enjoyed having someone to walk in with. Now, she was on her own. That was fine with her. Navigating new situations by herself was familiar territory.

As she stepped to the tree, Roe thought of her childhood. How many schools had she attended before she graduated from high school? Eight? No, she was pretty sure it was nine.

She’d learned early how to make friends fast but not get too attached. You couldn’t get too close to anyone, not friends or boyfriends. If you did, you paid the heartache price when it came time to leave again.

Her brothers had one another, so she supposed moving so often was easier for them. She’d grown tough and become adept at keeping her heart safe. Roe had even told her parents on more than one occasion that moving didn’t bother her and that she loved seeing new places and meeting new friends .

To some extent, that was true. But she kept the yearning, the dream of finding her perfect home, a place where she would truly belong and could put down roots, to herself.

“Those are sweetmeats.”

Roe whirled and found herself standing next to a woman with bright blue eyes and a mass of curly blond hair. “P-pardon?”

“The sugar-covered nuts in the nets used to be called sweetmeats.” The woman smiled. “Decorating a tree with edible items was very popular in the late nineteenth century.”

“How do you know that?” Roe asked, amazed.

“Fin is my sister. The first year she decided to decorate this tree in keeping with Victorian traditions, I helped with the research.” The woman flashed a bright smile. “I’m Marigold Rallis.”

“Roe Carson.” Roe cocked her head. “Rallis, as in the sheriff?”

“Cade is my husband.” Marigold gestured and, when Roe followed the direction of her hand, saw that the sheriff was one of the group of men clustered around Boone. “Looks like your housemate has quite the fan club.”

Roe’s lips lifted in a rueful smile. “I suppose your husband told you how I freaked and called 911 when I spotted his truck at the cabin.”

Marigold’s expression turned serious. “You did the right thing. You had no idea who was in there. I’d have done the same.”

Hearing that made Roe feel a little better. “When your husband came out, well, I could tell he wasn’t on duty. I didn’t mean to interrupt his evening.”

“He could have let one of his deputies take the call, but Krew and Cassie are friends. If there was a break-in, he wanted to be the one to deal with an intruder in their home.”

Roe nodded. “Have you been inside? It’s so much nicer than I expected when Dakota called it a cabin.”

Marigold shook her head. “I haven’t. Cade told me it’s nice.”

“‘Nice’ is an understatement.” Roe hesitated for only a second, then plunged forward. She’d learned long ago not to wait if she wanted to build a friendship—even a short-term one. “You should come out sometime. I’ll show you around.”

Marigold’s hesitation had Roe speaking quickly again before the woman could start making excuses. Identifying when someone wasn’t interested in building a friendship or a relationship was another skill she’d honed over the years.

“I don’t know what I was thinking.” Roe’s laugh pitched high. “This is the prime holiday season. I’m sure you’re super busy.”

Marigold placed a light hand on Roe’s arm. “I’d love to come out and see the place. As long as you don’t mind if I bring the children with me. The salon keeps me busy, and when I’m not working, I don’t like to be away from my family any more than I have to.”

“I love kids. You can definitely bring them. How many children do you have?”

“I have three. They’re four.”

Roe’s jaw dropped. She shut it with a snap. “You have triplets?”

“Twins plus one.” Apparently seeing the confusion in Roe’s eyes, she added, “Cade and I had been trying to have a baby for the longest time. While we were in the process of adopting Caleb, I got pregnant with twins. Several months later, Faith and Hope were born.”

“How wonderful.”

Marigold flashed a bright smile. “We think so. I do hair on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but other than that, I am usually home. I’d love to find a time to get together. Is your phone in that purse?”

Roe lifted the tiny bag hanging on a silver chain. “I don’t go anywhere without it.”

“Same.” Marigold pulled her phone from a similar small bag. They put the phones together to share their contact information. “Text me some possible times, and we’ll make it happen. ”

“I will do that.” Roe smiled. “For now, I’m going to check out the bar.”

“The Santa’s Sleigh is a crowd favorite. It contains Baileys, Kahlúa and peppermint schnapps.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.” On her way across the parlor, Roe noticed Gladys and Katherine now standing with Ruby.

