The guilt digs deeper. Wraps its arms around me. My friends’ words from the Nutcracker Auction echo—you do have a hate list, and we’re all subjected to it every year. I flash back to the tree on Isla’s car. To Mia’s excitement in seeing it, her hope it was ours, her thrill in hanging one simple ornament on it. Maybe I should just say yes. Learn to tolerate the holidays a little better. If I can handle opposing teams on the ice, I can handle a little Christmas charm for my kid. I did it with the Advent calendar. I don’t have to grinch too hard here either. “Tell you what,” I begin, figuring we’ll grab a quick lunch, when my phone rings on the console. It’s Jason.
“Ooh, Agent Jason!” Mia calls out.
I tell the car to answer it, and seconds later, I say, “What’s up, Elf?”
“Elf?” he asks.
Mia cracks up in the back seat. “Ha, you are kind of a big elf, Jason.”
“I am not an elf.”
“You are. You’re full of holiday spirit, plus elves are cool,” Mia says.
Jason hums like he’s giving that some thought, then says, “I’m an elf then. And I just arrived with my kiddos and my wife, who’s gone off shopping. Which got me to thinking, Rowan. Of a little change of plans.” He clears his throat, and I brace myself.
“I’m going to hate this, aren’t I?”
“You hate everything, so yes.”
Mia snickers. “Especially changes of plans.”
“Not true,” I point out.
“Why don’t we start that PR focus early? I’m at Rudy’s Coffee Shop. We can grab a pic of you being all merry and bright and just-arrived in Evergreen Falls. The team will love it.”
“That sounds as painful as having my spleen removed.”
“I have anesthesia in the form of peppermint mocha,” he says, tempting me.
“Can I get hot cocoa there?” Mia asks.
“Yes, you can,” Jason says, answering for me. “Elves are forces of good.”
“I beg to differ,” I say, but with a disgruntled sigh, I give in, thinking of Everly’s words at the meeting:It would be great to get a couple of photos of you around town.
I should do this for the team. The team has done plenty for me.
I hang up, and Mia cheers. “We’re going to town.”
Yep. That’s the thing about Christmas—you try to avoid it, but it always has other plans. It’ll be for the best though. I have to learn to put up with this holiday better for my daughter.
And I suppose for Isla, for these dating lessons that will be starting any day.
Rudy’s is decorated with a glowing, red-shaped nose on the door, and yes, it glows brighter when you pull on the handle. To make matters even worse, a bell tinkles above the door, playing “You would even say it glows.”
It’s a relentless yuletide assault, but somehow, I weather it. It’ll make me stronger. I’m carrying Wanda, and Mia’s next to me. Once inside, I scan for Jason, then spot him and his kids at a table.
Mia beelines for Jason’s children, and seconds later she spins around. “Can I get hot cocoa with lunch and have it up there?”
I glance up. The two-story coffee shop has a balcony level. “Works for me.”
Once we order sandwiches and drinks from a grandmotherly woman who says “Coming right up for you two in a jiff,” with more cheer than I’d thought possible, I grab a spot at a counter by the window. Red and white cushions with Rudolph’s face on them adorn the seats. “All right. Make it fast,” I mutter as Wanda settles in for another nap—this one on my lap.
“You’re so sweet,” he retorts. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“And yet you’re still friends with me.”
He smirks. “Because you make me rich.”
