Chapter 4 Beth I carefully hung the freshly ironed and hemmed slacks on my rack of finished items and rubbed my tired eyes .
Christmas was always a busy time in my tailoring shop , and I was grateful for the extra work .
I had a new order for a set of Mommy and Me dresses for Mrs.
Shortsleeve and her three daughters , as well as a lot of mending work as people pulled out their favorite Christmas outfits and found last years holes , split seams , missing buttons and broken zippers Every penny counts , especially this time of year I mumbled The cost of heating fuel had nearly doubled since last year , and I still needed to scrape together money to buy some presents for Lucy and Nana .
It hurt my heart that I couldnt buy her nice things like other children her age , but at least she got a Christmas Growing up in a religious community my parents were very strict .
We werent allowed to have a Christmas tree or put up decorations .
According to the Reverend .
Christmas trees were a pagan symbol , and Santa was an abomination .
While other children were ripping open colorful packages of toys and eating sweets , the only gift I got on Christmas morning was a set of hand sewn clothes , and new socks and underwear .
Until I met the Segretto brothers , I had never really experienced the holiday traditions that most Americans took for granted .
The lights , the music .
The gifts .
The magic .

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Not so magical anymore .
Not when I had a stack of bills , an almost empty bank account , a daughter , and an alling old woman to take care of .
But for Lucys sake , I would try to make it as sweet and memorable as possible .
I switched off the space heater that I kept under my sewing table .
The back porch I used as my workspace wasnt heated .
I threw away some fabric craps that were too small to be useful , put the empty bobbins back in their box , and then shut off the lights for the evening .
Gabriel often mocked my little tailoring business , saying it was stupid , a waste of time , and that it would never amount to anything .
But sewing was one of the few talents I possessed .
After I had Lucy , it allowed me to work from home while I cared for my infant daughter , and now , it allowed me to home school her , and spend as much time with her as I wanted .
It also allowed me to stay at home to take care of Nana Charlie .
And meager as it was , kept the lights on and food in the fridge .
Hey Peanut ! Im done for the day ! I rounded the corner to the sitting room .
Lucy was sitting on the floor , eating popcorn and watching cartoons Nana Charlie was asleep in her chair with her mouth open , snoring softly .
I dropped onto the old , worn couch and put my feet up on the coffee table , something I never would have done if Nana Charlie had been awake Lucy jumped up from the floor and climbed into my lap , wrapping her arms around my neck and leaning her curly head on my shoulder .
I kissed the top of her head and breathed in the clean , fresh scent of her shampoo .
The last seven years had been hard , but Lucy made everything worthwhile .
Id go through all the heartbreak , all the struggle , all over again , just to hold that precious child in my arms Whats for dinner ? Lucy asked into my chest Macaroni and cheese The homemade kind , or the box kind ? Homemade Nana Charlie would never forgive me if i led you the box kind .
the bo At Sarahs house , they eat the box kind .
Did you like 17 Not really .
The cheese tasted like dust .
But I didnt want to hurt Sarahs moms feelings , so I ate it all .
That was really considerate of you .
I bet aralis mom felt appreciated .
Yeal , I guess .
But Im glad you make yours with real cheese a.dow Haughed and ran my fingers through her silky soft curls .
Luckily , the macaroni and cheese was already assembled .
All I had to do was pop it in the oven .
Which I would do , right after I watched the six Oclock news .
It was our nightly ritual Lucy crawled off my lap to go color , and Charlie roused herself with a particularly loud snore .
I took my feet off the coffee table like a guilty kid and listened as the local news anchor , Elrond Parker , started giving a rundown of the nights headlines .
Hes going bald , i told no one in particular .
A drunk driver has knocked over the Welcome Center sign for the third time this month , Elrond said dramatically , as footage of the demolished sign fashed across the television .
Chapter 4 Maybe they should move the sign farther back , away from the highway I suggested to the man on the television with the severely receding hairline .
However , he never listened to my suggestions And in other news tonight , the Mountain Top Holiday Resort has been sold to Segretto Star Hotels .
In a press release issued today .
Segretto Star CEO and Vermont Native Raphael Segretto said he plans to close the resort temporarily while it undergoes renovation to bring it up to the Segretto Star brand standard A professional head shot of Raphael was displayed in one corner , over some serial drone footage of the resort facilities that I recognized from one of Resorts old television commercials .
I sat up abruptly .
Nana Charlie I whispered .
Nana , did you hear that ? The old woman had closed her eyes again , and had resumed snoring in her chair .
heard it Mama .
They said Segretto , thats our name , right ? Thats right , I said , nearly choking on the words Raphael Segretto is … I couldnt bring myself to say , your uncle .
And I definitely couldnt say your father .
Hes Daddys brother It wasnt the first time that Lucy had heard mention of Rafe , but I think he was so seldom mentioned in conversation that she tended to forget about him .
1 thought Daddys brother lived far away ? He does .
I answered shortly .
I stood up abruptly and used the remote to turn off the TV , TV , but it was too late .
The damage was done .
Lucys insatiable curiosity was peaked .
She followed me into the kitchen .
But he bought that hotel ? Sounds like in Her amber eyes widened .
Does that mean he will be coming here ? Did it ? dont know sweetie , I started to walk numbly toward the kitchen .
Segretto Star is a huge company , and they own hotels all over the world .
A lot of people work for them .
They might just send other people to take care of the new resort .
If I could be so lucky She looked crestfallen .
But wouldnt he want to come here and see Daddy ? Her little lip poked out .
To see me ? I sighed and pulled open the refrigerator door .
Im sure he would love to meet you , Peanut , but hes a very busy , very important man .
He hasnt been home in … a very long time .
She did not look convinced .
She walked back to her coloring , but her brow remained wrinkled , a sure sign she was deep in thought .
I turned on the oven and slid the heavy glass dish of homemade macaroni and cheese onto the rack , and tried to will my heart to slow down .
What if Raphael did come home ? Hed been gone for so long , I had kind of taken it for granted d that he would never come back , and I would never have to face him again .
But that was naive of me .
I was living in his family home and taking care of his mother .
Sooner or later , this was bound to happen .
I wiped my shaking hands on a candy cane themed kitchen towel .
It had been almost seven years since Raphael Segretto had abandoned me , seven years since he left me alone and pregnant .
I leaned against the kitchen counter and stared out the dark window, seeing nothing but my own reflection .
I was so lost in my own thoughts that the ringing phone almost gave me a heart attack .
I picked it up quickly without checking the number .
Did you know about this ? Gabriel practically shouted in my ear .
if you are talking about the resort , the answer is no .
I could ask you the same question .
You are a big real estate hot shot .
You mean to tell me that you didnt know he was buying Mountain Top ? No one knew Mountain Top was up for sale , Gabe snapped .
It was never listed .
He sounded genuinely irritated and stressed , which made me suspect that he was just as blindsided by the evening news as I was .
So I take it he hasnt contacted you ? I asked suspiciously Gabe scoffed .
I havent talked to my brother in three or four years .
Why would I want to start now ? Do do you think hell come here , to the house ? Gabe hissed between his teeth .
He might to see Mom I squeered my eyes shut .
Fine , Ill deal with it .
Look Beth , if he finds out I let you stay in the house..hes not going to be too happy about 107 I swallowed nervously .
W he kick us out ? Chapter As much as Raphael hates you G Gabe replied coldly .
1 wouldnt put it past him .