Page 49 of Mistletoe Mischief

“It happened right after Thanksgiving dinner,” his dad said.

“Yes, he proposed to her in front of his family and us. It was so lovely. They’re thinking about having the wedding in August.”

“Wow, good for them.” Pike’s sister was two years older and had been dating her boyfriend, Rick, for four years. Pike knew his sister was getting impatient with Rick not popping the question, and she voiced her concerns that he didn’t want to marry her often. Pike was happy to learn that wasn’t the case.

“I’ll have to say congratulations when I bring this monstrosity back to her,” Pike said, stroking the puppy’s soft fur.

“You should give it a few weeks and see if she grows on you,” his mom said.

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh, I don’t want to argue about this with you,” she said, waving her hands in the air like a queen banishing her subject. “Tell us about your week. What did you do? Lonely without us?”

“It was fine,” Pike said, sitting down on the couch. He tried to shift the dog into his lap, but she cuddled deeper into his neck, so he gave up. “I went to the Winters’ for Thanksgiving. And everyone loved my macaroni and cheese.”

“Oh, you didn’t do the Brussels sprouts this year?” his mom asked.

“No, Anthony said no one liked them.”

“That’s too bad. I thought they were tasty,” his mom said.

“I thought they were foul,” his father said.

Tracy smacked him on the shoulder. “That is because you don’t like anything good for you.”

“That’s incorrect. I like Jamba Juice.”

“That is pure sugar,” Tracy said, shaking her head. “Go ahead, Pike. Don’t mind your father.”

“Not a lot happened this week. I went over to the Winters’ Christmas Tree Farm yesterday and helped with opening day.” Pike racked his brain for something else to talk about. “We had a bonfire afterward, and then I came home.”

“It sounds like a busy week,” his dad said.

“Well, you won’t be alone for Christmas,” his mom said, smiling. “Your sister is talking about coming up with Rick through New Year’s and looking at places here to have the wedding.”

“Really? They don’t wanna have a wedding down in Arizona where all of his family are?” Pike asked.

“No, it’ll be too hot in August. And his family has money, so they’re willing to travel.”

“Well, I guess if they have money, we should make sure they spend it unnecessarily.” Pike knew his mother picked up on the sarcasm from the icy stare she sent him.

“Would you rather we spent our money traveling down to Arizona to sit in the hundred-and-thirty-degree weather?” his mom asked.

“You’re right,” Pike said, adding, “They can come up here.”

“That’s what I thought,” she said.

“Oh, there was one more thing that happened this week,” Pike said. “That travel podcast I listen to is doing an episode about Mistletoe. They booked Adventures in Mistletoe for several outings.”

“Wow, congratulations,” his dad said.

“Honey, that’s incredible,” his mom said. “I hope you made a good first impression.” Pike rolled his eyes.

The puppy squirmed in his hands, and his mom said, “You might want to take her out. She hasn’t gone potty in a few hours.”

Pike grumbled as he took the puppy out the front door and set her on the grass. She sat there for a minute, not moving.

“Go on,” he said.