Page 28 of Soldier’s Christmas Crush (Trinity Falls: Home for Christmas #4)

WILLOW

W illow drove carefully down the newly plowed streets, past a wonderland of scenery that she had been looking at through car windows ever since she was a little girl. Everything looked unfamiliar now, under a few feet of snow.

She was grateful that Jensen had thought to dig their cars out last night. It had allowed her to make a quick exit while Jensen and Ransom were still talking quietly.

At first, she’d thought their voices had sounded almost friendly, but then she remembered that Henry was there, and they were both probably just being civil to keep from upsetting the boy. Jensen called out her name as she got into the car, but she just kept moving, knowing it was best to just go.

Now, she drank in the sight of the soft morning sunlight glittering on the snowy fields and pine trees.

It’s beautiful, she reminded herself. This is your hometown .

But coming back felt hollow now. Home for her was never about the place. It was about the people. And she had lost access to all the people who made this place feel like home to her. Her mom was in Boston, and now her brother and Jensen…

I lost them both. And Henry too…

The feeling was like an anchor on her chest.

It was hard to believe that just last night she had been on top of the world, feeling like anything was possible, able to see her new life spread out in front of her like an incredible feast.

I’m going to be just minutes away, and I’ll still feel further from them than I did when I was overseas…

But it didn’t help to dwell on it. The practical side of her that had drawn Willow to nursing rose up now to comfort her. If she put herself to work, she would have something else to focus on.

She made a detour to the big box grocery store on Route One, and filled a cart with necessities for her friends back at Carla’s Place.

She was pretty sure no one there would venture out in the snow in a car until things had cleared up, and it was already Christmas Eve, which meant the Co-op Grocer would be on holiday hours.

If anyone walked over to Carla’s Place, it would be good to make sure some food and supplies were waiting.

When she pulled up on Park Avenue, she was amazed to see that the front walk and pathways had been shoveled already. She’d been planning to take care of that too, but someone had beaten her to it.

Grabbing as many bags as she could carry at once, Willow headed up the front porch steps. Three pairs of snow boots and three shovels were already beside the door.

She pushed it open to find a crackling fire with Mrs. Lennox, Mrs. Ying, and Reggie Webb sitting in front of it holding mugs of coffee, their cheeks pink from laughing and probably from shoveling snow.

“Willow,” Reggie called out. “Come join us.”

“Were you three out there shoveling?” she asked, feeling a little horrified that they’d felt they had to.

“We took our time,” Mrs. Lennox declared. “Don’t worry.”

“Took nearly all morning,” Mrs. Ying added with a big smile. “But it was so much fun.”

“She only thinks that because she started more than one snowball fight,” Reggie grumbled. But his eyes were twinkling, and he was clearly trying to hide a smile.

“Great job,” Willow told them, impressed. “I brought some supplies.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” Mrs. Ying said. “Let us know what we owe you.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Willow said, shaking her head. “It’s just for whoever stops by.”

“Let me get that for you,” Reggie said, hoisting himself off the couch.

“If you could put these away while I grab the next load, that would be wonderful,” she told him, hoping to keep him busy unpacking so he didn’t try to unload the car.

“I’ll get the next one,” he said, predictably.

But she could see by the way he was moving toward the door that his joints were already stiff from shoveling .

“Nope,” she told him. “There’s not much more, and I’ve already got my boots on. I don’t really know where everything goes here though, so it would be so great if you could help with that.”

She headed briskly to the kitchen before he could argue, and was relieved to hear his footsteps behind her. By the time she had carried everything in, all three of her friends were unpacking groceries and other items together in the kitchen.

“This is so helpful,” Mrs. Lennox said, looking almost teary-eyed as she unpacked a big bag with packages of toilet paper.

Willow always had the sense that some of the guests relied on getting some of their meals here, and Mrs. Lennox’s reaction to receiving supplies definitely supported that. She was glad she had at least done one thing right today.

“I’m just sorry you all had to shovel the walk,” Willow said, meaning it. “I’m the one living here permanently. I wish I’d been here.”

“It’s our pleasure,” Reggie told her. “And good exercise.”

“It’s fun to play in the snow,” Mrs. Ying said with a smile. “And besides, we figured you were with your brother, helping out with the kids.”

“Oh,” Willow said, wondering how to explain where she’d really been.

“So you weren’t with your brother,” Reggie said, his eyes twinkling. “Were you with my nephew and his boy?”

“Jensen called me right when the snow started,” she heard herself admit. “Henry was really sick, and he couldn’t get Kellan on the phone.”

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Lennox said. “Is the little boy okay?”

“Yes,” Willow said. “Thank goodness. He had a bad cold, that was all.”

“Little guy was born early,” Reggie said gruffly. “He’s a tough one, but we all worry. Glad you could get over there to help.”

“He’s the sweetest boy,” Willow said. “I was glad that Jensen called. Anyway, by the time we got Henry comfortable, there was way too much snow for me to try and drive back here. I’ve been staying in their guest room.”

“I’m sure they enjoyed that,” Mrs. Lennox said, patting her arm. “He’s such a nice young man, and that little boy is adorable.”

Willow couldn’t help smiling at hearing someone else say the things she felt about the Webb boys.

“Are we going to be hearing wedding bells soon?” Reggie asked, waggling his eyebrows.

“ Reggie,” Mrs. Lennox scolded him.

“No,” Willow said, doing her best to keep her voice from shaking. “Definitely not.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Mrs. Ying said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

To Willow’s absolute horror, she felt tears start to slide down her cheeks at the other woman’s kindness.

