Page 6 of Under the Mistletoe
“Maybe fifty, but not all of them qualify for the program. I opened it to the community to have critical mass for a real race.”
“That won’t help.” A tapping came over the line as though MaryLynn was drumming her well-manicured nails against a counter. “The board wants to limit the events to only the foster and adoptive families.”
Which was a challenge because so many of the families in this area needed a program like this, but she understood the parameters. “I know. But the program only paid for those that qualify. The rest paid for their cars.” Or she covered them out of her own pocket.
“We don’t blame you, but if the area isn’t going to be responsive, then they won’t keep sending resources there.”
“But theyareresponsive. It’s just slow. The Barlows are a new family that are supposed to be there tomorrow. They’re in the process of adopting a sibling group of three but feeling a bit overwhelmed with taking on three kids at once. I can help them. And I can help more like them, but it takes time to build relationships.”
There was a long pause before MaryLynn’s voice filled the line again. “The next meeting with the board is in the second week of January. If you can show steady growth over a series of events, that might do it. What do you have planned for the Christmas season?”
“A Secret Santa exchange.” An incoming call beeped in her ear, and she glanced at the screen. Jess. Her cousin would have to wait.
“And?” MaryLynn’s voice had lost its softness.
“That’s it.” Okay, saying it like that didn’t seem like much, but the kids had wanted the opportunity to not just get but also give gifts. She had set up a Santa’s Workshop store the kids could shop at for free in what used to be an old candy shop next to Donny’s Diner. What had seemed a simple undertaking originally had overwhelmed her last month with planning and setting up.
“That’s a good start, but you need an event every week leading up to Christmas. That way you can show the steady increase in attendance before the next meeting.”
Jess tried to beep through again, but Devin ignored it. “But how am I going to get them to come? They don’t respond to the mailings I’ve sent. I can’t very well show up at their door and drag them there.”
“I’ll think on that. I’ve got to go. Send me some photos tomorrow for the newsletter.” With that, she was gone.
Her phone rang in her hand, and Devin accepted Jess’s call. “Hey.”
“Finally. I was beginning to panic.” With the rushed words, Devin didn’t doubt that. “You haven’t moved from the gas station in like twenty minutes.”
“Are you tracking me?” Maybe she shouldn’t have shared her location with her cousin last month.
“Watching out for you.” Jess released a sigh as if she’d flopped into a chair. “What’s going on? Your parents canceled, didn’t they?”
Devin let her forehead fall against the steering wheel. “I don’t need an ‘I told you so’ right now.”
“I wouldn’t do that.” Jess’s voice softened. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” Not really, but if she talked about it, she’d be crying when Luke showed up, and that would be too embarrassing. “But fear not, I’m eating with the Kingsleys, so you don’t need to worry about me.”
And they would be her family today.
“The Kingsleys? As in Logan and Liam?”
Okay, saying it like that felt less familial, but Logan wasn’t supposed to be there. “As in Luke Taylor’sparentsand the rest of the family, but the twins aren’t there.”
“Just think, if it wasn’t for hitching a ride with them to visit me that Thanksgiving all those years ago, you’d never have met those boys. I will admit, I was hoping they’d visit their brother more than they have over the years. I only met them that one time, but from what I remember, they were really good-looking.”
She couldn’t deny it. Most people found Liam the more attractive twin, with his Henry Cavill looks teamed with his reckless charisma. And maybe she had been initially drawn to him, but that had quickly passed. Logan’s quiet, steady nature had a much deeper impact. Those piercing pale-blue eyes mixed with his dark, brooding Mr. Darcy persona had stolen more than one night’s sleep from her. That was until he’d smashed that fantasy with a few choice words last year. “So if I met them coming to see you, can I blame the most humiliating moment of my life on you too?”
“It wasn’tthatbad.”
Devin glanced up as a vehicle turned into the gas station, but it was one of those newer Broncos, not Luke’s old truck, so she rested her head back on the steering wheel. “Logan basically told me I was the last person he’d ever want to kiss. How is that not bad?”
“To be fair, he didn’t actually say that.”
“You’re right, I believe he said”—she lowered her voice, mimicking his—“‘I don’t think this is where either of us wants to be’ as we werestanding under the mistletoe.”
“Okay, that is pretty bad.” Jess’s voice became muffled, like she’d tucked the phone in her shoulder.
“Then he stared at me with those blue eyes a moment before walking away. I didn’t see him the rest of the night and haven’t seen him since.” The Bronco hadn’t gone toward the pumps. Rather it parked next to her.
