Page 114 of Mistletoe and Mischief

“No. We wanted to get your okay before we had one of your gifts delivered.”

“All right....” Roy glanced at Corrie, clearly wondering if she knew what this was about; she shook her head, as confused as he was.

“Did you hear someone left ten puppies on Beth Morehouse’s porch?”

“We did,” Corrie confirmed. “In fact, Bob was just telling us he got one of those pups for Peggy.”

“And we chose one for you,” Gloria said.

Their daughter had gotten them a puppy?

Corrie stared at her.

“Not long ago, Dad talked about a Labrador he had while he was growing up and he got a nostalgic look in his eyes. I heard about these puppies from Ted Reynolds, and Chad and I went to Beth’s house today to pick one up.”

“If you don’t want the dog,” Chad said, moving toward the edge of the sofa, “Gloria and I will take her. She’s cute as a bug and has personality to boot.”

“Where is she now?” Corrie asked.

“At my place,” Gloria replied. “We thought we’d bring her over tomorrow.”

“A puppy.” Roy wore a silly grin, as if the prospect delighted him. “What about a name?” he asked.

“I know—Asta. That’s the dog in theThin Manmovies, remember?” Corrie suggested.

“Perfect for a detective’s dog.” Roy smiled. “Even if the original Asta was a boy.”

“Asta it is,” Corrie said, adding, “We need a puppy in the house again.”

This was going to be the most wonderful Christmas in recent memory. Weddings, grandchildren—and now a puppy.

11

“Come in out of the cold,” Danielle said as Kent and Beth returned to the house after delivering the sleigh to the Nelsons’. It might have been Beth’s imagination, but she suspected Danielle had been standing by the door waiting for them. She had her cell phone in her hand again.

She immediately ran up to Kent and spoke urgently in his ear. Kent looked decidedly uncomfortable as she hugged him, but put his arms lightly around her. Beth saw Danielle’s hug as a claim of ownership. Unable to watch, she stepped around the embracing couple and hurried into the kitchen, grateful for the escape.

Bailey and Sophie were standing in a corner of the family room, whispering heatedly.

“Girls?” Beth said, wondering what they were up to. They didn’t seem to be arguing, but clearly had different opinions on something or other. “Is everything all right?” she asked.

Bailey turned around so quickly, she nearly stumbled. “Ah...sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”

Sophie narrowed her eyes as Danielle and Kent stepped into the room.

“It was a...lovely afternoon, but it’s time I...we left,” Danielle said, and then inclined her head as if to say the decision was final.

“You’releaving?” Bailey cried in apparent shock.

“You’re not staying for dinner?” Sophie sounded equally shocked.

“I thought you came to Cedar Cove so you could spend Christmas with us,” Bailey reminded her father.

Frankly, Beth was just as glad to see them go. She didn’t understand exactly what had happened between her and Kent in the sleigh, but whatever it was had made her feel confused and a bit panicky. She’d actuallywantedhim to kiss her. Her ex-husband had brought another woman to spend Christmas with the family, and yet Beth could hardly stop herself from leaning into him....

“Kent will be back on Christmas Day,” Danielle said to the girls, as if they were small children in need of reassurance. “Christmas Eve is a time for family and—”

“Our fatherisfamily,” Bailey protested as she curled her hands into tight fists. She seemed to be on the verge of tears.

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