“Not you. You didn’t cause this trouble.”
Disappointment settled over Nolan. He’d thought his grandfather and father had turned a corner. They’d been so cheery, and here they were decorating, but if what Myrtle said was true… this vendetta against the Greens was going too far. “Gramps…”
His grandfather ignored the warning in his tone, turning instead to look down the stairs at Myrtle. “I didn’t know about the storm. Maybe I thought buying some goodwill with Ted would make him remember well of me, but… I didn’t outright plan for him not to show up to the inspection.”
Myrtle didn’t look convinced. She looked more likely to storm up the stairs and wag her finger in Gramps’s face. When the old man raised his hands in surrender, Nolan could have pushed past him. He didn’t. That had sounded like genuine regret in Gramps’s voice. Had his outlook changed?
“It’s the truth, Myrtle. I’m… turning over a new leaf.” He gestured to Stan. “We both are. I was just returning a favor that I owed to Ted. I had no idea he would end up stranded in Boston or that would somehow ruin the Cozy Holly Inn party. How do we fix this?”
Myrtle scoffed. “This isn’t the first time you’ve been a grouch to Ida Green. You want me to believe you’re suddenly Mr. Nice Guy?”
Gramps moved with difficulty as he descended the stairs. He clung to the railing to steady himself, his fingers brushing the false greenery. “I know how I’ve been. But I do want to help.”
“Right.” Myrtle crossed her arms. “And what brought on this change of opinion?”
Gramps glanced up the stairs to Nolan. Was he looking for help answering that question? Nolan didn’t have the first idea what had led to this change of heart. He didn’t want to look at it too closely. All he wanted was to encourage this new, softened version of his grandfather.
Myrtle said, “I see. Well. What problem have you even had with Ida all these years? She’s got a good heart, and you know she doesn’t go about stealing your customers, especially not now.”
Gramps cleared his throat. His shoulders bowed in a way that looked almost sheepish. “She never invited me to her fancy Christmas parties. Not once.”
Nolan couldn’t believe his ears. “That’swhat this is about?” He walked down the steps to stand abreast of Gramps, but the old man didn’t look him in the eye.
Nor did he justify the answer. It was the only answer they were likely to get.
Myrtle narrowed her eyes. Her mouth had a pinched quality as she thought. “Are your permits current?”
“Of course.” Gramps sounded offended at the question.
Myrtle pulled out her phone. “Then let me see if we can fix this. It must be young Jessica who’s doing the catering now.” Myrtle scrolled through her contact list for so long that Nolan wondered whether she had the phone numbers of everyone in town on there. He wouldn’t be surprised. “Ah.” She dialed then held the phone to her ear.
Everyone collectively held their breaths.
“Jessica, dear? It’s Myrtle. Yes, from the shelter. How is Fluffy? Good to hear. Listen, I have a question for you about the party at the Cozy Holly Inn.” She paused, squinting as she listened, and nodded along to the other end of the conversation. “Yes, I know you need the permit in order to do the cooking. That’s why I’m calling. Would the kitchens at Barrington Lodge work? They’re bigger and—yes. Yes, of course. I’ll figure that part out. You just worry about making the food. Thanks, bye.”
Satisfied, the old woman punched the button to end the call and slid the phone into her pocket. Each one of the Miller men had his eyes on her, waiting for her to explain the call.
In a no-nonsense tone, she told Gramps, “She’ll be doing the cooking for the party in your kitchen. All we have to do is figure out how to get it up to the Cozy Holly Inn while it’s still hot. If we cut through the woods, it’s not far, though that’s going to be a bit of a struggle in the snow.”
Nolan suggested, “Why not take the sleigh? We were going to dust it off anyway for the season. After the food has been delivered, we could offer sleigh rides.”
“I like that plan,” Stan said as he joined them at the bottom of the stairs. “The trip will be a little narrow in parts, but it should be no trouble for a skilled driver like me.”
That answered who was going to shuttle the food back and forth.
Only Gramps looked unconvinced. “I just don’t see how Ida will agree to it. That woman is as stubborn as molasses. She doesn’t like accepting help from anybody.”
Nolan pointed out, “She’s had Julie planning this entire thing. She obviously doesn’t mind anymore.”
“That’s different. Julie’s her granddaughter.”
With a cat-got-the-cream smile, Myrtle said, “Leave that part to me.”
Chapter 32
Gram was enchanted. There was no other word for the look on her face as she’d toured the first floor of the inn. Now, sitting in her customary chair by the Christmas tree with Kringle on her lap and a cup of hot chocolate in her hands, Gram looked like she was living out a dream. Every time she’d given Julie a bit of praise, Julie had simultaneously soaked up the warmth of her gram’s approval and inwardly cringed. She hadn’t mentioned the lack of a permit and the trouble with the caterer yet. She was still hoping that Myrtle would bring a miracle. But the longer she and her family sat curled up in the living room reminiscing, the more she realized that this was one thing none of them could fix. And she had come so close!
With idle strokes, Gram petted Kringle’s soft fur. The cat had decided to act charming today, and raised his head for her ministrations, purring all the while. Julie tried not to be too bitter about it. After all, he had thawed considerably toward her too.
