“Auntie’s not sad!” Holly infuses her statement with as much enthusiasm as possible. Holly really would have made a great actress. She took every drama class Gingerbread High had to offer, all four years in a row. And a good thing, too, because with me as a sister, those are practically life skills for her. “She’s just so happy to see you opening up your presents. Go on, open—open!” As soon as Savy turns away, Holly leans in and whispers, “See what you made me do? You made me lie to my only child on Christmas!”
I can’t help but sputter a tiny laugh. “It’s not a lie. I am more than happy to see her open her gifts.” But Savanah is right. I’m beyond sad at the moment. Everything seemed to be going so great, and now everything is going so wrong—and on Christmas of all days! Oh, why couldn’t it have been some silly holiday that I don’t care about like Arbor Day? Leave it to Sabrina to rain down her wrath on the holiest day of the year.
My phone bleats again, then again, and before long the pinging sound is coming from another location. My sister reaches behind her and plucks her phone from the sofa table. “It’s Mom.” Her lids lower as if she were afraid to say what comes next. “She says we’re all invited to the Holidays’ for dinner.”
“No way, no how.” I shake my head emphatically. “The three of you go right ahead. I’ll stay here and guard the loot in the event any Christmas thieves try to make the rounds.”
Holly bucks with a laugh. “You know we have never had a single theft on Christmas night in Gingerbread.”
Tom lifts a finger. “Try ever.”
“See?” She chortles at the idea once again. “I assure you that the toy store Santa dropped off for Savanah is safe and sound. You’re coming with us.”
“Give me one good reason why.” I stare hard at my sister with that joyous look on her face. Sure, it’s Christmas, but couldn’t she show a little anger-fueled solidarity with me? Generally, when I’m in the dumps, Holly is kind enough to join me. The least she could do is hone in on those acting skills once again.
She leans in, her warm hand finding a home on my arm. “Remember last night when I came home I knocked on your door and said there was something important I had to tell you?”
“Yes.” I tilt my head to the side, examining that mischievous look on her face. It’s never a good thing when my sister starts to get impish.
“And you said leave me alone?”
I give a quick nod. Something tells me I should have gone home and holed up under my own covers. I’m not sure I like where that triumphant look is leading us.
“Well, I did.” Her shoulders bounce with a shrug. Holly has always been one to take things far too literally.
“And what does that have to do with anything?”
Tom leans in, his glasses slipping down his nose. He might be a wonderful optometrist, but he insists he’ll be the last to get laser surgery to correct his vision. He says he loves the look and feel that his wire-rimmed glasses afford. Holly says she doesn’t recognize him half the time when he takes them off.
“Come on, Holly”—he tips his head my way—“let her off the hook already.”
“What hook?” A rise of panic fills me. “Am I on a hook?” I scoot away from my sister to get a better look at her.
Holly giggles into her hands a moment before coming up for air. “You should never have taken off like that last night. You missed the real fireworks.”
“What happened?” I deadpan so cold and fast Holly’s eyes bug out because I think she realizes I’m going to kill her if she doesn’t spill it quickly. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want Savy witness to a homicide, especially not hers.
“Okay, okay!” Her fingers flick through the air. “Graham went crazy trying to figure things out, and once he did, he took the stage. He knows that Sabrina was blackmailing you.” Her eyes cut to the floor a moment. “And I know that you refused to admit you loved him because of me.” Her cheeks pinch with color, a sure sign she’s about to cry. She sniffs the air before continuing. “Anyway—he hopped on stage and wrestled the microphone from the lead singer of the band and whistled until he got everyone’s attention.”
My mouth falls open as I look to Tom. “Did it really happen like that?”
He pinches his thumb and forefinger together, letting me know indeed she’s embellishing a bit. We both know Holly is famous for her propensity to exaggerate. But right about now, I like the exaggerated direction she’s heading in.
“And then what happened?” I want to shake the details out of her like a piñata. Now I really wish I did stay so I could have seen it firsthand.
My sister’s eyes mist up, and her lips pull into a sullen smile. “He said he loved you, Missy. He told the whole town he was in love with Mistletoe Winters.”
My mouth falls open as I look to Tom, and he nods his head yes.
“Oh my goodness!” My hands cover my mouth to stifle the scream that’s begging to erupt. “I can’t believe this. Was Sabrina there by chance?”
They both offer up enthusiastic nods.
“Oh.” It stings like a slap. I’ve lost the bakery. I blink back tears. I don’t know why this comes as a surprise. We were barreling in this direction for quite some time. “Well, that’s just great.” My voice makes it clear my enthusiasm is sorely lacking.
I fall back to the sofa as we watch as Savy opens the last of her presents. As soon as Tom and Holly get to exchanging one another’s gifts, I opt to give them some privacy. I kiss Savy over the top of the head and wave as I duck out into the frozen morning air.
I don’t know where I’m going, but I do know that I’m nowhere near ready to go home yet.
