Mistletoe and Memories (Evergreen Hollow Christmas #4)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

On Sunday afternoon, Margo brought lunch to the hospital for her parents. She found Rhonda in Donovan’s hospital room, sitting close by the bed with a novel in her hands that she didn’t really look like she was reading. She looked up as Margo walked in, and Margo hefted the large takeout bag that she’d brought from Rockridge Grill.

“Salads and turkey sandwiches,” she said softly, glancing over to see that Donovan was asleep. “They had a venison burger special today, but I thought it was probably better to stick with something a little healthier.”

“Thank you.” Rhonda gave her a grateful look, getting up to join Margo at the small table on the other side of the room.

“Here.” Margo unpacked a side salad with her mother’s favorite house vinaigrette, and a turkey sandwich with mustard, tomato, and lettuce. “I got lunch for Dad too, but I’ll leave it in here until he wakes up.”

“They said he’s going to be discharged tomorrow,” Rhonda said, as Margo unwrapped the cutlery and set the food out. “As long as nothing else comes up, but so far, all is well.”

“Has anyone else come by?” Margo asked. “Spencer said he was going to come up, but the clinic’s been busy the last few days. Winter colds, skiing injuries…” She winced, remembering her own broken leg last Christmas. It had all ended up okay. She’d met Spencer because of it, but at the time it had felt pretty awful. “He said he looked over the test results and thinks that it’s all going to be fine.” She gave her mother a small smile. “He’s been reassuring me.”

“And me.” Rhonda took a bite of the salad. “He’s a real gem, Margo. He’s been texting me, answering any questions that I want a second opinion on, letting me know there doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about too. He’s a really good guy.”

“I know.” Margo smiled. “I love him a lot.”

“Of course you do.” Rhonda let out a sigh, looking over at Donovan, who was still sleeping. “I’m worried we might have to cancel the trip for our anniversary. And I mean, of course, if we need to for his health, then absolutely. Whatever is necessary to make sure that he’s going to be all right.”

“Of course,” Margo agreed. “But I know how excited you’ve been. And it’s right around the corner. A sunny beach vacation in the middle of winter—no one would blame you for being sad if it has to be canceled,” she reassured her mother.

Rhonda sighed, her eyes misting over as she nudged her fork through the salad. “We’ve been trying to take this trip for so long. It’s always been something. Money that needed to be used for upkeep on the inn, not wanting to leave Caroline when it was getting so much busier, or those lean years when there just wasn’t any extra. There didn’t seem to be anything in the way this year, and, well…” She let out a sigh. “I really did think it was going to happen.”

“It still might,” Margo said reassuringly. “And?—”

She hesitated, wondering if her sisters would mind her spilling a little of the beans about their plans. Their mother definitely needed something to cheer her up, and Margo thought that it would do the trick. There were still plenty of surprises in store, and she didn’t want her mother to think that there was a possibility that the anniversary might go uncelebrated. Especially if Donovan wasn’t feeling well enough to come up with something on his own.

“Nora, Caroline, and I have actually been planning a celebration for you both,” Margo said, setting her half of the sandwich down. “We’ve planned it for just before you’re supposed to go on the trip. We wanted to do something special for you two. Caroline and I came up with the idea, and then we got Nora on board too.”

Rhonda’s eyes widened.

“That’s so sweet,” she said, clearly touched by her daughters’ thoughtfulness. “That’s probably good for Nora too,” she added. “Even if she is exhausted from the baby, keeping her involved with things that aren’t being cooped up mothering is good for her. I remember what that was like,” she said with a small laugh. “Even if it was a long time ago.” Her expression softened then. “It’s really lovely of you three to do that. Especially if we aren’t able to go to Malibu. I’m still hoping we won’t have to cancel, but if?—”

“We’re going to convert the back room of Rockridge Grill into the way it looked in the pictures when you and Dad were dating,” Margo said excitedly, dropping her voice to a whisper just in case Donovan woke up. “We’ve already gotten everything to decorate it, and make it look just like it did then.”

“Where on earth did you see that?” Rhonda asked, amusement in her voice. She was smiling, and Margo felt her own spirits lift as well. She felt like she’d made the right decision in telling her mother about a little bit of the plan, it was clear that it was making her feel better, and distracting her too.

“Caroline found a photo album in the attic. It had pictures from when you and Dad were dating. Rockridge Grill was so cute back then!”

Rhonda laughed. “If you call it vintage, I might have to ground you,” she teased.

“I would never,” Margo promised. “But we’ve made all the plans, and we’re so excited. I can’t wait to show you.”

“I can’t wait to see. That’s going to be a wonderful surprise for Donovan,” Rhonda said, the smile still on her face. “He’s going to think it’s so sweet that you girls have done this for us.”

Margo smiled mischievously. “Oh, don’t worry,” she said, picking up her half of her sandwich again. “We have a surprise for you too.”