Home for the Holidays

Stranded

The snow began falling thick and fast as Elise and Ava drove back from the market later that afternoon. The windshield wipers struggled to keep up, and the roads, though plowed earlier, were quickly becoming treacherous.

“Mom, it’s so pretty!” Ava said, pressing her face to the window.

“It is,” Elise replied, though her grip on the steering wheel tightened as the snow deepened. Her stomach dropped when the car skidded slightly, coming to an abrupt stop in a snowdrift.

“Oh no,” Elise muttered, shifting into reverse, but the tires spun uselessly in the icy slush. Ava turned toward her, wide-eyed.

“Elise, come on,” she muttered to herself, trying to shift into gear. But the wheels spun uselessly. She groaned, glancing at Ava, who looked back with wide eyes.

“Are we stuck?” Ava asked.

Looks like it,” Elise said with a forced calmness, reaching for her phone to call Maya. She frowned when the screen showed no service.

Before she could panic, headlights appeared behind them, cutting through the swirling snow. The truck pulled to a stop, and Elise’s breath hitched when she saw the driver step out.

It was Noah.

The driver’s door opened; Noah stepped out. His expression was unreadable as he approached the car, his movements deliberate and sure despite the slippery road.

The passenger door of his truck opened, and Alexis Donaven stepped out, wrapping her fur-lined coat tightly around herself as she stood beside him.

“Need a hand?” he asked, his tone steady and calm despite the situation, though a flicker of concern crossed his face when he saw Ava.

Elise nodded, flustered. “I... yeah, I think we’re stuck.” Elise tried to ignore the tightening in her chest as she nodded. “We hit some ice. I don’t think we’re getting out of here without help.”

Noah assessed the car, his green eyes narrowing briefly before he nodded, then glanced back at his truck. “I’ll tow you out, but with the snow coming down like this, you should wait it out at the lodge. It’s not safe to drive back.”

Elise hesitated, but the snow was falling heavier by the second. “Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice softer now.

Behind him, Alexis sighed dramatically, her heels sinking into the snow. “Noah, is this really necessary? I thought we had reservations tonight.” Her voice was smooth and clipped, every word laced with irritation.

“It is necessary, Alexis,” Noah replied firmly, his jaw tightening as he turned back to Elise.

“Get back in the car, I’ll hook it up.”

By the time they arrived at Pinecrest Lodge, the storm was in full force. Snow piled against the windows, and the wind howled through the evergreens. The lodge itself glowed warmly, its twinkling Christmas lights and crackling fire visible through the large windows.

The Pinecrest Ski Lodge was just as Elise remembered it, though now it was decorated in full holiday splendor. Twinkling lights framed the windows, and a towering Christmas tree stood in the corner of the main room, its ornaments glinting in the firelight.

“Wow,” Ava whispered, her eyes wide. “This is amazing!”

Noah led them inside, handing Elise a blanket as Ava darted toward the tree. You can make yourselves comfortable,” he said, gesturing to the plush couches near the fire. “I’ll grab some blankets and cocoa for Ava.”

Elise’s heart softened as she watched him, his attention shifting naturally to Ava in a way that felt effortless and kind.

Alexis, however, lingered near the door, her sharp eyes scanning the lodge with a calculating look. “I don’t understand why you keep this place running, Noah. You could sell it and make enough to build something modern and profitable. All of this nostalgia…” she waved her hand dismissively at the decorations, “…it’s charming, but it’s not sustainable.”

“It’s not just a business, Alexis,” Noah replied, his voice clipped as he returned with blankets and a steaming mug for Ava. “This place means something to me, to my family, to the community.”

Elise watched the exchange, noting the tension in Noah’s posture and the faint edge of frustration in his voice.

Alexis perched on the arm of a nearby chair, crossing her legs elegantly. Her practiced smile barely concealed the calculating gleam in her eyes. “Of course, it’s sentimental, but wouldn’t it be better to turn it into something more... practical? My father has a vision for this property, you know. He sees potential here.”

Noah’s expression darkened, and Elise saw his hand tighten around the mug he was holding. “Your father’s ‘vision’ doesn’t align with mine,” he said sharply.

“Oh, Noah,” Alexis said with a soft laugh, leaning toward him. “You know he’s just trying to help. And if we…” she glanced briefly at Elise, her tone pointed, “were to solidify our partnership, it could benefit everyone. You wouldn’t have to struggle to keep this place afloat anymore.”

Elise’s stomach twisted as she pieced together the implication in Alexis’s words. The wealthy Donaven family wasn’t just interested in the lodge, they wanted control.

