Hearts Evergreen: A Cloud Mountain Christmas\A Match Made for Christmas (4 page)

She opened her eyes and stared out the window, her gaze alighting on Tony.

Jerk. Swing.
Crack.

Jerk. Swing.
Crack.

Heaven help me
. She needed to conclude her business and get out of there.

T
ony was stacking the last of the chopped wood in the rack outside the back door when two SUVs, a minivan and a Jeep pulled into the lodge parking lot. This had to be the Sullivan family.

He stomped his boots on the mat to make sure he wouldn't track up the clean floors, then opened the door and headed toward the lobby.

“They're here,” Audrey announced.

“Yeah, I saw them pull in.”

In many ways, the newly-arrived guests—sixteen adults and one toddler—would be a test for Tony and his small staff. The Sullivans, their guests for a full week, would fill the eight rooms in the second story west wing of the lodge. He'd worked like a dog to make sure all was ready for their arrival. The last roll of wallpaper had been hung in the green room late last night.

“I'll go help with the luggage.” He glanced at his watch. It was not quite eleven. “Better let Cookie know the Sullivans are here.”

“I already did.”

“Thanks, Audrey. You're always one step ahead of me.”

“Been doing it a long time, is all.”

Tony pulled open the front door and stepped onto the porch. With a wave, he called, “Welcome to Cloud Mountain.” Then he descended the steps to meet and greet his guests.

It didn't take long to ascertain that the Sullivan clan was a boisterous bunch. The patriarch was Sam Sullivan, newly-retired from the construction business at the age of sixty-eight. Karen, his wife, was short and round with a mischievous sparkle in her green eyes.

The second generation of Sullivan men and their wives all looked to be in their forties. Mike, Roger and Kip Sullivan took after their father in height, looks and build.

The five members of the third generation were more diverse. Somewhere between their late teens and mid-twenties, there were three granddaughters—two of them with husbands, one of those with a red-haired child in arms—and two grandsons, one of them married, his college-aged brother single.

When the introductions were finished, the Sullivans emptied the backs of their four vehicles of numerous suitcases and tote bags, plus sixteen pairs of skis and boots and three ski boards.

Tony grabbed four suitcases and led the way inside. Something told him the lodge was going to feel much smaller with this family as guests.

Maddie was awakened by a commotion in the lobby—and was none too happy about it. She'd been dreaming something delightful, although she couldn't remember what. It had vanished the instant she awoke. She wished she could bring it back.

Straightening in the chair, she moved her laptop to the coffee table. Her arms felt sluggish, as did her mind.

A burst of raucous laughter caused her to start. Who on earth was making all that racket?

Just then a little girl, perhaps a year or so old, toddled into view. She hesitated when she saw Maddie. Her eyes widened, then she squealed in delight and hurried forward, every unsteady step looking as if it would be the last before she fell.

“Iris,” a deep male voice called. “Come back here.”

The toddler giggled in response. Obviously she had no intention of answering the summons.

“Iris, you heard me. Listen to Daddy.”

A fair-haired man appeared in the doorway at the same moment the child arrived at Maddie's chair and hid her face against Maddie's right thigh.

“I'm sorry,” the fellow said. “Iris doesn't meet any strangers. She thinks everyone is a friend.”

“It's all right.” Maddie ran her hand over the little girl's soft wispy curls.

The young father crossed the room in a few strides, captured Iris around the waist and whisked her into the air. She squealed and laughed again as her dad pressed his lips into the curve of her neck and shoulder and blew.

Maddie felt a pinch in her heart, a longing so strong it stole her breath away.

If only…

As if to torture herself, she recalled the tabloid photo—Craig and Shari, joyously awaiting the birth of their child.

If only…

“Did you do that on the ski slopes?”

Pulled from her unhappy thoughts, she wasn't sure what Iris's dad meant.

He pointed at her propped leg. “Did you break something skiing?”

It was Tony who answered. “Actually, she was fine while skiing. It was the falling that got her into trouble.” He grinned at Maddie as he entered the room. Turning toward the other man, he said, “Your wife's headed up to your room.”

“I'd best get a move on then.” He nodded at Maddie. “See you around.”

“Yes.” She waved at the little girl. “Bye, Iris.”

