Page 52 of Promise Me This Christmas
“Men are great as a concept.Individually I haven’t done so well with them.”
Marly laughed.“I could have said the same thing before I reconnected with Drake.Will you do me a favor and think it over at least?And either way, my offer for Christmas dinner stands.”
*
Christmas was sucha busy time at the bed and breakfast, Amy rarely had time to enjoy all the activities she recommended to her guests.Today all that had changed, and as she and Chet stood in line with Robin to visit Santa, she was full of gratitude.
Gratitude for the snow and the beautiful Montana mountains.It had been magical snowshoeing with Chet this morning.He was more at home on the back of a horse than on snowshoes, but he’d been such a good sport.And Robin had loved riding in the carrier on his daddy’s back.He’d been thrilled when Amy used a peanut to lure a Clark’s nutcracker down from his perch on a pine tree.
They’d had an early lunch at the Main Street Diner and then Robin had taken his daily nap in the carrier, dozing while she and Chet took their time shopping along Main Street.Amy couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone into a store just to look around and not because she needed something specific.Once Robin had woken up, they’d headed to the Graff Hotel and joined the queue to visit Santa.
There were lots of parents and grandparents in line with little ones.Lots of babies too.It did seem that most of the children two years and younger cried or looked unhappy for their photo on Santa’s knee.
But Kris kept his cool and his smile.He made such an excellent Santa, with his pristine outfit and one-hundred-percent genuine snowy-white beard.
When it came to Robin’s turn, her son surprised everyone by holding out his arms and going willingly to Santa.“He must recognize Kris from Bramble House,” Amy whispered to her husband.
“Smart boy,” Chet said.“A fancy red suit doesn’t fool him.”
They got a marvelous photo of Robin pulling at Kris’s beard and then moved aside for the next in line.
“Time for hot chocolate,” Amy announced.
Robin clapped his hands.“Num Num!”
“I wonder what Christmas gift Robin asked Santa for?”Chet said as they left the hotel and headed toward to the chocolate shop.
“I hope it was a train set,” Amy said.“Since that’s what we got him.”
“Should I get two hot chocolates and one tepid chocolate drink?”Chet asked her as they entered the chocolate-and-caramel-scented shop.Everywhere she looked, Amy saw tempting displays and beautifully wrapped gift boxes.
“Yes, please.I’ve got a cheese stick and some carrots in the pack for Robin.I’ll start him on those while you’re in line.”
She went to the back of the shop to grab a table, but they were all full.Suddenly she heard someone call her name.
“Hey, Amy!”It was Gemma, at a table for four with Oliver, and Oliver’s sister Trish and nephew Sawyer.“If you’re looking for a place to sit, we were just about to leave.”
“Thank you so much.It’s crazy in here.”
“Just two shopping days left before Christmas,” Trish said, standing and slipping on her coat.“Don’t forget your mittens, Sawyer.”
Spotting them on the table, Amy handed them to the young boy who would be around eight now.“Have you gone to visit Santa yet this year?”
“We’re going now,” Oliver said.
“I’m going to ask for downhill skis,” Sawyer said.“Uncle Oliver’s going to teach me.”
“You bet I am.”Oliver ruffled his nephew’s hair.“Merry Christmas, Amy.”
“Yes, Merry Christmas,” Gemma added, pulling a hat over her long, wavy hair.She looked at Amy as if she wanted to tell her something.
“What’s up?”Amy asked.
Gemma moved closer and lowered her voice.“We came here to celebrate.I passed the three-month mark today.”
Three months.Amy checked out her friend’s beaming face.“Don’t tell me you’re pregnant?”
Gemma nodded.“I wanted to tell you at the Christmas tea, but I never found the right moment.”
