He walked back to his car. I watched him drive away until his taillights disappeared.
December 24, Wednesday
glass mode codeimprint on the bottle indicating manufacturer and mold details
THE TOURday felt abbreviated without Goldenrod Distillery on the route. A handwritten sign on their front door read "Temporarily Closed - Reopening January 2nd." The Biggs family was taking time to regroup, to process, to figure out how to move forward after their world had been turned inside out.
I couldn't blame them.
Our group of holiday tourists—just eight people today, families squeezing in one last activity before Christmas—didn't seem to mind the altered schedule. They were cheerful and generous with tips, caught up in the festive spirit that permeated everything despite the cold.
When Jett pulled the bus into the campground at the end of the day, the December sun was already setting, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange that looked too beautiful for how I felt inside.
"Happy Christmas Eve," I said, gathering my bag and notes, preparing to make my usual exit.
"Bernadette, wait."
Jett's hand reached out and caught mine, his fingers warm against my cold skin. The unexpected contact sent my heart hammering against my breastbone. Then he released my hand.
"Come to my parents' house tomorrow. For Christmas brunch."
Surprise shot through my chest, then I shook my head. "You and Naomi don’t want a third wheel hanging around."
"I didn't invite Naomi. I ended things with her weeks ago, but she kept coming around."
"Oh."
"You can say no," he said. "It's Christmas and I just thought you might need a friend."
Afriend. I should say no, I told myself. I was leaving in a week. Getting emotionally involved now would only make leaving harder, would complicate everything, would guarantee heartbreak for me. Instead, I found myself nodding.
"I'd like that. What time?"
He grinned. "I'll pick you up around ten. Wear something comfortable—my family's pretty casual. And be prepared for chaos. My mom goes overboard on Christmas."
"I can handle chaos."
"I know you can."
I climbed off the bus, then went to my van to change out of my barmaid costume and snag a bag of gifts. Then I walked to the Oney family's camper. Tracy had invited me for dinner and a movie. I knocked on their door, and Poppy flung it open immediately.
"Bernadette! Perfect timing! We're about to watchElf!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.
The camper was warm and festive, decorated with twinkling lights and a small artificial tree. The scent of pot roast filled the space, rich and comforting. Lou stood at the tiny stove, checking something in the oven, while Tracy set the table.
"There she is," Lou said warmly. "Merry Christmas Eve."
"Merry Christmas Eve," I echoed, feeling the words settle into something real.
We ate pot roast with carrots and potatoes, the food warming me from the inside out. Then we settled in to watchElf, Poppy wedged between Tracy and me on the small couch, her red curls tickling my arm as she laughed at Buddy's antics.
When the movie ended, I retrieved the gifts I'd brought—handmade items I'd been working on for weeks.
"For you," I said, handing Poppy a brightly colored piñata shaped like a star. "It's full of candy and little toys."
Poppy's eyes went wide. "This is so cool! Can I break it now?"
"Tomorrow," Tracy said firmly. "Christmas morning."
