Christmas Mountain

By michelle presley

Victoria was blindsided by an unexpected divorce. After one last confrontation with Rick, Victoria's best friend convinces her to take some time away to regroup. After approval from her father to clean out the family cabin, Victoria discovers a secret the cabin has kept since her grandmother's passing. Will it help her pick up the pieces of her life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: michelle presley
• Release date: Mar 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201701383

Book preview

Special Thanks to:

Bonnie and Helen for being there from the get-go.

***

All my love:

Marlana, Leigh Ann, Penelope and Alec

You are my heart and soul...

ALWAYS

***

Special Memorial

To my stepdad who passed away May 12, 2021.

Thank you for believing in me.

Staff Sargent Robert S. Grosscup

United States Airforce

August 5, 1950 – May 12, 2021

Chapter 1

Victoria Jensen survived a lot in her thirty-two years of life. Her mother passed away when she was twelve. Her grandmother the year after she married Rick Weber. She made it through both of those tragedies. The one she was truly struggling with was the fact that the one person she thought she could actually count on, turned on her after he had an affair with his boss’s secretary.

Rick invited her out to dinner at her favorite restaurant to drop the bombshell. He waited until she sat down and ordered a drink before he told her that he was moving out, and he wanted a divorce. After delivering the crushing blow, he didn’t stick around for a response. He abruptly got up and left. Victoria just sat there. The soul crushing shock was more than she could bear. She was afraid that if she got up and tried to walk out, she wouldn’t make it to the door. Instead, she ordered another glass of merlot and got herself together.

***

Three months after Rick walked out, Victoria saw him again at her lawyer’s office. Because there were no children, separating everything was easy. They agreed to sell the house and split the money. They kept their respective cars and bank accounts. They also agreed to take their personal items out of the house so it could be sold furnished. Once Victoria signed the papers, she got up and left the office without a word.

***

Months later, Victoria was stopped at the red light where Jackson Place and First street met. When she looked over to the cafe’, she spotted Rick sitting on the patio with a leggy blonde. Victoria knew she should keep driving but she let her anger control her next actions. When the light turned green, she turned into the cafe’ parking lot. She sat there remembering everything that Rick and this woman stole from her. The longer she sat there the angrier she was getting.

Turning the engine off, Victoria got out of her SUV and walked over to Rick and his friend. Smiling sheepishly at Rick, Victoria picked up the glass in front of the woman sitting across from him and poured it over her head. She sat there in shock. Victoria sat the glass back on the table, turned and walked back to her car. She immediately turned the car on and drove away.

When Victoria got home, she walked into her apartment, closed the door and locked it. She threw her bag on the chair in the corner, turned her phone off, sat down on the couch and cried.

***

Come on Jingles, open the door! yelled the person on the other side banging on the door. Victoria stalled before she finally got off the couch to answer. When she did, she found her best friend doing the banging. Paulie was standing there holding Victoria’s favorite coffee.

What’s going on, Jingles? Pauline, who went by Paulie, asked as she handed her one of the coffees.

Jingles was the nickname Victoria’s father gave her because she liked to play with the Christmas bells child.

Not much. Victoria mumbled.

Well, no one seems to be able to get a hold of you. Paulie frowned. Your boss and your sister called me looking for you. They thought maybe I would have a clue as to where you were.

I’m sorry, Paulie. I should have called you. I saw Rick the other day with some blonde woman.

Why on earth are you worried about them? It’s been almost a year since he left. He has moved on. It’s time for you to do the same.

I couldn’t help it. I let the anger get the better of me. I went up to her and poured her drink over her head. Victoria couldn’t help but smile as she remembered the look on the woman's face.

What!

It felt good to get some of that anger out.

After telling Paulie every detail that happened, the two women opened a bottle of wine and ordered a pizza. It took Paulie some time to convince Victoria that it just wasn’t worth her time to waste her energy on Rick anymore. When she finally did, she also convinced Victoria to take a trip to the family’s cabin so that she could regroup.

Chapter 2

Once Paulie convinced Victoria to go to the cabin, Victoria turned it around on her and told her she had to go too. Now, Paulie was running around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to get all her ducks in a row so she could go with her friend.

