Now that True mentioned it, her complexion did look a little green. Bailey left the kitchen, spotting Landon walking down the staircase. She loved watching him when he was unaware. His lean, athletic build was on full display in his dark washed jeans and tight-fitting long-sleeved tee. He had a quiet sexiness that was disarming.
“There you are,” he said. “I was upstairs talking to Hattie and trying to keep her from coming down here. She’s itching to find out what we’re doing.”
“What did you tell her?” Bailey asked. “I know she can get feisty when she doesn’t get her way.” It was comforting to know that Hattie hadn’t lost the essence of who she was.
“I told her that we have a little surprise up our sleeve, and that I wasn’t going to spoil it by spilling the beans.” She could tell Landon had gotten a little enjoyment over being able to placate Hattie. It was definitely a skill.
“Can you help me put up these decorations?” she asked. “I don’t have the height to pull this off.”
“Of course I can,” he said. “Let me take these for you.” He reached for the bags and brought them into the living room. They began decorating in earnest, making the room bloom with color. By the time they finished, the space looked perfect for a celebration. Right after they were done, Jaylen walked into the room and looked around.
“Wow! This really looks Christmasy. Good job,” he said, flashing them a thumbs-up.
Christmasy?That was not what she had been going for. “Oh no, it’s not supposed to look that way,” Bailey said. She had chosen red to represent chili and yellow for mustard.
“Really?” Jaylen asked. “Red and gold. That’s Christmas.”
Bailey looked around the room. He was right. How had she not realized that she had picked Christmas colors for the celebration? She looked over at Landon, who had a little smirk on his face. “Why didn’t you say anything? I didn’t even realize what I was doing.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” Landon said. “You’ve beenholding on so tightly to your anti-Christmas stance that you didn’t even realize that it’s begun to ease up a little.”
“You did this, Landon Stone,” she said, walking the short distance over to him and playfully poking her finger in his chest.
“This is all you, Bailey,” he said, shaking his head. “And it makes me happy for you. Holding on to something like that is a weight you don’t have to carry around anymore.”
“How did you get to be so smart?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking up at him. He had the most beautiful eyes, and she always had the feeling that he saw right through her down to her core.
“I was born this way,” he said, chuckling at his own joke.
“Are you two going to make out?” Jaylen asked, rolling his eyes. “’Cause if you are, I’m going to go play on my iPad. I get enough of that mushy stuff at my house.”
Bailey and Landon began chuckling.
“Sorry, Jaylen. I just can’t resist,” Bailey said. “This is your five-second warning. Five, four, three…”
Jaylen let out a groan and left the room, muttering under his breath.
“One,” Bailey said. She and Landon met halfway in the middle and kissed.
She reached out and took off his glasses. Bailey held them in one hand and placed her other arm around his shoulder. “Your glasses are a bit fogged up. What’s that process called? Condensation?”
“Yes, it is,” he said. “See what you’ve done to me, Bailey Daniels. You’ve fogged up my glasses and totally messed with my brain chemistry. When you’re within a ten-mile radius, Ican’t think straight. You’re in my thoughts constantly. You’ve invaded my dreams. I’m falling in love with you, Bailey.”
Just as he poured his heart out to Bailey, Sophia came rushing into the room with Jaylen, Lily, and True. “It’s time,” she said, sounding a bit frantic. “Jacques is bringing Hattie down and the food is coming from the kitchen right now.” She had her arms full of hot dog buns and cheese. Jaylen was carrying a jug of iced tea.
A bit of chaos ensued as Red, Caleb, and Xavier brought in the chili and the hot dogs, as well as chips and coleslaw. Bottles of sparkling cider were in abundance.
“She’s coming,” Jaylen said in a loud whisper. “I can hear her wheelchair.”
Seconds later, Jacques and Hattie came into view. Everyone yelled out “Surprise!” as they crossed the threshold. Hattie let out a cry and raised her hands to her mouth.
“What in the world!” Hattie exclaimed. “It isn’t my birthday, is it?” she asked.
“No, Grandmother,” Landon said. “This is part of your bucket list. A chili cheese party.”
“Oh my goodness! It smells heavenly in here,” Hattie said, rubbing her hands together. “I can’t wait to try one. Or maybe more than one,” she said, laughing.
“You can have as many as you like.” Jacques bent down and pressed a kiss on her lips. “YOLO,” he said, repeating Hattie’s signature phrase.
