Page 45 of Savoring Christmas
“… his name’s Grant Stratton,” Mia was saying. “He has a large property up north. Even further than the dairy farm. There’s a guest cottage, and he’s looking for a full-time housekeeper. Abby mentioned you, and he said he’d be happy to meet with you.”
Patty’s eyes widened, her hand instinctively going to Daisy’s shoulder. “Really? That’s amazing. But I’ve never worked for someone like that before.”
“It’s just an interview,” Mia said gently. “But it could be a good fresh start for you and the kids. He said to call him on his mobile. I’ll text you the number.”
Patty’s voice trembled slightly. “I don’t know what to say, except thank you.”
The moment was interrupted by a burst of laughter as Benji’s frosting bag exploded, showering Jack with green icing. His mother swooped in with a towel, and the kitchen returned to its happy disorder.
Logan leaned against the doorway, content to stay in the background for a moment and just watch Mia. She now sat between Daisy and Molly, working on a Santa shaped cookie. She looked completely at home here, even though he knew she’d been nervous to join them.
His mother bustled past with another tray of cookies, pausing long enough to pat Logan’s arm. “Logan, you’ll never believe who called me. Your cousin Roan. He’s been injured and can’t work as a stuntman any longer. Some kind of serious neck thing. He’s coming home. Next year some time.”
“To Sugarville Grove?” Logan asked.
“He said it was time to come back to the place he grew up,” Grace said. “Isn’t it strange? After all this time? I’ve only heard from him a half dozen times in at least that many years.”
Logan’s mind flickered back to the Hayes boys—Roan and Jason—inseparable in their younger years, wild in ways the other Hayes cousins only brushed against. Roan had always been the quiet intensity to Jason’s easy charm, a natural daredevil with a streak of restlessness that never seemed satisfied by small-town life. His sudden departure after their mother’s death had left a hollow note in the family, one Logan hadn’t realized still lingered with his mother. And now, after more than a decade, Roan was coming back. All Logan could think about was Reese.
“What about Jason? How’s he doing?” Logan asked his mother.
“He didn’t say much about him. I got the feeling maybe they’re estranged.” Mom shook her head. “They both took my sister’s death so hard. I tried to get them to stay here with us but they headed to L.A. right after her funeral. Frankly, I wasn’t sure we’d see either of them again.” Mom’s eyes filled. “It’s been a great sorrow to me—not knowing my sister’s boys. She would be so disappointed.”
“Well, I guess you’ll have your chance,” Logan said.
Later, when he could steal a quiet moment with Mia near the Christmas tree, he told her about Roan. “He’s coming back.”
Mia’s brow wrinkled. “Who are we talking about?”
“Roan, my cousin. He’s the one that broke Reese’s heart.”
“Oh, him,” Mia said, eyes widening. “That’s not good.”
“He’s been a stuntman in L.A. all this time. Very successful, apparently. His twin, Jason, is an actor.”
“This could send Reese spiraling,” Mia said.
“Yeah,” Logan said quietly. “Should we tell her?”
“I’m not sure. Let’s sleep on that. We can talk about it tomorrow.” She gazed at his mother’s tree. “This is really pretty. It makes me wish I had room for one.”
“Do you want to go out to Martin’s tomorrow and pick out a tree for my house?” Logan asked. “I haven’t bothered in years past, since I don’t really host anything. This year feels different though.”
“How so?” Mia lifted her chin, staring up at him with sparkling eyes.
“Because of you. The holidays are suddenly more fun.”
“I would love to go with you.”
He picked a bit of frosting out of her hair. “It’s a date.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll wash my hair first.”
The next evening,they arrived at the tree farm after dark, a clear sky stretched above them scattered with twinkling stars. Logan drove through the glowing entrance, where twin evergreens stood wrapped in rivers of white lights. From her spot in Mia’s lap, Cannoli pressed her paws to the window, nose fogging the glass as her tail wagged furiously at the sight.
He parked, and soon they were outside, breath puffing in the cold air, all bundled up for their tree hunt. Cannoli trotted happily at the end of her red leash, sniffing the snowbanks with great seriousness before pouncing through them like a rabbit.
Scents of fresh pine and woodsmoke from a bonfire crackling near the main building made it feel very much like Christmas. Families moved through the neat rows of trees like shadows against the starlit snow, their voices carrying soft conversations and children’s excited squeals across the frosty air.
