Page 62 of Her Counterfeit Christmas
My thoughts exactly.
“They’re not fake,” Layla says, pretending like she’s insulted. “They’re made-for-TV Christmas movies.”
Tori rolls her eyes. “That explains everything. Who is Meg? Has she been admitted for observation to a psych ward?”
Layla laughs as she backhands Tori’s arm playfully. “She’s my best friend and a Hallmark Christmas movie junkie who will be green with envy when I tell her where I am.”
Just as she did yesterday with the Christmas trees, Layla pulls out her phone and takes dozens of pictures, including a few selfies with her eyes wide and mouth open in shock as she points to different spots. She pulls Tori into a few, and Tori gives her signature fishy lips look, with a slight profile since she insists her left side is more photogenic.
“Will you send those to me?” she asks Layla. “My Insta followers will never believe I’m at a barn with actual horses.”
After sending Tori the photos and taking a few more of the scenery, Layla types into her phone, but then abruptly stops. Her smile fades as she puts her phone back into her coat pocket.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Did Meg not like the pictures?”
She shakes her head. “I didn’t send them. She’s with herfamily this week. I’ll wait until I get home and tell her in person.”
Is Meg’s family what stole her joy?
When she moves into the barn, Tori and I follow. Tori doesn’t notice Layla’s somber mood. She nudges me with her elbow.
“I already have fifty likes. Someone thinks the photos are fake. Ha ha!”
Inside the barn is a country store and a small cafe that sells cocoa, coffee, and donuts. One full wall is filled with homemade wreaths and garlands. Grandmother directs Miles to push her in that direction, and waves for Layla and Tori to follow.
“I need your advice,” she says to them. “We have the whole of the main floor to decorate. We need enough garlands to go up the stair banisters. A wreath on every door. What else should we purchase?”
Layla’s expression lifts as she talks with Grandmother about what to buy and how much. Tori raves about the wreaths and picks out her favorites. Mom and Miles grab coffee. Sadie runs in with Brady following, both of them breathless.
I watch them all, surprised at what I come to realize: We’re a happy family. There have been hints of it earlier this week, but now it’s a fact. I’ve always felt torn between my mom’s family and my family. There was conflict between the two, with me in the middle. When I quit the law firm, I thought they were out of my life forever, except for Tori. Now I see I can have both. Grandmother showed me it was possible in the van earlier; this is more proof.
There must be something in the barn I’m allergic tobecause my eyes water. Time to find my tour guide and grab Layla for our adventure. I’m even more committed to Operation-Show-Layla-How-Much-I-Care because the only thing I’m missing right now is my own family. As I watch her fawn over pink tree ornaments, I have no doubt she’s the one I want to start one with.
Chapter Fifteen
LAYLA
The sales people love Rheta.She’s almost bought out the entire store of decorations and greenery. The total cost will be staggering, and I leave before her purchases are rung up. After receiving the call from Brock Pine Home about one of my credit cards being denied, I can’t handle how this family throws around money like it’s inconsequential.
The colorful glass balls hand blown by local artisans draw my eye, but with the smaller ones costing twenty dollars apiece, I don’t let myself linger for long.
I make my way toward the coffee counter before I remember that’s a bad idea. I don’t have money for coffee, and the smell tempts me to make a poor choice.
Owen comes up beside me. “Did you find some fun things to decorate the cabin?”
“Yes.”
I glance up into his brown cocoa eyes, and for onesecond, I wish things could be different. That invasive desire gets squashed immediately. Things aren’t different, and it’s a waste of energy imagining that they could be.
“I did a little research on this place before we came.” He looks around, giving me a break from his penetrating gaze. “They’ve had eight Christmas movies filmed here over the past five years.”
This is a nice, neutral conversation topic. “Wow, eight. Do they have a list on their website?” I pull out my phone, wondering if I’ve seen the other six. “Meg will be beyond jealous.”
“They actually have a tour around the property where they show the different filming locations. Do you want to go?” He points to a man near the entrance with a clipboard. The man glances at his wristwatch, then looks back at us. “If so, it starts now.”
A tour of filming sights? Meg would never forgive me if I turned down the opportunity. Except no one else has gathered. Will it just be me and Owen? Definitely not a good idea. We may be friends, but being alone with him will make it that much more difficult for my head to remember friendly boundaries.
“Let me ask Tori if she’s interested.”
