Page 92 of The Holiday Grump
Of course, I remembered that night. I’d fought my wayacross the stormy town square late that night, a little drunk, and curled up next to her on the single bed, holding her so tight. She’d assured me friends with benefits could crash with each other. That it was okay to spoon all night, especially as I was in no condition to drive home. And in the morning, I’d slid my hand between her legs…
“Skippy is fine,” she said, cutting off my sexy highlight reel. “I heard he got attacked by a cat at the other tree lighting, but this lawyer who’s helping Audrey from Making Whoopie took him to the vet for a full check-up.”
How did she know all this? She’d been here for a couple of weeks and knew more about what was going on in Hideaway than I did.
We joined the steady stream of people headed for the harbor. The Christmas lights glowed against the pink evening sky. The freezing ocean mirrored the pinks with deeper shades of purple, and gentle snowflakes floated over the scenery. I heard Noelle’s sharp intake of breath as she took in the view.
“How is this place like a postcard?”
“With good timing.” I couldn’t downplay it, though. Hideaway was beautiful, and every time she noticed it, I received a new dose of hope.
We wandered along the pier, weaving through excited tourists, looking for Felicity and Kailee. Just when I was about to take out my phone and try my luck, I noticed my sister. She’d already found Jackson, and I could see daggers flying between them. Or were they sparks? I had never considered the possibility, but now it seemed like the obvious answer. How blind had I been?
“I don’t want you speaking in the vicinity of my daughter!”Felicity hissed. “Not a word about your overnight trips or what you did on top of… whom, or what. You hear me?”
Jackson let out a frustrated laugh. “Chill! It’s not a euphemism. I literally didn’t sleep last night. I tossed and turned. I started bingeing this show on Netflix. It had vampires?—”
“Wait, you stayed home? Why? Are you sick?” She took a step backward. “Two of my staff called in sick this morning, and someone took the medicinal honey and antivirals I had in my van, so now I’m screwed if I get it.”
“You need to lock that stuff down! Why do you let people steal from you?”
“I should be able to trust them,” she grumbled.
“No. Instead of protecting what’s yours, you leave your stuff lying around and then play victim.”
“I can’t lock them out! We all use that van. Our equipment is?—”
“What seems to be the problem?” I asked, stepping so close I was practically between them.
Laced with sexual tension or not, their bickering could ruin this outing for all of us. That is, if I didn’t ruin it first. I wasn’t sure which one was more likely, but I was on guard. I could tell how important tonight was for Noelle. How much she wanted to be part of everything.
Noelle’s head whipped from side to side, a big white pompom on the top of her woolly hat bouncing as she scanned the crowd. She seemed to spot familiar faces everywhere, even people I’d never met before, grinning and waving excitedly at each one. How did she know this many people?
I was still not feeling great about her date with Ralph,but I pushed the thought out of my mind and focused on the scene. The crowd cheered as the old fishing boat appeared on the horizon, cruising toward the harbor. After a while, we could make out Santa. Next to him, Larry theLobstahwaved at us with his floppy orange claws. There was something hilarious about his haphazard movements, coupled with his tall, gangly frame. So this was my competition?
Noelle clapped, joining the kids chanting “Santa.” Even my sister forgot her argument with Jackson and shouted along. Kailee wandered ahead of us for a better view. Maybe she wanted to get closer to Ralph. Why couldn’t she be into boys her own age? Like the two youngsters currently behind us, trying to shove snow down each other’s coats, screaming in high-pitched voices.
Well, maybe that was why.
When the boat tooted its horn, even the teenagers stopped messing around and paid attention. As the antique vessel made it to the harbor, the noise swelled to a deafening roar. I hadn’t attended this event in years. Had it always been this loud?
“What’s happening?” Noelle asked, rising to her tippy-toes to see over an older lady’s shoulder. “Why am I not taller?”
I knew one of the Hawthorne brothers would be driving the boat, but I realized someone else was with him—a woman. That was all I saw before another tourist pushed in front of me, blocking my view.
“I don’t know,” I said, taking a step back to keep a healthy distance.
I didn’t need to see anything. I could just stand here,maybe close my eyes and try to enter my happy place. I just had to block out the “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” blasting from a nearby speaker.
“They’re kissing!” Noelle informed me, grinning from ear to ear.
She’d snuck through the wall of older ladies to have a look, making her way back by ducking under someone’s armpit.
“Who? Santa and Larry?”
She laughed. “No. The captain and a pretty woman on his boat. Everyone is going nuts over it. I really want the full story!”
“I’m sure it’ll be in the nextAlmanac.”
