Page 52 of Unexpectedly Falling
“That’s not real neighborly,” I muse as I round to the passenger seat just as Ellison comes out of the barn.
“What brings you out this way, Jensen?” she ask as she loops her arms around Montana’s waist.
“He was just leavin’,” Montana grumbles as I open the door and scoop the piglet into my arms.
“Brought you a present,” I say, smartly handing it to Ellison who squeals and does a little dance before looking at her fiancé.
“I hate you,” he groans at me while looking up at the sky and releasing a slew of curses.
“No, you don’t, and besides, I’ve been tryin’ to figure out all day where she came from. No one is missing a baby, and it’s notlike I can just drop it over at Vetted Paws. They take dogs—not pigs.”
“You made the right call, Sheriff,” Ellison says sweetly even though her expression is pure mischief as she stares at Montana. “We can call her Buttercup.”
“Oh good, to go along with the rest of the menagerie of food- and plant-based names.”
“See?” she says with a wink. “You’re catching on. Oh! Do you think she’ll look cute in a Santa hat?”
“You’re making this up to me later,” he growls and she shrugs a shoulder.
“That’s not the threat you think it is.”
I snicker and try to cover it with a cough, but I’m unsuccessful because Montana whirls on me with a glare. “Laugh it up. I’ll be buying your daughter every obnoxious, talking, noisy toy I can find until she leaves for college. Christmasiscoming.”
“Not for a while,” I say and watch as they exchange a look. “What?”
“It’s less than two weeks away. I just put our Christmas cards in the mail yesterday. They’re so cute! You’re gonna love them!” She beams up at Montana who tries to look exasperated but can’t because he’s used to her antics—expects them even.
“They’re not the one of Montana in his boxers, wearin’ a Santa hat, right? I already have that one.”
“No, this year’s card has the cows and lights and they’resocute!”
I start to shake my head when my gaze gets snagged on the giant wreath hanging over the barn doors, and dread settles in my gut.
Pulling out my phone, I open the calendar app and stare at the little red circle around the fourteenth of December.
Son of a bitch.
I’d known Christmas was coming—known my parents would be visiting Indie and that I’d agreed to cover most of the holiday shift months ago before I’d ever known about Remi.
But in the weeks since my daughter and Nessa had landed in Blackstone Falls, that had somehow gotten lost in the sea of other things that needed my attention.
“Bet he’s gonna get Nessa something nice,” Ellison stage-whispers, bringing my focus back to the present.
Presents.
Shit.
“Darling Farms already has their lights up in the orchard,” Montana says as he looks down at his fiancée.
“That sounds romantic. Are you takin’ me, Max?”
“Dunno, Eddie. Are we still keeping that pig?”
“Obviously,” she says with a huff, their nicknames for each other sickeningly adorable.
“Yeah, I’m still takin’ you.” He chuckles, caving almost immediately and surprising no one.
“Looks like we all get what we want today,” Ellison says cheerfully as she turns back to the barn. “Thanks for stoppin’ by, Jensen!”
