Nickolai's Noel Read Free Page B

Plantation.

Chapter Two
    Six months later
    It was bitter cold when Noel pulled in front of Beauford Bend Plantation. After dropping off the quilt that Emory had commissioned for Jackson’s Christmas gift, she was headed for Louisville, and her little Toyota crossover was packed to the to the max with luggage, gifts, baked goods, and her current project. With any luck, she’d be there by nine o’clock—in time to kiss her niece goodnight and help fill stockings.
    She hadn’t been wrong that day last summer when Emory and Jackson had come into Piece by Piece and she’d suspected that romance might be blooming. Things between them had been up and down for a little while, but they were engaged now, and Noel would be a bridesmaid in their upcoming April wedding. Since Jackson was one of the biggest country music superstars in the world, even Noel’s mother was impressed—not as impressed as she would have been if Emory had been a Phi Mu, but you couldn’t have everything.
    Before Noel had the chance to ring the bell, Emory threw open the front door of the plantation house. She was pink-cheeked and bright-eyed, though her white blond curls were in disarray. Noel loved seeing her so happy.
    “Shh!!” Emory said in a loud breathy voice. “Jackson’s around here somewhere, and I don’t want him to see that box!”
    “You do know you’re not whispering, don’t you?” Noel stopped for her friend’s hug. “You’re just talking with a lot of air.”
    Emory let her mouth droop in a pretend frown. “Oh, right. Come on. Let’s go back to my office.”
    The public rooms of Beauford Bend also served as the venue for Emory’s party events business, Around the Bend, and there wasn’t an inch left unadorned with greenery, glitter, and sparkling ornaments.
    “This is gorgeous, Emory,” Noel said.
    “Do you really think so?” Emory’s pink cheeks went pinker. “You don’t think I overdid it? All of Jackson’s brothers will be here for Christmas, and I want it to be perfect.”
    “It’s very elegant and not overdone at all.”
    “I did the family wing a little more understated in country primitive with a lot of cedar, pine, and berries.”
    “They’re very lucky that you’ve made them such a wonderful Christmas. Is everyone here already?”
    “Gabe and Rafe are.” Emory named Jackson’s twin brothers. “Beau will be here by lunchtime tomorrow. We’re just going to pretend Christmas doesn’t start until he gets here. Now!” Emory closed the office door behind them and took the box from Noel and set it on her desk. “I can’t wait to see it.”
    “I hope it’s everything you wanted,” Noel said.
    Emory lifted the lid and spread the quilt out.
    “Oh, Noel.” She ran her hands over the appliquéd and embroidered guitars that were likenesses of the ones in Jackson’s collection. “And you’ve embroidered a musical score around the edge!” Other than asking for a guitar theme, Emory had told Noel to use her judgment for the design. “Is this a real song?”
    Noel nodded happily. “It’s ‘A Promise Kind of Smile.’” Not only was that Jackson’s latest hit, he’d written it for Emory and, in an effort to win her back, had gone to New York and sung it to her in public.
    “Oh!” Emory wiped her eyes and then closed in for a hug. “It’s wonderful. I know you put other projects on hold to do this for me. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
    “You just did.”
    Emory pulled away and looked around. “I need to pay you … ”
    “Let’s worry about that when I get back from Louisville.”
    Emory shook her head as if she was summoning her senses back. “Of course. You need to get on the road. And here I stand blabbering away. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She moved toward the door.
    “Christmas and being in love?” Noel refolded the quilt and put the top back on the box. “Let’s hide this in the closet.”
    “Merry Christmas,” Noel said to Emory just as she