Christmas In Icicle Creek: Home For The Holidays Read online

  “And you told me about Tristan. That’s new,” Kendall said.

  Privately, Noelle thrilled at the sound of Tristan’s name, and she worked hard at keeping the light from her eyes. “Yes, I did. Now it’s your turn.”

  “I’m not seeing anyone, Noelle. After the way things were left between us … well, I just wanted you to know. That’s over.”

  Noelle nodded. “Is that the thing that’s changed?”

  Kendall hesitated for a moment. “Yeah.”

  A myriad of emotions cascaded through Noelle as she recalled her suspicions around Kendall and Sophia. She was vindicated, and that created some small victory. She was grateful for the open door Kendall was presenting. But mostly, she was surprised at the larger part of her that didn’t care anymore. Perhaps she had forgiven Kendall without even knowing it, or maybe it just didn’t matter. “Thanks for telling me, Kendall. What else is new for you?”

  “Well, I’ve been doing a lot of surfing.”

  Noelle laughed. “You always did a lot of surfing.”

  Kendall smiled. “Well, that’s true, but I’m finally starting to feel part of the surfing culture here. I’m no longer a California wannabe. I’m starting to be accepted for my skill.”

  Noelle mustered the necessary enthusiasm. “I’m happy for you, Kendall. I know that was important to you.”

  Kendall continued to talk about his surfing experiences of the last year. Noelle tried to pull up a memory of the two of them going to Pine Trees for an afternoon of surfing and picnics, but the recollection was fuzzy around the edges. Perhaps a fresh influx of time together would change that. Maybe sitting on the sand and watching the waves break while Kendall maneuvered through water would help her reconnect with their past and give them some channel to a shared future.

  Kendall continued, “After our shift, I’ll meet you in front, and we can stop by your place so you can change your clothes before heading to Pine Trees. It’s not the toughest surfing spot, but the waves are supposed to be good this afternoon.”

  Noelle nursed her earlier desire for enthusiasm. Yes. It would be fun to sit on the beach with her toes buried in the warm sand and watch Kendall surf. “I’ll look forward to it.”

  They ate in silence for a few minutes, both finishing their meal about the same time. Kendall glanced at his watch. “We’ve both got to clock back in,” he said. “Come now.” He reached out his hand. “Let’s get you back.”

  Noelle smiled as she took Kendall’s hand. The familiar crush of his fingers enveloping hers eased her mind and offered some semblance of peace.

  Chapter 25

  Lights twinkled underneath the snow, and children were sledding down the gentle incline of Front Street Park. Carolers were singing with gusto from the gazebo, but it was hard for Tristan to take in the Christmas spirit. He missed Noelle more than he cared to admit, and he was still unsure what to do about James.

  Since Tristan’s last conversation with James two weeks ago, his friend had gone strangely quiet. No texts, phone calls, or emails had graced Tristan’s screen since the last angry text James had fired off after their phone call.

  The lack of correspondence with James offered Tristan a new sense of freedom. Moments would pass by when Tristan didn’t even think about James. Sometimes, those moments were filled with memories of his father. He recalled sitting in his father’s lap while he drove the tractor through the orchard on a sunny summer day, and a mellow holiday evening when his father lifted him high so he could put the star on the Christmas tree. These memories were timid at first, but they came with such an aching burst of joy that Tristan desired more.

  He looked forward to the time when a whole day could go by without a memory of James invading his thoughts, and he would be free to invite other recollections of his childhood. What lay beneath the constant anxiety and pressure around his old friend?

  Disappointment still surged through Tristan whenever he remembered James’s response to his question about those who had been defrauded. He simply refused to take any responsibility or even feel a thimbleful of remorse.

  Anger bubbled up as he continued to realize that his guilt had been misplaced. James didn’t care about all those people who’d trusted him and now were financially ruined. He only cared about what he could get away with while waiting to get out of prison. He didn’t even care about Tristan and was willing to turn on him the minute Tristan started asking hard questions.

  Tristan stopped in front of the Christmas store and studied the display. Memories of his childhood flooded his brain, but they battled with his more recent mistakes. He desperately wished to cut loose the guilt and sense of responsibility that kept him tied to James. He wanted his life back, even if he didn’t know what it would look like after everything that happened in Arizona.

  “Tristan!”

  The familiar voice pulled him out of his reverie, and Tristan looked up to see Cory hailing him from across the street. Sampson was on leash. The pup’s ears were up and his eyes were brimming with the thrill of seeing a long-lost friend. Tristan was just as pleased to see the two of them.

  Cory hurried across the street with Sampson. The pup whined and pressed himself against Tristan’s legs while whipping him with his tail.

  “Boy, he’s happy to see you,” Cory said.

  “The feeling is mutual.” Tristan got down on the pup’s level, and the dog immediately licked his face while wiggling all over Tristan. His earlier concerns faded away in the wake of Sampson and Cory’s delightful company.

  After Sampson settled down, Tristan stood. “It’s good to see the wisest little brother on earth,” he teased.

  Cory grinned. “And we’re happy to see you too, aren’t we, Sampson?”

  Sampson gave Cory and then Tristan a happy pant.