Finally, they got everything packed and into Victoria’s SUV. The drive was going to take roughly six hours. So, they ate breakfast before they left. They planned to stop along the way for lunch. Victoria knew about a couple of tasty spots that they could choose from.

To kill time the girls sang, talked and listened to music. After a couple of hours on the road they stopped to eat lunch. They chose Ruby’s Drive In. Ruby’s was the only truck stop between Knoxville and Christmas. Victoria remembered that they had the best tuna melt within a hundred miles. They could also get a fruit salad to go with it instead of a regular salad.

When they walked in, they were greeted with decor that was right out of the nineteen seventies. Victoria loved it. The restaurant looked the same as she remembered. Her Dad always stopped at Ruby’s when they went to the cabin to see her grandmother. The music was a mix of rock, jazz and country. All artists from the seventies.

Wow Vicki, this place is great. How did you discover it?

Dad always brought us here when we were going to see Nana. Victoria smiled remembering the fun they always had on those trips.

They sat down at a square table with a plastic checkerboard tablecloth on it. The table had a metal napkin holder, salt and pepper shakers, wrapped silverware and menus. The waitress came by and deposited two glasses of ice water on their table and told the girls she would be back to take their orders.

Paulie completely enjoyed the tuna melt and fruit salad. The friends ordered the same thing. They agreed to order different desserts. Victoria ordered the chocolate and raspberry cheesecake. Paulie ordered lemon meringue pie. They share both. Once they were finished, they got back on the road.

Victoria warned Paulie that no one had been to the cabin since her grandmother passed four years earlier.

Why haven’t y'all been up here?

Dad never had time with Amber and work. I was busy working and dealing with a cheating husband and divorce.

That explains it.

Yup, it’s probably just like Nana left it. Victoria frowned. She knew being busy wasn’t the real reason, her dad said he would never go back without his mother being there.

***

Just before the turn off to go up the mountain to the cabin, Victoria and Paulie pulled up to the General Store in Christmas. They wanted to get some supplies before going to the cabin. Victoria knew they would need cleaning supplies since the cabin had been closed up for the last four years. Once they were done, they headed up the mountain road to the cabin, passing the only other place on the mountain as they went.

Who lives in that cabin?

I’m not sure who lives there now. When I was a kid the people who lived there were friends of my grandmother’s. I remember they had kids but that was a while ago. Victoria replied. Before Paulie could say anymore they pulled into the driveway.

Wow Jingles, this place is incredible.

I used to love coming up here to visit Nana. There are a lot of memories here. Victoria smiled as she got lost in her childhood memories.

Hey, snap out of it. We need to unload this car. Paulie snapped her fingers next to Victoria’s ear.

Oh, sorry. I was lost in the past.

Once we get everything unpacked and settled, you will have to tell me what you were thinking about.

Victoria got out of the car and looked around. Everything had been neglected and overgrown, but Victoria could still see the place like it was when she was a kid. She made a mental note to find someone to get the yard back together. She also remembered that her father did leave the electric on, thankfully.

Ok you, let's get this car unloaded so we can figure out what to do next. Victoria nodded her head in agreement. They both grabbed bags and blankets from the car and headed in. Everything was still like Victoria's grandmother left it. Other than the loft, everything else was on the main floor. To the left of the front door, under the loft was the two bedrooms with a bathroom between them. The living room and dining room shared the same space. The kitchen was huge, it took up the backside of the cabin.

Victoria remembered how the family always spent most of their time in the kitchen either eating or talking over a cup of coffee. She remembered how family was always most important with her grandmother. She did notice that the cabin was still in good condition.

Before tackling dinner and the cleaning, the girls unpacked. Victoria took the room that was her grandmother’s. Paulie took the one her parents always used. When Victoria was growing up the kids always stayed in the loft. When she walked into the bedroom reality smacked her. Her grandmother’s room had not changed. Victoria realized no one had been up to clean out the cabin after her grandmother passed. She sat her bags down and walked through the bathroom to the other bedroom.

Ok, what’s wrong? Paulie asked looking up from the dresser.

