Vintage Valentine (Elmheart Series) by Mindy Hardwick Page B

asked. Her face shone with an inner glow of childhood optimism. 
    “Yes,” Hailey said. “I’m sure we can find a marshmallow or two in the kitchen.” She once had the same hopeful spirit as her daughter, but ten years of hard work and making ends meet, while being a single parent, had worn away at the edges of that optimism.  Hailey pushed back her chair. Her slippered foot touched a threadbare piece of carpet. Hailey stared down at the thinning carpet and frowned. Grandpa always kept the Elmheart Hotel in pristine condition. It had been listed on all the best travel sites for years. Grandpa proudly displayed each’ best travel site ‘sticker on the glass door in the entryway. Hailey stood with her hands braced on the card table and listened. Other than her grandpa’s work in the dance hall, and her grandmother’s steps above her head, she hadn’t heard guests all afternoon. She assumed the hotel would be packed with her grandparents’ friends attending the anniversary party. Hailey remembered Grandma and Grandpa always hosted holiday parties. Everything from large Fourth of July barbeques to New Year’s Eve dance parties in the ballroom. The parties were some of the best attended in the area. Grandma often hired musicians from the local university who performed everything from harp solos to the sounds of the Big Band era. People talked about the parties for weeks afterward while waiting eagerly for the next invitation to arrive. If guests were arriving to check in, a few of them should have arrived by now. Hailey made a note to talk to her grandmother about the hotel. She hoped nothing was wrong.
    Hailey leaned over and kissed Kaitlin lightly on the head. Kaitlin looked up at her mom. Her eyes widened in surprise. “What was that for?”
    “Because I love you,” Hailey said, and squeezed her daughter’s shoulder.
    “I love you too, Mom,” Kaitlin said. She placed a pink paper cut-out heart in the stack. “This is going to be the best Valentine’s Day ever!”
    Hailey turned away from the living room and stepped lightly toward the kitchen. She felt happier than she had in a long time. She was glad to see Kaitlin so cheerful about Valentine’s Day. Kaitlin had been having problems with the other girls in her class teasing and bullying her. They met with her teacher, but the problems still hadn’t stopped. Girls could be so cruel- sometimes. Hailey dreaded thinking about what Valentine’s Day might be for daughter.  Thankfully, she was here and Kaitlin wouldn’t have to suffer a Valentine’s Day in a classroom full of kids who decided not to give her Valentine cards.
    Hailey pushed open the swinging kitchen door and bumped into a very solid body standing on the other side. “I’m so sorry,” Hailey said quickly. “I didn’t realize anyone was in the kitchen.” She stepped away from the door and looked up into the face of the one man she swore she’d never see again.
    “Can I help you with something?” Patrick asked. He wiped his hands on the white apron tied around his waist. The apron covered black jeans and he wore a white sweatshirt with SUNY, Albany written across the front. His hair was still the same sandy brown Hailey remembered from high school. She knew exactly how that hair felt when she’d  run her hands through it—   smooth and fine-textured, and when Patrick picked her up for a date, his hair was never quite dry and curled around the edges of his shirt collar.   
    Hailey inhaled sharply. She´d spent years remembering him; years of seeing Patrick when Kaitlin looked at her with the same bright blue eyes. Now, here he was, in front of her. But, did he even remember her? They only dated for six months at the end of high school. It was ten years later. How would she tell him about Kaitlin?
    Flustered, Hailey quickly headed for the far left hand cabinet. “I’m just going to make some hot chocolate. I won’t be here long.” Hailey reached up and swung open the cabinet to