But Sabrina isn’t my only problem this evening. Noel proved to be a challenge to place while the entire town is gathering en mass for a Christmas feast. Graham finally found a ranch hand who readily volunteered to watch her for the evening since he needed to be home with his very pregnant wife. I’m just hoping that Noel, in all her exuberance, doesn’t throw the poor lady into an early labor. It wouldn’t be the first bit of mischief that baby girl has thrown herself into. And a delivery room is the one place Noel doesn’t belong.
Since Graham is coming from the orchard, we’ve decided to go ahead and meet at the community center. He hasn’t seen me yet in my tight little quasi-Mrs. Claus outfit, and God knows I can’t wait to lay eyes on Graham Holiday in a suit. As much as Sabrina insists on ruining this night for me, I can’t help but feel a bit elated as if Graham and I were about to attend some formal romantic venue, like say,prom.
My stomach tenses in knots as I head into the community center, already bustling with life. Graham might look like a dream come true, but no thanks to Sabrina that dream will beherreality if she can help it.
My fists ball up, and a spiral of anxiety rockets through me. All I have to do is ask Graham to sit next to Sabrina for a few hours. That shouldn’t be too hard. But then, what happens next? We can’t go on like this forever, can we? I know that Graham loves me. He told me so himself, and I will never forget how he looked washed in the moonlight, his eyes on fire all for me. But would he really go on with some fake relationship, for who knows how long, just so I can keep the cookies rolling in Gingerbread? I think not. It’s going to take more than just a miracle or two to untangle myself from this Jarrett-shaped knot. Face it—Sabrina has me by the jingle bells, and I may never get out of this mess with my headormy business intact.
The room is alive with boisterous chatter and laughter as the band plays “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”. I spot Mom speaking with a couple by the kitchen, so I head in that direction to say hello. The woman she’s with turns my way, and I freeze. It just so happens the couple Mom is happily chortling away with is Samantha and Ron Holiday, Graham’s parents.Gah! She’s probably already spilled the relationship beans. No matter how much I protest, my mother is already planning our wedding. And if Sabrina gets wind of it, she might be planning my funeral, too. My feet pivot as I attempt to get lost in the crowd. All of Gingerbread has donned their finery, and I haven’t even had the time to properly admire it.
“Missy!” Mom cries. “Oh, Missy?Yoo-hoo!”
I’m dead.
I turn slowly and force a smile as I head that way and quickly wish the Holidays a merry Christmas.
Mom pulls me in. “The Holidays were kind enough to extend an invitation to their home tomorrow evening. It looks as if we’ll be celebrating Christmas together like one big happy family!” She looks to Samantha—Graham in female skin. “They’re quite serious, you know.”
“Mother!” Before I can properly refute her theory—even though she is one hundred percent correct—Holly and Tom show up with the world’s most adorable little girl all decked out like a living doll. “Savanah Joy!” Mom beams as all of our attention is quickly turned to the tiny princess in a red tartan dress, and I make a break for it.
“Not so fast!” Holly chases me down and spins me around. I can’t help but notice how gorgeous she looks in a matching red tartan dress to that of Savy’s. If I ever have a daughter, I will most certainly subject her to that long-standing Winters’ tradition that requires the younger of the Winters heirs to subject themselves to a strict lookalike dress code to that of their mother’s. “Sabrina Jarrett just accosted me in the parking lot. She said something about Graham and a crown and the fact our bakery would be hers by morning if she didn’t do the pageant wave before midnight.” Her lips are pulled back in a scowl as she grits the words through her teeth. “Why do I get the sneaking suspicion you know exactly what that loon is referring to?” She sucks in a quick breath as she comes to an abrupt realization. “You promised her she could have Graham, and now she’s going to eat our lunch! And our breakfast and our cookies, too!”
“You catch on fast.” I smirk into the crowd, half-afraid I’ll catch a glimpse of the wicked witch herself. But I don’t. Instead, I lock eyes with a handsome prince, and I couldn’t be more pleased. As harried as this night might be, there is something soothing about looking into Graham Holiday’s ocean blue eyes. “I gotta run! Say a prayer it all works out! Say twelve!” I thread through the tangle of limbs until I’m locked in an embrace with the handsomest man in the room. Graham Holiday looks like a dream—my dream. His hair is glossy, still slightly damp from the shower, his cologne is strong enough to let me know that the special occasion called for an extra splash, but that Italian fitted suit, those cobalt blue eyes—my, how every last inch of me approves.
“You look”—he shakes his head while holding me out for a better view—“simply amazing.”
