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

33. Juliet

Christmas Eve Morning

T he smell of coffee woke Juliet up. For a moment, she didn’t know where the hell she was, until she recalled all that had happened the night before. I must’ve fallen asleep while we were watching the movie. She pulled the cream blanket off her legs and went to the bathroom to wash up.

She nearly knocked over a tower of books as she opened the bathroom door and winced as one landed on the wooden floor, not wanting to wake up her mom. It seemed both her parents had a love of books.

Abruptly, the kitchen door opened and Eloise, wearing yellow rollers in her hair, popped her head through. “You’re up! I just finished brewing a pot of coffee.”

“I should call Will. I meant to before I fell asleep,” Juliet said, knowing how worried he’d be. Still, she was surprised he hadn’t turned up last night. He had to have known where she’d gone.

“Don’t worry, I already got through to him.” The smell of pastries drifted down the hall. Juliet’s stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn’t had dinner last night. “Wash up and come eat. I left some stuff for you in the cupboard under the sink. There’s a spare toothbrush, and I hung one of my old wrap dresses on the door with some tights that should fit you. All the woman in the Frost family were blessed with wide hips, so I didn’t think my jeans would fit. But I could get a pair for you to try,” Eloise said excitedly, already heading for the stairs.

“The dress is fine! Thank you,” Juliet said, trying to disperse the nervous energy.

Eloise halted. “Alright. I’ll pop upstairs and finish getting ready. You take your time down here.”

Juliet, dressed in her mom’s floral wrap dress, sipped her sweetened coffee. Having breakfast here felt all too surreal. She wasn’t sure if her mom was nervous, but she kept looking to the kitchen door as though she was waiting for something.

Juliet was reaching for another croissant when the doorbell rang.

“That must be Will,” Eloise said, getting up from the round table.

Juliet waited for a moment in the kitchen, but the sound of multiple voices told her Will wasn’t alone. She put her candy-cane-printed napkin on the table and went to the front door. Over her mom’s shoulder, she saw a man and woman in what she estimated to be their late forties, and standing behind them, Will.

“Juliet Frost, you need to come with us,” requested the man. From their stony expressions, saying no wasn’t an option.

“Juliet, please, come with me,” Will echoed, and the pair separated to let him through. Her brows pulled together at his neutral expression. This wasn’t the Will she knew.

“I don’t understand. Can we talk first?” Juliet inched closer to Will, wanting to tell him she’d signed the paperwork.

However, his cool expression didn’t waver. “The Klaus is waiting with the council at the town hall. All will be explained soon.”

His flat tone felt wrong. It was the first time she felt that Yule could be the opposite of how she’d been treated thus far. Juliet looked at her mom, who stared at the two escorts with Will as though she wasn’t all that surprised to see them.

“I’m going with her,” she said, already grabbing their coats. “Put this on.”

“That would be best.” Will nodded, gesturing for them both to leave the house.

The two suits walked ahead with Eloise, and she could hear them talking in hushed animated tones, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Will remained at Juliet’s side, silent and distant. She reached for his hand, but he shook his head. What the hell is going on?

“Can you tell me what’s going on? Did the council find out? Are we in trouble? Did my dad report us?” She pulled the thick collar of her coat tight around her neck as she followed him through the town square.

“You’ll find out when we get to the town hall. Maybe you should’ve thought before you used the Frost bell and left without a word.”

He was pissed, no denying it, and she couldn’t blame him. She’d been so wrapped up in her reunion with Eloise, she’d never thought to call Will and tell him she was okay, and safe. Her heart sank as she realised how worried he must have been, especially when she’d promised him last time that she wouldn’t run off again. She broken her promise the first chance she’d got.

She reached into her pocket and slipped the bell into his hand, not wanting to be caught with it. “I’m so sorry, but I didn’t know if I’d ever get the chance again. I didn’t mean to worry you; I just got so caught up. I didn’t plan this.”

Will simply put the bell in his pocket and stared straight ahead.

