Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
“Sorry, buddy, we need to wait for Uncle Ty and Aunt Kaylee,” Lincoln stated.
Blayze pouted. “Aw, man.”
Tanner grabbed Blayze and started to play as I headed into the kitchen to see if Stella needed any help.
When I walked in, Ty Senior and Stella were dancing to “White Christmas,” sung by Elvis Presley. It was such a sweet moment that I tried to back out of the kitchen, but Stella caught sight of me.
“Timberlynn, come take my spot so I can stir the hash browns.”
“Me?” I asked, pointing to myself. Stella nodded as Ty Senior motioned for me to come to him.
I walked over and he took me in his arms and danced me flawlessly around the kitchen.
“Find a man who will dance you across the kitchen floor, Timberlynn. Those are the keepers. That type of man will be devoted and love you forever.”
I giggled when Ty Senior dipped me.
“Just try not to compare their dancing to mine,” he said. “I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed when you can’t find an equal.”
This time I found myself laughing so hard I was nearly in tears. This was turning out to be the best Christmas of my entire life.
Ty Senior spun me and let go as he gracefully went to the oven and took out the cinnamon rolls.
“So, this is Christmas,” I said softly as I watched a husband and wife work flawlessly next to one another as they laughed and stole a kiss every so often.
It truly was the best Christmas ever.
Chapter Nineteen
TIMBERLYNN
Christmas Day
As I helped Stella get all the food out into the dining room, I asked her what a typical Christmas looked like for their family.
“I guess like any other family. I’ve always liked having the main meal on Christmas Day be breakfast. The kids hated it, still do, but that was how it was when I grew up. My grandmother and mother would be in the kitchen at the crack of dawn making all the breakfast goodies.”
She smiled at the memory. “It was always my favorite part of the day, eating amazing food around the giant table and hearing all the grownups talk about whatever it was they talked about. Then, after we ate, my mother used to say the dishes could wait, and off it was to open gifts. No one took turns, we all ripped into presents like it was the first time we’d ever seen them. Ty and I decided early on that’s what we would do. It’s a madhouse, I’ll tell you right now. It should be a little less crazy this year since it’s just the kids and no one from my family or Ty’s will be here. Most of the older folk have passed on and most, like us, simply want to be with the immediate family.”
“It sounds like fun.”
She winked. “It is. And I’m so glad you’re a part of it, sweetheart. So very glad.”
“I am too. My only concern is who’s going to tell Blayze that I’m officially off the market and spoken for by his uncle?”
Stella’s face went bright with happiness. “Both uncles stealing women out from under him. How will he survive?”
We both laughed.
Stella let out a sigh and then said with a straight face. “Well, good luck telling him.”
“Wait, what?”
She looked back over at me. “I’m not going to be the one to tell Blayze. And I’m pretty sure it won’t be Tanner. So, that leaves you.”
“Oh no. There is no way I am breaking that little boy’s heart. Stella! You’re his grandmother, isn’t this like your area of specialty?”
She laughed. Hard. “My area of specialty is spoiling my grandkids. Butting into my kids’ business, keeping up with the gossip in town, not letting anyone know I’m keeping up with the gossip in town, and being able to mend any piece of clothing in any sort of emergency. Oh, and I can gut a deer faster than any of the Shaw men.”
The last one made me curl my lip. “Eeeww!”
She shrugged.
“But I don’t see why…”
Stella held up her hand, and I instantly stopped talking. “It’s your heart he wants, so it’s got to be you who breaks it into a million little pieces.” And with that she walked away.
“Okay, what just happened?” I asked as I looked around the empty room.
Before I had a chance to walk out of the room, Blayze walked in.
Oh. No.
“Hey, Miss Timberlynn! Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Blayze. So how did Santa treat you?”
Blayze looked around and then motioned for me to come closer so he could whisper. “Can you keep a secret?”
Good Lord, what was this little boy going to tell me? Would it be something I’d need to tell his parents and then he’d never trust me again? What if it was something bad? Oh my gosh, what if he didn’t believe in Santa anymore and didn’t have the heart to tell anyone else?!