“What about Jackie?” David asked. “You seemed close at dinner last night. Does she know about the job offer?”
“She’s known for a couple of weeks. We’re still working through what the future holds for us.”
David gripped the arms of the chair. “Take it from someone who tried a long-distance relationship with Andrea. It doesn’t work. But, if you take the job, I’ll still be your friend. Although I could be grumpy for a few days.”
Aidan wouldn’t have expected anything less from his friend. All he had to do now was figure out what he was going to do.
* * *
Five days later,Jackie was at The Fairy Forest with Daniella and the volunteers who were helping to make the Christmas gala a success. Two hundred sixty people had bought tickets to the event and everyone wanted to make sure they had a wonderful experience.
With a clipboard in her hand, Jackie stopped in the middle of Candy Cane Lane, scanning each detail, and making sure everything was where it should be.
Daniella looked above them. “This is incredible. I’ll have to ask Brooke where she found the fairy lights.”
While Brooke was hanging candy canes on the Christmas tree in the gala’s grand entrance, she’d thought there was something missing. An hour later, she’d returned with an amazing collection of fairy lights, shaped like the red and white candy she’d hung on the tree. They were the perfect finishing touch to a magical entrance.
Daniella turned in a slow circle. “Everything looks wonderful.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Jackie murmured. She waved at Pastor John. He’d volunteered to serve everyone an ice cream on their way into the gala. When they saw how many tickets had been sold, he convinced Shelley, his wife, to help him. Dressed as elves with pointy hats and red and white-striped tunics, they were super-cute and would make a lasting impression on their guests.
Aidan walked toward them.
When Jackie had first seen him in his tuxedo, she hadn’t been able to speak. If she thought he was gorgeous in his every-day clothes, he was stunning in a suit. It was just as well Daniella had been beside her. She’d filled the awkward silence with questions about the gala and last-minute issues they needed to fix.
Aidan smiled. “The chocolate fountain’s working.”
“What was wrong with it?” Daniella asked.
“A wire connected to the pump was loose. Without that working, the chocolate wasn’t moving.”
“Thank goodness you’re here,” Jackie said with a relieved sigh. “Are the ice sculptures okay?”
“They’re fine. The extra row of plants around them should stop anyone from getting too close.”
Jackie hoped so. The last thing they needed was a trickle of melted ice on that side of the room.
Daniella looked at her watch. “We’ve got ten minutes until the doors open. I think it’s time to start the music.”
In a rustle of tulle and fairy wings, Daniella hurried across to the DJ.
Aidan frowned at the clipboard. “Did you see the three children’s names that were last-minute additions to the guest list?”
Jackie nodded. “I bought them presents from the general store. They’re just a lovely as the other gifts we found.”
He looked across the room at the enormous Christmas tree, and then at the round tables decorated with baskets of festive treats. “I don’t know how you and Daniella did this. It’s fantastic.”
“We had a lot of help from the community. There were twenty people here this afternoon, all pitching in to create a magical experience for everyone.”
Aidan held her hand. “I know I told you this before, but you look beautiful. I hope you’ve saved a few dances for me.”
Jackie grinned. She’d borrowed the red ballgown she was wearing from Paris. And, even if she said so herself, it looked lovely with the Christmas necklace she’d found in town. “You can have as many as you like, but I have a feeling you’ll be too busy talking to the guests.”
“And making sure the chocolate fountain doesn’t break down again.”
Jackie’s cell phone beeped and she checked the text. Mrs. Green had sent her a message.
“Is everything okay?” Aidan asked.
