Jacquelyn and I went on to the garage while everyone else was rounding up jackets and shoes. “Congratulations,” I told her as I pulled her into my arms and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
“Thank you. I’m beyond excited.” And she was; it was written all over her face.
The sound of footsteps nearing had us stepping away from each other, which I did not care for one bit, but I understood it. We needed time to actually start a relationship before we announced it to her family.
Once everyone was situated, I drove us down to the village. While Jacquelyn ushered everyone to what she had deemed the perfect spot, I went around behind one of the sheds and flipped the lights on. Gabby’s shriek of excitement echoed through the quiet night, followed by chatter from the rest of the crowd.
“Mom,” Jacob said in awe. “This is amazing.”
“It really is, Jacquelyn,” Keegan added. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“You both saw it just a few days ago,” she said dismissively.
“Don’t try to be modest. You’ve worked your fingers to the bone over the last few days and you deserve to be proud of it,” I told her.
“Well, then, you need to take your own advice, because you worked just as hard as I did. And so did Gabby.”
“Mmmm! These are the best cookies I’ve ever had,” Ranger announced as he shoved the last half of a gingerbread cookie into his mouth.
“Papa! Those aren’t for you!” Gabby said and marched over with her hands on her hips.
“They’re not?” he asked in mock surprise. “But it says ‘Free Cookies’ right there.”
“For the kids,” she added and then grinned. “Can I have a cookie, Gigi?”
“They are going to have their hands full with her when she hits her teen years,” I said loud enough for only Jacquelyn to hear.
“I have no doubt about that,” she agreed.
“You better go show them the rest of the village before Ranger and Gabby eat all the cookies,” I said, only half-joking.
Jacquelyn led the group from shed to shed, explaining the plan for each one. “I’m still looking for one of Santa’s helpers to stop by a few times before Christmas, but other than that, everything else is good to go.”
“You found enough people to help run each village house?” Jacob asked.
“I didn’t, but Ronan did. He won’t tell me how, but he rounded up about thirty college kids who were looking for temporary jobs over their winter break.”
“When does it open?” Keegan asked.
“Tomorrow night,” Jacquelyn said nervously. “I wanted Gabby to be here for opening night before she has to go back to school.”
“Sorry,” Keegan laughed. “Pregnancy brain. I meant, when, as in hours of operation.”
“Oh, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from six to ten until the week of Christmas. Then, it will be open on the twenty-third. We’ll be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then open the weekend after Christmas.”
“We should probably get back to the house and turn in early since we have such a big day tomorrow,” I suggested.
“Let me just grab one of these for the road,” Ranger said and snagged another cookie.
“You’re on cookie patrol tomorrow,” I told Jacob.
“I have a plan for that,” Jacquelyn said. “I baked a batch of his favorite brownies this morning and hid them in the safe.”
I couldn’t contain my laughter. “In the safe?”
“It was the only surefire way to make sure he couldn’t get to them,” she insisted.
* * *
