“Auntie Parker! Auntie Parker!”
When I hear the tiny voice, I glance to my right as a redheaded little girl runs my way, her curls springing with her steps. Her emerald eyes glitter with excitement as she weaves between people’s legs, her arms stretched toward me. I crouch down, sweeping her into my embrace as Haley follows close behind.
“Hey, Magpie.” I squeeze her tightly, kissing the top of her head.
A frown pulls on the little girl’s mouth. “Grandma says no one should call me that. Says my name is Margaret, and that’s what people should call me.”
I glance at Haley as she fights to hide her annoyance.
I can’t say I’m surprised to hear this. Haley’s parents are quite…uptight. Her mother nearly had a heart attack when Haley left college to take a job as a flight attendant.
Even more so when she came home to let them know she’d been terminated after getting pregnant by a frequent flier on one of her routes.
Granted, it probably wasn’t the smartest idea for her to sleep with him in the first place, but her mother seemed to forget he also played a role in what happened, blaming Haley for seducing a married man.
Even if Haley had no idea he was married since he never wore a ring.
But Haley was determined to raise her little girl, even after the asshole threw a pile of cash at her so she’d terminate the pregnancy. Her parents did, too. Which is why she tries to limit their involvement in Maggie’s life.
“But what doyouwant to be called?” I ask, not giving a shit what her bitch of a grandmother thinks.
Her face lights up. “I like it when you call me Magpie.”
I kiss her nose. “Then I proclaim you Lady Magpie of Holley Ridge.”
She squeals excitedly, and I set her on her feet.
“It looks beautiful, Parker,” Haley says, giving me a hug.
I swallow hard as I shift my gaze over the grounds, a pang squeezing my heart that this may be the last tree lighting ceremony I ever hold here. But I quickly push those thoughts away.
“Thanks, sweetie.”
“They’d be proud of you. No matter what happens.”
I give my best friend another hug, then meander through the festival with her, soaking it all in.
“How’s the apartment hunt going?” I keep my voice low so Maggie can’t overhear. I doubt she would anyway, considering she’s currently pre-occupied with all the lights and decorations.
“Not great.” Haley heaves a sigh. “The downside of living in a small town. There’s not many rentals to begin with, and whatisavailable is over my budget. This may come as a surprise, but I’m not exactly raking it in as a dog walker and cocktail waitress.”
“From what I understand, Beckham Lawrence still has some vacation rental properties. You could always see if he has one available for you.”
“Beckham Lawrence? Are you crazy? Absolutely not. There’s no way he’d do me any favors, like rent to me, especially when I wouldn’t be able to pay him anywhere close to what he can get for a short-term rental.”
I’ve always wondered what the story is between the head winemaker at one of the vineyards here in Sycamore Falls and my best friend. She’s always insisted there isn’t one. That they’ve hated each other all through middle school and high school. And his animosity only increased when she came back with a bun in the oven, so to speak.
But I see the way he looks at her.
And how he looks at her little girl.
That’s not someone who hates Haley.
Unfortunately, my best friend is too stubborn to admit it.
“You’ll never know if you don’t ask. I’d offer you my spare bedroom, but it may not be mine much longer.”
“It will be.” She squeezes my hand. “I can feel it.”