The child waved back.

Tony said, “Cute kid.”

“Adorable.” Sorrow tightened her throat once again, sorrow for the might-have-been wishes.

“Hope she didn't disturb your work.”

“I wasn't getting much done anyway.” She drew a deep breath, determined to stop thinking about what she couldn't have. There were other things that should be on her mind. Completing her business with Tony Anderson, for one. “You know, we should discuss the matter of the manuscript some time today. I need to leave soon and—”

“You're not supposed to drive with that broken ankle. Remember?”

“Don't worry. I'll work out some way to get home. But in the meantime…” Realizing that rushing back to Los Angeles didn't sound as good as it should, she let the sentence drift into silence.

“In the meantime, it's down to business,” Tony finished for her.

“Yes.”

He checked his watch. “How about three o'clock in my office?”

“I'll be ready.”

“Okay.” He motioned toward the table near her elbow. “Do you need anything? More tea or maybe some hot chocolate.”

“Thank you, but I'm fine. I'll wait for lunch.”

With a nod, Tony left the room.

Maddie turned her head to look out the window as tears pooled in her eyes and loneliness coiled around her heart. She would close this deal and head home, but no one would be waiting for her when she got there.

If only…

Stop it. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

She had much to be thankful for. God had walked her through each stage of grief that followed the death of her marriage. By His grace, she'd come to understand that, while God hated divorce, He did not hate the divorced. He did not hate her. He loved her. He'd collected her tears in a bottle, as the psalm said, and recorded each one in His book. He knew her sorrows and wanted to heal them completely.

Then why don't you trust Him with your future?

M
addie's quiet meal with Tony, Audrey and Cookie on the day she arrived stood in stark contrast to today's lunch.

Like the youngest member of their clan, the Sullivans knew no strangers. They treated Maddie like a long-lost member of the family and included her in their conversations as they passed serving bowls around the table.

“Doug broke his leg skiing,” Hannah Sullivan said. “When was that, Doug? Four years ago?”

“Five years, Mom. I was a junior in high school.”

His brother, Eric, jabbed Doug in the shoulder. “I'll bet Maddie wasn't doing something stupid the way you were.”

“Shut up, bonehead.”

“Loser.”

“Poser.”

Some fraternal shoving ensued.

“I apologize, Maddie,” Mike Sullivan, their dad, said. “They've been shut up in the car for too many hours. We need to get them fed and out on the slopes where they can burn up some of that energy.”

“They don't bother me.”

The truth was, it was more bothersome seeing all the happily married couples seated around the tables. Seeing the way Sam deferred to his wife. Watching the tender exchanges between Iris's parents. Hearing Mike's laughter when Hannah told a joke.

Three generations of happy marriages—and her. She felt like a fifth wheel.

“Are you here alone?” Karen Sullivan asked.

Maddie nodded. “Yes.”

“What made you choose Cloud Mountain for a solo vacation?” This question came from Iris's father, Wayne Gruber.

Maddie's head ached. “Actually, it's not a vacation.” She rubbed the pressure point between her eyebrows. “I'm here on business.” And if I'd remembered that, I wouldn't have a broken ankle.

Audrey entered the dining room and walked over to Maddie, leaned down and whispered into her ear. “There's someone here to see you.”

Maddie drew back so she could look the woman in the eyes. “To see
me
?”

Audrey nodded, then turned her head. Maddie followed her gaze to find David Fairchild standing in the dining room entrance.

“David?”

He moved toward her.

“What are you doing here?” She lowered her leg to the floor and, bracing herself on the edge of the table, began to rise.

David's hand on her right shoulder gently pushed her back onto her chair. “I came to see how you're doing. Lois and I were worried. You didn't sound like yourself when you called.”

Maddie wanted to crawl into a hole and pull the earth over her. “I'm fine, David. It isn't anything serious.”

Wasn't it bad enough that she hadn't yet begun negotiations with Tony? Now her employer had made a special trip from California to make sure she was okay. Or worse. Maybe he didn't trust her to close the deal. What had she said to him over the phone when she was in that drug-induced haze? It must be something awful if it made him fly to Idaho in the corporate jet.

Shoot me now!

