I carried the box out of storage and set it at Aunt Gina’s feet. She sat in the wingback chair in front of the fireplace like a regal queen, instructing her minions to do her bidding.
Her minions being Sebastian and me.
Thankfully, Sebastian was willing to help or I would have been carrying boxes for days. Aunt Gina insisted we get the tree up and that we needed to start decorating the Inn. Including the grounds outside so everyone who could see it knew it was a friendly place to be.
I was dreading the idea of stringing lights on the massive trees around the old house, but she told me we needed to be festive. Her guilt-tripping powers were in full effect, reminding me it was the last time she’d see MacKellar Cove Inn at Christmastime, and I agreed to help her make it wonderful.
“Ooh, I remember this one,” Aunt Gina said, pulling an ornament out of the box. “Do you remember this, Gavin? Your mom gave this to me.”
I glanced over at the ornament and shook my head. “Nope, I don’t remember it.”
Sebastian groaned under his breath.
“Oh, it was so sweet. It was the first year you and Zoey came up here to visit me for the summer. Your mom wanted me to have something to remember you two by, and our time together. She had this printed for me. It’s a picture of you, me, Zoey, and Uncle Rob. Oh, that was such a fun summer, wasn’t it?”
I nodded. “It was, Aunt Gina.” Every summer Zoey and I spent in MacKellar Cove was fun. We worked for Aunt Gina in the morning and had all afternoon to ourselves. We would explore the grounds or go out into the Cove and swim. When we were teenagers, we went into town to see what we could do. There were times I hated going there because it meant leaving our friends at home, which ended more than one relationship I had going for me, but in the end, it was always a fun summer.
“I wasn’t sure you two would be willing to come back again and again, but I was so happy you did,” Aunt Gina said.
“Mom and Dad didn’t give us much choice. But Zoey and I always liked coming here,” I assured her.
Sebastian left the room, presumably to get more boxes.
“I just wish you two had come back after college. I think you would have enjoyed it here.”
I nodded and kept unpacking stuff, adding ornaments to the tree. Aunt Gina insisted she didn’t care where things were placed, so I decorated the tree at will. In my office, we paid someone to decorate for the holidays and I didn’t bother with a tree at home, so this was the first time I’d decorated a tree since I was a kid.
“Oh, Gavin, that can’t go there,” Aunt Gina said. “You don’t put the heavy ornaments all on one side. Spread things out. Use the other side of the tree.”
“The back?”
Aunt Gina nodded. “Yes, the back. Just because people won’t see it as easily doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make it beautiful.”
I forced a smile and nodded. Decorating was not one of my talents. Describing things, however, that was.
“Have you given more thought to the changes I recommended for the website?” I asked Aunt Gina.
“Oh, I don’t know. Those things are so confusing.”
“Yes, but your website is where the majority of people will go first to find information about the Inn. If it’s not amazing, you’ll lose offers.”
“I’m not worried about offers. I’m worried about customers.”
“And if you’re selling, you need to worry about offers.”
“Zoey hasn’t said no yet. She might still be interested in coming up here and taking over,” Aunt Gina said.
I wanted to argue with her, but she was right. Zoey was debating the decision. She was weighing the struggle between living near her ex-husband and living near her ex-boyfriend. If she had it her way, she wouldn’t live near either of them.
Sebastian walked in with another box and set it next to Aunt Gina’s chair. He crouched down and opened the box, lifting an angel out and handing it to Aunt Gina.
“Oh, you found her,” Aunt Gina proclaimed. “Thank you, Sebastian. I was hoping we would find her. Will you put her on top of the tree for me?”
Sebastian nodded and moved the ladder closer to the tree. “Which way do you want her to face?”
“Toward the window. So she can watch the water,” Aunt Gina said.
Sebastian nodded and started up the ladder. He set the angel on top and twisted and turned her until she was facing the window and straight on top.
“Perfect,” Aunt Gina said with a broad grin. “Oh, this is going to be the best Christmas ever.”
I forced a grin for her.
“I’m going to have my favorite niece and nephew here with me, and I’m going to make some memories to last a lifetime.”
I smiled at her, genuinely feeling her happiness. I wanted her to enjoy the season. I refused to ruin it for her. Aunt Gina was always there for us and she loved us like our parents did. Uncle Rob, too. I decided right then I would do anything Aunt Gina wanted me to do, within my power, to help her have an amazing last Christmas.
“Oh, are you decorating?” a woman asked from the doorway.
“We are, dear. Would you like to join us?” Aunt Gina asked.
“I’d love to, but I don’t want to interrupt your family time.”
