Jacob straightened. “You jump it.” He and Nick looked at one another. “We need to jump-start Christmas!” They yelled and then fist-bumped and smacked one another on the back in congratulations for figuring it out.
When they were done, they turned to find Lux waiting for them to catch up to her light-speed, fast thinking.
“H-how do we do that?” asked Jacob.
Nick’s chin dropped to his chest. “We can handle this, Lux. We don’t need them.”
“I’m sorry, Nick. But I’m afraid it’s the fastest way.” Lux gave him a pitiful pat on the shoulder.
“But–I’m supposed to do this on my own,” he argued one more time.
She shook her head. “That’s not the Kringle way. We do Christmas together.”
He sighed and then lifted his head and said resolutely, “Call in the family.”
Lux pulled a walkie-talkie off her belt. “Lux to the North Pole.”
“Ho Ho Ho. North Pole. Ginger here.” She yawned loudly.
“We need a Christmas jump start, ASAP, in Moose Hollow. You feel like spreading some Christmas cheer?”
“Are you kidding? My middle name is Cheer. Over and Out.”
Lux scowled at the walkie-talkie. “Her middle name is Marie.”
Nick smacked Jacob on the back in farewell, and he and Lux moved toward the sleigh.
“How is this supposed to help me and Lauren get married?” Jacob called after them.
Lux sat on the velvet seat and covered her eyes. “Leave that up to us–we excel at Christmas weddings.”
Nick picked up the reins. “Layla is going to love this.”
Lux nodded, though she didn’t open her eyes. “She probably already has the floral arrangements done.”
Nick pointed at Jacob. “Get to the church on Main Street–pronto!” He slapped the leather, making the bells jingle. “On Prancer!”
That was Prancer? Jacob cupped his hands around his mouth as he called, “I owe you a bucket of oats, Prancer! It’ll be on my back porch.” He looked around the deserted stretch of highway and then back up to the sky, where the sleigh disappeared in the clouds. Snowflakes danced from the sky.
“I guess I’m getting married.” The thought raced through him as if he’d been standing on a frozen lake and the ice broke under his boots. Married. Okay, yeah. This was happening. He scrambled to breathe. Married? Today? He didn’t have a warning. Marriage was a huge commitment.
He wasn’t ready! His chest tightened, and he grabbed at his coat because it felt like it was strangling him.
Lauren’s face came to mind, and the world stilled.
He was still in over his head with this whole thing, but there was a peace that came over him, a contentment when he thought of spending the rest of his life with her. She could drive him absolutely insane and make him want to drive to the next county. But she also brought him to a place that he’d never get to on his own. A home. A love that went beyond anything he’d ever known. He wanted her just as much as he needed her.
Which is why he pressed the gas pedal and sped home. He couldn’t wait for the rest of his life to start.
CHAPTER21
Despite her claim that she was going to spend the rest of Christmas day in her room–and probably the Christmas after that–Lauren couldn’t say no to Collin when he begged her to play games.
“Pleeeeease,” he pleaded. “Minute to Win It is my favorite.”
She grabbed a pillow and screamed into it, her face feeling red and puffy from the effort. “I’ll be right out,” she called through the closed door. If she had to pick up one more ornament with a candy cane, she was going to throw the Christmas tree in the backyard and light it on fire.
That wouldn’t traumatize her nephew at all.
