Page 70 of The Christmas Fix
She was so lost in thought that it took her a full second to realize what she was seeing when Drake opened the glass door for her.
The fire hall with its ugly drop ceilings and even uglier wood paneling was filled with folding tables and chairs, all occupied by production staff, contractors, and Merry residents.
“Surprise!”
Cat clapped a hand over her mouth.
“You didn’t think we’d let you skip Thanksgiving, did you?” Noah asked, appearing at her side. He wore charcoal gray trousers and a navy pullover that hugged a chest more defined than a desk jockey nerd’s had any right to be.
“You did this?” she asked. The scent of turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy were thick enough to fog the windows from the inside.
“Merry did this,” Noah corrected her. “One more surprise, a little speech, and then you can attack that stuffing,” he promised.
“Another surprise?” Cat parroted.
Noah pointed over her shoulder. There at the corner table were her parents, Gannon, Paige, Gabby in a highchair, and beside her—
“Nonni!” Cat flung herself at the tiny woman. Her grandmother’s cloud of white hair smelled just as it always had. Shalimar and baby powder.
Nonni’s strong fingers dug into Cat’s shoulders, pulling her closer. “You didn’t think I’d miss a family Thanksgiving, did you?” she chided Cat.
“No, ma’am,” Cat grinned down at the woman who had put her on this path. “How did you get here?”
“Your father picked me up this morning and drove like a demon to get back here.”
Nonni loved her son-in-law but found his driving skills left much to be desired. She found anyone who drove above forty miles an hour to be a terror on the road.
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Believe it,” Nonni commanded. Her spine of steel was evident even in her diminutive stature. She gave Cat another squeeze. “Now, that handsome man has his words to say and then we eat.”
Nonni nodded in Noah’s direction.
With the help of Reggie—festive in a turkey sweater—drumming on one of the tables, Noah quieted the room.
“I’d like to thank everyone who turned out for this meal today. This year we’ve become more than a community. After the storm, we became family.” Cat saw him wink at Sara who was sitting between Mellody and another older, unsmiling woman. She had lines carved into her blank face. The man on Mellody’s left had his arm around her. “That family has grown to include our friends from the Reno and Realty Network.”
Spontaneous applause burst forth, and Cat slid into a chair next to her father.
“Now, you may not know that I wasn’t a fan of the idea of allowing the network to film their Christmas special here.”
Several sarcastic gasps filled the air, and Cat laughed. Mr. No’s reputation was widely known.
“Ha ha.” Noah took the ribbing in stride. “Believe it or not, I’m not always right. So, I’d like to thank Cat and Drake and their team for riding to our rescue and putting our town back together. I have a feeling this Christmas, with their help, is going to be the most memorable one Merry has ever seen.”
The applause kicked up again, and Cat joined in. It was true. She’d do whatever it took to make sure this town got their Christmas.
“So, for their time, their attention to detail, their genuine caring, I’d like to thank you all for spending your Thanksgiving with us. We’re honored to have you.” Noah raised a plastic cup of Sprite. “Happy Thanksgiving.” He said it to the room, but his eyes were on Cat. She felt the familiar warm flush roll through her body.
When he looked at her like that… Well, it wasn’t safe to think those thoughts when Nonni was sitting near her. Nothing got past her grandmother.
The toast echoed around the room and cheers rose up when the first dishes of food appeared.
They dined family-style on turkey and ham, roasted vegetables, stuffing, and enough mashed potatoes and gravy to fill a community swimming pool. Cat’s plate was never empty and neither was her heart. The people she cared most about were in this room, and there was nowhere else she’d rather be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Somewhere between the best slice of pumpkin pie Cat had ever had and the worst cup of coffee, Sara popped up at her elbow. “Hi, Cat!”
