Free Christmas at The Heartbreak Cafe (Lakeview Christmas Novel) (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 7) by Melissa Hill Page A

smeared as if their history never mattered.
    However, as much as Heidi wanted to be mad at the rest of her former friends, she had realised early on that much of the town’s maliciousness was perhaps her own doing. For all of these years she had cultivated this character, this facade, of a woman who had everything she could ever ask or desire for. She put herself on a lone pedestal for all those to admire. Who wouldn’t blame these people for looking down on her when she faltered and failed? Who could stop them for feeling no remorse for the person who refused to share their good fortune and wealth but instead kept to their mansion on the hill?
    Heidi had even gone so far as to lie and cheat her way there, and Ella was her most recent victim. She shouldn’t have presumed to host the Christmas party at her house, especially now that there may no longer even be a house.

    N ow , face to face with Ella herself for the first time since word was out about her family’s affairs, she felt the swell of regret and remorse for her actions. Here was a woman who just defended her honour to a group of customers who practically ran this town, yet Heidi had nothing to show her gratitude. She had nothing to give the one woman who had the nerve to put an end to the cruel comments and incessant laughter.
    She was barely paying attention when Ella came over and gently touched her elbow. “We can go in back to my office if you want to get out of here.”
    Heidi could see that Ella was also upset, but she instantly realised that this woman actually felt bad enough for her to offer some more kindness. She sighed and nodded as she blew her nose into a napkin. Removing her hood, she followed Ella to the back of the kitchen where Colm and the other staff worked. The mood around her was sombre, but occasionally, someone cracked a joke, and the group would laugh together. It felt like family; it felt like a home.
    Ella unlocked the office door, turned on the lamp in the corner, and pulled her desk chair next to the only empty one. The office was all wooden, almost like a den. No doubt that this office once belonged to Ella’s husband. It had that feel of a man’s touch. The vintage, worn desk had to be original as well. Ella had obviously wanted to keep as much of her family as she could in this place.
    Heidi had realised that she had not known much about Ella’s situation. She had heard several years ago that the café had once belonged to Ella’s father-in-law and when he passed away, she and her husband had kept it going. However, Ella’s husband died several years later, leaving her all alone to run the place. Heidi had never confirmed this, and was not about to broach the subject now, but she felt the guilt of not knowing this woman who had given her so much hospitality and loyalty better than what she had. And now her husband’s financial mismanagement was about to take it all away from her. Just when she was about to celebrate her thirtieth year in business.
    “Well, I think we are going to need to make some changes to our plans for the Christmas party in light of both our new circumstances, don’t you?” Ella began, obviously wanting to be in control. It was a complete change from their other meetings when Ella would sit back and listen to Heidi ramble on about her opinions and choices.
    “Yes," Heidi mustered. "I think that’ll be necessary.”
    “Let’s start with the basics—venue first. I think we are going to have to move the party here to the café. Space isn’t a concern and seeing how today is going, I am thinking that some may be avoiding the party altogether. Not that it will be much of a loss to us…” She winked at Heidi. Even in this awkward situation, Ella was there with a bit of a joke and some charm to boot. “But the good news is, and I suspect you have heard, I will be retiring at the end of this month and will be closing the café for good.” She emphasised the word “retiring” enough so that Heidi