Trudy's Holiday Suitor

Chapter Two - Trudy

12/27/2022

Trudy smiled so much that her cheeks began to ache as the group of happy carolers traversed the little town’s collection of homes.

Away from the town, where her inn was located, the nearest neighbors could hardly be seen on a rainy night.

But here in Trinity Falls village, the homes were closer together, and all of the neighbors seemed to know each other well. Half a block’s worth of residents would all spill out onto their porches at the first sign of the carolers. When a song was over, they cheered and clapped for the Cassidy clan and their hangers-on, and even for each other when someone on a porch joined in.

Most decided not to take their performances on the road, but one other family with kids did join the group as they traveled across the street to the houses around the corner from Trinity Falls Elementary.

By this point, Trudy was starting to really regret her choice of coat. She hadn’t really warmed up like she’d expected. In fact, the wind was picking up a bit, and Trudy was trying hard not to shiver. But Mateo was in ecstasy chatting with his new friends, and she wasn’t about to cut his night short for her own sake.

“Here,” Professor Sullivan said gruffly, shrugging off his coat.

“Oh, Professor Sullivan, I couldn’t,” Trudy said, shaking her head hard.

“First of all, it’s Ward,” he said. “And of course you can. I’m already sweating.”

The coat did look nice and warm. And the last thing she needed to do was catch a cold. Important new guests were arriving tomorrow, and they had booked the whole inn.

“Thank you, Ward,” she said, taking it.

The coat smelled delicious, just like his fresh aftershave, with a spicier hint that must have been his own masculine scent.

She tried not to think about that and to just soak in the lovely heat.

“So what brought you the Garcias tonight?” Ward asked politely.

“They were staying at the inn,” she began explaining.

“No, no,” he said. “I know why they invited you. I just wondered why you came. I never see you out and about anymore.”

That stung a little.

“I guess I’ve gotten a little less adventurous since I lost Phillip,” she admitted. “And of course, it’s more work running things at the inn by myself. I have Chad, but he’s so young, and needs a lot of direction.”

“I can understand that,” Ward said kindly. “You and Phillip were very attached.”

He had ignored her reference to work and gone straight to the heart of the matter. In a way, it was a relief to talk to someone about it.

“I loved him since I was in school,” she admitted on a sigh. “We were two peas in a pod.”

“You sure were,” Ward said with a smile. “I remember seeing you two around town now and again, always arm in arm. And of course I would bump into him pretty often at the hardware store. He always mentioned you.”

“He did?” Trudy asked. It was a treat to hear new things about Phillip, and it happened so seldom these days.

“Oh, yes,” Ward chuckled. “He would tell me what you were getting up to with your cooking experiments. And he always told me how your library was coming along.”

“He really supported my hobbies,” she said dreamily. “I know a lot of husbands wouldn’t want their wives spending so much on books. But we were never blessed with children to spend it on. And Phillip insisted the books were good for my soul.”

“Sounds like you two had a very good thing,” Ward said, nodding.

“We did,” she said, feeling the familiar ache of missing him.

“It doesn’t get any easier, does it?” Ward asked kindly.

“Nope,” she said. “You just get used to it. Were you ever married?”

“For a short while, when I was younger,” Ward said, shaking his head. “It didn’t go so well. After that, the only girl I ever had eyes for was wildly in love with another man. And then I got caught up in work and hobbies and the time just seemed to pass.”

Trudy nodded. The time had passed for her, too. When she lost Phillip, one of her friends liked to tell her that she was still a young woman.

But when you had already been married to the kindest, funniest man in the world, you didn’t go trying to win the lottery a second time.

Now she was comfortably settled into a life alone with her memories. And that wasn’t such a bad thing.

Up ahead, Alice was knocking on the next door, and the neighbors were all coming out to cheer. Trudy focused on the songs and the happy feeling of being among friends.

Each of the old Victorian homes was beautifully decorated with colorful lights and pretty evergreen wreaths. A Christmas tree or menorah, sometimes both, glowed in nearly every single front window. With the blanket of snow on the ground, she felt as if she were truly walking in a winter wonderland.

Alice even rang the bells of the apartments over the shops in the village.

The sweet young schoolteacher from Trinity pre-school leaned out her window, her winsome expression turning warm and happy as she listened to the carolers.

