“I know how close you were,” Noel whispered, setting the stack of photos down.
“I need to talk to you about something very important. Your parents loved the Christmas concert. It was their event…”
Oh God. Noel knew what was coming and she was already formulating her polite refusal.
“We’ve honored them every year since their passing, never deviating from their playlist. This year we wanted to do something really special for them and I was hoping that you would be a part of it.”
“What…what do you want me to do?”
“I would like you to sing, baby. This event was created by the Carter family not soon after the town of Mistletoe was founded. A Carter should continue the tradition. Don’t you think?”
“Honestly, no. Every Carter except my great-great-great-grandfather left this town and my dad was an only child. I think the tradition should be expanded to include other people, if you want to keep the concert going.” Noel cleared her throat, fighting past the lump of panic. “Plus, I don’t sing. Not in public, anyway.”
“It would mean a lot to everyone, especially me. As much as we’ve all tried to do right by your family and the concert, it would really brighten spirits to see you. To hear you sing the songs your parents loved.” Victoria ran her hand over Noel’s cheek, tears glittering in her eyes. “I know the Christmas Concert holds painful memories for you, but the good ones should outweigh the bad. I’m sure it would do your parents proud.”
A shaky breath escaped her. “Maybe, if they were here. But they’re dead. They died on the way to their beloved concert. Instead of staying in Boise overnight and waiting out the storm, they tried to make it on time. Only they didn’t make it at all.”
“I hope you aren’t blaming them for the accident.”
“Of course not,” Noel snapped.
Victoria’s eyes widened with hurt, but she didn’t reprimand her. Instead, she patted her hand and urged her. “Just think about it, all right? I know it probably feels as though I am springing this on you, but it’s been ten years. With Nick being home, we have so much to celebrate, and I feel like it’s time we remind the town why this concert is so special. Your family is a huge part of that, but if you really don’t want to participate, I will let the matter drop.”
Noel cradled her tea cup in her hands, searching for something to say. Ten years of avoiding the Christmas concert and all reminders of the night her parents died. Ten years and it was still as fresh as if it were yesterday. The pain hadn’t eased. She’d just pushed it to the back of her mind.
Even the counselor Victoria and Chris sent her to hadn’t been able to open her up. In all honesty, she probably would have shut down completely if it hadn’t been for Nick, Gabby, and the rest of them.
The Winters family had done so much for her. She could do this for Victoria. Noel didn’t believe for a second anyone else in town cared if she sang or not, but if she didn’t attend, Victoria would be disappointed.
But an evening of constant reminders of her parents? Could she get through it without falling apart?
She took a sip of her tea and spoke before she changed her mind.
“I’ll do the concert.”
Victoria turned away from the dishes she’d started and the pure joy on her face hit Noel like a punch in the gut. “Oh, I am so glad! You don’t need to worry about being alone up there. Merry and Holly will be covering the bass and drums and I’ve got a fantastic guitarist. It will be a beautiful tribute concert, I promise you.”
“I’m sure it will be,” Noel said with little conviction.
“There is one more thing. For the tribute, I was hoping to display some of their mementos in the town hall. Would it be possible for us to get into the storage unit?”
Noel nodded. “I can drop the key off tomorrow on my way to work.”
“Oh, well, I thought we could do it together.”
“To be honest, I haven’t been in there since it happened and I don’t think I want to tackle it right now. But you’re welcome to go through and pull out what you need.”
“I appreciate it, sweetheart.”
Noel finished her tea and stood with the empty cup and discarded cookie in her hands. “I hope you don’t mind if I take off, but I am beat.”
“Of course not. Get some rest.”
Noel returned Victoria’s hug. “I am sorry for snapping at you.”
The older woman patted her shoulder. “Apology accepted.” Victoria pulled back and cupped her face. “You know I love you, right? And you are as much a part of this family as the children I gave birth to?”