A Town Called Christmas Read online

  A Town Called Christmas

  By Stella Berry

  Contents

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  Who would actually want to spend Christmas in a town called Christmas Springs? Dulcie fumed as she packed her suitcase. No one but the tourists!

  Most of the sane inhabitants of the small town she’d grown up in made themselves scarce during the festive season to escape the hordes of honeymooners and other people who thought it was a cute place to stay for the holidays. Of course, many of the locals rented out rooms at exorbitant prices or sold tacky decorations covered in tinsel, but for Dulcie, it was the one time of the year she most wanted to avoid the entire area. Especially as her parents weren’t even going to be there.

  For the last three years, Dulcie had managed to persuade them that New York was the only place to really experience the magic of Christmas, and they had definitely enjoyed a few nights each year in a fancy hotel, despite being strangely reluctant to leave Christmas Springs during the holidays. But this year, they were going on a cruise. At least, that was the plan. But it all depended on Dulcie coming home to host Christmas for the family next door.

  ~

  “No way, not a chance in a manger am I putting on Christmas for the Carltons!” had been Dulcie's response when her mother had outlined the idea.

  “But, darling, Beth and William don’t want to leave Noelle alone for the holidays, and they are so excited about us all going away together.”

  “Why would she be alone? What about the boys?” Dulcie shot back.

  She heard her mother heave a long-suffering sigh, and she gritted her teeth at the inevitable guilt trip coming her way. Though she couldn’t for the life of her see why there should be one. Noelle was the youngest of four, and with three big brothers, it surely made sense that one of them would have their little sister for Christmas?

  “Well, Kit doesn’t live here anymore, so he couldn’t do it. Though he is flying in for Christmas and bringing his new girlfriend.” Dulcie’s mother, Meredith, gave a sniff, and Dulcie sensed her disapproval for the unknown girlfriend. “And Daniel will be on call at the hospital. And Beth really doesn’t want to put Adam to any trouble. He’s just so busy.”

  Ah yes, Dulcie mused. Ambitious Adam, the high-flying lawyer who was determined to become a judge by the time he was forty. Heaven forbid he should be asked to put himself out.

  “Okay, but why me?”

  “Because Noelle knows you, she trusts you. She might be eighteen but she’s still very naive, and the Carltons don’t feel comfortable about leaving her on her own. It would be so perfect if you were there, right next door, to keep an eye on her. And really, sweetheart, you are a whiz in the kitchen, I’m sure that knocking up just one simple Christmas meal would be no big effort for you.”

  Dulcie rolled her eyes at her mother’s words. A whiz in the kitchen was definitely stretching the truth, and calling an entire Christmas dinner simple was just laughable. But her mother was clearly desperate to get her to agree.

  “Couldn’t Noelle come to New York and spend a few days here with me?” Dulcie suggested.

  There was a short silence, and Dulcie could practically hear her mother trying to come up with a counter argument to that.

  “I really don’t think she’d go. There’s a boy she’s involved with.”

  “Then perhaps she should spend it with him?”

  “Definitely not! He’s not the right sort. That boy is trouble with a capital T.” Her tone changed and became wheedling. “Pleease, Dulcie. Beth and William haven’t taken a proper vacation in years. It’s their Ruby wedding anniversary, and they simply won’t go if I can’t assure them you’ll be here for Noelle.”

  “You seriously expect me to keep her away from the bad-boy boyfriend?” Dulcie asked.

  “It can’t hurt to try. She looks up to you. You were her babysitter for years.”

  “But if Kit is coming home, then why can’t he do it?”

  “I expect he and the insect will stay at a hotel. They won’t be on hand like you would.”

  “The insect?” Dulcie said with a laugh in her voice.

  “It might have been stick-insect, on account of her being a model. I don’t know. That’s just what Beth calls her,” Meredith said dismissively.

  “So, who’s cooking their Christmas dinner?”

  “Well, I suppose they might come, too.”

  “And after Daniel finishes his shift at the hospital, where will he be going?”

  “Really, Dulcie. You’re acting as if it’s a hardship to entertain the Carltons. After all they’ve done for you over the years. They’re our neighbors, our friends.”

  “Aw, Mom, I really don’t want to. I do have a business to run, you know.” Dulcie made a last-ditch attempt to say no.

  “An internet business. You’re always telling me how wonderful it is that you could work from anywhere in the world.” Her mother’s voice was more upbeat now, sensing near victory. “And you and I could spend a couple of days together before we go, do some girly shopping. Come early. In fact, take a week. Surely you are allowed to give yourself a holiday?”

  “Mom, I live in New York. Why on earth would I want to shop in Christmas Springs when I can get anything I could possibly want right here?”

  “You can’t get muffins like Maria does them at the Mistletoe Cafe, or homemade tree ornaments like Betty Farley makes. Say you’ll do it, Dulcie, for me. We won’t go if Beth and William don’t come with us, and we’ve all been talking about it for years except the timing was never right. But now, with Noelle turning eighteen, they are finally in a place where it could happen, but only if they could be confident that you were here just in case. We’re all depending on you!”

