Page 29 of Blame it on the Mistletoe
Cody pointed Faith in the direction of the house before disappearing back into the barn with her container of cookies.
Faith rolled the sleeves of her sweater as she walked across the circular drive toward the yellow and white farmhouse. The air was crisp and bright, and a gentle breeze danced along the tall stacks of wheat in the fields.
It appeared Faith had to exchange greetings with half the town before she even made it to the front porch. She waved back at Logan’s sweet little girl, Sidney, who was practicing her princess wave from her daddy’s shoulders. Mable of Mable’s Corner Market, who was in charge of booth placement, gave her a stern reminder that all baked goods needed to arrive by 9AMsharp.
“Nine sharp,” Faith assured her. Even gave a salute, which Mable didn’t find funny.
“There’s always one every year who comes meandering in around nine-thirty, looking like they don’t have a care in the world.”
“What happens if someone’s late?” Faith asked, and Mable’s eyes turned into two menacing slits.
“Ask Jessie McClean.”
The name didn’t ring a single bell, and after waiting tables for five years, Faith knew most everyone in town—at least by name. And she couldn’t think of a single family in town with that surname. “Who’s Jessie McClean?”
Mable leaned in, her forehead wrinkling. “Exactly.”
“Good thing I’m always punctual.”
“Smart girl,” the older woman said. “Oh, and tell that brother of yours to stop tracking needles and sap into my store.”
“Are you sure it was Pax?” He hated grocery shopping. Preferred to sit in the car if Faith had to grab something on the way home.
“As sure as the day is long.” Mable nodded, and her white hair had so much spray, it moved with her. “He was in this afternoon, buying twine and a candy bar. He’s a paying customer, but I ain’t his mama so I shouldn’t have to clear up his mess.”
“No, ma’am, you shouldn’t. I’ll talk to him as soon as we get home tonight,” Faith said. Mable’s eyesight wasn’t so good, and Pax had been at Community Care all afternoon, so she must have him confused with another boy. One time the older woman thought a racoon was her dog and brought him into bed with her.
After saying good-bye and exchanging another couplehowdys, Faith opened the bright blue front door and stepped into the house. Even though Cody said Noah wasn’t home, it didn’t stop her from peeking around every corner just in case. She imagined what it must have been like growing up in a house like this.
It was spacious but warm, and every nook and cranny of the historic farmhouse was tailor-made for a family. She could see a young Noah racing down the steps as he shouted to his mom that he was headed out to ride his horse. She could even see him there now as an adult lying on the floor with his nephew playing video games.
But no matter how hard she tried, Faith couldn’t picture herself there. Not as anything more than a friendly guest. She wasn’t sure if it was because she’d never dared to wish for a home like this growing up since it was so far out of reach, or if there was something deep down reminding her that wishes were for fools.
Faith might be a cautious romantic, but she’d never be a fool like her mom.
“Who you lookin’ for?” Shelby called from the dining room, where she was wrapping a Superhero bobblehead-themed basket with clear cellophane.
Faith jumped as if she’d been caught with her hand in the Noah cookie jar. But when she saw her friend’s T-shirt, Faith burst out laughing.
“ELFCOMMANDER,” Faith read as she set her things on one of the dining chairs.
“Wait for it.” Shelby tugged on a bright red cap that had MR. DECEMBER’S embroidered across the brim. “I got one for the whole family.”
“If Mr. December wasn’t married to my best friend, I’d want to be his, too.” She wondered if Noah had received one. And, if so, what it said. “I can’t believe how much you guys have already gotten done.”
“Because she’s a tyrant.” Their third musketeer, Gina, walked in munching on a fried chicken leg. “She came to my house at 6:00A.M., on my day off, to bring me here and hasn’t let me leave. I’ve wrapped more baskets for the silent auction than I’ve had cases this year.”
“We’ve already taken five loads of auction items to the community center. There’s a storage room off the back they’re letting us use to safely store everything until Saturday night.”
“See? Tyrant.”
“At least you’ve been fed.” Faith had maintained a steady diet of icing and Red Bull for the past few days. She spotted a new iPad on the table and her mouth fell open. “People are donating iPads?”
“Ten of them. Plus there’s a ton of things I would bid on.” Shelby picked up a beautifully embossed envelope. “A certificate for a girls’ day at the spa. There’s a weekend getaway for two to Padre Island. Someone even donated the new PlayStation. Can you believe it? You can’t even find them in stores anymore. Everyone’s sold out for Christmas, so Cody has his eye on it.”
“If he wins, that’s all Pax will talk about for the next six months. He’ll want to move in so he can play nonstop with JT.”
“Mr.But Dad Played With Themhas his heart set on a pair of Battle Rifle Pro laser guns The Toy Box downtown donated,” Shelby said. “After their little G.I. Joe stunt, I told him to dream on.”