“Oh, psh, these two would be happy for an excuse to do something else,” Aunt Gina teased. “This is my nephew, Gavin. And Sebastian oversees the lighthouse. He’s not my nephew, but he’s family. He’s always helped me out.”
“Nice to meet you both. I’m Tammy. My husband, Paul, will be down shortly. We love coming here for the holidays,” Tammy said.
“It’s a beautiful area. And MacKellar Cove Inn is an amazing place to stay,” Sebastian said. “I’m going to grab some more decorations. Gavin, want to help me?”
I nodded as Aunt Gina said, “See? I told you they’d be running.”
Tammy laughed and joined Aunt Gina while I followed Sebastian.
“We can start working outside since she has help for the inside now,” Sebastian said.
I nodded, going along with it. He was the expert, the one who was there for her all along. I wasn’t a good nephew. I’d gotten too wrapped up in my own shit and let Aunt Gina fend for herself. I was there when Uncle Rob died, for the funeral, but otherwise, I spent all my time in my own world.
We carried boxes of lights and decorations to the front porch and started opening them. There were lights, wreaths, and wrapped gifts in the boxes. Sebastian looked inside each one and told me where to put it before we got started.
“Do you guys do this every year?” I asked him.
Sebastian nodded. “She likes Christmas. She says the Inn feels like home during Christmas.”
“Not other times?” I asked.
Sebastian sighed. “She loves this place. She always has. But ever since Rob died, it’s been hard on her. I think she would have sold it a long time ago if she’d known then that you and Zoey weren’t coming back. I’m not blaming you. She had her mind made up about it, and there was no talking her down.”
“I didn’t know,” I admitted.
“I get that. I’m just saying she’s sentimental. She likes things familiar and routine. She likes the same decorations in the same places and everything how she wants it. And she wants you and your sister both here for the holidays,” Sebastian said.
I drew in a breath and nodded, committing to my earlier thought to do whatever it took to make it a great Christmas for Aunt Gina. I followed Sebastian’s orders and hung wreaths on every window on the porch. I strung lights across the railing. I artfully decorated the bushes outside, even all the way down to the waterfront. Sebastian and I worked together to transform the outside of the Inn into the picture-perfect winter wonderland Aunt Gina wanted it to be.
“Let’s go in,” Sebastian said. “It’s freezing out here.”
“Yeah, um, one thing… Um, I know about you and Zoey. And I just wanted to say I’m sorry things between you two didn’t work out,” I said.
Sebastian looked at me for a long moment. “Old news. She’s no longer my concern.”
“So, you would be okay if she decided to move here and run the Inn?”
His face paled and his entire body tensed. It was gone quickly, but it was there long enough for me to know his answer before he lied. “Of course. She should do whatever makes her happy.”
The underlying tone said he thought she always did what made her happy. From his perspective, she did. But Zoey wasn’t happy and she regretted her decision, so I still felt badly for my sister. Even though I felt badly for Sebastian, too.
“I’ll let her know,” I said.
He grunted and headed toward the Inn. Maybe if Zoey came back they could both find the happiness that eluded them. And maybe MacKellar Cove was already starting to get to me.
I was still unsure about going to meet Ian and the rest of his friends Thursday night, but after spending most of the week decorating the Inn and arguing with Aunt Gina about her website and starting the process of finding a buyer, I needed a drink and a night away.
O’Kelley’s was busier than I expected a small town bar to be on a Thursday night. The week before I assumed it was busy because of the holiday, but as soon as I walked in, I knew I was wrong. It was just a busy place.
Ian was at the bar with four other guys. I didn’t recognize two of them, but James Rucker and Ramsey Holland were two I remembered.
Ian didn’t notice me until I made it to them. “Hey, you made it. Guys, this is Gavin Holbrook. Gina’s nephew. He’s helping her fix up the Inn.”
“Nice to meet you,” they all said in succession.
“Your aunt likes to talk,” one of the guys I didn’t know said. “I’m Rowan Masterson. She told me the whole story of the town when we investigated that break-in a few months ago. But man, can she cook.”
“Break-in?” I asked him.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m a cop. I was working with Rucker then.”
“She never told me about this. Neither did Sebastian,” I told him.
“Uh, sorry about that. I figured you knew.” Rowan shrugged like it was no big deal. “We caught the guy right after. Everything was fine. That’s probably why she didn’t tell you.”
I nodded, wondering if it was that simple. She probably didn’t want to worry any of us, and I had to admit I hadn’t been in touch with her enough. But I was determined to change that.
“Hey, I need a pitcher and two vodka tonics,” Piper said across the bar.
“Hey,” I said, drawing her attention to me.
Her eyes widened for half a second before she plastered on a smile. “Hi.” Her attention immediately went back to Hudson as he filled the orders and set them on the tray she had. “Thanks.”
