Page 20 of Sweet Summertide (Christmas Cove #4)

Holly would never admit it to her mother, but she was made for moments like the one she was about to step into.

All her years of media training, etiquette lessons, and countless experiences attending high-profile events aided in boosting her confidence.

Her heels scraped the white concrete sidewalk as she stopped in front of the pink Victorian house at the far end of Main Street.

Standing beyond the white picket-fence gate, she took in the moment before going in.

Every window glowed with soft yellow light and dozens of guests moved through the expertly designed spaces.

She had seen glimpses of America and Leo’s home during girl’s night, but she had yet to see it completely outfitted.

Knowing Millie’s taste and attention to details, Holly was sure the home would look spectacular.

Millie waved at Holly through the front bay window and sprinted out the front door towards her. “Boy, am I glad you’re here. I can only do small-talk for so long before I want to rip my ears off.”

“It’s going that well, huh?”

With arms threaded together, the two women strolled the short distance through the front garden.

Holly’s heels tapped with each footfall along the brick path and low, boxwood hedges tickled the sides of her exposed calf.

An older couple, wearing business suits, walked out of the house.

Holly and Millie shuffled to one side of the path and let the guests pass by.

The woman smiled and nodded to Millie as she departed.

Millie leaned into Holly. “I just feel so out of my league with these people, like I’m a poser or something.”

“I think everyone feels that way when starting something new. But look at all these people who are going to know your name and your business after tonight.”

“I have gotten a lot of interest in my design services, which is good,” Millie said and smiled.

“This open-house was a brilliant idea, then,” Holly said and scanned the guests faces to see if she knew anyone.

Luckily, she didn’t, but being so close to home meant that there was always a chance to run into an old flame, or grade-school teacher somewhere.

She just wasn’t prepared to have to explain the whole situation.

“Looking for someone?” Millie asked as they approached the front steps. “A certain chocolatier maybe?”

“What?” Holly said. “I was not actually, but now that you mention him … no.”

“If you say so.” Millie laughed. “And this event wasn’t my doing. America thought it would be a nice way to thank the community for everything they’ve done. I’m just mooching off the opportunity.”

“Millie, it’s not like you’re taking credit for something you didn’t do. I know you came in halfway through the project, but look at what you’ve accomplished?—”

“You want to see the scrapbook?” Millie said and yanked Holly through the foyer and up the stairs.

Last time she was there, Holly kept to the kitchen and parlor and hadn’t ventured anywhere else.

At the top of the wooden staircase, a veranda wrapped around the two-story entryway with rooms lining the other side.

Millie led her around the walkway where a soft scent of warm vanilla called them to a room at the front end of the house.

“Is this Cinderella’s library?” Holly asked and went straight to the shelves filled with books.

At the center of the longest wall, candles flickered in the old fireplace box.

An oversized gilded mirror hung above the white painted mantel and reflected the position of a small desk on the opposite side of the room.

“I suppose you could say that. It’s America’s office,” Millie said and sat at the desk positioned under the window. “And before you ask, I had nothing to do with this space, it was all America. Well … I rearranged the books and added some new throw pillows to the egg chair.”

“It’s such a pretty space,” Holly said and joined Millie at the desk. “Let’s see that scrapbook.”

Millie opened the white leather-bound folio and slid it along the desk to where Holly stood. “America was able to get these old photos from the town’s archives and make copies. These old black and white ones of this house were taken in 1901.”

They flipped through page after page of history.

Every iteration of the home had been documented, from original Victorian style to the art deco lead windows in the twenties, and an attempt to change the roofline to a flattop in the sixties.

It was repainted in the nineties in a similar pink as it had now, though the fresh color scheme gave the home a whimsical feel.

“It kinda matches my shop, don’t you think?” Holly said as they got to the page that showed the most recent renovations. “I can’t believe it looked this rough only a couple months ago.”

