Anya and Luke returned to the inn better friends than when they had left. The thick tension that kept them at least two feet apart seemed to have dissipated on their walk back. Now they stood within a foot of each other and both of them had dared to smile and even let out a light laugh during their safe and shallow chatter back and forth.

With bags of groceries clutched tightly in both of their arms, their shoulders raised to their ears as a sharp wind raced across the plateau upon which the inn was built, Anya hurried them along the side of the inn to the kitchen entrance. They were both craving the sheltered road they had just trekked up, with the towering evergreens on either side protecting them from the true chill of the wind.

What snow they had accumulated on their jackets from the light downfall that was starting up again outside melted as soon as they stepped foot into Gloria's kitchen. She came racing to meet them, grabbing the groceries from their arms and passing them onto an underling, barking out orders without even so much of a nod of greeting to Luke and Anya.

Her shirtsleeves were rolled up past her elbows and Anya even thought she saw a few beads of sweat on her brow. With all five ovens roaring and many more burners going, with an entire wait staff hurrying in and out of the swinging door, the kitchen's temp sat at a very warm seventy-five degrees.

Anya was sweating in the extreme heat by the time she shook her jacket off her shoulders and had it hanging up in the snow room just off the kitchen. Luke seemed captivated by the flurry of movement happening all around them and Anya, once again, had to grab his arm to get him out of the way of a server hurrying past with a stack of the Inn's finest china.

Back in the thick of things, Anya's mind starting revving up to its usual speed, a million thoughts and to-dos racing back to the forefront of her mind. Before her momentum could take her up and away to whatever jobs were laying wait for her, Luke's soft touch on her arm kept her in place for a second longer.

"Hey, Anya. Thanks. For, you know, letting me go with you. That was more fun than I was expecting."

"Oh. Yeah. Sure. Thanks for the help."

Before Anya saw it coming, Luke was leaning down for a hug. With not enough time to react, Anya's arms got pinned down to her sides. She tried giving him a pack on the back but couldn't reach.

Luckily, as the awkwardness of the gesture ran both ways at high speed, the embrace didn't last long and Luke was moving away back to the guest-approved areas before Anya could say anything. He didn't move fast enough and so Anya caught the red that had filled his cheeks.

She caught Gloria's eye, who caught the whole awkward exchange while whipping cream and looked both confused and amused.

Anya left before Gloria could say anything, wishing to put the whole interaction far from her mind. Her feet took her the long way upstairs, passing through the kitchen, out to the restaurant and through the dining hall attached to the end of the Inn.

Everyone was doing as they should and Anya found she had more than just a second to dress for dinner. Dressed and looking more the part of a high-end inn manager, Anya walked down the front stairs instead of racing down the back.

She found Michaela at her post behind the front desk but was glad to see she too had been given a moment to dress. It was the night before Christmas Eve and therefore the first night dinner would be served in the dining hall. It was an event that one made sure to dress for.

The lobby was nearly empty and Anya knew that she had about five minutes before Grandmother appeared at the top of the steps and made her descent, signifying that dinner was ready. At that precise moment, the dining hall doors would be open to the guests and the evening could begin.

"Hey. Manny was looking for you."

Anya managed to suppress the eye roll but a heavy sigh still managed to escape her lips. She suddenly felt a bit more exhausted than expected when she took her place beside Michaela behind the front desk and started going through the mail for the day.

"What's so annoying about a very cute guy looking for you? And what's up between the two of you anyway?"

"What do you mean? There's nothing between us."

Anya didn't have to look up to find a look of disbelief on Michaela's face. She hadn't known her cousin for more than 10 days but Michaela never worked hard to hide her opinions of others. It almost radiated off of her.

When Anya did sneak a look at Michaela, she found what she expected, Michaela leaning against the counter, her arms crossed in front of her and a look that made Anya feel like she was the craziest person Michaela had ever had to encounter.

"'There's nothing between us'," Michaela repeated in a mocking tone. "Yeah, right! You could cut the tension between the two of you with a knife. You looked like you were going to murder him when he walked in this morning. Besides, I had lunch in the kitchen today."

"You shouldn't believe everything they gossip about in there."

"So I'm just going to ignore the heavy hints his own older sister keeps dropping?"

"Gloria knows better than to say anything she shouldn't."

"Oh, yeah. I know that. He's her little brother, you're technically her boss. She won't say a word. But the fact that she has to keep so quiet speaks volumes."