And Alexis’s interest in Noah seemed less about love and more about securing her family’s ambitions.

Ava found a box of decorations in the corner and eagerly began sorting through them. “Can we decorate the tree?” Ava asked, looking up at Noah with wide, hopeful eyes, holding up a strand of popcorn garland.

Noah’s expression softened instantly, his frustration melting away as he crouched beside her. “Sure,” he said, his voice warm again. “Let’s do it.”

Alexis rolled her eyes but didn’t object, choosing instead to scroll through her phone as Ava handed out ornaments.

Elise felt a flicker of something she hadn’t expected as she watched Noah with Ava. His patience, and his easy smile, reminded her of why she had fallen for him all those years ago.

As the storm raged outside, Alexis remained perched near the window, the faint glow of her phone illuminating her sharp features. She appeared disinterested in the decorating, her focus fixed elsewhere.

Elise, glancing over from the tree, noted the tension in her posture and the quick, hushed tone of her whispered conversation.

“No, Father, not yet,” Alexis murmured, turning slightly to keep her words hidden from Noah and Elise. “The storm delayed everything. I’ll keep working on him... Yes, of course.”

She hung up quickly, her lips pressed into a tight line as she turned back to the room. Her gaze landed on Noah and Ava at the tree, a flicker of irritation crossing her face when she saw his easy smile as he strung garland with Ava’s help.

Together, the three of them decorated the small tree near the fireplace, Ava chattering happily as she placed ornaments haphazardly on the lower branches.

Noah strung popcorn garlands, his hands steady despite the lingering tension in the room, while Elise hung delicate glass baubles.

For a brief moment, the room felt warm and peaceful, the storm outside forgotten. Elise found herself smiling despite the awkwardness.

For a moment, it felt almost... normal.

Alexis moved toward the fireplace, her heels clicking softly on the wooden floor. She adjusted her coat, speaking just loud enough for Noah to hear. “This storm’s inconvenient timing isn’t helping the lodge’s finances, is it?”

Noah glanced at her, his expression hardening slightly. “We’ll manage,” he replied, his tone curt.

“You always say that, Noah,” Alexis said with a smooth smile, pouring herself a glass of wine from the sideboard. “But let’s be honest—this place hasn’t been profitable in years. The only reason it’s still standing is because you’re too sentimental to make the hard decisions.”

“I am not selling,” Noah said firmly, his voice low but resolute.

Alexis took a slow sip of wine, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You say that now, but we both know sentiment won’t keep the lights on forever. My father’s offer still stands. He’s prepared to invest, to turn Pinecrest into something... sustainable. A luxury resort, maybe. Vacation homes for the elite.”

Noah stiffened, his jaw tightening. “What your father wants isn’t an investment… it’s a takeover. And what he’d build wouldn’t have anything to do with this community or its history.”

Elise listened silently, her heart sinking as she realized the depth of Alexis’s involvement in Noah’s life. This wasn’t just about their personal history… Noah was fighting to preserve his family’s legacy, and Alexis was determined to dismantle it.

You’re being dramatic,” Alexis said lightly, though her smile was cold. “Think about it, Noah. With my father’s resources, you’d never have to worry about another snowstorm ruining your bookings. You could finally relax, finally let go of this... obligation.”

“This isn’t an obligation, Alexis,” Noah said, his voice rising slightly. “It’s my family’s history. My parents built this lodge with their bare hands, and I’m not going to hand it over to someone who sees it as a line item on a spreadsheet.”

Alexis stepped closer, lowering her voice as she placed a hand on his arm. “You’re being stubborn, and it’s costing you. Do you think this place can survive forever on nostalgia and charm? Be realistic, Noah. My father can make your life easier, and we—” she glanced briefly at Elise, her tone pointed, “—could build something incredible together.”

Noah pulled his arm away, stepping back. “We’re done talking about this,” he said, his tone final.

As the tree sparkled with its new decorations, Ava yawned, the storm had begun to ease. Ava yawned, curling up on the couch with a blanket.

“Thank you,” Elise said quietly as she and Noah stood by the fire. Noah nodded, his expression unreadable. “You’re welcome.”

The flicker of warmth Elise had felt earlier lingered, but she brushed it off. There was too much between them… too much history, too much left unsaid.

For now, she focused on Ava, on the storm, and on getting through the night. Noah threw another log on the fire, his expression thoughtful as he stared into the flames.

She couldn’t help but wonder what Alexis’s next move would be or what Noah truly felt about the woman who seemed so determined to shape his future.