“When Vi hired me, it was right after America and Leo got married and were on their honeymoon. Since all the permits had already been approved, I was able to get to work right away. Honestly, I got pretty lucky with this project since America had done most of the planning. She really just needed me to come in and manage the work.”

“I think you do far more than just manage. You have that special thing where you see beauty and know how to make others see it too,” Holly said and meant it. “I’ve always admired you for that.”

“Thank you for saying that. And I’ve always admired you for being able to talk to anyone about anything. I hate events like this.”

It was unfortunate that Holly’s first reaction to a compliment was to recoil and wonder what the person’s motives were, but she knew Millie to be one of the few true souls in her life.

She had never lied to Holly as far as she knew and had no reason to suspect she would start now.

“Thank you for saying that. And thank you for sticking by my side. I know I’m not the easiest person to get. ”

“I think it helps that I’ve known you since you were still picking your boogers. But you’re welcome.”

Holly threw her arms around Millie’s shoulders and embraced her friend, glad to have her back in town to cause trouble with. “Now, show me the rest of the place?”

“And try all the snacks,” Millie said and rubbed her tummy.

“Tour first, then food.”

They walked around the rest of the upstairs, three bedrooms and two spacious bathrooms. The primary bedroom had vaulted ceilings and exposed beams with a four-poster bed positioned against one wall.

Soft white drapes hung at all the windows and a bench seat overflowed with lush cushions.

The room was clean, simple, and romantic.

Downstairs, the final space she had yet to see was a masculine study featuring dark wood wainscoting and a clay treatment on the upper third of the walls. Holly ran her fingers across the textured surface. The roman clay was so fine, it felt like silk.

“This is Leo’s office, and my favorite part of the house. When I got here this whole room was stripped down to the studs. I researched similar homes and found that most houses of this size would have had a smoking room. So, I used that as inspiration for Leo’s office, and he loves it.”

“Who says I do?” A man with blond hair entered behind them through the glass French doors. He put his hand out to greet Holly.

She met his hand. “You must be America’s other half.”

“Leo. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Holly. Millie’s friend. I feel like we’ve just been missing each other since I got to town a couple weeks ago. I was at the Foundry for the chocolate festival, and I was here about a week ago for girls’ night.”

“You’re opening the creamery down the way?”

“That’s right,” Holly said with pride dripping off her happy tone.

“And it’s going to be sooo good.” Millie added, causing Holly to bump shoulders with her.

Leo snapped his fingers. “You know the guy who’s opening a chocolate shop across the street from you? I bet you two have a lot in common. I mean you both like sugar.”

Holly smiled and prepared a congenial answer. “Mister Black, I believe.”

“I can introduce you if you like,” Leo said.

“Perhaps, sometime. I’m really quite busy building my business. I appreciate the offer?—”

“No need to thank me. Let me get you both something to drink. It’s a party after all.” Leo exited the office with a bounce in his step.

“He’s fun,” Holly chuckled and moved towards the window that looked out to a side garden.

“Don’t let him fool you, he knows that you and Teddy are well acquainted,” Millie said. “He’s up to something.”

While Holly gazed out, there was a subtle reflection of people coming into the office and greeting Millie.

Their conversation faded into the background of her mind as the scene outside pulled her focus.

Though night had fallen, the sun gave light to the horizon in shades of bronze and purple and allowed Holly to make out the garden’s features.

A tall fence of hedges stood in a tight, manicured row while fluffy hydrangeas drooped over a short stone wall abutting a stone path.

The path called to her, and she desired to discover what secrets could be hidden at the end.

“You did this, didn’t you?” Holly asked Millie with no reply. “Millie?”

In the reflection of the window, she could make out the forms of people moving about. As one came closer, she knew it wasn’t Millie.

“Beautiful view,” Teddy said from behind her and caused her to spin around. Her defenses engaged at the sound of his voice. He handed her a champagne flute. “Leo asked me to give this to the pretty woman in the office. I suppose he was directing me to you.”