Second Chance Christmas (The Colorado Cades) by Tanya Michaels Page A
Authors: Tanya Michaels
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“I’m only saying that sometimes an observer thinks her opinion is right but doesn’t have all the inside information. Besides, how come you get to interfere but never have to take my advice?”
Lina rolled her eyes. “If I took your advice, I’d be dating that really boring loan officer who works at the bank.”
“As opposed to the guitarist who broke dates with you whenever he had a last-minute opportunity for a gig.”
“He was a mistake. But I admitted he was a mistake. I didn’t agree to marry him.”
“Steven is not a mistake. You’ll see that tonight, when we all have dinner.” Elisabeth had first met Steven Miller when he’d come to Cielo Peak for a corporate retreat. His group had done some skiing interspersed with team building exercises and downtime. Her parents had probably seen him around the lodge, but when Elisabeth gave him permission to contact her once he returned to Albuquerque, she’d had no idea their relationship would become so serious.
“I guess it wasn’t fair for me to judge him without meeting him, but—”
“No! There is no ‘but.’ There is only my twin sister being supportive. Do not make me kill you and hide the body in the Cupboard of Doom.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, and Lina snorted in response at the running family joke.
The wall behind Elisabeth was covered in decorative panels, one of which was actually the door to a heavily cluttered storage area. The Donnellys joked about Hoffa’s missing body being in the cabinet somewhere. During her late teens, Elisabeth had gradually taken on more and more responsibility at the lodge, getting her father organized in the process. But the storage space represented the many years prior to her intervention—a veritable cave of misfiled paperwork, boxes of memorabilia, obsolete personnel records and ugly artwork that had once hung upstairs. Graham Donnelly hadn’t wanted to throw out the artwork since they were part of the lodge’s “rich history.”
Every once in a while, Elisabeth or her mother would remark that someone really should clean out the Cupboard of Doom. But they were all afraid of the avalanche they’d trigger by opening the door. For the most part, they pretended the cabinet didn’t exist, although Lina had once suggested that, for liability reasons, they should cross over the door with pieces of yellow Caution tape.
“You couldn’t fit my body in there. With as much junk as Daddy has crammed in, I doubt we could fit a paper clip.” Lina’s teasing smile faded. “Who’s going to keep him organized once you’re gone?” By which she undoubtedly meant, who was going to run this place when he decided it was time to retire? Elisabeth had long been the heir apparent.
“I don’t know. But the chance to finally clean out the Cupboard of Doom isn’t enough of a reason to stay,” Elisabeth said. “Kaylee was so grief-stricken when I brought her to live with me. I know she’ll miss Michelle no matter where we live, but we can make new associations in California.” And they could leave behind the parts of their past best forgotten.
Chapter Five
“Thank you so much for having me in your home. Dinner was delicious.” From his seat next to Elisabeth, Steven raised his wineglass in an appreciative toast to Patti Donnelly.
She smiled back at him. “Glad you enjoyed your meal.” She’d been her usual amiable self tonight. Without time to privately ask her mother’s thoughts, Elisabeth couldn’t tell how much her mom liked him as a prospective son-in-law, but she clearly didn’t dis like him. It was a start.
Her dad had been more standoffish. He was the one they’d need to win over because he was the one who’d been the most upset about his oldest daughter leaving the lodge. Elisabeth bit her bottom lip. In California, she could explore other job options. Or be a stay-at-home mom for Kaylee. After so many years of everyone assuming she’d run the lodge after her father, having
Lina rolled her eyes. “If I took your advice, I’d be dating that really boring loan officer who works at the bank.”
“As opposed to the guitarist who broke dates with you whenever he had a last-minute opportunity for a gig.”
“He was a mistake. But I admitted he was a mistake. I didn’t agree to marry him.”
“Steven is not a mistake. You’ll see that tonight, when we all have dinner.” Elisabeth had first met Steven Miller when he’d come to Cielo Peak for a corporate retreat. His group had done some skiing interspersed with team building exercises and downtime. Her parents had probably seen him around the lodge, but when Elisabeth gave him permission to contact her once he returned to Albuquerque, she’d had no idea their relationship would become so serious.
“I guess it wasn’t fair for me to judge him without meeting him, but—”
“No! There is no ‘but.’ There is only my twin sister being supportive. Do not make me kill you and hide the body in the Cupboard of Doom.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, and Lina snorted in response at the running family joke.
The wall behind Elisabeth was covered in decorative panels, one of which was actually the door to a heavily cluttered storage area. The Donnellys joked about Hoffa’s missing body being in the cabinet somewhere. During her late teens, Elisabeth had gradually taken on more and more responsibility at the lodge, getting her father organized in the process. But the storage space represented the many years prior to her intervention—a veritable cave of misfiled paperwork, boxes of memorabilia, obsolete personnel records and ugly artwork that had once hung upstairs. Graham Donnelly hadn’t wanted to throw out the artwork since they were part of the lodge’s “rich history.”
Every once in a while, Elisabeth or her mother would remark that someone really should clean out the Cupboard of Doom. But they were all afraid of the avalanche they’d trigger by opening the door. For the most part, they pretended the cabinet didn’t exist, although Lina had once suggested that, for liability reasons, they should cross over the door with pieces of yellow Caution tape.
“You couldn’t fit my body in there. With as much junk as Daddy has crammed in, I doubt we could fit a paper clip.” Lina’s teasing smile faded. “Who’s going to keep him organized once you’re gone?” By which she undoubtedly meant, who was going to run this place when he decided it was time to retire? Elisabeth had long been the heir apparent.
“I don’t know. But the chance to finally clean out the Cupboard of Doom isn’t enough of a reason to stay,” Elisabeth said. “Kaylee was so grief-stricken when I brought her to live with me. I know she’ll miss Michelle no matter where we live, but we can make new associations in California.” And they could leave behind the parts of their past best forgotten.
Chapter Five
“Thank you so much for having me in your home. Dinner was delicious.” From his seat next to Elisabeth, Steven raised his wineglass in an appreciative toast to Patti Donnelly.
She smiled back at him. “Glad you enjoyed your meal.” She’d been her usual amiable self tonight. Without time to privately ask her mother’s thoughts, Elisabeth couldn’t tell how much her mom liked him as a prospective son-in-law, but she clearly didn’t dis like him. It was a start.
Her dad had been more standoffish. He was the one they’d need to win over because he was the one who’d been the most upset about his oldest daughter leaving the lodge. Elisabeth bit her bottom lip. In California, she could explore other job options. Or be a stay-at-home mom for Kaylee. After so many years of everyone assuming she’d run the lodge after her father, having
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