“I feel like we’re being arrested,” Juliet muttered as her mom fell back to them.

“Don’t worry, I brought the papers with me. We’re in this together,” Eloise assured her, taking her hand. The gesture felt foreign, but right now she really needed the support. She knew she’d been wrong to take the bell, but surely Will had known that she’d go to her mom’s house?

In the early morning, the town was eerily quiet, doing nothing to quell the anxiety twisting her stomach. She wished Will would forgive her, just until they got through whatever the hell this was, but she wouldn’t apologise for one of the best nights of her life. Meeting her mom and realising how much she’d always loved Juliet, if even at a distance, after all these years was worth any punishment.

The two escorts halted at the top of the stone steps on either side of tall double doors to the town hall. Waiting for them to open the doors, Juliet clutched her mom’s hand, readying herself for whatever she was about to face.

It was the smell that greeted her first. As she focused on the high ceiling and the gathering of people inside, her breath was taken away by the breakfast feast to rival any she’d ever seen on the long table at the centre of the hall.

“WELCOME TO YULE!” The deafening cheer of those in the room made her tear up. Then she saw the banner hanging around the wooden beams.

Welcome home Juliet!

“I told you I’d punish you if you ran off again,” Will whispered in her ear, and kissed her cheek.

Juliet glared at him, then swatted him playfully. “I can’t believe you did this!” She took a long, deep breath as she realised there was no inquisition or firing squad waiting for her.

“I’m sorry to give you such a shock! I knew they were planning a welcome home breakfast when I called my family to let them know you’d signed the papers, but I didn’t know they were going to stop by. They can have a funny sense of humour,” Eloise apologised, looking at their escorts, who were looking rather sheepish.

“Sorry, Juliet, we just couldn’t wait to meet you. I’m your aunt Debbie, and this is my husband Stuart, we are so happy you’re here.” Debbie engulfed Juliet in a hug.

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you,” Juliet answered, not knowing what else to say as Debbie stared at her like she was some Christmas miracle.

“No need to thank us– we’re family.” Stuart clapped her on the shoulder.

“I know a surprise party is a little overwhelming, but word spread fast and everyone in the Heart family wanted to meet you, as well as the council members,” Will whispered as the others left to join the table. The room clapped as they made their way to the head of the table. Juliet swallowed her nerves, wondering if they’d be so happy to welcome her if they knew what they’d all been up to for the past month. Others greeted Eloise with big hugs, and she guessed they were more of her mom’s family. My family now.

“You’ll catch flies if you don’t close your mouth,” Will teased, pulling the chair out for her.

“I’m just trying to take it all in. I can’t believe you let me think I was in trouble! You frightened the life out of me!”

“Eloise called her family to tell them you’d signed the papers, and we all wanted to do something to welcome you. We thought breakfast would be a good start, and she was going to bring you over herself. She didn’t know we’d turn up, but she played along. I figured, given how intimidating they can be in their guardian uniforms, that they’d make the perfect cover for our surprise.”

As if they could sense her watching, the couple smiled and waved at Juliet. She waved back shyly, trying to take it all in. She wasn’t used to people being so happy to see her.

Mason sat at the head of the long table, which was long enough to fit at least fifty people. There were a few faces she recognised – Lyla and Mrs Klaus included – but most were new. Will took out a chair for her to sit beside Lyla, opposite Eloise and her sister.

“Did you know about this? Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered to Lyla.

“I wasn’t going to ruin the surprise!” Lyla said. “Besides, this was all rather rushed, so I didn’t have a chance. I didn’t know they were going to send guardians to frighten you.” She beamed, eager to explain.

“How was this even pulled together so quickly?” Juliet felt a little embarrassed they’d all gone to so much trouble for her.

