A Trip Back to Snowy Pines (Book II in the Christmas Village Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Good as new.”
     
    “I’m glad we ran into you. I wanted to
introduce you to my daughter-in-law. Kellany, this is Lola
McCauley. Lola, Kellany Callahan.”
     
    Lola’s mouth dropped open as she was flooded
with memories of Kellany teaching her to use the flat iron, and
watching an American girl movie with her; the two of them dressing
up in matching boots and going to the carnival and then riding on a
sleigh and cutting down a tree in the woods.
     
    “It’s so nice to meet you Lola. My daughter
is named Lola, but you just don’t hear of that many Lola’s
anymore.” Kellany said, smiling politely, but with a blank
expression.
     
    “Uhhh… it’s nice to meet you too.” Lola said,
feeling her insides churn with disappointment. Kellany was supposed
to be the one with the answers. She was her anchor in this place
where no one else was who or what they were supposed to be.
     
    “This is my husband Chris.”
     
    “Hi Chris. This is my husband Josh.”
     
    Josh took her hand and stared at her for a
moment. “You look so familiar to me. Have we met before?”
     
    “Oh hush. He thinks he knows everyone. He
insisted he’d met me the first time we met too.”
     
    “As I recall you insisted…”
     
    Kellany interrupted whatever he was going to
say and asked, “So now are you the one who loved my cookies?”
     
    “I am.” Lola said her voice thick with
unexpressed emotions.
     
    “Then you have to have one of my gourmet
cocoas. They use my recipe here. Can we bring one back for anyone?”
Kellany asked, pulling her away before anyone really had the chance
to answer.
     
    Once they began walking away Kellany exhaled
deeply, and whispered, “Oh God Lola is it really you?”
     
    “You know me?” Lola said, fighting tears.
     
    “Of course I know you! Look at you! You’re
all grown up and so beautiful. I really never thought I’d see you
again!”
     
    “What is this? Am I dead?”
     
    “No… I don’t think.” Kellany answered
nervously.
     
    “You don’t think?” Lola shrieked.
     
    “Shhh…Well the truth is, I don’t exactly
know. But we can’t talk here. Can you meet me somewhere later?”
     
    “Yes.” Though Lola wasn’t exactly sure how
she’d get away from Chris, but she knew she had to find time to
talk to Kellany alone.
     
    “Are you staying at Mrs. Appleby’s?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “Okay, I will swing by this afternoon at 3:00
to take you shopping for the ingredients for my cookies.”
     
    “Okay.” Lola said, sighing with relief. “By
the way. I know how to make your cookies. They’re the only homemade
thing I know how to make, but I make them well. You taught me.”
     
    Kellany smiled and touched her face. “I
remember everything about it.”
     
    ***
     
    As it turned out, it was easier to get away
from Chris that afternoon than she’d planned. He still needed to
email some documents for the brief he was supposed to file the day
of her accident, and the Wi-Fi at the B&B was sketchy at best.
He’d been told that the library was his best bet, so he was going
to work for a couple of hours which left her free to meet with
Kellany.
     
    “Is it okay if I hug you?” Kellany said when
they met in front of Mrs. Appleby’s.
     
    Lola laughed and stepped into her
outstretched arms. She felt as if she was coming home.
     
    “Okay, now tell me what you know about this.”
Lola said when they started walking.
     
    “I don’t know anything for sure. But let me
just tell you my story, and we’ll go from there. Sixteen years ago
I was on a trip a few days before Christmas to reconnect with
someone I knew when I was in foster care. This woman had an amazing
Christmas Village that I adored when I was a little girl. Anyway,
along the way I had a wreck and I woke up here – inside that
Christmas village come to life. I knew every building, every lamp
post, even Josh looked like my favorite figurine. I thought I was
losing my mind, but I just kept being here… I met you