“Yes, Mama,” Alex cried. “Please.”
“Please,” Grace echoed.
“Of course, you’re welcome to sit with us.” Mrs. Hurst glanced at her car and over at his bright red sports car. “Is that yours?”
“Yes.”
“Then you should either follow us or ride with us. I even have an extra car seat in the back,” Mrs. Hurst said.
Before Carlisle could respond, Grace was already moving toward the Hurst vehicle. “Come, Papa. I want to ride with Alex.”
Knowing how nasty car seats could get from sticky child fingers, Carlisle had to bite back a grimace. He opened the passenger door for Grace, surprised at the cleanliness.
Mrs. Hurst opened the driver’s door and mumbled, “I’m kind of a clean freak.”
“For which I’m grateful.”
“I understand completely.” She slid into her seat.
2
Merry wanted to smile as she watched Grace’s father buckle her into the seat. From his neatly pressed slacks, barely showing wrinkles, to his carefully groomed dark hair, Carlisle Wyndham seemed a fastidious man.
She had a feeling the poor man would break out in hives if he were ever to visit her brother’s house with his three young children and their ever-sticky hands. Merry had missed them since they’d moved to California last summer.
Mr. Wyndham buckled himself in, surreptitiously checking out the interior of her car. Was he afraid he’d catch some disease in here? Once again, she had to fight a grin. That would be rude. Besides, thishadto be Trish’s sophisticated gentleman. And his daughter was Alex’s new best friend. Merry had a responsibility to play nice.
So, she kept the snark out of her voice when she asked, “Did you find everything all right?”
“Yes, actually.” The man didn’t look abashed at her subtle reprimand, but his cheeks flushed a little.
Merry started the car and glanced over her shoulder before backing out. Mr. Wyndham also looked back, watching his daughter, who chatted away with Alex.
How long would the Wyndhams be in Huckleberry Falls? Merry hoped they’d hang around through Christmas. Alex would be crushed to lose his little friend too soon. He’d already begun talking about showing Grace the holiday events. The town knew how to throw a party, and they’d turned December into one big celebration. The residents went out of their way to make the Christmas activities memorable.
“Are you only visiting Huckleberry Falls?” Merry asked.
“No. I expect to be here for a year or two. Possibly more.”
Merry wondered where he and his daughter were staying and then remembered Trish had mentioned the Williams’ B&B. How interesting that he’d choose that rather than one of the more expensive hotels. Not that it was any of her business.
“What do you do for a living?” Only after she’d asked did it occur to her he might not have to work.
“I’m a product developer.” Mr. Wyndham glanced at her and then looked away. “I’m working with Gretchen Blaise on an avalanche transceiver system.”
Wow. This guy really did run in wealthy groups if he knew the famous actress who owned the local ski resort. But it also spoke highly of him, since the woman was well liked in town. Merry had never met her, but Gretchen Blaise had a reputation as a fair boss who also supported local charities. The Edelweiss Resort always donated a tree to the festival and brought in a lot of money.
“What made you interested in something like that?” A flash of pain crossed his face, and she quickly added, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude on something personal.”
He opened his mouth as though he meant to say something, but gave his head a little shake instead. Only then did Merry realize the children had stopped talking in the backseat.
“Mama’s beacon got broke. She died,” Grace said, her voice sad. The words were almost rote, as though she’d heard them many times from the adults around her. “But Papa is going to fix it so other people don’t die too.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Merry said, surprised the child understood so much. Or perhaps it was because her father seemed to have turned his grief into something positive. It piqued Merry’s curiosity, and she reminded herself it was none of her business. She didn’t like talking about the car crash which had taken her husband and her father either.
“Grace, do you know what a scarecrow is?” Merry asked to change the subject, glancing at the little girl through the rearview mirror.
“Oh, yes,” she said with her sweet voice, her little face lifting. “Miss Millie read us a story about a lonely scarecrow who was so sad because he can’t make friends with the birds and animals.”
