Page 54 of The Holidays with Mr. Mitchell
My hand was still clampedover my mouth as I watched the live stream of Jim’s newest “charity,” the one he’d somehow been roped into. I was laughing so hard I couldn’t even breathe. There had never been a moment in my life when something this ridiculous had actuallyworked.
In my defense, the live-streaming part hadn’t been my idea. That stroke of chaos came straight from Jake. Oh my God, I still couldn’t believe my husband was trending all over the internet. Now, I was terrified to turn on the evening news, worried the local stations had picked it up.
Ring!
“Hey, Ash,” I answered, still laughing into the phone. “I have a feeling I’m officially dead when, or if, Jim comes home tonight.”
“I can’t believe the media actually showed up,” she said, cracking up.
“Well, come on,” I said, grinning. “You know the press will jump at any excuse to get inside the offices of James Howard Mitchell these days. Especially now that he and Titus are working together to boom up half of California with hotels.”
“Do you think this’ll backfire on him in any way?” she asked with a semi-nervous laugh.
“How could it? A billionaire CEO saving Christmas trees that turned brown too early?” I said. “I mean, you can’t villainize someone for caring about dying trees, especially at Christmas. It’s verywaste not, want notof him.”
Ash snorted. “I still can’t believe we let Jake and Collin in on this. We practically invited next-level chaos.”
“I know,” I groaned. “But that media stunt isn’t on us. Those boys and Spencer were the ones who decided to take it to extremes. We just wanted to swap his perfect fifty-foot Christmas tree with a brown one until he finally broke and admitted he didn’t give two shits about the ones that dry out too soon.”
Ash laughed. “Do the girls still want to go rescue more?”
“Yes, and that’s the problem,” I said, half exasperated. “It’s Izzy. That child’s heart is bigger than her dad’s. All she keeps saying is thateveryfamily should do this.”
Ash sighed, still laughing. “And at the rate your daughters are diving into charity this year with Addy’s homeless shelter fundraiser and now Izzy’s brown-tree crusade, your husband’s empire might turn into a nonprofit.”
“Exactly,” I said, smiling helplessly. “Izzy’s already planning to raise funds so that the brown trees can be delivered to every home for their ‘last Christmas.’ She’s convinced they’re dying souls who need adoption before Christmas Eve.”
Ash’s laughter filled my ear. “Think we can redirect her energy and maybe have her push for animal adoptions instead?”
“After Jim’s constantly believable lines of bullshit,andCollin and Jake’s sermons about brown trees all day on Sunday?” I asked. “Not a chance in hell. Not until after Christmas.”
“Well, it’s notthatbad,” Ash said. “Honestly, it’s kind of sweet that she has such a big heart for those trees.”
“Itissweet,” I agreed. “But this whole thing has taken on a life of its own. My funny little revenge plot was supposed to stay harmless. Then Collin and Jake jumped on my back, and suddenly we had live media coverage and reporters quoting Jim as if he were Saint Nick. Now, I have no idea what kind of husband I’m going to be facing tonight.”
“Maybe he’ll think it was just Jake and Spence. They were the only ones there, right?”
I smiled, shaking my head. “Trust me, I plan to act innocent either way.”
“Are you watching the news tonight?”
“Of course,” I said. “Jake and Collin told me and Laney to record it for them, but please, we both know they’re watching the livestream between surgeries.”
Ash snorted. “God, you’re probably right.”
“Oh my God,” I said, laughing again. “The entire hospital must think their CEO has lost his mind. If anyone saw that footage, they probably think he’s one breakdown away from joining a Christmas cult.”
We both dissolved into laughter.
By the time I hung up, I had no idea where this thing was headed anymore. All I knew was that in five minutes, the news would be on, and I needed to get into character as the proud, supportive wife of a billionaire CEO being celebrated for the most absurdly heartwarming charity no one on earth had ever considered before.
Then, a text from Jim came in, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Jim: Picking up the girls tonight and going to McD’s for dinner.
Want to meet there or bring you something home?
Avery: I’d love a hot apple pie!!