Gladys’s eyes lit up when she spotted her, and the older woman motioned her over.

“Are you enjoying the party?” Ruby asked, bobbling the slushy drink in her hand before tightening her grip on the stem.

“I haven’t been here long, but so far, yes.” She smiled at Ruby. “It’s a lovely party and a gorgeous home. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Your date appears to have deserted you.”

Roe caught a hint of disapproval in Gladys’s easy tone.

“Boone isn’t my date.” Roe kept her tone light. Boone had done her a favor by coming tonight. She wasn’t about to let Gladys or anyone else think he was dissing her. “We arrived together, but we’re not together, if you know what I mean.”

Katherine nodded sagely. “It’s early days.”

“No need to rush into anything,” Ruby added.

“What? No,” Roe sputtered.

She might have said more, but Gladys was waving Boone over, along with Fin. Excitement coursed up Roe’s spine. She might finally have a chance to speak with the woman about her contacts in Los Angeles.

“What are you three up to now?” A tiny smile hovered at the corners of Fin’s red lips as she rested her gaze on Gladys.

Gladys widened her eyes and brought a hand to her throat in a theatrical gesture. “I don’t know about these other two. I simply want to ensure you’re properly aware of your guest’s talents.”

“I’d have to be living in a box not to know of Boone’s exploits on the field.” Fin spoke in a dry tone. “I swear, Jeremy is his biggest fan. ”

“I wasn’t speaking of Mr. Boone.” Gladys turned briefly to him. “No offense intended.”

Boone sipped his drink, his lips curving, and amusement dancing in his eyes. “None taken.”

Gladys placed a hand glittering with a thousand rings on Roe’s shoulder. “This woman has a background in theater management. She will be assisting with my birthday bash. I was thinking she might also be of assistance to you.”

Confusion furrowed Fin’s brows. “As an understudy? It’s a little late for that, I think.”

Now it was Roe’s turn to be confused. “Are you in the production?”

Gladys placed a hand on Fin’s shoulder. “Delphinium is playing the adult me. This woman has it all—the voice, the acting chops and, of course, the beauty. I couldn’t imagine anyone more perfectly suited to play the role.”

“That’s wonderful.” Roe still wasn’t clear on how Gladys thought she might help Fin. “I’m not an actor.”

“Delphinium also handles public relations for Good Hope. She’s in charge of bolstering tourism for the area.” Gladys smiled at Roe. “Being in Spotlight has taken much time away from her other duties.” Gladys turned from Roe back to Fin. “I thought Roe could assist you with the Valentine’s Day plans.”

Interest sparked in the green eyes that Fin fixed on Roe. “I thought you were going to be in Good Hope only temporarily.”

“I—”

Roe didn’t have a chance to confirm that Fin was correct, because Gladys spoke first.

“Do any of us really know what the future holds?” Gladys smiled at Fin. “I recall when you first came home, you planned to return to LA.”

Fin glanced across the room, her gaze settling on her husband. A soft look filled her eyes before her focus returned to Gladys. “Meant to be. ”

There was a story there, though Roe doubted she’d be around long enough to find out. “If there is anything I can do to help while I’m here, just ask.”

Fin studied her for a long moment. “The V-Day committee is concerned that Dakota’s wedding on Valentine’s Day may overshadow other events the town is planning around that holiday.”

“What kinds of events?” Though Dakota had mentioned that every holiday in Good Hope was celebrated, she hadn’t given Roe any specifics.

Fin opened her mouth and then shut it. “I’ll contact you. We’ll schedule a time to discuss this. I want you to enjoy the party, and I need to make sure everything is running smoothly.”

Gladys offered a benevolent nod. “Sounds like an excellent plan.”

When Fin hurried off, Gladys settled her gaze first on Roe and then on Boone. “There is dancing in the second parlor. It’s time for you two to embrace the spirit of the season.”

“Embrace.” Ruby twittered. “That’s a good one, Gladys.”

Gladys shot Ruby a cool gaze, and the twittering stopped.

“Enjoy.” Gladys gave Boone a little shove.

“Embrace the moment and each other,” Ruby called, then giggled before she was once again shushed.