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“That’s exactly my point,” Holden said. “People don’t like change, especially in a small town. I want to bring in a ski resort.”
“But you’re putting it at the top of the mountain in an area that has never been used,” Charity said.
“Prime skiing property,” Nic added. “Besides, it’s not like you’re cutting into the town’s existing activities. You’re building something on empty land.”
Holden said nothing. He was in his usual thoughtful pose, staring straight ahead. This time, he toyed with his straw, swirling around in his iced tea absentmindedly.
Just when Faith was searching for a way to change the topic to something more festive, Mrs. Preston appeared. “Okay, you folks are too serious. How about putting in your orders? Oh, and I forgot to say congratulations.”
They were all four staring at their menus when those words came out. Faith’s head popped up. This could only be about one thing…
“My line cook said you two are engaged.”
“Your line cook?” Faith glanced at Charity. “Does the whole town know?”
“Do you even have to ask that?” Holden laughed. “This is big news around here.”
“Sure.” Mrs. Preston smiled. “Nothing’s changed in Misty Mountain. Not much happening around here. Now, let me get your order, and I’ll play a little something for you. Get this party going.”
Faith had no idea what she meant by that, but she found out soon enough. After they put their orders in, Mrs. Preston returned, apron discarded. She waved to the couple, then stopped at Faith’s table.
“I have one rule,” Mrs. Preston said. “When I play, all four of you have to get up and dance. No excuses.”
Great. Faith was a horrible dancer. It was a talent she just didn’t have, but for the first time in her life, she wished she did. She certainly didn’t want to make a fool of herself in front of Holden.
But he looked just as reluctant as she was as Mrs. Preston launched into “Jingle Bell Rock.” She played the piano at the far end of the dining room with such finesse, Faith would have sworn she was a professional.
“I guess if we’re going to make fools of ourselves, we’ll make fools of ourselves together,” Holden joked.
Charity and Nic didn’t look the slightest bit uncomfortable as they took the spot nearest the table. They launched into a fun sort of two-step that seemed straight out of a dance class.
When had Charity learned to dance? Oh, right, she’d been a cheerleader in school. So had Ana, briefly. Either one of them would be far better prepared for this than Faith and her two left feet.
Holden grabbed Faith’s hands, and they attempted some extremely clumsy version of what the other couple was doing. Soon, the older couple at the table near the piano were up on their feet, dancing and smiling.
Something about that loosened Faith up. This wasn’t about showing off dance moves. It was about having fun. Getting lost in the moment. And sharing that moment with Holden Pryce.
“Okay, now something a little slow,” Mrs. Preston announced as she reached the end of the song.
Faith should have felt disappointed. The end of the song meant they could finish the dancing session and sit down and wait for their food. But instead, she was kind of glad to hear it. She didn’t want this connection with Holden to end—dancing like fools, their hands clasped, and big smiles on their faces.
For a slow song, she didn’t choose something Christmassy. Instead, she went with the more timely “Auld Lang Syne.” It felt odd, slow dancing to something that wasn’t normally slow danced to. Couples usually kissed when this particular song played.
Holden hesitated only a few seconds before slipping his arms around her and pulling her toward him. She rested her hands on his forearms, afraid to get too close. That left her awkwardly trying to figure out where to look. She could stare straight up at him, but that made her think about kissing him.
Faith finally focused her attention on the older couple near the piano. They looked so happy, so in love. There was no way to know they’d been married for years. They could be newlyweds who’d met later in life. But at the sight, she couldn’t help but imagine what it might be like to grow old with someone. To be that couple dancing in the dining room at an inn on a Friday night.
What if that person she grew old with was Holden? She hadn’t dared imagine anything like that. But suddenly, she couldn’t imagine anyone else. He fit perfectly into her fantasy of vacationing in a cabin in the mountains with her kids. And having those kids in the first place.
But what if he didn’t want more children? J.J. was eight, after all. With a new baby, he’d have to start all over, and it would no doubt bring up memories of what he’d lost.
No, it would be too much to ask of him—and of J.J. If she wanted a husband and a couple of kids of her own, she needed to find someone who’d share that dream. Not someone who had to bend his life to fit her dreams.
As the song came to an end and everyone started clapping, Faith easily separated from Holden, her thoughts still weighing on her. He’d probably seen it as no more than a dance, but for her, it had been eye-opening. Her future had flashed in front of her eyes, and it was a future she couldn’t fit him into. And that hurt her heart more than she wanted to admit.
21
Something was up with Faith. She’d been quiet for the rest of their double date Friday night and when they’d gotten home, she’d gone straight to bed, claiming she had a headache. Even her sister seemed to think something might be wrong. She’d given Faith a few strange looks at the table.
