Page 60 of Love's Harvest
“Ah, have you met Pansy yet?”asked Joe.
Sarah laughed.“I’ve seen her at the vegetable stand a few times.She looks very festive.”
Aaron returned and handed her a glass of wine.“C’mon, Sarah.I want you to meet some of the family from out-of-town.”
As Sarah followed Aaron, she glanced at Dani, who was talking to a woman holding a baby.Sarah recognized the woman as one of Brad’s sisters.Seeing the expression of longing on Dani’s face, Sarah’s heart went out to her.
Aaron led her to a pleasant-looking couple.“This is one of the family’s favorite cousins from Durham, Rick Collister and his wife, Susan.They have two boys Mia and Emily’s ages.They aren’t twins.Just close together.”
“And we have an older child, a daughter who is seven, Gaby,” said Susan.“The family is growing rapidly.My sister is here somewhere.She’s pregnant with twins.You might be able to give her some insight.I met your girls earlier.They’re adorable.”
“Thanks,” said Sarah.“What do you do in Durham?”Sarah asked her.
“Rick is a professor at UNH, and I teach at a preschool,” said Susan.“We keep very busy.I understand you own Bullard’s Hardware Store.Dani was telling me she’s working there for a while.”
“Yes,” said Sarah.“She’s been taking over for my dad who’s been ill.I’m hoping to bring her on board on a permanent basis.”
Susan lowered her voice.“Poor thing hasn’t been able to get pregnant.I’m hoping that changes for her and Brad.”
“Me, too,” said Sarah.
Aaron ended his conversation with Rick, and he led Sarah around the room introducing her to other family members.It was a congenial group, and when it was announced that dinner was ready, they all cooperated in a buffet line in the kitchen while Mary Lou and Aaron’s sisters made sure the tables were kept supplied with lots of delicious food.
A table for the children was set up in the playroom and two of the adults sat with them to make sure all went well.Sitting beside Aaron at the dining room table, Sarah was very aware of how welcoming his family was.Being with them at this older age, Sarah appreciated it more than ever.
When it came time to take the girls home, Aaron helped her strap them into their booster seats.
“I’ll follow you home,” said Aaron.
“Thanks.The girls are like rag dolls after such an exciting day,” said Sarah.“Your parents are so generous to give them each a doll.”
“You know what Mary Lou is like.She loves being able to do it,” said Aaron.“See you soon.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Sarah awoke the next morning and reached for Aaron.He’d stayed long enough to make sure she was tucked into bed properly, according to him.Thinking of what that had meant, she smiled to herself.
She rolled over and checked the clock and wished she didn’t have to go to work at the store.But the day after Christmas was usually a profitable business day for them with people willing to spend Christmas money on a few extras.She’d put Wyatt and April to work retagging items for their annual January sale.Upstairs, she’d be starting to put together data for year-end reports.
“Mommy, Mia won’t let me play with her doll,” cried Emily storming into her bedroom.
“You have a doll of your own to play with,” said Sarah, holding out her arm and pulling Emily in for a snuggle.“We’re all tired from the excitement of Christmas.Just relax and enjoy the day with Lucy.”
“Maybe Lucy will read to us.She makes sounds like all the animals,” said Emily.
Mia came into the room.“Okay, Emily, you can play with my doll.”She climbed up into bed and snuggled on the other side of Sarah.
Lying there, surrounded by her children, Sarah thought back to last night with Aaron.She wished he’d been able to spend the entire night, but it wasn’t time to do that yet.
After giving the girls breakfast, Sarah got ready for work.She and Dani were going to set up things so that a year-end inventory could be done right after the New Year.In the meantime, Sarah was going to try to clear out as many holiday items on sale as she could.
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When she got to the store, there were a few people waiting at the door for the after-Christmas sale.Sarah had already posted on a sign on the door stating that Christmas Items would be 40 percent off.
She parked out back, went through the store turning on lights, and then walked to the front door and opened it.She knew most of the faces and admired how some people in town used the post-Christmas sales to build their holiday décor at home.
Dani arrived with coffee for them both.While Dani oversaw the cash register downstairs, Sarah climbed the stairs to her office.She looked over the sales lists from before Christmas and had an idea of what had sold.The rest of the Christmas items would be assembled in one location with a sign 40 % off, and Dani and the other staff people would be encouraged to try and sell those items.
