Tis The Season for Secrets (Village of Yule #2)

21. Will

“ W ill, have you seen Juliet?” Lyla asked, coming into the kitchen, where Will and Kevin were discussing whether mint or strawberry candy canes were better. Mint, obviously. “I was going to ask her to be my partner for the snowman contest this afternoon. Thought it’d be a good way for her to get used to the village.”

Will had quickly realised the plan to leave Yule as soon as possible was going to be an impossibility with this lot. He just hoped Juliet’s family weren’t too worried about her disappearing act. Then again, Mr Frost would probably be pleased they’d disappeared off together.

“Nice try, but she said last night we’d partner up for the snowman-building contest,” Kevin said. “You gotta be faster than that.”

Lyla swatted him playfully, and Kevin blew her a mocking kiss.

“She wasn’t out with you this morning?” Will asked, putting down his coffee cup. “When I woke up, she was already up and gone.” There was no way she’d run off again, not after last time – was she trying to give him a heart attack? He tried not to jump to conclusions.

“No, I had breakfast with Lou and dropped her off at the sleigh workshop,” Lyla said, securing her curls with a red ribbon.

Oh God, where the hell is she? Will tried to stay calm, but the look in Lyla’s eye told him she was thinking the same as him. If she was caught, they’d all be in trouble.

Mason walked in, all sweaty. “Relax, guys, I saw her on my run. She was following the lamp posts, heading down the back trail to the village. I’m sure she just wanted some air. I tried to call out to her, but she couldn’t hear me.”

“Out for a run in the snow? You’re doing a great impression of Rudolph,” Lyla said, kissing her fiancé’s red nose, then groaning as he snuggled her in his sweaty arms. “I’m sure you warned Lyla about the wolves in the woods?” she asked Will with a hopeful smile.

Will’s eyes widened, and Mason’s expression flattened as his arms dropped to his side.

“No, it never occurred to me.” Will’s stomach sank; cold sweat poured over him.

“She should be fine.” Kevin shrugged off the danger.

“If she keeps to the road – but if she takes the trail through the forest, the wolves might get her scent,” Lyla said, looking a little green. Mason kept her close, as though she was liable to get gobbled up. Will knew she’d had her own run-in with the wolves who protected Yule.

“Let’s not freak him out,” Kevin said calmly. “Not everyone likes to wonder off into the woods.”

Lyla glared at him.

“Shit. I’m going to go and find her.” The chair scraped against the kitchen tiles as Will stood sharply. “Why would she go to the village without telling me? I got up early to cut firewood. I didn’t think—” He couldn’t move fast enough.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Mason called, following Will to the front door, where he pulled on his boots. “You need to be careful!”

“It’s my fault,” Mrs Klaus said, catching him off guard. Will frowned as he spotted the old woman sitting on the stairs. He went to grab his coat, but it was gone from the hook by the door. She must’ve taken it. At least I know she’ll be warm. He took Mason’s.

“Mum, why are you sitting here? You look pale.” Mason knelt in front of her on the stairs.

“I gave Juliet something I shouldn’t have, but I didn’t think it would cause her to go off on her own or upset her,” she fretted, fidgeting with her wedding ring.

“Upset her? What did you give her?” Will demanded, in a tone he’d never used with Mrs Klaus before.

Mason glared at his friend. “You’re upset, but you won’t talk to her that way,” he snapped.

Lyla appeared and got between them. “You’re wasting time. Now isn’t the time to argue!” She turned to Mason. “You didn’t act rationally when it was me who ran off.”

Mason backed off reluctantly, sitting by his mum. Will couldn’t blame him for being defensive of her.

Mrs Klaus took her son’s hand as she confessed. “Eloise dropped by this morning.”

Will felt like he’d been sucker-punched.

“She asked me to give her a letter, and I couldn’t refuse.”

“Juliet’s probably gone to find her. It’s what I’d do,” Lyla reasoned.

“Eloise? Why was the Chief Guardian here? Have you got yourself in trouble again, Will? But why would Juliet want to find her?” Mason stared at his fiancée. “Lyla, what have you been up to?”

Everyone ignored him.

“Why wouldn’t she tell me?” Will muttered, pulling on the navy coat. “Can I have the keys to the sleigh?”

Mason looked at him warily, and Will rolled his eyes. “It’s not like I’m planning on racing the damn thing.”

“Not until someone tells me what the hell is going on!”

“Now isn’t the time. Can I have the keys?” Will barked. To his relief, Mason tossed them over.

Pulling open the front door, he heard Lyla and Mrs Klaus filling Mason in on the situation. At least he didn’t have to see his friend’s face when he learned how many laws Will had broken.

Secret’s out now.

Driving the sleigh recklessly down the narrow slope, he nearly ended up in a snow bank or two. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before he found Juliet walking along the tree line with her arms wrapped around herself, each step weighing her down. With a sigh of relief, Will pulled over to the side of the road.

