“Can’t believe that this is happening…” she sang softly. “Stars are shining on us, too… You make it feel like Christmas.” Her heart filled with joy as she expressed what was happening on the side through song. Spinning, she threw her arms out and sang with everything inside her. She danced around the room, touching the decorations and letting joy ring out.
When she finsihed, she let the silence fall. It was quiet but not empty.
“Momma?” she whispered. “You should know I’m falling in love.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
“Can we get a selfie?” asked Mrs. Palmer, the city secretary, as she held up her phone. She handled everything in town, from stray dog reports to building permits. Her two sisters crowded behind her as if they’d been too shy to ask Valerie themselves, but they weren’t missing out on this opportunity.
“Let me take it.” Ethan grinned as he reached for the phone. This was the 100th request for a selfie in about as many minutes, and he had his part down.
Valerie, holding her official judge’s clipboard, stood in the middle of the group of three sisters and smiled at the camera. She was gracious and beautiful in a soft-colored wool wrap with tassels. Her long, blond hair hung in artful waves and shone in the winter sunshine. Thanks to the cold air, her lips were a delightful shade of pink. But it was her smile that captured his heart every time it appeared.
Ethan took several shots from different angels. He took his job as an unofficial photographer seriously. Besides, this way, he ensured no unflattering images of Valerie made it onto social media. He felt an immense level of protection for her–something primal and robust.
Although she was so beautiful, he doubted she could take a bad picture.
“I still listen to your mom’s albums,” said Mrs. Palmer. “All the time.”
When the first few comments like this came through, Valerie teared up. At this point, she was humbled and sweet about the attention and the care people expressed for her that her parents weren’t around.
“That’s wonderful.” Valerie lightly touched her arm. “She’d love to hear that. Thank you.”
Mrs. Palmer and her sisters wandered off, looking at the images on the phone as they went. Probably posting them all over their social media feeds.
Ethan shook his head in wonder. “If the world thought you were dead yesterday, they must believe in miracles this morning.” He paused, cringing that he’d taken things too far by joking about the situation.
Valerie nodded, her eyebrows lifted. “I haven’t opened my phone all morning, but it’s been buzzing like crazy. My uncle is probably having a fit. He knows how much I value my privacy, and here I am, flaunting myself,” She threw one arm out to the side and wiggled her hips, “like I just don’t care.”
Ethan smoldered at her. “Why don’t you flaunt that again?”
Laughing, she shoved him. “Stop! I’m not wiggling my bum for you when there are a million cameras around.”
“So you’ll do it when there aren’t cameras around?” He winked to let her know he was teasing. “I just want to know the rules here.”
She laughed again, and his heart soared like Superman.
“Valerie?” asked a man in a cowboy hat. “I’m Xavier Cohen; this is my wife, Emily.”
“Yes!” Valerie’s eyes widened. “You’re Cody’s parents.” She hugged them both. “He was so kind to me the day he delivered my Christmas decorations. He’s a great kid. You must be so proud of him.”
Emily chuckled. “Yes. We are very proud of Cody. I think Xavier thought you might have another connection.” She nudged her husband, who looked as bashful as a puppy under the Christmas tree.
Ethan watched with interest as this secret unfolded.
“I, uh, I wrote–” Xavier kicked at the snow with his cowboy boot.
Valerie placed her hand on his arm. “Young Love, You’re My One and Only, andIf it Wasn’t For You among so many other songs, my parents recorded early on.”
A smile blossomed on his face, and Emily hugged his arm in a show of support and pride.
“Thank you, Xavier, for sharing your gift with my parents and the rest of us.”
Xavier looked like he was about to sayaw shucks.It wasn’t a show; the man was genuinely humble.
Valerie patted his arm before he spoke. “I’d love to see what you’re working on these days.”
He paused, taken aback by her offer. “I work with your uncle–actually. I’ve been writing Christmas songs for three months. I don’t suppose you’d want to record a Christmas album?”
