Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“This is going to be the best Christmas at Whiskey Heart Distillery yet. You wait and see,” Linda predicts as she wraps an arm around Charley and guides her toward the main house. “There’s still hope for you, dear. We’ll un-Scrooge that attitude of yours, you’ll see!”
CHAPTER 2
Charley
It’s funny how someone you knew so intimately can also feel like a stranger. Seeing Liam again felt exactly like being in his house, familiar yet foreign at the same time.
The house has remnants of Liam but doesn’t feel like him. A mix of old-school charm and modern comfort. The remnants of deep mahogany wood juxtaposing the flashy marble flooring somehow work in a way that’s both jarring and inviting—just like the moment our eyes connected.
Sunlight streams through enormous arched windows, lending warmth and welcome to the space. The decor is minimalist and clean, with nothing overtly lavish, except for a grand piano sitting silently in the corner, its ebony finish gleaming. It’s the only part of the space that screams Liam. The rest, though beautiful, shows no signs of the man I knew. That Liam lived in a cramped, cluttered apartment that smelled of stale cigarettes and rancid beer.
It was hard to look into his eyes. Those piercing blue orbs reflected hurt and fury. Liam has never looked at me that way. Knowing he hates me now is torture. I deserve it. Truthfully, I deserve far more than his icy glares.
I still remember how gut-wrenching it was to climb into that station wagon and drive away. The highway was an endless ribbon, each mile a painful reminder of what he’d done and the consequences that followed. Little did I know that getting over Liam wasn’t a simple matter of distance. Apparently, you can’t forget someone by changing location, not when they’ve imprinted themselves on your very soul.
But as I look around his house, I know I made the right decision. I knew Liam’s brilliance and ambition would create something fantastic.
I smile, thinking about our young love. It was like Mount Everest: dangerous yet majestic and bold. We scaled that mountain together and thought we could conquer anything. But we couldn’t conquer the beliefs of my father and his mother—a man who didn’t have the resources to save his own life and a woman with immense wealth. I did what I had to do. I can’t regret the decision I made for my family.
Life is cruel, riddled with impossible choices that break your heart and shatter your soul.
“Charley, you have to see those horses. They’re huge, and they look so pretty.” Penny runs into the room as I’m putting away our few belongings. Other than some donated clothing, not much remains of our old life. We had to sell almost everything to survive. The only things I saved were an old photo album and my parents’ wedding rings. No matter how bad things got, I couldn’t bear to sell those.
“Yeah? Maybe we can ask Liam if you can ride one.” I put my arm around my kid sister and kiss the top of her head. She’s such a great kid.
“You think I could? That would be amazing.”
Losing our parents was hard on me, but it changed Penny’s universe. I was twenty and in college, but Penny was only a little girl, a toddler whose entire world was ripped apart in a heartbeat. She barely remembers our parents. Her life has been filled with hardship and struggle; yet, no matter how bad things get, she has never lost her spirit. She’s the sweetest, kindest kid, always smiling and making the best of any situation. Everyone thought I was remarkable for taking care of Penny when I was so young, but Penny is the real wonder. She’s my rock. Without her, I don’t think I would have survived.
“Knock, knock!” Linda peeks her head inside the bedroom door. She enters the room carrying a plate of freshly baked cookies. “I thought you ladies would like a little snack,” she says, holding the plate in front of Penny.
“Cookies!” Penny shrieks, turning to me. “Can I have one, Charley?”
“Yes, but just one. I don’t want you to ruin your dinner,” I say, smiling at Linda. “Thank you for these. Thank you for everything.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you have nothing to thank me for. You’re a breath of fresh air. I’m glad you’re here.”
“I don’t think everyone thinks the same,” I whisper, remembering the resentment in Liam’s eyes when he saw me.
“He’ll come around. He’s a good man with a giant heart,” Linda says reassuringly.
I nod, but I’m not convinced that Linda’s right. Liam could never be described as soft, but now he’s closed off. Especially with me. I can’t blame him. When he’d looked at me earlier, all I saw was disdain. Whatever love he felt for me all those years ago isn’t there anymore.