Page 28 of The Christmas Cottage
Mabel tried to ignore the flicker of warmth that went through her at that. “You’re not disappointed?”
“Of course I am. It’s one of the highlights of my year, playing Santa with you.” He grinned, and she was pretty sure he actually meant it. “But I don’t want you to overtax yourself. It’s more important for you to get well. There’s always next year.”
That, especially, made her heart swell. “Thanks, George,” she said sincerely, just as she heard the sound of car tires coming up the driveway. “That means a lot. I hope you’ll still come to the event.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he assured her, pushing away from the counter as they both headed toward the living room, just as the door opened and Vanessa walked in. Mabel was pleased that she hadn’t knocked.
“Ooh, that’s a lot of totes.” Vanessa eyed them. “They’re going in Jackson’s truck?”
Mabel nodded, and George grinned. “That’s my cue to head out,” he said. “See you, Mabel.”’
“I think he likes you,” Vanessa said with a smile as George walked out, and Mabel waved a hand dismissively.
“He’s just being friendly. Brought over a casserole for me. Speaking of which, could you put that in the fridge while we wait on Jackson?”
“A man cooked for you, and you think it’s just friendly?” Vanessa laughed as she went to put away the covered dish, and Mabel couldn’t help but smile. She could tell her granddaughter was relaxing more and more, day by day. Fitting in a little better, back into Fir Tree Grove. She knew Vanessa would go back to San Francisco, she wasn’t kidding herself about that, but she couldn’t help but think that Vanessa would be happy here, if she ever did decide to stay.
Another knock came at the door, and as Mabel called out that it was open, Jackson walked in. He was wearing a pair of decently nice jeans, a black ribbed henley and a leather jacket over it, and Mabel hid another smile. She couldn’t help but thinkhe’d dressed up a little, since he was going to see Vanessa. He was more cleaned up than she’d seen him in a while.
Vanessa walked out of the kitchen just then, and Mabel saw her cheeks pinken slightly as she caught sight of Jackson.Perfect.Of course, she told herself, she still wasn’t thinking that this would turn into something permanent, of course, or that Jackson would convince her granddaughter to stay. But it would be good for them both to have a little flirtation. And a grandmother could dream about the possibility of her granddaughter coming home for good, after all. Nothing wrong with that.
“If you can take these out to the truck, we’ll head over to the shop,” Mabel said to Jackson, who nodded.
“Got it. I’ll have them loaded up in no time.”
“I’ll help,” Vanessa said quickly, shooting Jackson a dirty look when he looked as if he might protest. “What? I can lift heavy things too.”
“Of course,” he amended quickly. “Just didn’t want you to think you had to.”
She rolled her eyes, but she looked amused as she went to pick up one of the totes, following Jackson out to the truck. Mabel sat down on the sofa, watching as the two of them went back and forth.
They looked good together. And she could tell from the way Jackson looked at Vanessa that he had quite the crush on her. She didn’t know her granddaughter well enough to know when Vanessa was that attracted to someone, but she could tell that she was getting butterflies. It was obvious in the way Vanessa looked away quickly every time that Jackson glanced her way.
When the totes were all loaded into Jackson’s truck, Vanessa and Mabel headed out to Mabel’s car. “I’m sorry I can’t offer to drive,” Vanessa said apologetically. “I feel like I should, with your wrist being the way that it is. But there’s no need for a car inSan Francisco, so I don’t actually have my license,” she admitted sheepishly.
“That’s fine,” Mabel assured her, patting her granddaughter’s hand. “I’ll get us there just fine. But are you sure you wouldn’t rather ride with Jackson?”
Vanessa frowned. “Why would I do that?”
“Oh, well—he might not know to park around back to bring things in through the service entrance,” Mabel said hurriedly. “I’d rather load everything in that way then have it coming in through the front, blocking pedestrian traffic and all.”
Vanessa narrowed her eyes at her grandmother. “All right, well, hang on just a second. I’ll go tell him.”
“I want to go ahead and get over there,” Mabel insisted. “Just ride over with him, dear. I’ll have everything unlocked and ready when you get there.”
It looked for a moment like Vanessa might want to protest, but she nodded, giving her grandmother one more look before heading over to where Jackson was starting up the truck. Mabel watched her open up the passenger’s side door, saw her say something and then shrug, and then hop in. She grinned gleefully, getting into her own car and starting it so that it could warm up.
She was sure Jackson could have figured it out on his own, but this would give the two of them more time together. Which was, in her opinion, only a good thing.
About twenty minutes later, they had all reconvened at the shop, and Mabel had the back door unlocked while Jackson and Vanessa started carrying the totes in and organizing them in the back. “I’ll start going through them,” Vanessa said once a few of them were inside, blowing on her hands. “It’s cold out there.”
“Doesn’t bother me,” Jackson said cheerfully, heading back out for another one.
Mabel sat down next to Vanessa at the small break room table, taking the lids off of the totes as she started to take out the remaining decorations. At the top of the second tote were the outfits for Santa and Mrs. Claus, and Mabel took them out with a grin, holding them up just as Jackson walked in with another tote.
“Here’s the costumes for you two,” Mabel said enthusiastically. “Why don’t you two try them on? If I need to make any alterations, it’s better to know now.”
“You’re not altering anything with your wrist,” Vanessa said firmly but gently. “But sure. We’ll try them on.” She looked over at Jackson, who chuckled.