  ~

  Which was why, three weeks later, Dulcie was packing her bags and grumbling about it, as she prepared to spend Christmas in a cacophony of twinkling lights, carol singers, and every festive tradition the small town could muster up. Oh joy!

  Chapter Two

  Mrs Elizabeth Carlton and her daughter were happily watching a reality TV show when Adam Carlton swept into the room and switched it off without asking.

  The two women gave vocal protests that quickly died when they saw the expression on his face.

  “Adam, whatever is the matter?” Mrs Carlton asked her eldest son.

  “I’ve just heard from Daniel that you’re going away for Christmas with the Brights, and that Noelle is spending it with Dulcie?”

  There was a moment’s silence as Beth and Noelle looked guiltily at each other, then nodded.

  Adam frowned further. “I’ve no objection to you taking a vacation, Lord knows, you and Dad probably need one, but why is Dulcie having Nell? Why didn’t you ask me?”

  Beth looked flustered. “Oh, well, darling, I know you’re terribly busy. You have so much work on and a wedding to plan.”

  “Lynette is doing most of the planning, and she is quite capable of managing Christmas, too.”

  “Yes, I know, dear…it’s just…” Beth cast an anguished eye toward her daughter, looking for support against her rather dominating son.

  “We don’t like Lynette,” N
oelle supplied.

  “Noelle!” her mother said, horrified. “That’s an awful thing to say. Of course, we love Lynette, but really, we haven’t known her that long, and Dulcie is family.”

  “She’s not family,” Adam said through gritted teeth. “She’s the girl who lived next door, and she moved out years ago.”

  “Well, practically family. I’ve known her all her life. She’s like a favorite niece to me.”

  “Uh huh, a favorite niece being preferable to my future wife, who actually will be family. But you don’t like her?”

  “Okay, I don’t like her,” Noelle said with a shrug. “Mom just thinks she’s stuck up, boring, and condescending.”

  “Noelle!” Beth said again, this time with considerable more irritation at her daughter’s blunt rudeness. “Lynette will make Adam a very suitable wife.”

  “Suitable?” Noelle snorted with laughter. “How romantic.”

  “At least I’m not running around with a drug dealer!” Adam shot back. “Do you approve of him, Mom? Is he a bit more your thing?”

  “He’s not a drug dealer!” Noelle raised her voice, and Beth shushed her.

  “Of course I’m concerned about Noelle and Liam.”

  “Why?” Noelle rounded on her mother.

  “Well, he’s very sweet and polite, but doesn’t perhaps keep the best company? And that club he spends time in, it has a bad reputation.”

  Adam snorted. “It’s full of low life scum. All the worst elements in town go there to get high and dance like idiots.”

  “Yes, but Noelle doesn’t. She’s too young for nightclubbing.”

  “And what if they came here to party instead?”

  “Dulcie wouldn’t allow it,” Beth said confidently.

  “Dulcie might not be able to stop them,” he said. “Some of those guys are pretty bad news.”

  “Why do you always have to see the worst in everyone?” Noelle asked her brother. “Liam is a nice guy, and he’d never put me in danger. This is all Andy’s fault. Just because your best friend is the chief of police and feeds you a bunch of stories about everyone in town, it doesn’t automatically make them true. Don’t tar everyone with the same brush just because they happen to hang out in the same place.”

  “If you knew some of the things Andy has had to deal with, you wouldn’t sleep at night! You all think Christmas Springs is so safe, nothing bad ever happens here, right? We all love our neighbors and it’s Christmas every day? Well, even small towns have an underbelly. Even here there’s a bad element, and you’re dating it!”

  Beth’s eyes glittered with unshed tears as she looked between the angry faces of her son and daughter.

  “Perhaps taking a vacation was a bad idea,” she said, looking sadly at a brochure that graced her sidetable. “I think it’s probably best if daddy and I don’t go away just at the moment.”

  “Oh, Mom, no. Don’t listen to him. I’m eighteen and perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

  The anger left Adam’s face, and he, too, sank down on the couch on the other side of his mother and took her hand.

  “I’m sorry. You absolutely should go away. I can’t even remember the last time you did. I was just annoyed that you didn’t ask me to take Noelle, or at least ask me to move back in here for the duration.”

  Noelle gave a theatrical shudder. “Please, spare me that! She would be coming here to see you, sleeping in your bedroom with you. Urgh, I think I’d puke if I heard you at it.”

  “Thank you, Nell. You’ve made your feelings on my fiancée quite clear. I won’t stay here, but I will drop in regularly and keep an eye on you whether you like it or not. Maybe Daniel could spend a few nights back in his old room instead?”

  “I did ask him, but it’s much more convenient for him to stay at his apartment near the hospital. He works such long hours, it’s not fair to make him drive back to Christmas every night.”

  “It’s hardly more than half an hour, and he’s got no other commitments, does he?”

  “No, and he promised he’d visit often. Maybe he’ll spend the odd night. Perhaps even more so with Dulcie next door again?”

  “Ah, I see your plan now. Let me guess, she’s still single?” Adam raised an amused eyebrow.

  Beth nodded, beaming.

  “And you think that putting them both in charge of Nell will bring them back together?”

