Page 57 of Joy to Noel
“Why don’t we sleep out in the living room again tonight? Save the batteries in our phones and flashlights in case we need them later,” he suggests.
Biting my lip, I nod. “Yeah, good thinking,” I say, pretending that his suggestion isn’t solely to save me from being alone in my dark room.
Now that we both have flashlights, we get ready for bed and reunite in the dark living room, lit solely by the glow of the fireplace. When I bend down to straighten the sheet on my mattress, Hamlet leaps onto my shoulders.
Half screaming, I jerk upright and yell, “I thought we were friends now, Hamlet! Why are you attacking me?!”
Liam’s lips are curled in a soft smile when I turn to him, Hamlet precariously balanced on my shoulders. “You are friends,” Liam says. “He’s not attacking you. It’s a sign of affection.” He pauses to clear his throat. “Hamlet has never done that with anyone other than me.”
There’s a deep well of emotion in his eyes when he meets my gaze. Too deep for comfort. I tilt my head to meet Hamlet’s eyes instead. “Well, Hammie, you have an odd way of showing affection.”
Liam groans. “Not you too.”
Raising a quizzical eyebrow, I ask, “What?”
He shakes his head. “Never mind. Doesn’t matter.”
Chapter twenty-four
Madison
CLARA
SOS. I’m having severe writer’s block. What do I do?
ME
Something Christmassy, obviously. Christmas is always your inspiration.
CLARA
You’re right.
ME
Duh.
CLARA
Okay. Are you free tonight? We could do a girls’ night, Christmas style.
ME
I will always clear my schedule for you. What do you need meto bring?
CLARA
Just you! I’ll get everything ready. Just come over around 7.
I can’t help but laugh as I read Clara’s text. Her Christmas spirit seriously goes from zero to infinity at the drop of a hat.
Of course, I’m not going to arrive empty-handed. I make a quick phone call to Lenore, one of the bake club ladies, to ask about the possibility of a rush order of orange cranberry scones. They’re one of the most popular baked goods at Christmas Fest, and Clara loves them so much, they were one of the featured desserts alongside cake at their wedding reception.
Thankfully, everyone in this townlovesClara. And the bake club ladies keep extra cranberries stocked in their freezers to have on hand for Christmas in July. Lenore promises to dip into the supply and have a batch ready for me to take to Clara tonight.
This girls’ night is coming at the perfect time. It’s been over a week since the storm and town cleanup. Liam and I have skirted around discussing the time we spent together huddled in the laundry room and then sleeping by the fireplace. The air is heavy with the increased level of intimacy that neither of us is addressing.
