Holly breathed a sigh of relief.“You don’t know how happy I am to hear that.”
“I can’t leave to get him until the contest is over.”Merry’s eyes widened as though as idea had just come to her.“I know, why don’t you have a seat and participate?”
Holly shook her head.“I’m not very artistic.”
“I don’t believe you.I’ve seen those beautiful baskets you create at the soap company.You’re definitely artistic.”
Holly knew she wasn’t going to win this argument.So, she went and looked for a seat.When she spotted Belle, she headed in that direction, until she noticed that her friend wasn’t alone.Interesting.Very interesting.
She turned and went in the other direction.At last, she found a seat in the back of the room.She ended up not being alone because Melody James, who lived next-door to the soap company, sat on one side of her.And some other friends sat at the table.At first, she wasn’t sure what to say about the mess with Roger and Billie Jean, but to her relief no one brought up the subject.Casual chit-chat about the holidays went around the table, and Holly remembered what she loved so much about this town—its warmth and compassion.
She worked on the gingerbread house and found herself enjoying it.She had Colin to thank for getting her there this evening.She missed him and wished he’d come with her.She regretted pushing him away.She wished she could take it back, but it was too late for that now.
Still, she had a lot to thank him for.She should get him a Christmas present.It was last minute, but surely she could find him a little something special.She’d go shopping the next day.
When time was up, she inspected her house.She’d selected a red, green, and white theme.There were peppermint candy shingles.Red and green gumdrops outlined the roof.Small red and green candies with white frosting outlined the windows, door, and corners of the house.
In the yard, she’d made a tree of white frosting and sprinkled it with coarse green sugar.There were candy cane fences and gumdrop bushes in the yard.It wasn’t perfect, but at least it was presentable.
When she won third place, she was shocked.She was presented with a white ribbon and a gift certificate to The Peppermint Courtyard, which she found rather ironic.She would give it to Colin because she couldn’t imagine herself going there without him.And then Merry presented her with Tater Tot, who lathered her with kisses.
She didn’t know until that moment how much she loved and missed him.From this day forward, they would be together.There was only one person missing from their family—Colin.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hemissedher.
Colin heard from Merry that Holly and Tater Tot had been reunited.They were good for each other.And now he didn’t have to worry about Holly being all alone.
At that moment, he was out finishing his Christmas shopping.He’d procrastinated picking out his Secret Santa gift for Justin.He couldn’t decide whether he should get something silly or something more meaningful.And so he kept shopping.
With it being Christmas Eve, it appeared that he wasn’t the only one to wait until the last minute to finish shopping.Luckily with the clinic closed for the holidays, he was able to head out first thing in the morning.
As he looked around, he still didn’t know what gift to get his little brother.However, another idea came to him.He bought an ornament that resembled Tater Tot.He had it personalizedTater Tot’s 1stChristmas.Happy with his purchase, he kept shopping.
He knew even with Tater Tot in her life that this was still going to be a rough Christmas for Holly.It was her first Christmas without her grandmother, and she’d been dealt the realization that a relationship with her parents wasn’t tenable.
He wanted to do something to let her know she wasn’t alone.That she might not have a traditional family, but she had people in her life who cared about her.
As he meandered through the various shops, an idea came to him.He bought the biggest Christmas card he could find.He would have all of her friends sign it and remind her of the people who cared about her.
He pulled up his family’s group chat and began to type.
Colin:I need your help.I want to do something special for Holly.
Mom:What do you need?
Colin:I bought a giant card.I’m going to take it to Kringle Cup Café for people to sign.
Mom:See you there.
All of his brothers and even his father chimed in that they would stop by and sign it.He thanked them.Since meeting Holly’s parents, he appreciated his family even more than he did before.
And in that moment, he knew what he wanted to get Justin for Christmas.He headed to Jingle Bell Books.His brother always had his nose in a book.
But when he got there, he realized he didn’t know what books his brother had already read.So, he would get him a gift card.
When he moved to the checkout counter, he was surprised to find Felicity working there.She had been Justin’s girlfriend in high school.She was lovely, and they’d made a cute couple.And then something had happened and they’d broken up.Justin had been scant on the details.