“Where are you going?” he called, settling the reindeer and climbing out of the sleigh.

“To put an end to all this!” Juliet grumbled. Her lips were already blue.

“You only have to wait a little while longer!” he pleaded. “You’re going to freeze to death by the time you even reach the village.”

She refused to look at him, focusing on the wellies on her feet, which he guessed were Lyla’s. “I don’t want to read any more letters. I want to face her. My heart is breaking over a woman I’ve never even met, or spoken to!” She put her hands over her face. “You’ve no idea the guilt I feel for everyone involved now.”

Her words cut him. “I never wanted you to feel this way.” He stepped towards her cautiously, afraid she’d bolt. “I should’ve considered how you would feel about all this before I agreed to get that chest to you.” He managed to get in front of her so that she had to stop.

“If you hadn’t, then we wouldn’t have met, and I don’t regret that. I don’t regret even learning about Yule.” She stared up at him, before resting her forehead against his chest. “I just want all the secrets to end. To know she’s so close and yet I can’t get to her is driving me crazy.” Juliet kicked a pile of snow. “Mrs Klaus shouldn’t have given me those letters; I feel like I’m going insane.”

“Letters?” Will ran his hands over his face. He took a deep breath then let it out, the long exhalation visible to them both. “Mrs Klaus has been friends with your mum for years. I can understand her desire to help, but I’m sorry you found out she knew so abruptly.”

“She scared me when she found me in her office, but none of this is her fault. Her heart was in the right place. We never should’ve brought this burden to their door.”

Will placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to get her to listen to him. “They don’t see you as a burden. In fact, Lyla and Kevin are currently debating who should be your partner for the snowman-building contest– they’ve had to reschedule the gingerbread contest, thanks to the snowfall. Mason’s pissed because his missus would rather partner with you than him. Please come back and have some breakfast; I don’t want you to lose any fingers or toes out here.”

“Really?” she sniffled, and he rubbed her back to try and get her blood flowing.

“Really. They’re only worried about you getting eaten by the wolves. Mrs Klaus is beside herself with worry, blaming herself for giving you the letter.”

“That’s the last thing I wanted,” Juliet mumbled into his chest, and he felt the fight leave her limbs.

“Then let’s go back before we freeze to death.”

She took his hand, and he tried to conceal his relief as she followed him back to the sleigh, only to come to a sudden halt, tugging on his hand. “Did you say wolves?”

“They protect the outskirts of town from outsiders, but they tend to stick to the forest.” Will scolded himself for not telling her about them sooner.

She looked to the edge of the forest lining the side of the road and swallowed. “In the museum, you said you didn’t like wolves.” Her panic turned to annoyance, and her nose scrunched up. “You’re only telling me about this now?!”

“Shh! Do you want them to hear you?” He pulled her close. “It’s amazing they haven’t smelt you yet. To them, you smell like dinner.” He bit his tongue to stop himself from laughing as she paled and curled into him. “Better stay close.”

Juliet remained huddled close to him in the sleigh as they made their way back to the house. It was already the 13 th , and with only thirteen days until the 26 th , when they could petition the council about her legacy case. If the council agreed, then she could meet with Eloise; it felt unfair to Juliet to keep them apart for too much longer. If it didn’t go well, he hoped she wouldn’t blame him for bringing her back into her mother’s life. Seeing the toll his actions had taken on her made him question whether he done the right thing for her. He understood Eloise’s desire to meet her daughter, but he’d never stopped to ask what was best for Juliet, and given his feelings for her, he’d made a real mess of her life. Still, he hoped she’d let him spend the rest of his days making it up to her.

“I’m worried about Di and Beth. Is there any way I can contact them?” Juliet asked.

“We can leave now, if you want?”

“But I promised we’d stay for the snowman-building competition,” Juliet said, sounding torn. He guessed she didn’t want to disappoint her new friends, and he couldn’t blame her for wanting to get better acquainted with Yule.

“If you want to stay, how about I get a message to Di and Beth and let them know we’re okay?” he suggested. He didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it before, but Mr Frost had given him the house phone number, so he should be able to contact them and make up some kind of excuse about where they’d been.

“Really? Thank you, and I’d like to stay,” she admitted as they passed through the Klaus gates. “I promised Kevin I would be his partner last night – I was caught off-guard and I didn’t know what to say. Or would it be too risky in case I’m seen?”

Will considered it, but he figured they could use some fun. A break from all the stress and worry– if he felt he needed it, he was sure it would do Juliet a world of good. Experiencing some of Yule’s traditions might also help her feel less like a festive fugitive.

