were just too different. Once she’d thought it was charming that he’d grown up on a farm, while he’d been proud of her stylish sophistication. Now he saw women in designer clothes and wanted to run the opposite direction.
Gideon tossed the paperwork in a drawer.
At least Renee’s parting retort had reminded him that he was proud of who he was and where he’d come from. The only reason he hadn’t returned to Nebraska after Beverly Hills was because of the long winters. Going away to college hadn’t been about changing into a different kind of person. It had been about learning to be the best vet he could be.
Now that his foster parents had sold their farm, he was trying to convince them to move to Glimmer Creek. Helga had asthma and Gideon hoped she’d do better in a milder climate. At the very least he wanted them to come out for a few months to see if they liked it here. That was one of the reasons he’d started looking for a house. Lars and Helga hesitated to accept anything from him, but he might be able to convince them to stay in the apartment above the clinic if it was empty.
* * *
NICOLE PUT HER skates with the other luggage in the foyer of her condominium. Her restlessness and uncertainty had increased after talking to Luke. Granted, he and the twins had only been in California for a day, but she hadn’t liked hearing Annie was tearful in the midst of all the holiday cheer.
Belatedly she remembered she hadn’t packed her digital camera and got even more depressed. Wouldn’t a proper aunt have thought of that first?
She padded up to the spare room and collected her camera and charger, along with a handful of new SD cards, trying to think if there was anything else she might need. From Luke’s description of Glimmer Creek, it might be difficult to get some items and she didn’t want him making an extravagant gesture to get her lip gloss or something.
Laundry soap, Nicole thought. She used an organic, unscented variety. It raised the question of whether there were any laundry facilities at Poppy Gold Inns, or would they need to use a community Laundromat?
She looked up the phone number and called California.
“Poppy Gold Inns. Can I help you?” a man’s friendly voice said.
“I hate to be a bother,” Nicole apologized, “but I’m flying out Monday to stay for a few weeks. I’m meeting my brother and his family, who have already arrived. I wanted to find out if you have any laundry facilities or what other plans I should make. Oh, and is there a dry cleaner in town?”
“There’s a dry cleaner that will pick up and deliver. We also have laundry facilities on-site and a limited number of suites have them, as well. May I ask your name?”
“Sorry—Nicole Forrester.”
“Er, right. Mr. Forrester mentioned your arrival had been delayed. The suite where you’re staying includes a full utility room with a frontload washer and dryer. There’s also a nicely equipped kitchen.”
It was probably her imagination, but something in the man’s tone made Nicole wonder if Luke had made a nuisance of himself. She was the first to admit her brother wasn’t always the most sensitive guy and he liked having things his way.
“I don’t cook, but that sounds wonderful,” she replied brightly. “And I’m sure there are restaurants in town.”
“Yes. A hot breakfast is also delivered each morning from a local caterer. The food is freshly prepared, with a different central dish every day.”
Nicole had stayed at bed-and-breakfast inns where breakfast was little more than Danish and coffee, so she’d wait and see what Poppy Gold actually provided. In the meantime, the tension in the polite conversation was uncomfortable.
“I don’t want to take any more of your time,” she said. “But thank you for the information.”
“Of course, Ms. Forrester. Have a safe trip. Happy holidays.”
“Happy holidays to you, too.” She gratefully hung up the phone.
Anyhow, her questions had been answered, so Nicole packed a supply of laundry soap. She turned around, looking for something else to do, and her gaze lit on the space in front of the window. She’d always put a Christmas tree there the day after Thanksgiving and now she thought the condo was lonely without it.
Even knowing she was being silly, she took her tree out from the storage area under the stairs and assembled it, stringing lights and hanging ornaments. At least she could enjoy the cheerful lights and tinsel until she left.
* * *
THE BEST VANTAGE point for the official “lighting” of Poppy Gold was at the city square park. Carlie had noted the information on the activities sheet for everyone, though most of the regulars already knew. The townspeople of Glimmer Creek knew, as well, and were all welcome to participate.
Of course, not everything was controlled by the master switches. The electric candles in the windows operated by sensors, so they’d turned on when the sun set. The same was true of the lights on the wreaths and assorted other decorations. But lights on the houses, trees and buses would go on when the switches were thrown.
Between the singing and eating and general bonhomie, the park resembled a block party. People were tired and it had been a long day, but the payoff was at 6:00 p.m. when Poppy Gold would go “live” for Christmas.
“Is it soon, Carlie?” asked Beth, hopping from one foot to the other in excitement. She looked bright and lively, probably because she and her sister had taken naps that afternoon. Luke had insisted over their protests, saying they needed rest to enjoy the evening events.
Carlie checked her cell phone. “Twenty-five more minutes.
“Did you know your new tutor taught me in first grade?” she asked Beth, hoping to distract her. While the girls were napping, Luke had interviewed Luisa Cabrera and hired her as their tutor.
“Honest?”
“Honest. Mrs. Cabrera was one of my favorite teachers.”
From what Carlie could see of Beth’s expression, she seemed content with the comment, while Annie was harder to read. But they were obviously accustomed to employees in their lives. Their artless chatter throughout the day had included numerous references to their nanny and assorted other household staff.
Erika Forrester hadn’t been mentioned, though that wasn’t necessarily strange since according to what Tessa had said, they were still having trouble dealing with their mother’s death. Carlie hadn’t lost a parent, but she’d come close when her dad was injured. She didn’t know how she would have handled losing him and she was much older than the twins.
“Um, I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she said, her stomach rumbling. She walked over to one of the treat kiosks.
“Hey, Sarah,” she said, seeing her cousin put out a fresh platter of cookies. “You look bushed.”
Sarah chuckled. “That’s the catering business. Sixteen-hour days and never enough sleep.”
“I’m glad it isn’t me—I’m devoted to sleep.” Carlie grabbed an empty cup and stuffed it full of apple wedges and cheese.
“Hey,
