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

check. In the meantime, I’m letting every customer know that December 21st will be our last day.”
    “What?” Ruth was hugely taken aback. This news was totally out of left field. Ella’s café was a village institution. There was no way she wasn’t doing enough business to keep the place afloat. “Ella what on earth’s happened? Why are you closing? Is there anything I can do?”
    “Ah no, pet. It’s just time for me to...ah... retire. This café has been my life for too long. I’m letting it go now.”
    “Isn’t there someone who could take over for you and keep this place alive? Surely Colm would jump at the chance?” Ruth felt herself intruding but she was still in shock from the news itself.
    “No, pet. He has his own plans. Anyway, let me go and get you that Danish.”
    Ruth sat at the empty counter looking at her hands. Well, this certainly explained the absence of townspeople at the café. If news of Ella’s sad retirement was spreading, they were likely avoiding the place to let the woman go out in peace.
    It was strange though to think of the word ‘retirement’ where Ella was concerned. To Ruth’s limited knowledge, her family all lived away. Yes, she had all her stray animals but what would she do if she retired? Why would she sacrifice doing something that she loved so much to just make do with a bunch of cats and dogs?
    The word ‘sacrifice’ echoed through Ruth’s mind and instantly reminded her of that script sitting on the couch, and the decision that she herself would soon need to make.
    Ruth had never been one to settle for anything but her dreams. So why now when Scarlett was old enough was she still sacrificing her career? Her mind raced with regret and dare she say it, remorse for all the things she herself had given up.
    Ella reappeared with the coffee and the Danish.
    “You look like you have something on your mind, honey.” She broke the silence between the two as she passed Ruth the white plate and red cup.
    “I was just thinking about retirement. It must have been a hard decision, but you’re probably feeling good about it too?”
    “Sometimes you have to make the hard decisions. Life is full of them. But once you know what your gut is saying, you have to just go for it. Head first. Even if it hurts or feels helpless, when it is time, it is time.”
    Ruth studied Ella’s face. Her eyes had those soft, wave-like wrinkles around her eyes, and her hands were cracked—most likely from washing dishes and serving customers for over thirty years. This woman had devoted her life to her work, the work that she loved. While Ella Harris may have seemed broken, passion still radiated off of her in waves.
    “You know what, I think I am going to take these to go,” Ruth told her. “I have some calls to make, and I probably should get at it.” She quickly grabbed her wallet and her coat from the back of her chair. She paid Ella and darted outside onto Main Street, her coffee spilling carelessly as she sped to her parked car.
    She knew what she had to do.
    Hollywood was once again calling and Ruth needed to decide once and for all whether or not she would answer.

9
    “ I ’ve been laid off .”
    Heidi stared at Paul across the kitchen table. “What do you mean you got laid off? When? Is this a joke, like that thing with the credit card? If it is, it isn’t very funny, and I do not appreciate being teased.”
    Her husband just stared at his plate in silence. “Oh Paul," she lamented, trying to think back to anything that could have pointed to this coming. Was it the regional manager’s visit that he had obsessed about? Maybe it was the closures of other branches throughout the city. Paul had talked constantly about how all these huge changes in the banking industry following the credit crash would eventually mean lay-offs and redundancies.
    “They just didn't need me anymore," he said stoically. "I don't think there was anything I could have done or said.” He seemed