“Hi, Miss Cabrera,” Rumor yelled to her when they were finished.

“Hello, Rumor,” the young woman called back to her. “Merry Christmas. What a wonderful singer you are.”

Rumor giggled and jumped up and down a little.

“Want to join us, dear?” Alice offered.

“Oh, I’d love to,” Miss Cabrera called back. “But my family will be calling in a few minutes and I can’t miss it.”

“Oh, no, you don’t want to miss the Christmas call,” Alice agreed.

Miss Cabrera leaned back in and waved before closing her window, still with a happy smile on her face.

“She’s a sweet young woman,” Alice said. “Shame to see her spend the holidays by herself.”

“By this time next year, she’ll have found herself a beau,” Grace decided.

“Definitely,” Natalie agreed. “She’s so nice with the kids. If she doesn’t have a boyfriend by next year, we’ll drag her to Cassidy Farm for Christmas.”

“You can count on it,” Alice said, wrapping an arm around Natalie and giving her an approving squeeze. “We won’t even give her a chance to say no.”

Everyone laughed happily at the idea of stout, good-natured Alice Cassidy whisking Miss Cabrera away for a holiday gathering without giving her a moment to protest.

And Trudy absolutely believed it would happen. Alice was not one to see a person left out at the holidays.

By Trudy’s estimation, Marta Garcia was shaping up to be just the same sort of woman. Marta had seen Trudy’s loneliness and included her in their celebrations, somehow without letting Trudy feel like a bother at all.

She was determined to return the favor somehow. This night had been downright magical.

By the time they finished their circuit, she couldn’t believe two hours had passed.

Ward had stayed by her side all night long. It would have almost felt like a date, except that of course they were with a big group, and the only time she had ever really opened up was when talking about Phillip.

“Thank you so much, Trudy,” Mateo said, scampering up to her as they approached his house. “This was really fun.”

“It was my pleasure, Mateo,” Trudy told him honestly. “I’m so glad your parents said yes.”

They and the Cassidy crew all hugged their good-byes, with promises to get together again soon.

Then Ward was offering her his hand again to climb the stairs to the house.

“Mom, Dad, we had so much fun,” Mateo shouted.

His parents came to the door, looking much more relaxed in their matching Christmas pajamas.

“Well, we got dinner all cleaned up, the rest of the cookies baked, and the beds made up,” Marta told Mateo, pulling him in for a hug. “We even set up the bathroom things.”

“Trudy, I’ll drive you home,” Mr. Garcia said. “Just give me a second to get changed. I forgot all about that fact that we brought you here with us.”

“I’ll drive her,” Ward said quickly. “It’s no trouble at all, and you folks need your rest.”

“That would be wonderful, Ward,” Mr. Garcia said with such relief that Trudy didn’t dare protest.

“Thank you,” she told him instead.

“We’ll see you soon, Trudy,” Marta said, pulling her in for a warm hug. “Thank you again for making our Christmas so perfect.”

Tears prickled Trudy’s eyes, and she gave Marta an extra squeeze before letting go.

Then Mateo was wrapping his wiry arms around her for a hug of his own.

“Thank you, Trudy,” he said.

“Thank you, young man,” she told him. “I’m so happy we could spend the day together.”

“I know we’ll see you soon,” Mr. Garcia said with a warm smile. “Now that you know how to make tamales, I can put you to work next time we have a party.”

She laughed happily as she turned to go. Ward was already opening the door and offering her his hand on the stairs again.

“Which one is yours?” she asked him, indicating the cars. She needed a distraction from the idea that she was about to be alone with him for the fifteen-minute drive back to the inn.

“The red pick-up truck,” he said with a smile, pointing to a newer American model.

“It’s very pretty,” she told him approvingly. “Phillip had a red pick-up truck, too.”

“Oh, that truck had way more character than mine,” Ward laughed. “Mine looks like a toy in comparison.”

She smiled at the idea that Ward had known Phillip well enough to remember his antique red pick-up truck.

He helped her in, and then walked around to his side.

It was hard not to notice what a gentleman he was.

But Trudy wasn’t interested in anything like that. She really wasn’t. She had a very busy life, and she certainly didn’t need the kind of drama that was in the movies and the romance books she read.

