Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
He shrugged. “I do not know. Why?”
“It’s just that people deal with loss in different ways, yanno? Maybe he was afraid of losing you, too, so he did all this to push you away.”
Beau laughed. “You don’t know my father. All he cares about is making toys. To him, other people’s happiness is everything. The rest of us be damned.”
I winced. That was nothing like my father. Our family’s happiness was everything to him.
“Let’s change subjects,” Beau said.
Beau was right. I was trying too hard to fix something that wasn’t mine to fix. I needed to be a friend not a buttinski. “Are you staying for lunch?”
He gave me a look. “Have you seen the amount of pancakes on our plates? I doubt I’ll be hungry for hours.”
“Okay, what about dinner? Just so I can plan what we’ll eat. No pressure or anything.”
He smiled, flashing a charming smile my way. “I decided to stay a few days.”
“Wow. Look at you not hoboing away.” I beamed at him. “I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t be. I just decided to take a break—let my new situation soak in.”
Now I was extra proud of him.
“Stop gloating,” he said, still smiling.
“What?” I looked down at my plate and chewed with a grin.
“There’s a tree lighting tonight downtown. Would you like to go?”
“Will hot chocolate be involved?” I asked.
“Well, you wanted to have dinner together, right?”
Cocoa for dinner. “I’m in.” I just had to be careful. He planned to split in a few days, and that would be that. I might never see him again. One meal at a time, Meri. Just enjoy today.
That evening, Beau and I walked along the plaza, sipping dinner and waiting for the tree-lighting ceremony to start. Families, groups of friends, and couples were everywhere, bundled up in winter jackets and enjoying the music piping from the band near the tree.
Beau had on his thick black parka. I wore my trusty red coat.
“I’ve never come to this,” I said. “Thanks for the invite.”
“Really? I figured this was an annual tradition for you.”
“Nope. I’m usually too busy preparing for my big holiday bash.”
“So why aren’t you now?” he asked.
“I’ve decided not to throw my party this year.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just not feeling it.” Also, there was a certain person occupying my thoughts. “And honestly, I’m not sure my friends really enjoyed it. Not like I thought, anyway.”
“I find that hard to believe. I can see all the energy you put into decorating.”
“I do.” I laughed. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I pulled it from my pocket. It was Kay. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Meri, I completely forgot,” her voice sounded panicked, “but I volunteered to help my mom host the annual Sock and Sip next Sunday.” The Sock and Sip was an auction back in my hometown. For the party, people donated lots of wine and snacks, and they usually booked a DJ for dancing. But most importantly, everyone donated Christmas stockings filled with everything from beauty supplies to candy and X-rated stuff for the adults, all to auction off. Some even gave away vacations. All the money went to the local foodbank for Christmas.
“And?” I said.
“I can’t go. I have a big client to show around early the next day, and I’ll be dead if I try to drive back to the city after the auction. You know how late that thing goes. Can you do it?”
“Kay, it’s a five-hour drive to get there.”
“But you don’t have to rush home. You booked time off, right?” she asked.
In addition to taking off the week after Christmas, I always took vacation time around the beginning of December to finish wrapping gifts and to do party prep. Of course, this year, I wasn’t doing any of that, but I hadn’t told anyone but Beau.
“Please, Meri. You know how my mom gets, and my dad is useless for this stuff. You’ve done the event twice before, and you’re so organized.” Kay’s parents were the kindest people on the planet, but their laid-back hippy ways weren’t exactly the best for organizing charity events like this one. The auction was incredibly fun, but pure chaos. Especially after people got a few drinks in them and started taking off their socks, throwing them around the room. It was weird, but funny.
“What about your sister or one of her friends?” I suggested.
“My sister can’t be around food smells right now, and none of her friends are available.”
“Ugh. Sure, I suppose I can do it.” So I’d take two trips home this December. Not the end of the world.
“Thank you!” She sighed with relief. “You’re the best. Oh, I almost forgot. What happened with Beau? Girl, he’s smokin’ hot! The ladies at Friendsgiving couldn’t stop going on about him. I swear there were little puddles all over the chairs.”
“Ew!”
“Just sayin’,” she laughed, “if things don’t work out with Lick, Beau can park his big tent inside my lady garden—”