“He’s a grown man,” Jonathan said, messing up my hair.
Belle grabbed one of the bowls that had materialized in one of the cabinets.
I peered at it, confused until I remembered I had told Olivia to furnish the home so I could surprise Merrie.
Stupid fucking idea that was.
Belle dished out the potato, cheddar, and bacon soup. She slid a steaming bowl with a Christmas motif in front of me and handed me a spoon.
I took a bite of the soup.
“I hear you’re hosting the Christmas party,” Belle said, handing Jonathan a bowl.
“I was coerced,” I replied.
Belle laughed. “Are you going to invite Merrie?”
“What the fuck? No.” I bristled.
“Oh,” Belle said. “I thought after the video that was posted on theHarrogate Chronicleyou might have had a change of heart.” She held out her tablet.
The headline stated, “Christmas Shop Owner Yells at Town, Says She Hates Christmas.”
“How is this news?”
“Small town,” Belle said with a shrug.
“‘A local Christmas tree ornament shop owner threatened another local shop owner last night,’” I read. “‘Brody Melnyk owns a popular firewood stall in the Christmas market and recently wonThe Great Christmas Bake-Off. “She’s jealous of me,” Brody is quoted as saying. “I was just trying to be a good sport, and she attacked me.””
Jonathan snorted a laugh in his soup.
“What the fuck?” I muttered. “‘Mr. Melnyk has not said whether he was going to press charges or not.’”
“Doesn’t sound like someone who is cheating,” Jonathan said, hitting Play on the video.
We watched Merrie scream at Brody and threaten to chop off his balls.
“Sounds like my kind of future sister-in-law,” Morticia deadpanned, looping yet more garlands around the Christmas island. It had little white pumpkins in it.
I opened my mouth.
“Pumpkins are a Christmas fruit,” Morticia stated, daring me to contradict her.
“How much am I paying you?” I asked, flabbergasted.
“Honestly?” Jonathan said, licking his bowl much to Belle’s disgust. “Probably too much.”
I stared down at Merrie’s picture.
I had been wrong. She hadn’t been cheating on me after all. She didn’t even like Brody! I was elated. I could get back together with her. She could come over for Christmas.
Oh wait. I was wrong.
Shit.
I had accused her of cheating on me.
I pulled out my phone and hit the call button for Merrie’s contact information.