  “How are things with your family?” Tristan asked. He hoped Cory would read the meaning of his question. He wanted news of Noelle.

  Cory made a face. “Noelle moved back to the Big Island of Hawaii. She’s working at the Four Seasons there.”

  “Isn’t that the same place she worked before?”

  “Yes,” Cory said.

  “You don’t sound too happy.”

  “I’m not. That stupid jerk Kendall works there, and—” He paused. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  Panic cut off Tristan’s breath. “Are Noelle and Kendall back together?”

  Cory shook his head. “It doesn’t sound like they are … yet.”

  Alarm spread through him. “Is that what Noelle wants?”

  Cory shrugged. “I don’t think Noelle knows what she wants. I hear her talking to Mom, and she seems confused.”

  Tristan was itching to know if Noelle ever asked about him, but he kept that question to himself. It wasn’t fair to put Cory in the position of telling Noelle’s secrets.

  “We miss you coming around.” Cory reached down and gave Sampson a pat.

  Tristan doubted Noelle missed him while basking in Hawaii’s warm sun and water. She had obviously moved on. He changed the subject. “Do you walk Sampson down here regularly?”

  “No,” Cory replied. “But I want to get some good socialization in for him during the Christmas season. He loves seeing all the people.”

  “Well, I’m glad I ran into you,” Tristan said. “Give your family my best, okay? And tell Noelle … just tell her I said hello.” He desperately wished to reach out to her in some way, and he hoped his message would get through.

  Tristan watched Cory’s face brighten. “I will,” he said, before giving Sampson a gentle tug on the leash. The puppy followed Cory but turned to give Tristan one more look.

  * * *

  Once home, Tristan sat in his truck. He missed Noelle, and yet he didn’t blame her for opting out of their relationship. James’s presence did make things uncomfortable, once everything was out in the open. The concern over James hung over Tristan like the iron-colored clouds that obscured the nearby peaks.

  Even though James was currently silen
t, it wasn’t the last Tristan would hear from him, unless Tristan made it so. His best bet was to send James an email through the system provided by the federal prison to let James know they could no longer be friends. Then, Tristan would delete his account from the system, and James would no longer have email access to Tristan. James would still have access to Tristan’s phone, though. The only way to remove all traces of James would be to change his phone number and delete his social media accounts. Tristan welcomed this change. Just thinking about it alleviated some sense of the anxiety that dogged him since he came home. It would mean Courtney couldn’t call him, either.

  But it would also eliminate Noelle’s access.

  The concern over losing that connection to Noelle, no matter how tenuous, depressed Tristan. He doubted she would try to get in touch with him after everything that had happened. She was living an ocean away and had taken all of his hope with her, but he still wanted that connection, as if a lifeline could be formed.

  A new idea filtered through his concern. He would stop by the Foster home and give his new phone number to Noelle’s family. A fresh worry pressed him as he considered how this effort would be received by the Fosters. He recalled the first time he’d met Noelle’s family, when he was returning Sampson and their acceptance of him. Their openness warmed him, and it would be awkward and hurtful if they turned their backs on him.

  Tristan refused to entertain that thought and bolstered his courage. He was no longer going to live in the shadow of his past and the guilt associated with it. He would give them the number, and they could do whatever they chose.

  Tristan walked into the house to find his mother pulling out chicken enchiladas from the oven. Tristan bent over his mom and kissed her on the cheek. “They smell delicious.”

  Carolyn laughed. “They should. It’s Rosina’s recipe.”

  Tristan breathed deep the scent of spices and chicken with a newfound joy. Now that his decisions were made around James, a burdensome weight was lifted. “Let me wash up.”

  He headed toward the bathroom as his phone beeped. Pulling out the phone, he saw the text from James. Hey, bro. I’m putting together a plan for when I get out of here. I’m going to call in a few minutes from this phone, so make sure you’re in a place where you can talk.

  Tristan pursed his lips as a flare of anger burst inside. He put his phone back in his pocket. He was no longer going to make himself available at James’s beck and call. Instead, he would go ahead with his plan and send James an email as soon as he was finished with dinner. Even though he had only had a glimpse of a life that didn’t include the burden of James, it was all he needed. He wanted more of that life and less of James.

  Washing up, he decided to turn off his phone. He didn’t want James interrupting dinner with his mother. After the evening meal, he went to his computer and composed his short email to James, wishing him all the best but telling him he could not be his friend any longer.

  Reading it one final time, Tristan sat back in his chair. His nerves jumped under his skin. He pushed the send button without hesitation before removing the email account that connected him to James. He turned his phone back on, knowing that James would get in touch soon, giving Tristan the opportunity to finalize his message through the phone. Then, he would delete his social media accounts and change his phone number, but not without recording their last conversation, in case James got belligerent. Within the next few minutes, Tristan installed an app to his phone that allowed him to record him and James as they talked.

  Thirty minutes later, the expected call came through and Tristan turned on the recording device on his phone. “Hello?”

  “What do you think you’re doing?” James asked. “How can you just leave me hanging in the wind when I’m right in the middle of getting everything situated for when I get out of here? I’m going to need you, bro.”