Victoria sat down on the stool at the foot of the bed.

I just realized that no one has been here to do anything with Nana’s things since she passed. Her personal stuff is still all over her room. Victoria wanted to cry. She missed her grandmother terribly. "I’m going to have to call dad to find out what he wants me to do with all of

her things."

What do you think your dad is going to say? Paulie felt bad for her friend. She thought someone should have already taken care of this.

I don’t think he will care about the clothes, I’m not sure about the rest.

Then you should probably call him.

I will in a bit. Right now, I’m going to go clean the kitchen so we can eat dinner. I will be right there. Paulie called after her.

Victoria stood in the middle of the kitchen looking around, remembering all the time she spent there with her family.

Hey, are you ok? Paulie asked when she walked into the kitchen.

Yes, just remembering all the time we spent in this room when Nana was alive. While Paulie started wiping down the counters, Victoria started opening cabinets to see what was in them. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. There were dishes everywhere. Stacks of plates, rows of glasses, bowls, serving pieces. All were vintage patterns like blue willow and royal Warwick. It was obvious to Victoria that her grandmother liked blue. Check this out, Paulie. Nana had an obsession with dishes. There are at least five different sets here.

These are gorgeous. Oh Victoria, look at these.

Paulie picked up a plate from the blue willow set. The plate was blue and white with a Japanese type design on it.

I love this set.

It is beautiful. Victoria would make sure her best friend got that set.

Jingles, what are you going to do with all of this stuff?

Not sure yet. I have to see what dad wants done with it. Victoria noticed a set of dishes that were handmade pottery. They were cobalt blue with white daisies in the middle. We will use these for dinner. She pulled out two plates, bowls, dessert plates and two hand painted glasses with daisies on them as well.

Paulie spotted the phone on the wall by the porch door. So, she picked up the receiver. To her surprise it had a dial tone.

Your dad left the phone on too. Paulie smiled, holding the receiver out to her friend. Now is as good as any other time to call him.

Victoria looked away rolling her eyes.

I guess if I wait any longer, I won’t want to call at all. Victoria picked up the phone and started dialing. You probably should start dinner while I talk to dad.

Sure thing. Paulie said, pointing to both stoves. Which one do I use?

Oh yeah. Use the white one. It’s electric. Victoria laughed.

Now the pots and pans?

Victoria pointed to the long cabinet on the left side of the refrigerator.

While Paulie started pulling out pots and pans, Victoria waited for someone to answer the phone. She also wondered what she was going to do with all of her grandmother's things. She knew whatever she did was going to be hard. Her grandmother was one of her favorite people.

Hey Amber. Victoria said after her sister finally answered.

Hi sis. I went by your apartment, you weren’t there.

I’m out of town with Paulie. Where is dad?

Hold on, I will get him for you.

Hi honey, What’s up? Her dad asked after a short pause.

Well dad, I need to talk to you about a couple of things.

Go ahead. I’m listening.

First, I am at Nana’s cabin.... Her dad broke in to ask why. ...Because I needed to get away for a few days. Anyway, the reason I am calling is to find out what you want me to do with Nana’s things. It looks like no one has been up here in a long time.

No one has, kiddo. I haven’t had time with work and your sister being involved in everything under the sun.

Since I am up here, what would you like me to do with her stuff?

Do whatever you want. I’m not going to have time to come up there. You know that Nana left me everything because your uncle wasn’t on the best of terms with her. So, I guess you can do what you feel is best.

Are you sure? I can wait until you can get up here.

No sweetheart, you go ahead and do what needs to be done. Just make sure you pick out some things that your sister might like to have.

Sure dad, I can do that. Victoria replied as she wiped away a renegade tear. They finished their conversation talking about Amber.

***

What did he say?

He said I could do whatever I want with the stuff as long as I pull out some things for Amber. I don’t know, he didn’t seem quite right. Maybe, it’s just me.

Maybe, you just caught him off guard. Where would you like to start? Paulie asked, handing her friend a bowl of pasta.

"I know tomorrow we should go into town so I can try to find someone to get that crazy yard under control. Now I am going to have to go