wanted the tree up when I arrived. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
The tree was massive, easily fifteen feet tall, towering over the Putnams’ grand foyer. The entire room was filled with the smell of fresh pine. The tree was decorated with white lights, and the only accent color was red. Huge silver and white ornaments glistened and danced under the light from the tree and the large crystal chandelier was suspended just above the shining, silver star topping the tree. The scale of everything in the room reminded Lily of a grand hotel lobby. And this was only one of the Putnam’s homes.
Behind the tree, the bannister of the circular stairway that led up to the second floor was decorated, like the outside deck, with garland, white lights and red ribbon.
“It’s gorgeous,” Lily said to Evalyn.
Avery had lost interest in the tree and had walked into the library to the right of the foyer.
“Avery is making sure I didn’t decorate the library tree,” Evalyn said to Lily with a knowing smile. “I didn’t, of course. I’ll leave that one to you girls.”
Avery walked back to where Evalyn and Lily stood admiring the tree. She kissed her mother on the cheek. “Thanks mom. I was worried you’d let someone else decorate the family tree.”
“You know I wouldn’t, dear,” Evalyn said. “Lily, you are in the blue room at the end of the hall. Perhaps you’d like to unpack. Lunch will be served in about an hour, in the kitchen since it’s just the three of us.”
“Thank you, both, so much. I’m so happy to be here,” Lily said and realized it was true.
She followed Avery up the grand staircase, grateful her friend had realized that if Lily had been left alone to dwell on her heartbreak, she would have felt far worse.
“James will be here this afternoon,” Avery said as they reached the top of the stairs. “I’m surprised. Usually he doesn’t come play family until the last minute. He’s almost as bad as Blake used to be.”
“Oh great. When do Mark and Denton and Blake get into town?” Lily followed Avery into her bedroom.
Avery’s room faced the ocean and had been redone since Lily had last visited. Instead of the two queen beds, there now was a king bed covered with an impossibly fluffy white comforter. The floors, as in all the bedrooms, were hardwood, softened by thick white wool rugs. Two overstuffed white chairs framed the window and the sparkling ocean view.
“This room is gorgeous,” Lily said.
The bedside tables were each decorated with matching three-foot tall Christmas trees, with shiny red ball ornaments—the only color in the room. A fresh pine wreath tied with a bright red velvet bow hung from the top of the mirror over the long mahogany dresser.
Avery walked into the passageway that separated the room from the full bath and slid open the mirrored closet doors, inspecting the clothes hanging inside.
“It’s always so much fun to see what I left here. Sometimes I leave things here on purpose, just so something will seem new and fresh. Like this sweater—oh, and these sweat pants. I love these,” she said, pulling out a pair of gray sweats and hugging them tight. “Mark doesn’t like me in sweats so I’ll have to wear them all day today.”
The staff had unpacked Avery’s suitcases and her toiletries were assembled on the white marble countertop in the large bathroom. Avery pulled off her jeans and pulled on her sweats. “That’s better,” she said. “Let’s go get you settled and into some sweats. We have a tree to decorate!”
Chapter Three
COLE
‡
C ole stanton thought the chill in the air felt great as he stretched for his morning jog. Compared to the summer months when he’d been sure he’d given himself heat stroke a couple of times, this was the perfect weather for a run. Since he’d moved here a few months ago to start a new life, Cole was now in the best shape of his life, as long as no one looked too closely at his hands, covered with cuts and blisters,
The tree was massive, easily fifteen feet tall, towering over the Putnams’ grand foyer. The entire room was filled with the smell of fresh pine. The tree was decorated with white lights, and the only accent color was red. Huge silver and white ornaments glistened and danced under the light from the tree and the large crystal chandelier was suspended just above the shining, silver star topping the tree. The scale of everything in the room reminded Lily of a grand hotel lobby. And this was only one of the Putnam’s homes.
Behind the tree, the bannister of the circular stairway that led up to the second floor was decorated, like the outside deck, with garland, white lights and red ribbon.
“It’s gorgeous,” Lily said to Evalyn.
Avery had lost interest in the tree and had walked into the library to the right of the foyer.
“Avery is making sure I didn’t decorate the library tree,” Evalyn said to Lily with a knowing smile. “I didn’t, of course. I’ll leave that one to you girls.”
Avery walked back to where Evalyn and Lily stood admiring the tree. She kissed her mother on the cheek. “Thanks mom. I was worried you’d let someone else decorate the family tree.”
“You know I wouldn’t, dear,” Evalyn said. “Lily, you are in the blue room at the end of the hall. Perhaps you’d like to unpack. Lunch will be served in about an hour, in the kitchen since it’s just the three of us.”
“Thank you, both, so much. I’m so happy to be here,” Lily said and realized it was true.
She followed Avery up the grand staircase, grateful her friend had realized that if Lily had been left alone to dwell on her heartbreak, she would have felt far worse.
“James will be here this afternoon,” Avery said as they reached the top of the stairs. “I’m surprised. Usually he doesn’t come play family until the last minute. He’s almost as bad as Blake used to be.”
“Oh great. When do Mark and Denton and Blake get into town?” Lily followed Avery into her bedroom.
Avery’s room faced the ocean and had been redone since Lily had last visited. Instead of the two queen beds, there now was a king bed covered with an impossibly fluffy white comforter. The floors, as in all the bedrooms, were hardwood, softened by thick white wool rugs. Two overstuffed white chairs framed the window and the sparkling ocean view.
“This room is gorgeous,” Lily said.
The bedside tables were each decorated with matching three-foot tall Christmas trees, with shiny red ball ornaments—the only color in the room. A fresh pine wreath tied with a bright red velvet bow hung from the top of the mirror over the long mahogany dresser.
Avery walked into the passageway that separated the room from the full bath and slid open the mirrored closet doors, inspecting the clothes hanging inside.
“It’s always so much fun to see what I left here. Sometimes I leave things here on purpose, just so something will seem new and fresh. Like this sweater—oh, and these sweat pants. I love these,” she said, pulling out a pair of gray sweats and hugging them tight. “Mark doesn’t like me in sweats so I’ll have to wear them all day today.”
The staff had unpacked Avery’s suitcases and her toiletries were assembled on the white marble countertop in the large bathroom. Avery pulled off her jeans and pulled on her sweats. “That’s better,” she said. “Let’s go get you settled and into some sweats. We have a tree to decorate!”
Chapter Three
COLE
‡
C ole stanton thought the chill in the air felt great as he stretched for his morning jog. Compared to the summer months when he’d been sure he’d given himself heat stroke a couple of times, this was the perfect weather for a run. Since he’d moved here a few months ago to start a new life, Cole was now in the best shape of his life, as long as no one looked too closely at his hands, covered with cuts and blisters,
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