He got into the car and gave her a wink before starting the engine, and she was surprised to find that she didn’t mind.

Somehow, it all made her feel like a young woman again, like there was some kind of shared joke between them, and also a bit like he was telling her to relax - that he would take care of her.

Somewhere in her belly, a single butterfly fluttered its wings.

Be sure to stop by each week for the next chapter of Trudy's Holiday Suitor! If you want to be sure you never miss a chapter, click here to sign up for my newsletter, if you haven't already!

Are you new to the series? Click here to grab the first two Trinity Falls Sweet Romances, or read them for free in KU!

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Chapter One - Trudy

12/20/2022

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Trudy Williams smoothed her skirt down over her knees and tried not to notice the handsome man with the close-trimmed beard who kept sneaking glances at her from across the big table.

After all, she was a married woman. Just because her husband had passed away some years back didn’t make her feel any less married.

Sometimes, she swore Phillip had simply headed down to the hardware store, or was in the next room, whittling away at a promising piece of pine. A man so alive and full of mischief couldn’t really have gone and died on her. It just felt impossible.

“Trudy, can I bring you another mug of cider?” Mrs. Garcia asked with a smile. “Or maybe another cinnamon cookie?”

“Oh, I couldn’t eat another bite,” Trudy told her hostess gratefully. “You and your husband are amazing cooks. Mateo, too. I still can’t believe you managed to do all this on your first day in a new house.”

The Garcias had been staying at Trudy’s inn during a big snow storm on their way into town. They had set foot in their brand-new house this afternoon for the very first time.

“We couldn’t have done it if you hadn’t lent us so many cooking things,” Mrs. Garcia replied. “And yourself. We’re so glad you could join us today. Having company makes it feel like it’s really home.”

“I know just what you mean,” Trudy said. “Though, of course, I’ve always shared my home.”

“You told us the Inn had been in your family for several generations,” Mrs. Garcia said thoughtfully. “But I never thought about it as being in a permanent state of entertaining.”

“I’m a very lucky woman,” Trudy told her honestly. “I can’t think of a single thing I’d rather do with my life than care for guests at my great-grandmother’s beloved Inn.”

Of course, Trudy had plenty of her own family in Trinity Falls. But ever since Phillip passed, she’d spent more time working at the Inn, and less time going to family gatherings. She’d been planning to spend Christmas on her own, until the Garcias invited her to their impromptu feast. And now that she was here, she found that she was glad she came. Christmas really did feel better when it was shared.

Trudy caught movement from the corner of her eye, and without meaning to, she turned to see that the man with the cowboy hat, Professor Sullivan, was nodding in agreement with her. Of course, he wasn’t wearing his hat at the table, but that was how she thought of him - the handsome man who always tipped his cowboy hat when she passed him in town.

“History is important,” he said, when his twinkly blue eyes locked onto hers. “To know who we are, we have to know where we’ve been.”

“My husband used to say the same,” she blurted out without meaning to.

“Wise man,” Professor Sullivan said, nodding respectfully.

“Check,” Mateo said excitedly from his chair opposite Professor Sullivan’s.

“Not again,” Professor Sullivan cried in mock dismay from his side of the chess board.

Mateo laughed so hard that Trudy thought he might fall out of his chair.

“Of course it’s funny to you,” the older man teased. “You’ve been shellacking me all night.”

Trudy tried and failed to hide her smile.

Mateo was a bright, friendly young boy, but he was also nervous about coming to a new town and going to a new school. He needed all the encouragement and confidence he could get right now.

Professor Sullivan was here to welcome the Garcias. He was retiring from Trinity Falls Community College, and Mr. Garcia was taking his place in the Math Department.

She had seen Professor Sullivan around town over the years, of course. But this was her first time socializing with him.

He winked at her, and she felt her cheeks heat.

He’s just being friendly, she told herself. It’s harmless.

There was a knock at the door, and Mateo shot out of his seat to answer it.

The poor boy had been bouncing off the walls all evening. Trudy could hardly blame him. Mateo had been in the car with his parents through the snow storm, and then spent a few days cooped up in the Inn before they got dug out. Trudy could well understand why the poor thing needed to stretch his young legs.