“Come on,” Mrs. Ying said firmly. “Let’s go sit by the fire and talk it out.”

“I’m s-sorry,” Willow managed as she allowed herself to be led out to the sofa.

“Don’t you feel bad for one second,” Mrs. Ying told her. “We’re here for you, same as you’re always here for us.”

“We can talk about it or not,” Mrs. Lennox added. “We’re happy to listen, or just keep you company.”

When they were ensconced on the sofa together, Willow felt herself relax a little. The tears stopped flowing as she soaked in the warmth of the fire and the quiet company of the two women who flanked her. Reggie came in quietly a moment later with a mug of coffee, fixed just the way she liked it.

“Thank you,” she said.

“My pleasure,” he told her. “And if you’d like me to hold my nephew to account, I’d be glad to give him an earful.”

“It’s not his fault,” she sighed as Reggie sat down in an easy chair. “Jensen is wonderful, he always has been. It’s my brother.”

“What happened between the two of them?” Mrs. Lennox asked. “I thought they were close friends, but I heard from, uh, through the grapevine that they don’t speak anymore.”

The grapevine squirmed in his easy chair, but didn’t confess to being the spreader of the very accurate gossip.

“It was my fault,” Willow said softly. “I guess everyone knew I had a big crush on Jensen when I was a kid. When I asked his advice about joining the service, he heard me out and then encouraged me to consider it, and my brother never forgave him for it. He thought I only went for it because of my crush.”

“He still thinks of you as his baby sister,” Mrs. Lennox said, nodding .

“He still calls me his baby sister,” Willow said, shaking her head in frustration. “It doesn’t seem to occur to him that I might have made up my own mind on what I wanted to do, or that I’m capable of choosing who I want to spend time with.”

“He catch you over there?” Reggie asked, cutting to the chase.

Willow nodded, and then told the story as calmly and simply as she could. By the time she got to the end, her friends were nodding and clucking sympathetically in a way that made her feel a little better.

“It’ll all be okay,” Mrs. Lennox said after a minute. “I know it hurts now, but it will all work out somehow.”

“Thank you,” Willow said, knowing the other lady was just trying to be kind.

“Time will help me get over it. I just can’t believe I ruined everything with both of them.

We all need each other, the kids too. And now we’ll finally all be right here in the same town, and we won’t even be able to lean on each other. ”

“That’s not what I meant,” Mrs. Lennox said carefully. “I really do believe that things will work out between the three of you. From the way you describe it, it sounds like you truly care for Jensen, and he cares for you. And of course your brother loves you. He’ll see the light eventually.”

“Yes,” Mrs. Ying agreed. “You just have to give it time.”

“That’s hard at your age, isn’t it?” Reggie asked, chuckling a little. His eyes were filled with sympathy though. “You still have so much in front of you, but it all feels so urgent, doesn’t it?”

Willow nodded. It did feel urgent .

“Well, your real job is to love them,” Mrs. Ying said.

“That’s the only thing in your control right now, and you can’t always do it up close.

You did just right today. Walking away and putting it all in your brother’s hands like you did was a great way to show him you love and trust him. Now it’s up to him.”

“It’ll all work out in time,” Mrs. Lennox said, nodding.

“Now, the time will pass anyway,” Mrs. Ying said. “But I was thinking we could spend some of it baking my famous almond cookies and watching a nice movie. What do you think?”

Tears prickled Willow’s eyes again at the sweetness and the wisdom of her new friends.

“That sounds amazing,” she told Mrs. Ying, leaning on her shoulder. “Let’s make some cookies.”

As they were getting the second batch out of the oven, with the whole place now filled with the delicate aroma of almond cookies, Willow’s phone started buzzing.

She grabbed it out of her pocket, praying that it was Ransom.

But her mother’s number lit up the screen instead.

“Hey, Mom,” she said after picking up.

“No luck getting tickets out there,” Mom said sadly. “We even came to the airport very early this morning to see if anyone canceled. I think it’ll have to be January.”

In all the drama, Willow had forgotten that her mom and Aunt Rhonda were still trying to come out. Maybe it was for the best that they couldn’t be here when so much was up in the air.

“That’s okay,” she told her mom. “We’ll see each other soon. How’s Aunt Rhonda holding up?”

“She’s disappointed too, honey,” Mom said. “But she’s just fine. And we’ll be glad to see you in January. Once we head back to her place and I start cooking, she’ll cheer up right away.”

“I hope you have stuff to cook,” Willow worried.

“Oh, you know we have that chest freezer down in the basement,” Mom laughed. “We always have stuff to cook. What are you up to?”

“I’m just making cookies with some friends and then we’re going to watch a movie,” Willow told her.

“Friends from high school?” Mom asked.

“No,” Willow said. “New friends. But they’re the best. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”

“Okay, sweetheart,” Mom said. “Well, we’re going to head home now. Take care of yourself and give your brother and the kids big hugs from us tomorrow.”

Willow winced, but didn’t have the heart to tell her mom about anything that was going on. She had most likely called Ransom first, since the grandkids were there. If he hadn’t said anything, she probably shouldn’t either.

“Love you, Mom,” Willow said. “Send my love to Aunt Rhonda. Merry Christmas Eve.”

When they signed off the call, the others were all setting up a movie on the television in the living room, with Reggie navigating because of his claim that he was “the best with the clicker. ”

She was surprised and pleased when they decided on Home Alone .

With her friends surrounding her, a big plate of warm cookies on the table, and a glass of milk in her hand, Willow found her broken heart was soothed just a little bit.

I can do this, she thought to herself proudly. I can do it for Ransom. My big brother is worth a broken heart.