  “They always did get on so well. I never understood why they broke up.”

  “Maybe because they were both only sixteen when they were dating and then Dan went off with the foreign exchange student? Or maybe because Dulcie lives hundreds of miles away now? Or perhaps because of her thing with his brother? Pick from one of many reasons.”

  “What thing with his brother? You and Dulcie didn’t…did you? Oh! That would be even better, she’s perfect for you!” Beth sat up in delight.

  “Not me!” Adam spluttered. “Dulcie would not be perfect for me. She’s decidedly less than perfect. She prances around in underwear in public, that’s hardly a good image for any wife of mine. I’d be a laughing stock in my career. And I’m engaged, remember?”

  Beth sighed. “Yes sorry, of course. I forgot about Lynette.”

  “Or would like to,” Noelle muttered under her breath.

  “I was talking about Dulcie and Kit,” Adam said, pointedly ignoring his sister’s remark. “He had the picture of her on his wall for years. The one with her breasts spilling out everywhere. Surely it’s obvious she was more than just a friend?”

  “Really?” Beth perked up again. “Kit and Dulcie. Yes, that could work.”

  Adam rolled his eyes. “You’ve just tried to pair her off to all three of your sons in a matter of minutes. Poor Dulcie, no wonder she never visits any more.”

  “Well, she is now, and I insist you all treat her as she deserves.”

  Adam gave a sudden grin. “Oh, I’m sure we’ll do exactly that.”

  Chapter Three

  When Dulcie got off the plane in Boston, she looked around for her mom or dad, or maybe Dr. Daniel Carlton, as the hospital where he worked was halfway between the airport and their hometown of Christmas Springs.

  What she hadn’t expected was to see the eldest brother, Adam Carlton, patiently waiting to meet her.

  Even though they were all adults now, Adam still made her breath catch like a groupie seeing their favorite star. Her teenage crush was long over, but it had lasted years. She and Daniel Carlton had been inseparable friends for most of those years, and Adam had been Daniel’s cool older brother that occasionally noticed their existence. He was four years older to be exact, and when you were a teenager, those four years had seemed like a lot. Being fourteen when he was eighteen had made him like a demi-god of good looks and sophistication.

  Dulcie supposed it wasn’t such a big deal now. She was 28 and he was 32. Not so much of an age difference really. But he still made her feel immature when she was with him. Plus, he’d always been so driven and serious. Adam had worked hard and passed the bar at quite a young age. Dulcie acknowledged he wouldn’t be where he was now if he hadn’t been that way.

  Whereas Dulcie was the opposite. She liked to laugh, and she didn’t mind being a bit outrageous when it was called for.

  In fact, Dulcie mused, she wouldn’t be where she was now if she hadn’t taken a few risks and totally put herself out there to launch her business. She could be pretty driven herself. Maybe they were more alike than they seemed?

  Adam looked casual as he leaned against a pillar waiting for her, but Dulcie detected a slight tightness around his mouth that told her he wasn’t as relaxed as he made himself out to be. She wondered if Adam had been bullied by their mothers into coming to collect her, or if it had been his idea? He probably intended to give her a lecture on how to comport herself during her visit.

  She grinned to herself. Yes, the second option was much more likely.

  “Hi,” she gave him a dazzling but insincere smile. “This is a nice surprise.”<
br />
  He nodded and gave her an equally false show of apparent pleasure at seeing her.

  “Hello, Dulcie. You look lovely as always.” He took her case and led her toward the parking area. “I thought it might be a good idea to have a chat before our mothers make a lot of assumptions and rope you into doing more than you wish to.”

  A chat? Dulcie felt her smile become more brittle. And despite the fact that she had resisted coming back to Christmas Springs, she suddenly found she resented him assuming any such thing.

  “I’m glad to do whatever is needed of me. I’m very much looking forward to a Christmas back at home and to spending some quality time with Noelle.” She said, keeping her tone light.

  “But it shouldn’t be your responsibility and I just wanted to let you know how things are and why mother asked you rather than me to take it on.”

  “Oh, that’s okay. Noelle already told me she can’t stand your fiancée. But I’m sure she’ll come `round in time,” Dulcie said with a twinkle in her eye as she tried to get a rise out of him.

  He huffed, just as she’d known he would.

  “Noelle is in a very difficult phase at the moment and doesn’t hesitate to be openly rude. But Lynette is a wonderful woman, very graceful, very charming, and I can’t imagine why Noelle has decided to be so childish in her dislike. It’s a prime example of why my sister isn’t ready to be left on her own in the house.”

  “Oh well, big brothers always think their sisters should be kept sheltered. But she’s eighteen, Adam, she’s not really a child anymore.”

  “She’s immature for her age and has very poor judgment when it comes to her acquaintances.”

  “Didn’t we all at that age?” Dulcie laughed. “Well, maybe not you. You were always the grown up one. But I assume we’re talking about the unsuitable boyfriend?”

  “Exactly.” Adam clicked his car key and put Dulcie’s case into the trunk. “I wanted to warn you about him, that he needs to be kept away from the house.”

  Dulcie frowned slightly as she got into the large and comfortable car.