“It’s Grace, and Chris, and Izzy, and Molly, and… a whole bunch of other people,” Mateo cried out from the door.

The sound of Jingle Bells being sung by a group of people poured into the house, and everyone got up to go to the door.

Mr. Garcia dashed out of the kitchen with his apron on and a spatula in his hand, and placed his other hand on his son’s shoulder, smiling out at the visitors on the porch.

Mrs. Garcia moved to join them and Trudy took her place beside her, unable to contain her smile at the sight of most of the Cassidy clan, holding their carol books and singing their hearts out with varying degrees of skill.

Professor Sullivan came and stood on her other side. The scent of his aftershave washed over her. It was clean and crisp, with a hint of pine.

She would have moved over to give him more space, but she was already right beside Mrs. Garcia. So she let herself enjoy the singing and the smiles and tried not to worry about him standing so close.

The song finished up, and everyone clapped and cheered.

“We’re off to the next house, but maybe you all would like to join us?” Alice Cassidy offered with a big smile.

The matriarch of the Cassidy clan had lovely kind eyes, and her chestnut hair was up in its signature bun, showing off streaks of shimmering silver.

Flanking her were her son, Shane, with Natalie Bell and Shane’s kids, Rumor and Wyatt, her niece, Grace with baby Izzy in her arms, and Shane’s best friend Chris, with Molly, his service dog, at the end of a pink leash. Even more friends and family members stood behind them, spilling down onto the sidewalk.

“Can we, Mom?” Mateo asked, spinning to face his parents and jumping up and down a little. “Can we, Dad? Please?”

“We still have cookies in the oven, Mateo,” his mother said.

“Please,” Mateo asked in a defeated way.

Trudy glanced over at his parents. What a day they’d had. She was certain all they wanted was to finish cooking and cleaning the kitchen, and then just make up the beds and get a little rest.

But Mateo had spotted those other children.

Wouldn’t it be a blessing for him to have the chance to meet a few of his schoolmates before classes began?

“Mrs. Garcia,” Trudy said, turning to her new friend. “Would it be all right if I took Mateo caroling? I would bring him home in an hour or two. I do love caroling.”

“Mom, mom, mom,” Mateo began chanting hopefully.

Mr. Garcia nodded at his wife with a smile.

“It’s Marta, Trudy,” Mrs. Garcia said, turning back. “And that would be wonderful, if it’s truly not a bother.”

“It would be my honor, Marta,” Trudy said sincerely.

“Yes,” Mateo cried happily. “Thank you, thank you.”

“Now, go get your big coat,” Marta called after him. “And don’t forget gloves.”

“It’s not a rush,” Alice said kindly from the porch.

“Would you all like to come in for cookies?” Marta offered.

But Mateo was already bolting out the door again. Trudy was glad to see that he did have on a coat, and was hastily pulling on his gloves.

“Maybe on the way back, dear,” Alice said with a smile. “I think for now, we’ll take advantage of having our energetic new singers.”

Trudy grabbed her woolen sweater coat from the hook by the door, wishing she had thought to bring something sturdier. She hadn’t expected to end up out in the weather.

But it would have to do. And besides, after a bit of walking, she was sure to warm up nicely.

“I’ll come along,” Professor Sullivan said suddenly, grabbing his coat and cowboy hat from a hook by the door.
She spun around, wondering if it was too late to back out.

“Someone’s got to keep an eye on the pretty innkeeper,” he said with a friendly smile and another wink.

Trudy made a sound that was sort of like a cough and a snort mixed together, and hurried out onto the porch.

She caught the Garcias sharing a little smile as she turned to wave good-bye and she felt as embarrassed as if she were in the eighth grade all over again.

I’ll just ignore him, she told herself. He can’t get the wrong idea if I don’t pay him any mind.

She let the others get a bit ahead, figuring she would just install herself next to Alice once he was out of the way.

But when she reached the edge of the snowy porch steps, Professor Sullivan smiled up at her from where he was waiting on the front walk, and offered her his hand.

Be sure to stop by each week for the next chapter of Trudy's Holiday Suitor! If you want to be sure you never miss a chapter, click here to sign up for my newsletter, if you haven't already!

Are you new to the series? Click here to grab the first two Trinity Falls Sweet Romances, or read them for free in KU!

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