“And you look as if you might be crowned king in just a few hours.” I give a little shrug just as the music cuts out and everyone is asked to take their seats so we can say a blessing over our meal.
Graham takes me by the hand and begins leading me toward the table with Holly and her family, and we find Tanner seated with them as well.
Sabrina steps into our line of vision, and we both freeze solid—for very different reasons, I suppose.
“Actually”—I take a deep breath—“you’ll be seated in a very special place tonight.” I traipse him over to the front and plant him in the spot where Sabrina all but threatened to slit my financial neck a few hours ago. I lean in and whisper to that drop-dead gorgeous, yet bewildered face. “Just play along. I’ll explain everything later, I promise.”
I scuttle back to Holly’s table and take a seat next to Tanner. They share the same jarring blue eyes and dimples, and if I squint real hard, I can almost fool myself into thinking it’s Graham himself. Almost. And I’m beginning to think the only fool around here is me.
Sabrina takes her seat next to Graham, and he shoots me a look that suggests I’ll have to explain things a lot sooner than I was hoping.
The microphone picks up feedback as Mayor Todd takes the podium, and never in my life have I been so glad for the distraction.
“Welcome and good evening.” He chortles while extending a cup of eggnog to the crowd. “Merry Christmas to one and all—and to one and all a merry Christmas!” He does his best impersonation of Santa while ho-ho-hoing through his laughter, and the room breaks out with a choir of Christmas greetings in reciprocation. “First, I want to thank all of the hardworking people who banded together to pull off yet another Christmas spectacular here at the community center. As you know, there will be an ongoing silent auction all evening, commencing at eight o’clock. So please open your hearts and your wallets, as all proceeds go directly to the community center itself.” A polite round of applause breaks out, and Sabrina turns and hisses something at him. “Uh, yes.” He clears his throat as he looks back at the crowd with a hint of apprehension. Wow, it looks as if Sabrina might have Mayor Todd by the jingle bells as well. “This evening, for the very first time, the Jarrett Foundation, which has made many generous donations to the community center over the years, has suggested we mix things up a bit.” He says that last part laden with uncertainty. “Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce to you our very first Christmas king and queen, Sabrina Jarrett and Graham Holiday.”
The room breaks out into a riotous applause as if people actually approved of this ludicrous tomfoolery. I don’t even like the wordtomfoolery, and yet with Sabrina’s latest shenanigans, it fits oh so well.
Tanner barks out an obnoxious laugh as his brother reluctantly stands—or more to the point, as Sabrina yanks him from his seat. All the while Graham looks my way in what appears to be a cross between begging for help and threatening to get even. It seems old habits do die hard.
Holly yanks me in. “What the heck is happening? And why did Sabrina just hijack Christmas and turn it into a homecoming dance?”
I wince because, truthfully, I hate that I’m in the know on this one.
“I think she just likes the attention.” I clap along with the rest of the crowd as the two of them are bestowed sparkling crowns. My God, they look as if they cost some serious money.Hey? If Sabrina really does triple our rent, maybe I can convince Graham to cash in his crown to help chip in?
Sabrina leans into the microphone, her body doing its best to spill out of that gold lame number she’s stuffed herself into like a sausage. And really? Gold lame? Has she no real friends?
“Hello!” She does that twisted wrist motion wave that she’s been craving to toss our way for who knows how long. “I just want to thank everyone who came out to see us. You’re in for a lovely evening. My fiancé and I are privileged to be charter members of such an exclusive club—the very first official king and queen of Gingerbread!” Graham tips his head back, and the crown nearly skids right off his head. He looks unamused by her panache to exaggerate their current relationship status, and who could blame him? The audience gives a hooting round of applause. Clearly, the eggnog is spiked this year. “Please be aware that you, too, will be eligible to run for the honor come next December, but”—she gives a cheesy wink to Graham as she takes up his hand—“have fun trying to beat this good-looking couple!” A light titter circles the room, and I’d like to think people are laughing at her, not with her. They finally take their seats, and Mayor Todd gives the official blessing over our feast. The room lights up with a thousand conversations barreling ahead at once as the band starts in on “Jingle Bells”. It’s a potluck, and there are three different food stations set up, so no one ever has to wait in line very long.
I stand with the rest of the table, and Tanner leans in. “You can say a lot of things about Sabrina Jarrett, but she sure saved our behinds this year.”
“Oh, right, with the pies.” ThatIbaked. That my mother helped cultivate into the superstars they’re going to be with that little pop quiz she threw me. Without the Winters women, Sabrina Jarrett is a bag of hot air. And right about now, I wish she’d float away.