"What do you mean, technically? I am her boss."

Now Michaela was rolling her eyes. All intentions of trying to do work were forgotten when Michaela had mentioned Manny's name. Anya was now standing, facing her cousin, matching her defensive posture. Neither could see it because they were busy having a staredown, but when angry, they could have been mistaken as twins, even with the varying skin tones.

"Well, no. Grandma's the boss. Everyone knows that."

"And I'm her right hand. Second in command. I hired 90% of this staff."

"But you didn't hire Gloria, did you?"

"Well, no..."

"And you can't fire anyone, can you? Unless somehow I'm mistaken."

"No. But trust me, if I could, you would have been downgraded to a guest days ago."

Michaela threw up her hands in frustration.

"Dude. What the hell? I fly all the way here, spend my very limited free time helping out around here, trying to learn the ropes and this is the thanks I get?"

"Well, you're not very good at your job."

"Because I've only been here for ten days and you won't let me leave this stupid desk!"

Anya was grateful the only people on the first floor were wait staff and kitchen workers because Michaela's voice was rising in volume and Anya could hear hers rising to match it.

"You don't know a thing about running an inn. I can't put you anywhere else because you can't do anything else. I don't have the time to babysit you."

"I didn't ask you to! And I have to start learning something at some time. I'm here to help. I'm getting my degree in hospitality. You can't write me off as totally useless."

Anya couldn't find a flaw in her logic or a retort. She stood silently fuming, staring down at her cousin. Michaela was the first one to try and break the tension.

"Look, I know we don't know each other and we only met that one time at your parents' funeral but we're still family. I'm still your cousin. Could you at least treat like one? I want to help. I want to learn. Just give me a chance."

Anya could feel her defenses starting to fracture just a bit. Before she could break enough to allow friendly conversation, Eve appeared at the top of the stairs and started her descent down.

"Good evening, ladies."

"Grandma."

"Hey, Grandma."

"It's so nice to see you two getting along. Now if you're done settling your differences, I believe we have a feast waiting for us."

Without another word, Michaela and Anya sent each other a glance and an attempt at soft smiles as they took their place behind Eve. Crossing the lounge, bypassing the restaurant and coming to the double French doors that led into the dining hall, Eve paused and let the two awaiting attendants open the doors for her.

Anya didn't have to look behind to know the guests were making their way in the same direction. The three of them stepped out onto the hardwood floors and took in the sight before them. The opposite wall, lined with rounded windows that followed the curve of the room, showed a winter wonderland just beyond, the little town glowing in the night down below.

Overhead, the chandeliers had all been lit and their crystal sparkled in the soft light, reflecting the string of white lights that wrapped around the many Christmas trees elegantly decorated throughout the room, as well as the candles lit and flickering in the center of every table underneath. It was breath-taking and Anya heard Michaela gasp as they came further into the room.

Soft piano music drifted up to the wooden rafters overhead and a soothing voice followed close behind. The sight of the dining hall kept Anya distracted enough that it took her an extra minute to recognize the voice singing Christmas carols.

Anya's eyes swept the room and came to land on the grand piano tucked neatly into the corner of the room, placed in the center of the small bandstand risen a foot above the floor. Seated on the bench, with his hands dancing across the ivory keys, sat Manny, his whole body leaning into the instrument and his mouth only inches from the microphone attached.

Anya found herself once again frozen in her tracks. Eve noticed and leaned close to half-whisper in Anya's direction.

"Oh. I forgot to mention, dear. I hired Manuel to act as a lounge singer while he stays with us."

"What- How- When-"

Eve answered the questions Anya was trying to formulate.

"He came to see me this afternoon. He was obviously looking for you while you were down in the village and played it off like he came to catch up. I figured because he's staying in the barn loft free of charge, the least he can do is offer up his talent."

Eve didn't offer any more explanation and Anya was forced to follow her grandmother as they crossed the room and took their seats at the head table. Gloria would be joining once the buffet was served and she was given the chance to change.

A few other of the inn's staff would also be seated with them but for the first few minutes of the evening, just the three of them occupied the round table, watching as the guests found their places and slowly made their way to the large buffet that lined the furthest end of the large room.

And so Anya was stuck staring at an empty seat across from her, keeping her eyes on the chair, refusing to lift them even an inch because if she did she found Manny staring at her from his spot behind the piano. Her eyes moved against her will and she met his gaze as he sang out in the warm and rich voice Anya knew she would never forget, no matter how hard she tried.