And she was gone. Just as quickly as she had appeared.
“You and Piper?” Ramsey asked.
I shook my head the same time Ian said, “He walked her home last week.”
“Seriously?” Ramsey asked.
“Don’t mind them,” the other guy I didn’t know said. “I’m Colin. And these two still think walking a girl home means you’re going steady. The rest of us realize it was likely you not being a douche.”
I chuckled. “Thanks.”
“So, which was it?” James asked.
“Which was what?”
“Was it because you have a thing for Piper or because you’re not a douche?”
“Are they mutually exclusive?” I asked.
“So, both,” Ramsey interpreted.
“I…Is she single?” I asked.
They all nodded.
“Then does it matter? If I’m not stepping on any toes, is it a problem?”
“Nope, but if you’re looking for someone, you need to download this app. Book Boyfriends Wanted. All the women around here use it. All these guys met their women through the app,” Rowan said.
“A dating app?” I asked.
They nodded.
“You all met the women you’re with through a dating app?” I asked again.
“I knew Blake before, but the app gave us a chance to get to know each other in a different way. Ramsey and his wife were split and it got them talking. Colin and Elise didn’t really know each other, but it gave him an in with her, and Rucker got lucky when Trinity gave him a shot,” Ian explained.
“Hey!” James exclaimed.
“It’s true,” Rowan said, cutting James off. “And it’s good for meeting women. I’m on there. A local woman developed it. Crazy smart.”
I shrugged and pulled out my phone. I downloaded the app and made a mental note to look into it more later.
Hudson refilled their beers and set one in front of me. “Pale Ale, right?”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“Yep, no problem. You ordering food?”
“Sure. I could eat.”
Hudson put in my dinner order and turned the conversation to the holidays. “You’re all coming Saturday, right?”
“What’s happening Saturday?”
“There’s a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Catherine Park,” Ramsey said. “It’s a big deal for the town. The tree has been there since before the town existed and it’s a big part of the holiday season. O’Kelley’s is one of the sponsors of the event.”
“Which means I close the bar for the afternoon so everyone will go there. There’s live music and dancing. The mayor makes a speech. Small town stuff,” Hudson explained.
“You guys really go all out, don’t you?” I asked.
They all nodded.
“I own Jones Family Maple Farm, and we’re hosting sleigh rides and a Christmas fair. Santa is coming and we are going to have lights up throughout the farm for people to walk around and see,” Colin said.
“Has Gina told you about cookie decorating?” James asked.
I nodded. “She mentioned it.”
“There is also a snowman building contest, caroling, and the best New Year’s Eve party in the area right here,” Ian said. “This is a great time to be in MacKellar Cove.”
Piper walked up and asked Hudson for another order, and I had a hard time disagreeing with Ian. She flashed me a small smile when I caught her eye.
“She’s on the app,” James said when Piper walked away.
“I’m not…You guys are crazy,” I said.
“Maybe, but we’re not wrong,” Ian said.
I shook my head and drank my beer.
“What do you guys think about Piper’s idea?” Hudson asked.
“What idea?” I blurted.
The others smirked at me.
Hudson took pity on me and explained. “Piper and some of the other women were talking about sponsoring a family or getting small gifts and giving them out to people around town. She mentioned it to me and asked about getting the word out.”
“That’s pretty cool. My company always sponsors families for the holidays. There are so many people who don’t have enough,” I said.
“What does your company do?” Ian asked.
“We’re an ad agency,” I told him.
“Nice. That’s definitely a skill set I wish I had.”
“What do you do?”
“I build custom wooden boats,” Ian said.
“No shit. That’s pretty awesome.”
“I told you I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. I saw the Inn is decorated. Nice job.”
I nodded. “It was mostly Sebastian. He knows how Aunt Gina wants everything. I’m just the unpaid hired help right now.”
“Sebastian’s been around,” James said.
I nodded, not that it made me feel any better.
“Do you think Gina would want to do something? Maybe the ladies can have something at the cookie decorating for everyone. A small favor type of thing,” Ramsey said.
“I think Aunt Gina will go for just about anything that means people are happy,” I told them.
“Sounds like Gina,” James said.
Hudson delivered our food and everyone started eating. We watched the Thursday night football game on the TV and threw around a few more ideas about the holiday events. And when Piper walked by, I tried not to be too obvious about checking her out.
When I left that night, I went back to Aunt Gina’s and started my profile on the dating app. It wasn’t like any other app I’d seen. But I was matched with a few people right off the bat. If nothing else, it would keep me busy while I was in town. And if I was lucky, one of those matches would be Piper.
