“If you’d explained it the way Kayla did, maybe I wouldn’t have thought you were an idiot. She needs to give you a few lessons in communication.”
Kayla tried not to smile. “Moving on, I want to—”
“Wait a minute—” Jackson held up his hand, his eyes on his grandfather. “So are you finally going to quit telling me to knock the cabins down?”
Walter O’Neil looked innocent. “You heard the woman—they’re part of the magic of Snow Crystal. What would be the point of knocking them down? They’re up now. They might as well stay up.”
Kayla cleared her throat. “I’d like to—”
“So you admit they were a good idea?” Jackson’s gaze was locked on Walter, and Elizabeth sighed.
“Why does there always have to be a winner? Just ignore them, Kayla, and carry on talking. If you wait for silence in this house you’ll be waiting forever.”
“I’ve finished. Here’s my Christmas gift.” She handed out the proposals, neatly bound by Stacy and tied with a red bow to add a festive touch. “Read them, and then I’ll answer any questions.”
Jackson immediately turned to the back page and scanned the cost breakdown.
“I like the ribbon.” Alice twisted it around her fingers. “People think there is only one shade of red, but they’re wrong.”
Kayla handed the last proposal to Tyler. “You should knit a jumper that color, Alice.”
“Just don’t knit it for me.” Tyler winked at Jess and then everyone started talking, and Kayla fielded their questions until finally Elizabeth stood up and pulled her into a warm hug.
“Thank you for working so hard. Between you and Jackson, I know things will be all right—”
Kayla felt her throat close as she returned the hug.
You and Jackson.
“Just doing my job.”
“You’ve done much more than that. You could have sat in your cabin, but you’ve been out there every day, joining in.”
“I’m a terrible skier—”
“You truly are,” Tyler said, and then caught Jackson’s eye, “but we can work on that.”
“She is also a terrible cook,” Élise said, “and we will not be working on that because I do not have the patience. I would kill you and that would lead to bad feeling, but fortunately you have your own job and you’re good at it so you don’t need to work in my kitchen.”
Kayla eased herself out of Elizabeth’s embrace.
“That’s it.” She stared down at her copy of the proposal, realizing with a lurch that this part of her job was done. “If you have any questions, Jackson can always call me.”
“Call you?” Alice sounded confused. “Why would he have to call you?”
“Because Kayla is going back to New York the day after Christmas.” Elizabeth focused on the document in her hands.
“She could stay. You did. She can share your English Breakfast tea and HP Sauce.”
“Kayla has a job, and a life, somewhere else. Now let’s all clear the table and make some coffee.” Elizabeth was brisk and Kayla watched as she stood up and bustled around the kitchen.
They’d be building the business without her. Every day they’d be working together to build Snow Crystal, and she’d be sitting in her office in New York, managing her team and growing the business for Innovation. Finding new clients, winning new accounts, achieving successes that would be good for her reputation, but which didn’t touch her personally.
While they were grooming the trails, chopping logs and baking cinnamon stars, she’d be flying across the country to meet clients.
Alone.
There was a pressure behind her chest.
Usually at the end of a presentation she felt satisfaction. This time she felt numb.
Perhaps the lack of sleep was catching up with her.
She was so desperate to leave the room it was a relief when her phone rang. “It’s Brett. Will you excuse me?”
Jackson frowned. “It’s Christmas Eve.”
“I doubt he knows what day it is.” She walked through to the living room. “Brett?” She tried to sound cheerful. “You should be trimming the tree.”
“Delegated that job to my kids.”
“You’re not supposed to delegate Christmas. You’re supposed to be part of it.” She thought of the O’Neil family gathered around the table next door, enjoying time together.
“So are you finished there, Green? Because I want you back in the office day after tomorrow. The partners are flying in.”
He wanted her back in the office.
Which meant Christmas was almost over for another year. She waited for the rush of relief that always came.