Cowboy’s Christmas Bridesmaid (Trinity Falls: Icicle Christmas #8)

20. Valentina

20

VALENTINA

V alentina ventured down the stairs of the big house, feeling a little bit like she was having a walk of shame even though she and Tanner weren’t even seeing each other, and they had slept in separate cots last night.

But Zeke slept in my cot.

Valentina’s heart warmed at the memory of the funny little boy falling asleep trying to whisper stories to her. She had thought maybe it would be tough to share the small cot with a wiggly little one, especially in a cabin with icy wind lashing at the windows. But she honestly hadn’t slept that well in a long time.

She paused on the landing, feeling weird again about being at the homestead on Christmas morning.

But laughter and happy chatter floated up the staircase, beckoning her. And she reminded herself how Emma and Mr. Radcliffe had invited her here today, and last Christmas too. She hadn’t felt it was right to take them up on it, but at least she had an invitation .

“Valentina,” Zeke sang out as she stepped into the kitchen. “I’m making gingerbread pancakes.”

“Wow, Zeke,” she said, feeling instantly at home. “So that’s the unbelievably delicious smell that made my belly grumble on the way down the stairs.”

The boy laughed and glanced up at his great-uncle. The two of them were at the stove together, wearing Christmas aprons with Zeke standing on a step stool to help him reach. Tanner leaned against the counter watching, a cup of steaming coffee in his hands.

“Hey,” he said, his deep voice sending a tingle through her. “Come get some coffee.”

The rest of the early morning melted by in no time. Mrs. Williams wandered downstairs and exclaimed over the pancakes, which clearly tickled Zeke. More family rolled in, including Mr. Radcliffe and his son, Wes, and Emma, and they all ate and drank fragrant coffee and listened to Zeke regale them with tales from the night before and their adventure in the ice storm.

“Valentina saved me,” he kept saying. “I was going to fall right into the water, but she swooped me up.”

“That was very brave of her,” Tanner’s aunt said, giving Valentina a warm smile that Valentina felt all the way down to her toes.

“That’s how she hurt her ankle,” Zeke said, shaking his head sadly.

“Yes, but my ankle will be all better in no time,” she told him. “You’re irreplaceable.”

She helped to clear the table, and was just starting on dishes with Alistair when Mr. Radcliffe came in .

“So, I hear you’ve been working on something for me,” he said, arching a brow.

“Yes,” she told him. “Maybe we can talk about it tomorrow.”

“Nonsense,” he told her. “We’re both here now. Let’s talk when you’re done.”

“She’s done,” Alistair said fondly. “Guests aren’t supposed to do all this cleanup anyway.”

“You’re okay with the rest?” Valentina asked, looking at the sink full of dishes.

“Absolutely,” he said, winking at her. “Go talk to your boss.”

“Let’s go sit in the den,” Radcliffe suggested. “It’ll be quieter in there.”

Sure enough, the rest of the family was gathering in the living room, admiring the tree and teasing the kids about how many presents were under it.

“They’re amazing, right?” Radcliffe asked as he sat on the sofa.

It took Valentina a moment to realize what he meant. But of course he was talking about the Williams family.

“You’re so lucky,” she told him honestly. “They’re really special people.”

He nodded with a secret smile, though she had no idea what there was to keep a secret about.

“I’ve got some slides on my phone,” she told him. “If you want, we can ask if someone has a laptop I can borrow. Or I can just send them to you. I honestly don’t think you need all that for us to have this conversation.”

“Fine,” Radcliffe said, leaning back and crossing one ankle over his knee. “Hit me.”

“The land near where the highway is going in is hard to sell,” she said, telling him again what he already knew.

He frowned and she knew it was because he was anticipating her asking him to sell the land commercially, which he’d made it clear that he didn’t want to do. But he didn’t interrupt this time.

“No one wants to build when there are plenty of nice farmhouses they can move into that are closer to the village and further from where that big road will be,” she went on. “So, I’ve been exploring town, canvassing people, and trying to figure out what’s missing.”

Radcliffe nodded to her, but he didn’t show a lot of enthusiasm.

“You bought up so much of this town because you wanted to save it from being developed and turned into shopping malls and big box stores,” she said. “And you did that because you love the town.”

He nodded again, looking more interested.

“You love the town because you love the people,” she went on. “And you wanted to help them. With that land, you now have a chance not just to save them from bad development, but to offer them good development—things the town didn’t have before, but really needs.”

She cleared her throat and willed herself to be brave. She hadn’t gotten where she was by pushing back against Radcliffe when he put his foot down about something.

But this was important, too important to protect her good relationship with her boss and mentor. A month ago, she couldn’t have done this. But Tanner had helped her to know the town better. And now that she saw what its people needed, she couldn’t sit back if there was something she could do.

