Page 64 of Bad Boy Bachelor Christmas
“It’s going to be intimate,” I said, reminding Justin to scale back. He’d tried to invite over fifty people, but I had a feeling Winter would prefer to spend her second to last night here with the people she’d connected with most. Her new friends, not a fraction of Maple Hill. “Just the people she’s bonded with most or who are in close proximity to her.”
“Good idea,” Marge said. “I’m sure she’ll love it. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
The walkie-talkie on my hip chirped. I unclipped it and brought it to my ear as a static-filled voice crackled on the other end. “Mr. Waylon, the gates are opening and guests are making their way to you.”
“Thanks,” I said before clipping it back on my belt and raising my voice to address the staff and volunteers gathered around. “Okay, people, this is it. We’re about to get hit with fifty-some families. Elves, slap on those smiles for the kids. Volunteers, make sure your lanyards are showing so people know who you are. Staff? You know what to do. Stick to your posts, wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and radio me if you need anything. Has anyone seen Winter?”
Suddenly, Winter’s head popped up from the back of the sled attached to the horses. She wore a white, sparkly knitted hat with a pompom on it that danced ridiculously as she looked from side to side until she spotted me. “Oh, hi!” she called with a wave. “Sorry, almost done here.”
“What are you doing?”
“You’ll see!”
Marge and Justin chuckled.
“Does she ever stop working?” Justin asked.
“Nope.” I shook my head. “She’s relentless.”
“Like someone else we know.” Marge nudged my hip before nodding in the direction of the hot cider station. “I’m going to top off my cup and take my place in the gift wrapping lodge where it’s warm. See you two hooligans in a bit.”
Justin and I watched her go.
He looked up, finding me staring expectantly at him. “What?”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be, too?”
He chuckled and started backing away. “Yes, my lord.” He dropped into a gracious bow. “I only wish to serve.”
Rolling my eyes, I trudged through the four inches of snow we’d gotten in the last hour up to the gate at the side of the house, where I greeted the guests who vibrated with excitement at coming to pick out their Christmas tree. I welcomed them with enthusiasm I knew I never would have possessed if this year hadn’t been so…
Well, joyful.
Last year I’d have sent someone else to greet them. My heart still hadn’t been in the season. I’d been pining after Veronica, aching to have her by my side, longing to wake up on Christmas morning to her in my bed, giving me a sleepy smile and tugging at my arm to go downstairs with her so we could open gifts. She’d never outgrown the childlike glee that surrounded Christmas morning—that and she was a sucker for all things sparkly, and she just wanted to get to whatever diamond-encrusted gift I’d picked out for her that year.
Had she made it to Christmas that fateful year, she’d have found a beautiful pair of sapphire earrings in a velvet box on a high branch of our tree. Those were in my safe along with my mother’s wedding rings.
Yes, I still missed her desperately this year, but the ache wasn’t as painful, and when I thought of her, I pictured her smiling face and heard her voice whispering that she was happy to see me smile. She never would have wanted me to sink into the depths of my own soul like I had since I lost her. She’d have wanted me to pick up the pieces of my life and start over. Dive back in. Find someone else. Lean into my purpose and my passion.
I hadn’t been able to do it on my own, but with Winter here?
She’d made it easy.
As soon as I opened the side gate of the house, children burst through and charged toward the Christmas scene we’d put together in the first field of trees. They herded into the fenced area like sheep and squealed gleefully as Cami and others dressed like elves came out to meet them, the bells on their shoes jingling. The parents followed suit, some of the ones with familiar faces pausing to shake my hand and telling me how much they were looking forward to this.
I brought up the rear of the line as one of the elves with a microphone announced that the lighting ceremony would happen in ten minutes. A group of carolers launched into a cheerful rendition of “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” and a group of boys started an enthusiastic snowball fight that soon had the attention of their fathers. Snow burst against the side of the wrapping shed next to Cami’s head, who yelped—a very authentic elf sound.
Laughing, I made my way over to the sled, where Winter was still working diligently on her knees.
I leaned up against it. “What on earth are you doing over here?”
She popped up with rosy cheeks and a devious little smile. “Decorating.”
“Naturally.” Leaning over, I peered into the row of seats she was working at. I spotted extension cables she was tucking safely to the back, as well as a string of Christmas lights that I realized wrapped all the way around the edge of the sled, the reins of the horses, and down. I whistled. “How long have you been at this?”
“Not long.” She pursed her lips. “An hour maybe?”
“Can I help?”
