Page 44 of The Holiday Grump
Kailee pulled a Grinch ornament from her pocket. “I found this guy who looks like Uncle Fredrik.”
“You took that?” I tried not to sound too panicked. “I need to write down everything I’m taking from the store.”
Kailee’s lip wobbled. “I was gonna bring it back.”
Felicity shot her daughter a stern look. “Did you take anything else? It’s not like Uncle Fredrik’s store. She needs to account for every item.”
Kailee pouted. “I only borrowed this because I thought it was funny.”
Why didn’t Fredrik account for every item? Why was hisstore different? My curiosity ramped up at an alarming rate, making my mouth twitch.
Eileen leaned in to examine the Grinch. “That does look like him! He made that exact face when I stopped by to invite him to the Santa Speed Dating. Which reminds me, I had more flyers printed. Here…”
She passed around the same flyer I’d seen in Fredrik’s store, the one with the shirtless Santa.
“You invited Fredrik to this?” Felicity’s eyes rounded in disbelief. “That’s optimistic. Last time I asked, he wouldn’t even go to the trivia night, and that was odd?—”
“Because he’s full of trivia!” I blurted out like a kindergartener with the right answer.
Everyone looked over, and my face flushed with embarrassment. Why did I have a mouth?
Felicity reached across Kailee to grab my arm. “He told you about trivia nights? How he used to compete every week? How he was unbeatable? How he’d study… read every book and obsess over the most obscure details?”
I shook my head apologetically. “Not in so many words.”
“But he talked to you? He… shared?”
My eyebrows knitted together so tightly my face hurt. “He said trivia is useless.”
Felicity’s face fell, and she pulled away. “Well, I guess it’s still good that he’s talking to someone.”
Eileen cast her eyes heavenward. “I have a good feeling about this Christmas! Time heals all wounds, and even Fredrik will come around. He’ll change his tune, you’ll see.”
I noticed subtle eye rolls, but Eileen didn’t seem to mind. Her faith in all things love was unshakable.
“He made this face when we suggested he should put upChristmas decorations.” Kailee’s voice held a hint of defiance, the ornament still dangling from her finger.
“He needs to step up,” Astrid muttered. “That store is an eyesore.”
“It’s true,” Felicity agreed, draining her wineglass. “That store drives tourists away. I can only do so much with my weekly cleaning.”
“But Mom! He agreed to let us decorate!” Kailee protested. “Sort of.”
“You and… Noelle?” Eileen’s eyes lit up. “Oh! This is very good news! He’s warming up, just like I saw in my vision. Poor Fredrik. He has such a good heart under all that…” She floated her fingers like a daydreaming choir conductor. “He deserves a second chance. Especially since?—”
Felicity cut her off with a sharp noise. “No gossip about my brother, on the off-chance that he connects with Noelle. It’d be much better if he shared his own story. He hasn’t talked to anyone about what happened.”
“Not even Jackson?” I blurted, swallowing the question I really wanted to shout, which wasWhat happened?
I’d told Felicity I was okay with not knowing, but I wasn’t. Not really. This was torture.
“According to Jackson, no.” Felicity sucked in her lips and reached for a pile of printouts on the table. “But let’s get on with the evening’s program before Ida loses her mind.”
Ida flashed her a grateful smile and passed out the papers. “Thanks for printing these out for me! We have a lovely, seasonal pattern this week. A Santa hat!”
“There’s also an extra one on the reverse side,” Felicity said, biting her lip. “A wild-card option if you don’t feel like committing to a hat.”
Papers rustled as everyone flipped their printouts.