  “James, do your plans have anything to do with helping those people you defrauded?”

  James’s voice turned mean. “I told you to never mention that case to me again. I’m done with all of that. And what I’ve got cooking after I get out of here is much better. But I’m going to need your help. As a convicted felon, I’m not going to be able to get my hands on the necessary capital. You could do that for me.”

  Tristan’s anxiety remained strangely quiet, and he pushed forward with determination. “James, I won’t have the money, and even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you.”

  “Well, your mom certainly has the money. I know all about the orchard. Borrow it from her. Or I’m sure your credit is gold. You could manage a loan from the bank a lot easier than me.”

  Anger spilled into Tristan’s stomach as Noelle’s concern for her family echoed in his heart and matched his own. He didn’t want James anywhere near those he loved. “I am not involving my family in any of this. Do you hear me? We’re done, James. I’m finished covering for you and trying to fix your mistakes.”

  “Oh, really? You think you covered for me? I saw the tapes where the cops brought you in for questioning. You sang like a canary. We’re not done. Don’t forget that the prosecutors were dying to have your neck in a noose, too. All it would take is one little tiny word from me, and you’d find yourself in a cell next to mine.”

  Panic rose from Tristan’s belly, cutting off his air. Throwing off his fear, he spoke through gritting his teeth. “I told the truth about your lavish lifestyle. And you can go ahead and tell the prosecutor whatever you want, because there’s no evidence to back it up, and we both know that.”

  “That doesn’t mean they can’t make your life miserable.”

  Tristan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His so-called friend was more than willing to throw him to the sharks of prosecution for a crime he didn’t commit! “You never told them I was innocent, did you? You never told them that I had absolutely nothing to do with your Ponzi scheme.”

  James was silent.

  “Did you?”

  “I told you, none of this was my fault, so why would I need to go to bat for you?”

  “Because it was the truth, James!”

  James’s voice turned icy. “Let me tell you a little secret about the system,” he said. “You know you’re innocent, and I know it. I wasn’t interested in you nosing around my books, and we both know that. But it doesn’t matter. I could still send the prosecutors on the chase. Once you’re in the system, it’s not about being innocent or guilty. It’s just about getting out.”

  A new sense of bold certainty pushed up from Tristan’s center, and his angst around James disappeared. “Oh no, James. You’re wrong about that. If you’re innocent, it’s always about being innocent, and I was and am innocent,” Tristan said. “Don’t call me again. And if you send the prosecutors after me, I’ll make sure they get a copy of this conversation. I don’t want to hear from you or them ever again. Got it?”

  “You’re taping this!?”

  “Yes. So don’t ever contact me or my family. Is that understood?”

  “Ahhh, c’mon, Tris. You want to see me succeed, don’t you? A little help from you, and I’ll be able to put all of this behind me.”

  “I can’t save you, James, and I think I’ve heard enough. Goodbye.” Tristan hung up. Then, he called the federal prison in Tucson and informed them that prisoner James Talbot had contraband in the form of a cell phone.

  Tristan took a shaky breath as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked in his open doorway to see his mother gazing at him with a somber expression. Inviting her into his room, he watched as she took a seat on the edge of his bed. “You heard all of that?” he asked.

  “It was hard to miss,” Carolyn said. “You were yelling, and you never yell.”

  Tristan put his phone in his back pocket as his hands began to steady. “You were right about James, Mom. He never told the prosecutors that I was innocent, and he did want something from me, although I don’t have any idea what it is.”

  “And that’s for the best, Tristan. The less yo
u know of James, the better.”

  Tristan’s body remained tense. “I feel so bad about all those people who lost all of that money.”

  “And it’s okay to feel bad about that, Tristan. You should. It was a terrible thing. But you did not do it.”

  He leaned forward and balled his fists with intensity. “But I enjoyed the spoils of it.” He leaned his arms on his knees as he hung his head.

  His mother became thoughtful. She gave Tristan a serious look. “I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to consider your answer before you respond, because I want the truth.”

  Tristan raised his head and looked intently at his mother.

  “Did you know where James was getting his money?”

  Tristan searched his soul and sat back up. Taking a deep breath, he looked directly into his mother’s eyes. “No. I honestly thought his business was doing well. The market was sizzling at the time, and the kind of houses he was restoring were going like hotcakes. I truly thought he was an American success story.” Sorrow rose up in Tristan as tears filled his eyes. “I believed in him, Mom.”

  “A lot of people did, honey. I know he didn’t take your money, but he has stolen your job, your reputation in a field you love, and years of your life. Don’t give him anymore, okay?”

  Tristan sighed as a small part of his friendship with James wandered free. Maybe healing happened one piece at a time. He wanted to bask in that possibility, but James wasn’t his only concern. “There’s something else, Mom.”

  His mother gave him a questioning look.

  “I was wrong to blame Courtney for telling Noelle.” He hurried on. “She shouldn’t have done it, because it’s not her story to tell, and I have a right to feel betrayed.” He grew thoughtful. “But she only slipped through the loophole I created. I needed to own that story and tell Noelle myself.” Another piece fell into the space left by James.