by Annie Rains
“Would you like to go get some hot chocolate?” he asked again, a knowing look in his gaze. “Dawanda’s giving out complimentary cups at the fudge shop tonight.”
“The good news is that there’ll be no time for her to force cappuccino readings on anyone,” Joy said.
“That’s true.” The festive music grew louder along with the excited chatter of the crowd as they started walking in that direction.
“I owe Dawanda to let her give me another reading though.” Joy wrapped her arms tightly around herself. Now that she was removed from Granger’s arms, the cold felt even sharper. “She offered to put a sign-up sheet for the Christmas tree workshop in her store for me. I gave her the days that we’ll be offering it until Christmas, and she said she’d pass the word.”
“That’s nice of her,” Granger said.
“It is. I don’t think my art classes will make up for the loss of sales from the fire, but hopefully they’ll help.”
“Even with the hayrides, we might not cover the losses,” Granger said. “But we’re drawing in a bigger crowd already and creating a buzz. The local news is supposed to come do a story on our new events this coming week.”
“That’s great.”
“I agree. I just hope it’s enough to make my dad happy he put me in charge.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t expect you to pull in the same kind of profits as you would have if the farm had a full lot.”
“If I don’t, it’ll give him justification to cancel the hayride again and get rid of any other attractions outside of just selling live trees. I don’t want to leave any room for argument.”
They reached Dawanda’s storefront, which was lit up with multicolored twinkling lights. Granger opened the door and allowed Joy to step through first. With the offer of complimentary hot chocolate to tonight’s patrons, Dawanda’s shop was bustling, but not so much that she couldn’t acknowledge them as they walked in.
She pointed to a table set up in the corner and winked at Joy.
Joy and Granger stepped over to the table. Next to it stood the wire-sculpture tree that Dawanda had made during the LDO’s visit to the Christmas tree workshop. Joy looked at the clipboard and list lying on the table. It was a sign-up for Joy’s class with twelve spaces for every night that Joy had told Dawanda she would be giving it until Christmas.
“Oh my goodness. I can’t believe this.” Joy looked up at Granger. “Nearly every space is full. And there’s a checkbox for if they want to stay for a hayride.” Joy looked at the paper again, scanning over the list. “And they all do.”
* * *
This night was more magical than any Lights on Silver Lake night that Granger had ever attended. Between kissing Joy and going into Dawanda’s shop to find that both of their events were nearly booked, he couldn’t imagine how it could get any better.
Or he could.
Granger walked Joy to her front door, the debate of whether he was going inside at the forefront of his mind. She might not even invite him in, but if she did, should he go? He wasn’t a love-’em-and-leave-’em type of guy. In fact, he’d only slept with one woman in his entire life—the mother of his children. He’d thought he’d spend forever with Erin but that hadn’t worked out. And he couldn’t very well stay celibate forever. But he also wasn’t willing to go to bed with Joy if this was still just a casual thing for her. Making love to a woman wasn’t casual in his book. It meant something.
“Tonight was fun,” he said as she turned to face him.
“Yeah, it was…” She pulled her keys out of her bag and gave him a hesitant look. “Do you, um, want something to drink?”
There was his ticket into her home. A ticket to more than just her living room, he suspected. Desire gathered inside him, quickening his heart. “Joy, I, uh…Things are going to get busy from this point on.”
“Oh.” Disappointment flashed in her honey-colored eyes.
He wanted to go inside more than anything. But he liked Joy. Sleeping with her would be a lot more than a casual fling for him. “I don’t even know when we’ll have a chance for another date,” he added.
“I see. I mean, I was just offering you a drink,” she said quickly, pulling her gaze away from him. “Nothing more than that.”
He straightened. “Oh?” Had he read her signs wrong? Was she offended?
“I’m really tired anyway,” she added, breaking into a yawn. “And you should probably get back home to the girls. To make sure they’re okay.” Joy wouldn’t meet his eyes anymore. Yeah, he’d messed this night up.
“Right.” He watched as she put her keys in her lock, her hand noticeably shaking. He reached for her. “I told you I was out of practice, and I think this is an example of that.”
She looked at him, her lips parted just slightly.
“I had a great time tonight, Joy. The best time I can remember. And I’d like to see you again. I don’t know when or how because the next month is busy. But I know our arrangement is only temporary, so if this is the only time I have with you, I don’t want to waste a minute.”
Joy hesitated. Then she took her hand off the key that was still in her lock and turned to face him. She reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the sprig of mistletoe, eying it in her palm before going up on her toes and suspending it over his head. “Sometimes a guy needs a little help,” she whispered, repeating his words from earlier.
“Especially this guy,” he said. Then he kissed her, savoring the private moment.
“Sometimes a girl needs a little help too,” she whispered against his mouth, kissing him another time. She didn’t invite him inside again. Instead, they kissed at the door, ignoring the winter cold. Granger wasn’t sure how long they stood there, holding and touching, kissing and whispering. All he knew was he never wanted to stop.
