“What’s wrong?” Lorianna Beck, a friend who’d come to town for Victorian Days, a celebration Whiskey Creek hosted every Christmas, held her coffee cup in one hand and rubbed her eyes with the other.
Olivia forced a smile and shrugged. “Nothing,” she said, and finished turning the knob so she could open the door.
A hint of relief eased the anxiety on Kyle’s forehead. His hands were shoved deep in the pockets of his jeans and, when she’d spotted him through the peephole, he’d been wearing a scowl. “Thank God you’re home,” he said.
That wasn’t the greeting she’d expected. She’d assumed he’d come to see Brandon. Whenever Kyle showed up these days, he asked for her husband. They were finally establishing a relationship, but it was still tentative.
“Brandon’s at the shop,” she said, maintaining a polite smile. After her husband had retired from professional skiing, he’d opened a ski-and-snowboard shop in the center of town. He was usually out of the house early, particularly during the cold season—not that there’d been much snow this year.
“I’m not looking for Brandon.” Kyle’s breath misted in the morning air. “I was hoping I could have a few minutes to speak with you alone.”
Olivia glanced over her shoulder at Lorianna, who was sitting at her kitchen table. Although she and Lorianna, the wife of one of Brandon’s old ski buddies, had bonded quickly, Lorianna was a relatively new friend. She had her own problems, and that—rather than Victorian Days—was the real reason for her visit. But Olivia wasn’t sure she wanted to share anything too personal with her. Besides, with the issues Lorianna was facing, the poor woman was going through enough.
When Olivia turned back, she could tell that Kyle hadn’t realized that she had company. Lorianna had arrived late last night, so she hadn’t been seen around town. And she didn’t have a car with her, parked out front or otherwise. She’d flown in from Denver, and Olivia and Brandon had picked her up at the Oakland Airport. “It looks like this might be a bad time,” he said. “So maybe...maybe you can call me later?”
“Wait! Don’t go on my account.” Lorianna dried what was left of her tears and jumped to her feet. “I’m no reason to postpone anything. I was just about to get in the shower, anyway.” She scurried out of the kitchen before Olivia could argue, so Olivia stepped back and waved Kyle inside. She wasn’t dressed for company. She’d yanked on some sweats when she rolled out of bed, brushed her teeth and pulled her blond hair into a ponytail, but she was curious enough to hear what Kyle had to say that she wasn’t concerned about her appearance.
“Who was that?” he asked, once Lorianna’s footsteps could be heard on the landing overhead.
She and Kyle had grown up in the same small Gold Country town and knew almost all the same people. Olivia could understand why he’d be slightly surprised to find a stranger in her house. “Have you ever heard Brandon talk about Jeff Felix?”
“The skier? The guy he hated when he first started his career?”
“That’s the one. According to Brandon, Jeff was sort of...arrogant when they first met. But they’re good friends now that they no longer compete.”
Kyle cocked an eyebrow at her. “If that was Jeff, he’s had an especially good sex change.”
She chuckled. “That’s his wife, Lorianna.”
“She seemed upset. Is she okay?”
“She’ll be fine.”
“Where’s he?”
“Home in Denver. He was too busy with the restaurant they recently opened to join her, and she wanted to see Victorian Days.”
“She doesn’t seem too impressed so far.”
“She hasn’t been yet. That’ll be tonight. And she’s working through a few...issues.”
“So she’s staying with you?”
“For a short time.” Until she could make a few decisions about her life—or Christmas arrived next week. Whichever came first. Olivia had agreed to provide a temporary safe haven where Lorianna could rest, relax and do some soul-searching under the guise of hanging out with a new friend.
Kyle scratched his head. “I didn’t mean to chase her off.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure she doesn’t mind.” She motioned at a chair. “Have a seat while I get you a cup of coffee.”
He didn’t say anything, but he seemed ill at ease as he waited, looking around at the Christmas tree in the other room, the garland running up her staircase railing and the other decorations and furniture. She guessed that he was wondering if this was how their house would have looked if they’d ended up together.
“Thanks,” he said when she brought him his cup. Then his gaze lowered to her belly and she guessed he was thinking about the baby. She and Brandon had made the announcement last week, so word was getting around. Obviously, he’d heard.
She slid the cream and sugar closer. She knew him so well—or used to—that she could’ve fixed his coffee for him, exactly the way he liked it. “So...what’s going on?”
His chest lifted as he took a deep breath. “Your mother came to see me last night.”
A jolt of concern went through her as she perched on the edge of her own seat. “She did? Why?”
He grimaced. “She asked me to help heal her family.”
Olivia clenched her jaw. “Let me guess—she’s worried about Noelle.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why you’re here? To patch things up between my sister and me?”
“If I can.”
“That’s all in the past,” she said in a tone indicating they should leave it there.
“I realize that, but it hasn’t been forgotten, not if you and Noelle can’t be in the same room—not even at Christmas.”
Olivia stood and went to the counter to get her herbal tea. Why hadn’t her mother come to her about this? Nancy never faced what was bothering her head-on. Instead, she tried