“Mason and Will called an emergency meeting last night with the council when you were at your mum’s. Once your mum got your signature, we had what we needed to make your citizenship official. This morning, there wasn’t much to arrange; since the council members and heads of departments and their families, and the Klaus family, always gather on the morning of Christmas eve, we only needed you to make it the perfect welcome party. It’s tradition for them to celebrate another successful preparation of the season. It also allows everyone to gather and take a breath before tonight’s madness.”

Juliet was relieved this hadn’t all been done for her; it took some of the pressure off. Still, the welcome made her emotional.

“You weren’t in trouble. Will wanted to play a little joke on you, and the Klauses love a good prank, but I’m sorry they scared you,” Lyla was saying when the clinking of glasses interrupted them.

Mason rose from his seat, and the hall drifted into silence. Juliet saw for herself the power he held, and she wasn’t surprised he’d been able to get her citizenship approved so last-minute. She guessed the rush was to prevent her dad from having any chance to make some trouble. She relaxed into her chair, grateful for his and everyone at the table’s support. There was no other way she wanted to spend the holidays.

“I want to thank you all for coming this morning,” Mason said. “Another year of bringing hope to the world wouldn’t be possible without everyone at this table, and this town. This is only my second year in my father’s seat, and I want to thank you all for your trust and wisdom. I won’t prattle on for too long, because I’m sure you all want to tuck into this fantastic breakfast. As you might have noticed, we have a new addition to our Yule family. I hope everyone will raise a glass and help me welcome Juliet Heart to the table. This season is all about bringing people together, and I’m delighted that she has found her way home.”

Hearing the last name Heart instead of Frost felt like a new skin that would take some time to get used to. But as everyone toasted her, Juliet couldn’t help but feel like she was at home. Will handed her his napkin for her teary eyes and placed a steadying hand on her thigh.

“I thought this might be too much, but Mason really wanted to give you a big welcome. I think he’s trying to make up for Lyla’s welcome, which wasn’t so pretty. We can go if this is too much,” he said thoughtfully.

Juliet shook her head. “I can’t believe you arranged all this for me.” She wanted to squeeze the life out of him, in a good way. Maybe not in public, though.

“You shouldn’t have to hide, not when Yule is your home.” As he looked to Eloise talking with her sister, he added, kissing her hair, “This is your family now.”

“To Juliet!” Mason concluded, bringing their attention back to the table.

There was a loud cheer, and Eloise winked at her before everyone clinked the champagne flutes filled with orange juice. “Welcome home,” she said across the table.

That did it. “I’m such a blubbering mess,” Juliet croaked. Thankfully, the rest of the guests were too busy digging into their breakfast to pay her any mind.

Will kissed away the tears. “It’s a lot to take in, and just wait until the rest of the village hears there’s a new legacy in town. You’ll be drowned in baked goods, knitwear, and suitors.”

“I can’t get enough layers,” she said, thinking she’d never adapt to the cold. “Dessert? Say no more. Suitors… hmm. Might be good to have options.” She sipped her juice.

In revenge, Will’s hand drifted to her upper thigh, and she squirmed, not wanting Lyla to see what he was doing.

“Fine. I’ll just have to tell them that the position of suitor has been filled,” she conceded, putting down her glass.

Will pulled her chair closer to him. “I’d prefer to show them.” He planted a kiss on her lips, and she giggled like a lovesick teenager as she tasted orange juice on his lips. They were interrupted by the sound of hoots at the public display of affection. She felt herself redden.

In spite of the embarrassment, everything felt perfect. The only weight on Juliet’s heart was that her Nana Rose, the woman who’d kept her connection to her mother alive all these years, couldn’t be here to see how much love and trust she’d been greeted with. Nana had always tried to make her feel like she had a home and a family, and even after passing she made that wish a reality.

“Thank you for everything,” she said, resting her head on Will’s shoulder.

“You never need to thank me. I was yours the moment I walked into that bar. The moment your eyes met mine, I knew I’d break every rule and tradition to bring you home,” he told her, and the weight of his words captured her heart.

She took his hand from her thigh and threaded her fingers through his. “You’ve got me here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”