“I’m so sorry, but I have to cancel going with you tonight,” Isabella said withoutpreamble.
Everyone stopped what they were doing. Trinity and Maddy looked up from their ornament sorting. Christopher turned from the lights he’d been hanging. Gabe glanced up from the string of lights he’d been methodically untangling.
Jane felt guilty relief flood through her, followed immediately by shame at feeling relieved. What kind of person was she, glad that someone else’s emergency meant she wouldn’t have to spend an evening in close quarters with Gabe?
“What happened?” Christopher asked, already moving toward Isabella with concern evident in his voice.
“The Seaside Inn down the road is desperate,” Isabella explained, wringing her hands. “Their chef called in sick, and they have a huge dinner rush tonight for a holiday party. They called asking if I could help.” She looked genuinely distressed. “I have to leave now because I’ll be doing everything myself. Their prep cook is out, too.”
“I’ll be your prep cook,” Christopher said without hesitation.
Isabella blinked at him. “What?”
“I can slice and dice,” Christopher said, moving closer to her. “You need help, and I’m offering.”
Jane watched something pass between them. Something warm, certain, and utterly transparent. These two were falling for each other so obviously that Jane almost wanted to look away from the intimacy of it.
“I think that’s a marvelous idea, Christopher.” Julie’s voice announced her presence before Jane saw her.
Her grandmother materialized from the doorway like a silent ninja, carrying yet another box of lights, because apparently Julie Christmas had an endless supply of Christmas decorations hidden somewhere in this inn. Jane had long since stopped questioning where Gran found things. Perhaps it was a magic bag like Mary Poppins’ bag. Her eyes narrowed. Her gran could possibly be Mary Poppins, as she always popped up right on cue. She shook the thought away and turned back to her task, trying not to pay any heed to what was going on.
“Chris, you sure?” Gabe asked, skepticism clear in his voice. “You’ve never worked in a professional kitchen before.”
Julie waved her hand dismissively. “It’s just slicing and dicing. How hard can it be?”
Christopher looked at Isabella with a soft smile that made Jane’s chest ache with something she didn’t want to examine. “That’s something I can do. I’m in.” He paused. “If you’ll have me.”
Pink rose in Isabella’s cheeks, and she seemed to lose the ability to form complete sentences. “Yes. Thank you. That would be wonderful. I mean, really helpful. I mean...” She trailed off, looking flustered in a way that was utterly charming.
Christopher’s grin widened. “Great. When do we leave?”
“Now, actually,” Isabella said, then turned to where Maddy sat with Trinity. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know you were so excited about the carriage rides tonight.”
Maddy’s face fell, disappointment clear in herexpression.
“She can still come with us,” Gabe said immediately from his corner. “It’s no problem at all.”
Maddy’s face lit up like someone had plugged her into an electrical socket.
“Are you sure?” Isabella asked, hesitation evident in her voice, her eyes moving to Jane and then back to Gabe. “I don’t want to impose on your family time.”
“Not at all,” Gabe assured her. “The more the merrier.” His eyes caught Jane’s for a second, and her breath lodged in her throat before she glanced away.
“Maybe Trinity can stay with us tonight?” Isabella looked questioningly at Gabe. “After the carriage rides? Maddy’s been asking to have her over?”
“Of course,” Gabe said without hesitation and looked at his daughter. “What do you think, sweetpea?”
The words were barely out of his mouth before both girls squealed with excitement and rushed to hug him. Trinity kissed his cheek while Maddy threw her arms around his neck with twelve-year-old exuberance. “Yes, yes, thank you, Dad.”
Julie beamed like she’d orchestrated this entire scenario herself.Knowing Gran, she probably had,Jane mused to herself.
Jane watched all of this unfold, trying to appear disinterested even as her mind raced. This was her chance. Her opportunity to escape the evening she’d been dreading since Trinity had first extended the invitation.
“Or we could go another night?” Jane suggested, trying to sound casual instead of desperate. “I mean, if Isabella can’t make it, maybe we should reschedule when everyone can go together.”
“Nonsense,” Julie said immediately, and Jane felt her escape route slam shut. “I’m sure Isabella doesn’t want that, do you, dear?”
Julie looked at Isabella with an expression that clearly communicated the expected answer.
