Christmas With Tiffany (7 page)

When Tiffany stepped
into the lobby of the Home for the Holidays Hotel on December 31, her breath
caught in her throat. Although a few Christmas trees were still in place along
the back wall, the rest of the lobby was adorned with colorful streamers and
Happy New Year posters. A band situated to one side of the lobby played
rollicking pop songs, and waiters bearing trays holding flutes of shimmering
champagne strolled among the guests.

Tiffany continued to
look around the bustling lobby. She couldn’t locate Bain, but she was aware
that more than one gentleman was watching her closely, apparently trying to
decide whether she was alone and approachable. She was especially glad that her
profits from the ornaments had allowed her to invest in some new clothes for
the evening. She’d topped her black velvet skirt with a silver silk blouse that
featured long sleeves and a scoop neck. She’d also splurged at the salon on a
manicure and special hairdo for the evening.

Just as two of the men
watching her apparently decided to try their luck and headed toward her, she
saw Bain approaching from an adjacent room, his hurried lope suggesting that
he, too, had realized he had competition. He shot each man a quick glare and
rushed up to Tiffany. “Sorry not to be on hand to greet you.
Minor
emergency with the chef, who’s a bit cantankerous.
You look beautiful
tonight.”

“Thanks.”

At that moment, the band
started playing a slow song, and Bain reached for her hand. “Dance with me?”

She nodded. She and Bain
had always fit well together dancing. He led her to the cleared area that was
serving as a dance floor and pulled her into his arms. They still moved
together just as smoothly as she remembered from their high school dances.

“I enjoyed getting to
talk to you on Christmas day,” Bain said, “but I’ve missed talking to you since
then. I hadn’t realized that Mom and Dad planned on me staying in New York for
so long. But they had some news that I think will surprise and maybe please you.”

“Oh?” Tiffany couldn’t
imagine what the
Lyndhursts
could be doing that would
have any bearing on her in any way.

“Dad has decided to
retire at the end of May and they want to move back to Rushville. They loved
living there.”

“Really? That’s
wonderful. But you’re right. I am surprised.”

“Well, to be honest, so
am I. I didn’t think they were that crazy about the place when we lived here,
but their world travels seem to have enlightened them about the benefits of
living in a small town where people are friendly. Not to mention that they
loved hiking in the mountains if you recall.”

“I do remember that, now
that you mention it,” Tiffany said.

Bain pulled her a little
closer. “You know, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing, having both our families
nearby in case…” He stumbled to a halt. “Oh hell,
Tif
,
I need to ask you something. Let’s step out on the balcony.”

Slightly bemused,
Tiffany allowed him to lead her out onto the deserted balcony. The night air
was chilly but Bain immediately slipped his jacket off and wrapped it around
her. “I love you, Tiffany Elwood. I’ve loved you since we were just kids, and I
don’t think I’ll ever love anyone but you. Will you marry me?”

Tiffany had not thought
her heart could feel any fuller, but happiness built in her chest until it
bubbled out in a quick gasp of joy. “I’d love to marry you, Bain Lyndhurst,
because I’ve never loved anyone but you either.”

“Thank God,” he
whispered just as he lowered his head to kiss her.

She turned her face up,
eager to participate in her first kiss as an
engaged
woman.

“Boss?” A female’s voice
sounded from the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt but the chef threw a knife at one
of the busboys and nicked him. It’s not serious but a server called the cops.
They’re asking for you.”

Bain cursed quite
fluently for a few seconds. “Sorry, love,” he said to Tiffany, who had slipped
out of his jacket and handed it to him. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. In the
meantime, I’ll leave you to get acquainted with my secretary, Chloe. Chloe,
this is Miss Tiffany Elwood.” Then he was gone.

Tiffany found herself
face to face with a woman who appeared significantly overdressed. The red frames
of her eyeglasses spelled out the year, and she wore several brightly colored
spirals around her neck, each sporting a “Happy New Year” pendant.

“Ah,” Chloe said,
nodding her head vigorously. “You must be
The
Tiffany.”

Tiffany took a quick
step back, not sure what to make of this person. “What do you mean,
The
Tiffany
?”

“You don’t know?”

“I guess I don’t.”

“Follow me.”

Her curiosity aroused,
Tiffany fell into step with Chloe, who led her back into the lobby and toward a
back corner where two beautifully decorated trees sat sheltered behind a bench.

“These trees were front
and center, flanking the reception desk, up until they started decorating for
tonight’s party. Everyone who saw those trees wanted to know where they could
get some ornaments like those. Fortunately, the boss had thought about having
the sign department make these up.” She reached for a large poster that had
been turned backward on its easel. When she flipped it around, Tiffany’s eyes
widened as she read:

Ornaments Available at Tiffany’s Gift Shop

1141 Main Street

Rushville, Tennessee

“So that’s why I had so
many customers from out of town,” Tiffany exclaimed. “And he never said a word
about doing this.”

“Oh, he wouldn’t, dear.
He wanted to help you out but didn’t want you to feel indebted or angry with
him. He’s so in love with you, he would have been devastated if you’d been
upset about what he did. You won’t tell him I showed you these, will you?”

“I won’t tell,” Tiffany
promised her. “But I appreciate it. I have a feeling that Bain is very lucky to
have you as his secretary.”

“I don’t know about
that, dear. But I try to help out any way I can. Ah, here he comes back again,
and I know he’s going to want to give you a nice long kiss when the New Year
rolls around.”

Bain walked up just as
Chloe hurried away. “What’s she been saying about me?” he asked.

“Just that she figures
you’re going to want to kiss me long and hard when the New Year rolls around.”

He laughed out loud.
“She’s right, as usual. In fact, my love, I want to kiss you long and hard then
and for every minute of every day for the rest of our lives.”

At that moment, the
crowd began counting down the seconds, and when the New Year began, Tiffany and
Bain saw it in just as they hoped to continue for the rest of their lives, locked
in each other’s arms.