Page 38 of The Holiday Clause
“That’s just typical Greyson. Disappears three seasons of the year and shows up like a hero whenever there’s snow. It’s how he ensures people don’t give him grief about his disappearing act.”
“I see him in the other seasons.”
“That’s because you’re a little forest witch and he lives out in the woods like he’s Bigfoot’s long-lost cousin.”
She laughed. “He has a nice place out there.”
He paused from buckling his seat belt. “You’ve been to his place?”
“Of course. I was there as soon as he finished construction, just like I came by all of your places when you moved out on your own.”
He started the truck and was quiet for a moment. “I just don’t understand how anyone could be that introverted. Grey never used to be like that.”
“Maybe he just likes his privacy.”
“I’d go out of my mind. All he does is make furniture all day and cut wood. He doesn’t even have a television.”
“He reads, and when he wants to watch a game, he usually goes to The Chowder House Rules.”
“You defend him too easily.”
“I defend all of you boys.”
“I guess.” He glanced at her as he drove toward the library. “And we’re not boys anymore, Wren.”
She shrugged. “You’ll always be my boys.”
“Well... we’re men now.”
She smirked at his need for validation. “Fine. Men it is.”
When they parked, there was only one other car in the lot. She hoped to see Mrs. Zian, the old librarian who used to run the library when they were kids, but a younger woman with glasses sat behind the counter. Logan said hello as they walked past, and the woman smiled. She looked about their age, but Wren didn’t recognize her.
When they got to the children’s section, everything was much smaller than she recalled. The old, braided rug had been replaced with a large, circular rug that resembled a globe. The shelves were shorter than she remembered, and the walls were painted a different color.
“Wow. It looks so different.”
“Still smells the same.”
Wren breathed in the scent of paper, ink, and pine cleaner, then grinned. “It does.” She scanned the shelf and spotted a red envelope. “Oh!”
Stuffed like a bookmark inside Peter Pan, she tipped the spine and withdrew the clue, pulling out another vintage postcard with a Christmas scene on the front tied to a candy cane and a long string.
She opened the card and read,“Put this on.”
Pulling the string, a pair of mittens tugged free of the bookcase. When she stuck her hand in the mitten, she found another clue, this one written on an old holiday recipe card.
“I hope you’re feeling lushy because we’re off to get some slushies.”She smiled and looked at him expectantly. “The corner store?”
“Only one way to find out.”
She put on her hat and waved with an almost giddy bounce to her step when they passed the librarian. “Have a nice night!”
When they reached the corner store where they used to get slushies after school, Logan let her lead the way. She walked in and out of the aisles but found no clue. When she asked the clerk if he had a clue, he looked at her like she was insane.
“Are we in the wrong place?”
“You haven’t checked everywhere yet.”
