Page 24 of Cozy Hometown Christmas
Someone pulled her out, and she brushed the snow off her face to see Kent standing there with a concerned expression.
“Are you okay?” He stood back and looked her over.
She took a mental inventory. Nothing hurt except maybe her pride. “I’m fine. I don’t know what happened.”
“Ladders can be tricky in the snow.”
Instead of being condescending, Kent was trying to let her off easy. Her thoughts toward him warmed even further.
“Thanks for pulling me out.”
“You could’ve asked me for help.”
“I want to be self-sufficient.”
Kent nodded. “I can see that. You’re doing a good job, and your porch really looks fantastic.”
Kent’s words made Dorothy feel proud.
His gaze swung from her porch to his. “Makes mine look a little… overdone.”
“It doesn’t look too bad.” Dorothy picked up the basket and started putting the holly back into it. “I might have gotten a little carried away too. I don’t really need the holly out here. I think I might have been trying to compete with all your decorations.”
“Not necessary. Yours looks perfect.” Kent looked thoughtful. “Maybe our kids are getting a little carried away, too, with that skating-pond contest.”
“Do you think so? Kristen does seem to be stressing over it.”
“Mason too. They might be taking it a little too seriously. I mean, I’d like the opportunity to decorate, but I don’t want to take it away from you. I know the tree farm has always done it.”
“You’re not exactly taking it away. It’s a contest, and the best design will win.”
Kent stood looking at the two porches for a bit. “I think the question is how does one decide what the best design is?”
Dorothy shivered again, as snow had gotten up her sleeves and inside her boots. She needed to get inside and in front of the fire. “I don’t know how that’s decided, but I think I need to get inside. Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?”
Chapter 16
Kristen had woken up feeling great even though she’d stayed out late with Mason at the skating pond the night before. She’d enjoyed the conversation and felt they could be friends despite the decorating competition. Too bad that was all they could ever be. It was for the best, though, as she wasn’t really ready to date anyone anyway, and she didn’t think a long-distance relationship would work for her.
Best to focus on family business. Her mom was doing well now, and it was time to work on Ethan, so she went to his cabin.
Ethan answered the door with a scowl that softened a tad when he saw it was her. He’d tried to scurry out and join her on the porch, but she’d anticipated that.
“I haven’t been in here in so long. Is it still the same?” She practically pushed her way inside, leaving him no choice but to let her in.
The log cabin was as cozy as Kristen remembered. The cedar walls gave the whole space a warm glow, and the wooden kitchen cabinets looked rustic, but the new granite Ethan must have had put in upgraded the look nicely. It was a typical bachelor pad with dishes in the sink and clothing strewn about, but the fire in the river-stone fireplace made it homey despite the clutter.
“Coffee?” Ethan grunted.
“I’d love a cup.” Kristen rearranged some of the laundry that was on the couch and sat down. “I forgot how homey it was in here.”
It could have been even homier. There were no family photographs, knickknacks, or anything personal.
She glanced at her brother. His brown hair was a little longer and shaggier than usual, and his beard needed a trim. At least the red-and-black-plaid flannel shirt and jeans he wore appeared clean if a bit threadbare.
“I hope you like it black. I don’t have any cream.” Ethan popped a K-cup into his Keurig.
At least he had that modern amenity. She’d half pictured him living back here in the woods like a hermit from the 1800s, cooking in the fireplace and doing his laundry in the river. Though maybe she wasn’t far off with the laundry, she thought as she glanced at the piles of clothes.
