Page 36 of The Christmas Cottage
Mabel blinked back happy tears, gently hugging her granddaughter back in return. “You’re more than welcome,” she said gently. “And that braid should hold up, it’s a little bit windy out there.”
Vanessa smiled as she stepped back. “How’s your wrist?” she asked, clearly a bit concerned. “Doing the braid didn’t hurt it, right?”
Mabel chuckled. “Not at all,” she assured her.
Vanessa turned back to the counter, swiping on a bit more lipstick before glancing at her grandmother in the mirror. “Are you ever going to tell me how you really hurt it? Your story about it keeps changing,” she added, an amused look on her face. “I know there’s something else to the story, for sure.”
Mabel rolled her eyes playfully, letting out a sigh. “I suppose,” she relented. “By now he’s figured it out anyway, so I might as well ‘fess up.”
Vanessa looked confused. “Who found out what?”
“I hurt it playing a prank on George,” Mabel admitted. “He’s been growing a tree since last year for Cindy and Neil—the couple that owns Holly and Ivy Market—and I snuck out to the farm.”
“To do what?” Vanessa turned to face her grandmother, clearly both fascinated and horrified by the story. “You’re—you snuck onto the Christmas tree farm and did what to the tree? And hurt your wrist somehow…” She shook her head, plainly more confused than ever.
“I got some garlands of fake elves online,” Mabel said, chuckling. “These really ugly, garish things. I went out anddecorated the tree with them, so that when George took Cindy and Neil out to see their tree, he’d see them.”
“But why?” Vanessa was still incredibly confused.
“Because it’s funny. George loves Christmas, as much as anyone else here in town, but hehateselves,” Mabel explained. “It’s never made any sense. He doesn’t even have a reason for it, he just says they creep him out. Like they’re always watching.”
Vanessa laughed at that. “Does he hate dolls too? Because I agree, they’re creepy. That shelf of them at the toy store always freaks me out every time I see it.”
Mabel shook her head. “I have no idea, honestly. But I knew it would drive him nuts,andbe hilariously funny. So I snuck out there to do it, and managed to hurt my wrist in the process.”
“How on earth?—”
“I slipped on the ladder coming down from the top part of the tree. So the story waskind oftrue,” Mabel insisted. “I did slip and hurt it. Just not putting things on a shelf or taking them off or whatever story it was that I gave you.”
Vanessa looked at her grandmother for a long moment, a small smirk on her lips. “You know,” she said slowly, “you and George could just spend some time together, instead of playing so many tricks on each other. Some actual, quality time.”
Mabel felt a small flutter in her chest at that thought, but she pushed it away. She’d told herself many times over the years, every time she and George had started to get closer, that the time in her life for romance was done. What she needed was lighthearted fun, and this gave her exactly that.
“We’re just friends,” she insisted to Vanessa, but she could see that her granddaughter didn’t entirely believe that. “Really. Andyouare going to be late for your date with Jackson.”
Vanessa glanced at her phone. “Oh my goodness, you’re right. I should head out.” She gave Mabel a quick hug. “Makesure to be careful with your wrist. I know you said the braiding was fine, but just rest it, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Mabel returned the hug. “I will,” she promised. “And good luck on your date.”
She watched Vanessa hurry out toward the stairs, hoping with all her heart that the date went as well as it possibly could.
Vanessa had bought new snow boots, a stylish pair that she’d found at the Holly and Ivy Market of all places. According to Cindy, when she’d been ringing Vanessa up, they’d been in stock forever because no one had wanted them. They were more fashion than function, which was probably why. They were a pretty soft brown color, with white laces and a ruff of fur around the top, but the tread was still good enough to keep her footing in the snow and much better than her heeled boots. They were more than good enough for what she needed, and as she walked out into the winter wonderland of late evening, she was glad she had them.
Looking at her phone as she walked, she realized she actually had a bit more time than she’d thought. She was supposed to meet Jackson at the toy shop at six, and she was a bit early. Her nerves had made her overestimate the time, she thought.
As she walked down the sidewalk, she saw Imogen’s chocolate shop just ahead, and decided to stop in. She had enough time, and the shop was still open, the lights on as twilight gathered in. She could have a quick chat with Imogen and calm down a little, she thought. She had no idea why she was so nervous. It was just a date, one that wasn’t going to go anywhere.
Maybe, she thought as she stepped into the sweet-smelling interior of the shop, it was just because she hadn’t really been on a date since college. And even then, she wasn’t entirely sure that those counted as dates at all.
“Oh my gosh, Vanessa, you look so gorgeous!” Imogen chirped as Vanessa walked in. “I love that coat!”
Vanessa smiled, smoothing her hands down the front of her coat a little self-consciously. It was a wrap coat in a black and gray and pink plaid print, with a wide collar that was perfect for tucking a scarf into, which she’d done—a soft black cashmere scarf that matched her black cashmere beanie. “Is it too much? I’m going on a date with Jackson, and?—”
“Yes,” Imogen cheered, her smile widening. “He mentioned wanting to say something to you about taking you out, the other day when he was in here shopping.”
“He did?” Vanessa’s nerves took off in a cloud of butterflies.
“He did,” Imogen confirmed. “I told him he should give it a shot, and I’m so glad he did!”