“Before I attended a single event in town, I went to the library and read back issues of the paper,” she told him. “The Gazette had listings about all the wonderful community events, for weeks in advance of each one. But I could see in the articles that came afterward, that these beloved events are regularly canceled or rescheduled because of rain or snow. Although they look like they’re just for fun, these kinds of celebrations are key for community building. And attending a few of them has shown me that many of our small business owners really rely on them to sell their wares. Restaurants expect to serve the crowds. And nearly as many charitable causes as small businesses were represented at the booths for the Hometown Holiday celebration. Missing one of these events due to weather can really make or break a small operation.”

Radcliffe leaned forward now, looking much more involved.

“I also visited Cassidy Farm and the Williams Homestead,” she went on. “While I’m told that Cassidy Farm has always done well for itself, the Williams Homestead has only recently opened for tourists. They need more business to supplement their grants.”

Radcliffe nodded thoughtfully.

“And at the Co-op, there’s not enough room for all the produce our local farmers would like to sell,” she continued. “Purchasing and running more refrigerators would cut into their already thin margins, so it’s just not an option.”

“So, what did you have in mind?” Radcliffe asked.

“For starters, we need a large, covered structure,” she said. “Like an open market where events can be held on rainy days, and where the farmers can sell produce directly.”

“We already have a farmer’s market in town,” Radcliffe said.

“Not in the winter,” Valentina said. “And never when it rains. And it only draws locals. What if it were up by the highway, where people traveling through could stop in and buy healthy food and local crafts? That’s another thing they don’t have enough space for at the Co-op or even the Christmas shop at Cassidy Farm.”

“I see,” he said.

“We could also have a little mini-Trinity Falls museum,” she went on, unable to hide her smile at one of her latest ideas. “We could have information about the Lenni Lenape tribe, and the founding families—maybe even a miniature Cassidy Farm, and a tourism kiosk with info about the homestead and the other attractions.”

“You came up with all of this?” he asked.

She nodded, feeling incredibly proud.

“It’s a remarkable idea,” he said, shaking his head.

“It would occupy a nice amount of land, but it wouldn’t put the project in the black,” she told him firmly, swallowing back her own sadness. “And what you would have to sell it for wouldn’t be enough for that anyway. I have all the projections in my slides.”

Realizing that using the land this way would practically guarantee that her first big project came out as a net loss would have been a tough pill to swallow a month ago. But right now, having spent time with this town and fallen in love with its people, she was ready to make that sacrifice.

“I see,” he said.

“You would probably have to lease the land at first, honestly,” she told him. “But I know there are local merchants who would pool together to do this. Maybe the borough would even participate. I’m sure that over time they could pay you, and you could get back what you put into it. And you would be giving the town something priceless.”

“Valentina,” he said, leaning forward again and meeting her eyes. “I’m impressed by what you’ve done. This goes beyond any other project you’ve ever mocked up for me. And I’m grateful to you for your work.”

“Thank you,” she said nervously, unable to help smiling as her heart pounded.

“But my answer is still no,” he said briskly, standing.

“What?” she breathed, praying she hadn’t heard him right.

“No,” he said again, brushing his hands on his pants as if he were clearing himself off the idea. “I’m not going to do that.”

He left the room and she stared at the sofa where he had just been sitting, wondering if she had somehow dreamed it all.

Radcliffe would often reject her ideas, that was an everyday thing. But normally he would bat them back and forth with her first, using the opportunity to help her think critically from another perspective until she understood why he had refused, and whether there was a better way to do what she was proposing.

Surely, he could see that this hadn’t just been another idea to improve profits or speed up timelines—that it really meant something to her. But he had said no and washed his hands of it without another word.

She rose and moved through the house, still lost in her own thoughts among the sounds of the family laughing and talking all around her.

“We salted the drive,” Logan yelled out as he came in the front door with Ansel behind him. “They’re saying the roads are cleared now, so the others should be here any minute.”

“Oh, thank goodness for you boys,” Annabelle said.

Before she knew what she was doing, Valentina grabbed her coat from the hook and bolted out the front door for her car.

It was still freezing outside, but the sun was up, and the homestead glittered like it was covered in diamonds. The cheerful vista was completely at odds with her bitter disappointment.

“Valentina,” Tanner called after her. His voice was worried, and when she turned she could see the furrow in his brow. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly, afraid she would cry if she tried to explain what had just happened with Radcliffe, especially after all Tanner and Zeke had done to help her research. “I just have to get home for the family Christmas video-call. I don’t want to miss it.”

“Of course,” he said, looking bitterly disappointed. “Are you sure there’s nothing else? ”

“I…I guess I just need some space,” she said weakly. “Tell Zeke I said Merry Christmas again?”

He nodded, his lips pressed together in a thin line, as if he were trying hard not to say something else.

Once she was safely in the car, she took a deep breath, willing herself not to cry until she was home. This was going to be a rough drive, and she had to take it slowly and calmly.

When she was feeling calm enough, she turned the key, thankful that the engine turned right over. With a heavy heart, she carefully made her way down the drive and headed back toward the village with one thought rising above the rest.

Maybe it really is time to move on…