“Mr. Fairchild.” Tony appeared at her left elbow. “I'm Tony Anderson. Welcome to Cloud Mountain Lodge.”

Maddie swallowed a groan as the two men shook hands about twelve inches in front of her face.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Anderson.”

“The pleasure's mine. Will you join us for lunch?”

“Thank you. I'd appreciate it.”

Tony motioned toward the smaller table where he'd been seated a few moments before. “There's an empty spot over here.”

David patted Maddie's shoulder. “We'll talk after lunch.”

She nodded, forcing herself to smile.

As soon as David moved away, Ann Gruber asked, “Is that your father?”

“No.” Oh, that miserable, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “He's my boss.”

Tony tried not to be obvious as he sized up the millionaire. Despite his steel-gray hair, David looked a good ten years younger than his age. Moreover, he had an air of confidence that was not uncommon in men of power and wealth.

Before Tony turned his back on a management career in the corporate world, he'd known a number of men much like Fairchild—successful, empire-building men with the Midas touch. And some of them were the most miserable human beings a man would ever hope to meet.

Something about David Fairchild said he wasn't miserable. He wore contentment as easily as Tony wore a pair of Levi's and work boots.

“I hope you're planning to stay with us for a day or two.” He passed a bowl of mixed vegetables to David.

“Well, at least overnight. Assuming you have a room available.”

“We do.”

David glanced toward Maddie. “How is she?”

“Better today. The break isn't bad. The doctor says it should mend without a problem, as long as she takes care not to walk on it too soon.”

“I'll make certain of that.”

Tony wasn't sure he cared for the proprietary note in David's voice. Was there more to his relationship with Maddie than being her employer? He frowned, not liking his train of thought.

He'd done a fair share of research on David Fairchild after receiving word of his interest in buying the Small manuscript. One thing Tony had learned was that David and his wife, Lois, had been married for thirty-one years. By all reports, it was a good marriage. Others looked up to David Fairchild, speaking of him as a man of integrity, a natural leader, someone with a strong personal faith. He didn't seem the type who would be unfaithful to his wife or who would take advantage of a woman young enough to be his daughter.

“Maddie says she knew you in college.”

Drawn from his thoughts, Tony answered, “We didn't know each other well, but yes, we were at BSU at the same time.”

“I've tried to talk her into going back to school to finish her degree. She doesn't lack many credits.” David shook his head slowly. “It's a shame she married Houston. He wasn't good to her.”

“You know Craig?”

“I know him.” The dark tone of his voice spoke volumes.

And Tony liked him for it.

Maddie was thankful when the meal ended. She smiled and waved at the Sullivans as they emptied out of the dining room, still talking and laughing as they had throughout the meal. Unless she'd misunderstood, they were all headed for the ski slopes, with the exception of Iris and her great-grandmother, who were both going to lie down for a nap. Maddie wouldn't have minded a rest herself, but that wasn't possible now.

She saw Tony rise from the table and bid David a good afternoon. Then he nodded in Maddie's direction before leaving.

“Pleasant fellow.” David walked to Maddie's table. “I enjoyed our visit. He said you're meeting with him at three.”

“Yes.” She drew a quick breath and let it out. “Would you like to join us?”

“No. I believe you'll do better without me.”

Maddie hoped the surprise didn't show on her face. She'd been certain he came to the lodge because he thought she would blow the deal. She should have known better. It wasn't David's style.

He sat in the chair next to her. “I've taken a room for the night and will head back tomorrow, unless you need me for something.”

“If it weren't for my rental car, I'd plan to go with you. Maybe I could arrange for someone to—”

“No, Maddie. I want you to stay here until the doctor releases you. Enjoy yourself. Remember? Do something fun. Relax. Make a vacation of it.”

“Not much fun I can have with this.” She motioned toward her foot, propped on the chair to her right.

David stood. “You might be surprised.” He grinned. “Now, I imagine you need to prepare for your meeting with Tony and I'd like to take a stroll around Cloud Mountain. Maybe I'll try out the slopes for myself.”

“Don't break anything.”

He chuckled. “I promise.” With a wave of his hand and a “See you later,” he turned and strode out of the dining room.

Maddie shook her head. Could this business trip get any stranger?