He pulled into the garage, and Juliet hopped down from the sleigh. “There’ll be crowds of people participating; you’ll hardly be noticed.” He decided to leave out the fact that if she was with the Klaus family, no one would assume they were harbouring another Outsider after all that had gone down with Lyla.

“What did you tell the others before you came looking for me?” Juliet asked.

He’d wondered how long it would take for her to ask. He hesitated, unsure of how to break the news that their secret was out and he wasn’t sure how Mason would welcome them once they got inside.

“They know?” Juliet froze on the driveway.

Will nodded apologetically. “Mrs Klaus was upset when she realised you’d gone off to find your mum.”

“I should be thanking her for helping me, not making her worry.” Juliet buried her face in her hands. “Should we just leave? If we leave, then they can just pretend none of this happened and that I was never here.”

“I think it’s too late for that.” Mason opened the door, clearly having overheard their conversation.

Juliet shrank behind Will. He didn’t blame her; Mason had one hell of an intimidating aura when he wanted. He stared at them, his resolve unwavering, until Will noticed his eyes soften. It was a relief that he and Lyla had already broken tradition themselves. Will hoped he wouldn’t be too mad at him for breaking ranks.

“Come in. Mum and Lyla would never let me hear the end of it if I let you freeze to death.” Mason moved aside.

They did as instructed, and Will noticed how Juliet stood shivering by the fireplace.

“I’m not going to pretend that I’m okay with what you’ve done, Will. You’re taking one hell of a risk bringing her here.” Mason’s gaze fell to Juliet. “However, I don’t believe our laws should separate families and those who love each other. I’ve had my own battles with the council over such beliefs.”

Will knew he was talking about Lyla.

“Thank you,” Juliet started, and Will gripped her hand as Mason cut her off.

“Don’t thank me yet. You’ve both broken numerous laws. As Klaus I have some sway, but to convince the council, who speak for the village as a whole, will be a different story.”

“We know the risks, and we’ll be more careful.”

“I’ll help you petition the council on the 26 th December, in keeping with tradition. It’ll be easier for them to accept you if I put it forward,” Mason said, offering Will a reassuring look.

“I don’t know how to thank you.” Juliet squeezed Will’s hand, and he could feel her elation. He wanted to hug his friend for helping them; Mason’s backing gave him greater hope that he wouldn’t be separated from her.

“Thank me by promising that until that day comes, you’ll be careful. Juliet, please refrain from talking to anyone you don’t have to, and you must remain with one of us at all times. I don’t want to see either of you banished,” Mason warned, very much the leader of the village and not Will’s friend.

“You have our word,” Juliet said, and Will nodded in agreement. He owed his friend one hell of a Christmas present.

“Good.” Mason softened. “Now, I suggest we all get ready. We have a snowman-building competition to prepare for.” And to Will’s surprise, he embraced him.

“I think my snowman-building days are behind me,” Will joked. Being able to share his secrets with his friend eased his own troubles.

“Kevin! Will just told me he wants to help you with your snowman,” Juliet called out, removing her wellies and coat. Will scowled at her, and Mason chuckled.

“Why are you smirking?” Will asked him. “If I’m spending the afternoon freezing my ass off, you’re going to be standing right beside me.”

Mason’s smirk disappeared.

Lyla rushed into the foyer and enveloped Juliet in a hug. “Are you okay? We were worried you went into the forest!”

“Sorry to worry all of you – I wanted to get some air. Finding out about Yule and my family… it’s all been rather overwhelming,” she admitted. Spotting Mrs Klaus lingering by the stairs, she made her way over to the older woman. “I’m sorry I left without telling you. I never wanted you to feel bad about helping me.”

“My motherly instincts kicked in, and when Eloise gave me those letters, I couldn’t help but empathise. If you were my daughter, I don’t think I could bear to be separated from you for so long, but I should have been more sensitive to how you would receive such news,” Mrs Klaus told her.

“Please don’t be sorry. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for helping me– all of you. I know this is a lot to ask, but I’m so grateful to have your support,” Juliet said, and Will could hear how much she meant it.

Mrs Klaus suffocated Juliet in a hug which they clearly both needed. Mason’s mum had a heart the size of Yule, and Will was sure she would support Juliet in front of the council. He got the feeling Juliet wasn’t used to having a group of supportive people in her life. Hell, he knew she wasn’t. Her own family didn’t even let her sleep in the main house. If he could give her a family that loved her, blood-related or not, he’d damn well try.

“Enough of the sappy nonsense – we have snowmen to build,” Kevin called over the second-floor banister. “Will, you and I are going to get that trophy, so consider your girlfriend your enemy for the next few hours.”

Will rolled his eyes. He’d forgotten how competitive the Klaus family could be.

“That means you’re free to partner with me.” Lyla grinned, taking Juliet’s arm. Some fun was desperately needed, and seeing Juliet’s smile was well worth the risk of her being seen in town.