Page 146 of Mistletoe and Mischief

Bailey hurried into the kitchen for a doggie treat, returning just in time to hear Bob Beldon say to her father, “Welcome back to Cedar Cove.” Bob dug into the white cake with raspberry filling.

“You’ll never guess who we heard from,” Peggy said conversationally and then, before anyone could guess, she answered her own question. “Danielle!”

Bailey was all ears. Sophie, too. Her sister set down the coffeepot and waited for the punch line.

“And?” Their dad frowned; clearly, Danielle wasn’t a good memory.

“She sent a check to pay for the damage she did and wrote a letter of apology.”

“I’m glad she apologized,” Kent said. “She caused quite a scene.”

“I’ll say,” Bob muttered between bites of cake. “I’ve been in theater for twenty years, and I’ve never seen more of a drama queen than that woman.”

“But she had a broken heart,” Sophie said, looking at Bailey. “Right?”

Her younger sister was far more charitable than Bailey was inclined to be. She had a point, though. They could afford to be generous. Their parents were together again, and, after all, Danielle’s plan to make their mother jealous had started out as a misguided favor to their dad.

“In my opinion, the sailor who dumped her made a lucky escape.”

“Bob,” Peggy said pointedly. “Be kind.”

“Okay, okay. At least she was responsible enough to pay for the damages and send us a note of apology.”

“I still feel bad about all of that,” Kent said. “I had no idea she’d react the way she did.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Bob told him. “We appreciated your offer to pay for the damages, but you weren’t the one who created the mess. We mailed Danielle a letter after the first of the year, and three weeks later the check arrived.” They chatted for another twenty minutes, and then the Beldons went home, with Millie heeling very nicely.

The Flemmings and their two sons stopped by next, passing the Beldons in the driveway. The dogs were at home, but Matthew and Mark spoke animatedly about their puppies whom they’d named Charlie and Sam. It was obvious that the boys had taken very successfully to dog ownership. Bailey remembered when she and Sophie had become dog owners for the first time. Watching the two brothers reminded her of the summer their parents had allowed them each to choose a puppy at the local animal shelter. Bailey got a beagle and Sophie had an Australian shepherd. They’d named them Barney and Fi Fi, and those dogs had been their companions for more than ten years.

Over the course of the next two hours, more people than Bailey could keep track of came and went. Bruce and Rachel Peyton arrived with their newborn daughter, Corinna. Jolene had gotten one of the puppies for Christmas, too, and bragged equally about Corinna and Poppy, her dog.

Troy and Faith Davis came by for cake and to chat with their parents. So did the McAfees, who were full of compliments abouttheirpuppy, Asta—as smart and charming as the dog in those movies, Roy bragged. Everyone was so friendly. Bailey was in charge of serving cake and Sophie busied herself with coffee and tea.

Soon after, Teri and Bobby Polgar, plus Christie and James Wilbur—proud owners of Chessie—dropped over with a bottle of champagne. Then Will Jefferson and Miranda Sullivan, sporting an engagement ring, broughtanotherbottle.

By the end of the afternoon it seemed as if everyone their mother knew in town had made the effort to welcome Kent to Cedar Cove.

Everyone, that is, except Ted Reynolds, the veterinarian.

Briefly, Bailey had wondered if her mother’s friend would stop by. No one said anything, but Sophie noticed and so did Bailey. That saddened her a little because she knew that Ted and her mother were fond of each other.

“Well, that looks like everyone,” Beth said, carrying the leftover cake into the kitchen.

“You girls did a great job.”

“Wait!” Sophie cried out. “I see a car coming down the driveway.”

“It’s Ted,” Bailey said excitedly.

“Ted?” Beth pushed open the kitchen door and stuck her head out. “Oh, I was hoping he’d have a chance to come.” She brought out a piece of cake and set it on the table, as if it’d been there all along just waiting for Ted’s arrival.

Kent opened the front door and extended his hand. “Good to see you, Ted.”

“You, too. I’d like you to meet my friend Lana.”

Ted had a female friend? Bailey met her sister’s eyes.

“Ted,” Beth said, holding out her hand to him. “I’m so glad you brought Lana. I’ve been wanting to meet her.”

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