“Parker.He’s here with Belle.Do you think they’re dating?”
Colin’s head swiveled until he located his brother.“I have no idea.Maybe this has something to do with the dognapping.”
“Shall we go say hello?”
“Definitely.”He took her hand in his as they made their way through the crowd of guests.
But making your way through a crowd of partygoers is never a straight, uninterrupted line.And the party wasn’t in one room.It was spread throughout the living room, dining room, kitchen, and four-seasons room.So, it took a bit to reach the spot where they saw Belle and Parker, but by then they were gone.
Holly lifted up on her tiptoes and looked around.She didn’t see them.“Can you spot them?”
“No.I don’t know where they went.”
“Oh well.I’m sure they’ll be back.”
It was only then that Holly realized they were now standing next to Colin’s parents.So, they talked with his parents, who Holly had always found so friendly.When his brother Michael and his date, Candi, joined them, they learned that there had been another emergency at Belle’s house.They hoped that everything was all right.
Mrs.Gunderson stepped up to them with a smile on her face.“Your parents are delightful people.Tell them we’re definitely interested in investing in their project.It sounds so exciting.But we have to leave now, Gerald ate the pizza rolls, even though he knows he shouldn’t, and now he has raging heartburn.”Mrs.Gunderson peered around the room.“Oh.There he is.Gotta go.Merry Christmas.”
Holly looked at Colin.“A project?Do you know what she was talking about?”
He shook his head.“I don’t.”
Holly looked around.Her parents were talking to the Kringles now.Please, don’t let them ask them for money.
Colin arched a brow.“Do you want me to scope it out?”
She worried her bottom lip as an internal war raged within her.“I should probably trust them, shouldn’t I?”
Colin looked like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.His gaze dropped to the floor as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“Colin?”When he wouldn’t say anything or meet her gaze, she wrung her hands together.Her empty stomach churned with nerves.“Colin, tell me what you’re thinking.Please.”
At last, his gaze met hers.“I just… Never mind.”
“Come on,” she prompted.“Talk to me.”
“I just think that you’ve known the people in this room your entire life.You care about them, and they care about you.But what do you know about your parents?Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to find out what this ‘project’ is.”
When he put it that way, it sounded reasonable.And yet she hesitated.There was a part of her that didn’t want to know what her parents were up to.What would she do if she didn’t like the answer?Ask them to leave?The party?The town?The state?
“They moved on from the Kringles.”Colin’s voice drew her from her troubling thoughts.“Maybe I’ll go have a word with the mayor.”
While he was off talking to some of the guests, Holly made her way toward Merry Kringle.She couldn’t ignore whatever it was that her parents were up to.But before she reached her, Merry was approached by someone else and they disappeared into the kitchen.
While Holly waited for her to return, she moved to the punch bowl.It was there that she bumped into Felicity.
Holly smiled.“It’s good to see you again.”
“I forgot what life is like in a small town—always bumping into everyone.”
“Hey, Felicity, here.”Justin handed over her phone.“You forgot it in my car.”
Felicity’s cheeks grew rosy as she took the phone from him.“Thanks.”
After Justin moved toward the cookie table, Holly said, “You’re here with Justin?Are you two back together?”
Felicity’s eyes widened.“No.Definitely not.”
