Page 286 of Screwged for Christmas

“It’s beyond beautiful, Ms. Lucille. They really outdid themselves. You have a slice of paradise here.” And she meant it. Winter and snow to her were like beach and sand to ocean lovers.

Tiny yelps pulled her gaze to an almost hidden compartment toward the rear of the bus where the bedroom was located.

“I wondered how long it would take for them to get curious.”

“Oh my God!” Ivy knelt on both knees and scooped up the first puppy that bounded out of the room, a sibling hot on its paws and another trailing right after. Their momma behind yet another puppy. Six in all created a full-on attack and she fell to her butt laughing.

“They all look like their daddy!” Yellow, fluffy and plump. She scooped up and snuggled the first puppy before plucking up the next.

“They’re just old enough for a few kids at Christmas.” Ms. Lucille eased onto the loveseat and smiled as she played with one of the rowdier pups.

“Lucky kiddos. Who doesn’t want a puppy for Christmas?” She placed puppy number two beside the mellower puppy number three, who preferred belly rubs to being picked up.

Four, five and six were too curious to sit by and let their siblings have all the fun.

Puppy number four waddled over and plopped down beside her and pressed her wet nose against the back of her hand. “I guess they just finished eating?”

“Hmm mm,” Lucille confirmed. “They just started on puppy food. And in answer to your earlier question, apparently Aspen. I’ve been trying to convince him to take one of these little fellows home with him since his dog died not too long ago. He keeps putting me off.”

Ivy looked out the window at the subject of their conversation where he stood by the bonfire, saddened by the news.

She turned her attention back to the puppy in her arms. “Fur-babies are family too. I can understand how he might be unable to commit to a new member of the family just yet.”

Ms. Lucille nodded. “I know, but he’s lonely and I worry about that boy.”

Ivy rose and took a seat on the loveseat, which was more comfortable than she expected with overstuffed cushions. The puppies opted to explore with their mom’s watchful eye.

Aspen lonely? With such a big, loving family. “I’ll talk to him, Ms. Lucille,” Ivy offered as she caught glimpses of Aspen downgrading the fire to a manageable flame that wouldn’t spread past the large stone enclosure positioned several paces in front of the porch.

“Maybe you’ll do a better job. Oh, I forgot to show you.” Ms. Lucille changed the subject and led them to the front of the bus. “The driver’s seat is still in place, sort of. Aspen replaced it with a plush chair I like to call the queen throne, but that’s between you and me.” She winked. “That’s where I like to do all my reading and ponder things out. You know. This summer I’d like to add a few more flowerpots across the hood and see if I can’t get Aspen to modify the windshield into a swinging window. Here, try the chair out. Aspen put it on a swivel and added in a footstool area too. And here,” Ms. Lucille pointed to the middle of the bus where an old-timey woodstove sat with a plush, thick rug hugging the small brick stage the stove sat atop. The pups seemed to love its softness too. They all dozed by the fire now, fed and tired.

Directly opposite there was the loveseat she now considered more comfortable than her own full-sized couch.

“Your Gran and I pass the summer evenings here knitting sweaters to hand out when the weather changes.”

She tried to pay attention, but Ivy’s heart gave a squeeze when she caught Aspen out the window that lined the entire side of the bus. He bent to retrieve Charlie’s toy and give it a toss. There was something magical about a man in the outdoors that made her insides quiver and her heart do a double tap.

It had no business doing any double—or single—tapping where a man was involved. But did it listen to her?

Aspen walked around in the snow with nothing heavier than a thick flannel shirt and some gloves that looked well-worn and loved. Snowflakes flitted to land on his shoulders and her mind immediately tripped back to the football field when he scored the winning touchdown for their home team. And what came after. He’d taken then on a scenic drive up the mountain to a log cabin. There he’d taken her virginity and she thought that was it. Life would be at his side.

A winter storm had hit the town early that year and snow fell all through the game and ended up snowing them in for nearly a week at the cabin. Good thing he’d come prepared with enough food and water for them to wait out the storm.

A wave of nostalgia crept up and nearly strangled her with its intensity. it was a miracle she didn’t end up pregnant. They’d been so young and inexperienced.

Ms. Lucille stepped into her line of sight and gave her what looked like an approving look.

“He’s single, you know, and your gran told me you are too. Sounds perfect if you ask me. The timing too.”

So that was what they were up to. She didn’t know how she didn’t see it before. This was Christmas and not Valentine’s Day, so Cupid could shove off. She didn’t need her planner to write down the conversation she would have with her little meddlesome gran when she got back to the B&B.

She schooled her expression into a neutral calm and tried to act casual but when anotherpingsounded from Ms. Lucille’s pocket, her eye twitched. She looked over as Ms. Lucille typed out her reply. She only caught a glimpse of Gran’s smiling profile picture before Ms. Lucille tucked her cell out of sight again.

They were probably sharing this whole conversation blow by blow. No wonder Gran wanted her out the door so fast. She wanted her and Aspen to spend as much time together as possible. Well, the joke was on her! While Lucille was occupied typing out her reply to Gran, Ivy pulled out her phone and typed out a quick status update:

New City York bound! Wish me luck!

That ought to set them on edge. Ivy followed up her message with a heart and smiley face emoji. Now that it was on Facebook it had to be true. That ought to get them to back off.

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