Chapter 14: Chapter 14

“Do you know them?” Dak asked, breaking off a piece of the sugar cookie he’d chosen, which happened to be in the shape of a candy cane, and popping it into his mouth.

Ellie finished chewing before she said, “I met them today. At the shop. They’re very sweet. Those kids are a handful, though.”

“The shop?” he repeated, not sure what she was referring to. He took a tentative sip of his cocoa and found it was the perfect temperature—not too hot, not too cold.

“Oh, yes. There’s this fabulous shop downtown. They have the best Christmas decorations there, and so many treasures you won’t find anywhere else. I’d heard of it before I came to town. I used to run a similar shop, you see. Anyway, I went in today and had a look around and enjoyed myself so much, I asked the owner if she’d mind if I stick around a while, to help out. I was tickled when she said I could. It’s just one of those places that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, don’t you think?”

“I do,” Dak said, nodding as he broke off another piece of his cookie. Ellie took a bite of her Santa. “I felt that way about this place when I arrived yesterday.”

“It’s cozy, isn’t it?” she agreed, wiping crumbs off of her hands onto her plate before she took a sip of her drink. Setting her cup down she said, “I love how subtle the fine touches are. It’s not... gaudy.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” He wasn’t sure what it was about Ellie, but she made him feel at home, like she had been describing herself instead of the inn. “Where are you from?”

“Oh, here and there,” she laughed. “I spent most of my life in St. Charles, Illinois, though. My husband and I had our shop downtown. That’s a town that’s also known for its Christmas spirit, you know?”

“I do know,” Dak replied, finishing off his cookie. “I visited it a few weeks ago.”

“You did?” he saw her eyes widen, and he nodded. “Why were you there?”

“I was looking at properties.” He wasn’t sure how much he wanted to disclose to this stranger, but something about her expression kept him talking. “I’m a real estate developer. And an architect.” He shrugged, not exactly sure how to sum up what he’d been doing the past five years without going into too much detail. “I’ve been designing high rise apartments, but I’ve decided I’d like to try my hand at something else, something more... small town. Something homier.”

“Sort of like The Candy Cane Lane Inn,” Ellie surmised.

“Maybe,” he admitted, looking around. “I do like this place. But I’m not sure I want to be in the B and B business.”

“What else might you do then?” She took a sip of her cocoa, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“I don’t know. I’ve been to a few similar towns, looking at options. I really love historic homes, and I know Christmas Falls was hit hard by the recession a few years ago.”

Ellie nodded. “They closed the factory, and since then, there’s been a lot of folks without work. People moved. Even the top brass at the factory have been struggling. Many of them had to move to bigger cities, and they haven’t been able to sell their homes—still. It’s a pity.”

He was surprised she knew so much, but everything she said was in line with what he’d heard as well. “I agree. I hate to see so many historic homes sitting empty, decaying, because no one can afford to buy them and live there. While Christmas Falls continues to grow as a tourism town, there just aren’t the same kind of high paying jobs there were before the furniture factory closed down. So... I just wanted to see what the town had to offer—and what the needs are. A bed and breakfast would be in line with the tourist magnet, but I’m not sure that’s what would be best for the town itself.”

Turning her head to the side, Ellie asked, “What else might you consider?”

Dak shook his head slowly—the answer had been evading him so far. “I don’t know. Maybe some sort of an outreach center. I know there are a lot of older folks in town. There’s not a senior citizen’s center. But then... an after-school program might also be appropriate, depending upon what the needs of the town are.”

“How would you make money doing something like that?” she asked, her forehead wrinkled as she took another bite of cookie.

He let out a sigh, not sure how to respond. “I began this venture as an investment opportunity, thinking I’d open a few shops or turn historic homes into restaurants, possibly rental spaces. And that’s still a possibility. But while I’m at it, I want to make sure I give something back to the community as well, something that will benefit everyone. I’m looking for the right place for that first... and then... everything else will fall into place.”

“Huh,” Ellie said, turning away from him. She took another bite, sipped her cocoa, and said it again. “Huh.”

Dak felt the color creeping into his face, thinking maybe he had misread her. She seemed like the sort of person he could be open with, that she’d understand why it was important to him to build up the community and not just try to make a quick profit, but the longer she stared into the distance, the sillier he felt for opening his mouth at all.

“You’re different, Dakota Brooks,” Ellie finally set, setting her mug down on top of her empty plate and turning to face him. “I like you.”

