Page 23 of The Christmas Keepsake
Mallory turned toward Francis curiously. “Hollis was here earlier?” Hollis hadn’t mentioned anything to her when he’d called to invite her to trim the tree with him this evening.
Francis’s expression turned sheepish. Mallory was a good read of people, and it looked like there was something Francis wasn’t saying.
“He’s coming again tonight,” Mallory said. “We’re going to trim the tree and add all the lights your staff was able to come up with.” Then Mallory planned to add the first of Nan’s Memory Tree ornaments. “I love Linda’s idea of having the other residents make their own memory ornaments. That’s so perfect.”
Francis was quiet again.
Mallory gave her an assessing look. “It wasn’t Linda’s idea, was it? Was it Hollis’s?”
Francis tugged her lower lip between her teeth. “Oh, I’m awful at keeping secrets.”
Why on earth would Hollis not want Mallory to know this was his genius?
“I guess he thought it’d be better if you thought this whole idea came from someone else.”
Mallory wondered why he would think that. “Well, whoever’s idea it was, it’s great. Over the last couple of years, my grandmother has started putting up a Memory Tree with each ornament telling a story. How perfect to bring the tradition to Memory Oaks.”
Mallory had hoped the tree would be in Nan’s room, but she could still bring the memory journal and read the stories behind each ornament to Nan as they hung the ornaments on the tree. Mallory could learn a side of Nan that she’d never known while reminding her grandmother of the life she was slowly forgetting. Even if Nan couldn’t remember, the journal did.
“Sorry I’m late,” Hollis said, stepping up beside Mallory. “The farm was a bit busy, and I wanted to make sure the seasonal employees had things under control before I left. But I’m here now. Let the wild rumpus begin.” He looked over and offered Mallory a wink.
She lifted a brow. “Have you been hanging around Eleanor today?”
Eleanor was Savannah’s great-aunt who loved to speak in book quotes.
Hollis chuckled. “Actually, yes. She and your grandpa Charlie were at the farm today, picking out their own Christmas tree.”
Mallory was so happy that her paternal grandfather had found love again after losing his first wife. He liked to tell people that lightning had struck twice for him when it came to love… Whereas it hadn’t even struck once for Mallory.
Hollis rubbed his hands together as he redirected his attention to the tree. “Wow. That’s a beauty, huh?” He said it as if he’d never seen the tree before, but Mallory was on to him. “Shall we get trimming?”
Mallory ignored the fluttery feeling inside her chest as he made eye contact. “Yes. Let’s get started.”
“How about I make you both some hot cider while you work?” Francis offered. “It’s the least I can do.”
“I won’t say no to apple cider,” Hollis said. He turned to Mallory. “What about you?”
“I’d love a cup as well.” As Francis disappeared, leaving them alone, Mallory reached for some clippers. “I’ll take the bottom and you take the top, seeing that you’re much taller than I am.”
“Seeing that you’re much shorter,” he shot back, giving her another wink.
Her chest fluttered again. He needed to stop with all that winking. In her mind, she knew he wasn’t flirting but her heart missed the memo. “So, have you found a Santa for me yet?”
“I’m working on it. Today was a bit busy,” he said casually, grabbing his own pair of cutters.
Mallory chewed at her lower lip, wondering how he’d respond to what she’d been thinking about all day. “Well, you can stop looking. Because I think I’ve found the perfect Santa.”
He looked up from the tree branch he was working on. “Yeah? Who?”
“You. You should be Santa this year.”
Hollis’s brown eyes narrowed as he straightened back into an upright position. “What?”
“I know you’re constantly being asked for favors and you always say yes, no matter what. I also know you’re busy, so I hate to add more to your plate. But you’re Santa, Hollis.” He was big and jolly, and he was so generous with his time and energy. “You can say no, of course. But I really hope you’ll say yes. For Nan.”
“Nan? You and I both know this is the opposite of what Nan would want.”
Mallory folded her arms over her chest. “No. You and I both know that Nan loves you and she would trust you with anything. She’d trust you with her life. She’d definitely trust you to play the lead in her play.” Mallory pressed her hands together. “Please,” she said, her voice growing small. She’d never liked asking for help, but Nan’s play couldn’t run without a Santa. “You’re perfect for the role. You were made for it. Be Nan’s Santa this year.”