Relieved that he hadn’t been wrong about the woman, Dak smiled back at her. “Thank you, Ellie. I like you, too. You remind me of my grandmother—I mean, not that you’re old enough to be my grandmother.” He felt color rushing to his face again, but Ellie started laughing, which made him feel slightly better.

“Of course, I am! I know how old I am, dear. I bet your grandmother was a lovely woman.”

“She was.” He smiled, thinking of how he used to love to spend time with his Grandma Pearl before she passed.

“Tell me, Dak, how long are you in town? Are you spending Christmas with family?” She brushed her fingers off again and then settled into the couch, turning to face him.

“No, not this year. My parents are overseas, so it’s just me. I might spend it at a friend’s house. I’m not sure yet.” He was set to leave Christmas Falls on Christmas Eve, but at the moment, it was just his empty apartment in Chicago waiting for him.

“That’s too bad. Where are your folks?”

“Paris,” he replied with a little nod. “Mom had a business trip, and Dad decided to go along with her.”

“Paris! France?” He nodded, laughing at her enthusiasm, as she clapped her hands. “Oh, I always wanted to see the City of Lights. I hear it’s beautiful. Have you been?”

“I have.”

“Oh, I’m so jealous! I really should go there before I... before too long.”

Dak raised an eyebrow at her, not exactly sure what she was about to say before but thinking it a bit morbid. “You should. There’s plenty to see.”

“Your mother must have a pretty important job to get to go to Paris for the holidays.”

Dak shrugged, trying not to feel self-conscious talking about his parents’ success. “She’s an architect. Dad was a pediatrician before he retired.”

Ellie nodded, her head tilted up like she was either impressed or proud—maybe both. It was a little odd, but then, Ellie was a little odd—in a good way. “Where did you study?”

Taking a deep breath, Dak intended to answer her question without delving too deeply, but he had a feeling that wouldn’t happen. Ellie had a way of getting more out of him than he intended. “I did my undergraduate at Washington University, in St. Louis, and my graduate program at University of Illinois in Chicago.”

“Washington University has a wonderful architecture program, or so I’ve heard. Why didn’t you get your Master’s there?”

“Uh....” Dak felt himself blushing for the third time in the last few minutes. “A girl.”

A grin pulled at the corner of Ellie’s mouth, taking over her face bit by bit until she was smirking at him, an “I knew it” gleam in her eyes. “And what happened to the girl?”

Dak shook his head. “Wasn’t meant to be.” Elizabeth had broken up with him a few months after he enrolled in his Master’s program. By then, he was already working with his mom to start his company, Brooks Builders, so Chicago became his home.

“You know, sometimes the ones that got away are better left at a distance,” Ellie said, the wisdom in the tip of her head letting him know she knew what she was talking about.

In this case, he had to agree. “She was definitely not the one for me.”

Her hand came down on his knee with a motherly pat. “Good, good. So glad you see it that way. I have no doubt, the right girl is out there for you, Dakota Brooks. You’ll find her.”

He smiled at his new friend, hoping she was right, but romance had been the furthest thing from his mind lately, what with all of his plans for the new venture finally taking shape. He considered asking about her husband but didn’t want to pry.

“You know, I think I’ll head to the diner for a late dinner,” Ellie said, looking at her watch. “Would you care to join me?”

“Oh, thank you, but I do need to get to work.” The idea of going out in the cold at the moment wasn’t appealing at all. “You be careful, though. Do you have a car?”

“Yes, yes I do,” Ellie said, her eyes shifting as if she had to think about that. “It’s too bad you have so much to do. What are your plans for tomorrow?”

“Well, I saw a few houses today, but I want to get back out in the historic district tomorrow and have another look around, see if there are any other contenders.” Of the houses he’d seen that day, a few had looked promising from the outside, but once he’d gone inside, he’d realized they wouldn’t work for what he was envisioning.

“You should come by the shop and see me!” Ellie declared, her hand on his arm. “It’s on the square, you can’t miss it. It’s called The Memory Box. East side of the square, second shop from the end. I’ll be there from 10:00 until 2:00 at least, maybe longer if it’s busy.”

“Okay,” Dak said with a shrug. “I’m sure I’ll be in the area.” The historic district wasn’t far from the town square.

Ellie smiled, “Wonderful! I’d love to see you at the shop. It would make my day!”

Dak returned the grin, not exactly sure why she was being so enthusiastic about him visiting her at work but glad to oblige. He gathered up his dishes, taking Ellie’s too, and told her he’d see her the next day. Ellie bounded out of the room like a woman half her age, and he couldn’t help but laugh. She was unusual, to say the least, but he liked her. He liked her a lot.