Chapter Sixteen
The next three weeks were a blur of activity. Everyone was rushing to the lot to get their live trees, fueled by the knowledge that there was a short supply this year. It’d been so chaotic that Granger hadn’t gotten a chance for another real date with Joy. But she’d started staying for dinner after her art afternoons with the girls. And she and Granger had lingered at her car before she drove away at night. They’d also enjoyed a couple of more private hayrides, just the two of them snuggled together under the stars.
Granger planned to have another private ride with Joy tonight, after the crowd had gone home and the girls were fast asleep.
But first, he needed to update his father on progress and profits. He headed into his parents’ living room and plopped down on the couch in front of his dad’s recliner. “The good news is that we’re ahead of schedule with profits for the season.”
His dad’s mouth stretched into a grim line. “What’s the bad news?”
Typical that his father couldn’t just take a moment to celebrate. “The bad news is we’re running out of trees quicker than we expected we would.”
His dad frowned. “Next year, we’ll make sure to secure trees from other farms so we have enough.”
Granger nodded. “And we’ll continue to gain profits from the lighted hayride.”
His father held up a finger. “I’m not sure about that. I only agreed to it this year because we were desperate. I want a plan B and C and even a D for getting live trees next Christmas.”
Granger looked down at his boots, taking a moment to breathe past what felt like a punch to his gut. Then he looked up. “We’re booked solid for the weekend. For the rest of the month. I might even have to add a couple Thursdays or keep the events open later to fill the demand.”
“A greater demand means there’s a greater risk for injury.”
“One kid got injured, and his arm healed, Dad. I even gave him a hayride last week. He’s not traumatized by what happened so why are you?”
His dad frowned. “Because we could’ve lost it all. This is your legacy. I’m leaving it all to you one day. Just like my dad left it to me.”
“Your legacy is more th
an a farm, Dad. And Merry Mountain Farms has always been more than a farm. This place brings people together. It’s the very essence of Christmas. People have missed the hayrides. They’re part of what we do. And yeah, maybe there’s a little bit of a risk but sometimes the benefit outweighs the potential costs.”
Granger himself wasn’t one to take risks, especially ones that affected his family. But the additions to the farm were exciting, and he wanted his girls to see how magical this place had once been. The way it was again this year.
Dating Joy was a risk too. She could leave and break all their hearts, not just his. But what if she didn’t?
His dad looked at him long and hard. “This is why I’m letting you take over the farm this year. And next year too. You have the farm’s best interests at heart.”
“Next year too?” Granger asked.
“Well, I’ll help, of course. A little cardiac scare won’t keep me down. Truth is, that boy falling off the ride hurt my heart a whole lot more than the heart attack. I’m putting you in the lead, not just this year but from now on. It’s time.”
“Wow. I wasn’t expecting this.” Granger had been expecting to go head-to-head with his dad about continuing the hayride next year. And possibly the Christmas tree workshop. “Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you,” his dad said. “What you’ve done for Merry Mountain Farms this season is nothing short of amazing. It’s made me remember the way it was when you were a kid. Bright and festive. A little piece of Christmas on Earth.”
Granger smiled. “That’s Mom’s line.”
His father chuckled. “I understand what she meant. That’s what it is again and what it should be from now on.”
Granger swallowed past the lump in his throat. He’d just been hoping to satisfy his dad with how well he ran the farm this Christmas. But this was a high compliment coming from his father, and it meant a lot. He cleared his throat, hoping his mounting emotions weren’t obvious. “I’ve got to head out and prepare for tonight.”
“Not before giving me a hug.” His father stood and held open his arms.
Granger swallowed past another lump and stood. He stepped over to give him a hug. After pulling away, they shook hands and Granger headed toward the back door. He passed his mother on the way.
“Joy and the girls just got home. They’re helping me sell cider tonight,” she told him.
Granger nodded. “Thank you for taking care of them.”
“Oh, they’re helping me. Merry Mountain is much busier than normal this year. We never sell this much cider,” she said.
“We’ll have to continue selling at the stand again next year,” Granger told her. And he didn’t have to run that idea by his father to get permission. It would be up to him now.
His mom smiled. “Yes, we will,” she agreed.
When Granger was outside, he sucked in a breath, pulling the oxygen deep into his lungs as he walked.
“That bad, huh?” Joy asked, crossing the lawn from his place to her vehicle. She was going to get something out of the trunk of her car.
“The opposite actually. It’s that good.” He looked around. “Are the girls inside?”
“Abby is helping Willow with homework. There’s only one more week of school before the break but her teacher is not letting up on sending work home.” Joy stepped toward him, her forehead wrinkling softly with concern. “What’s going on?”
“My dad just handed over the reins to the farm. Permanently.” Granger removed his ball cap and ran a hand through his hair.
Joy touched his arm. “Granger, that’s amazing! Wow. Congratulations on your big promotion.” She went up on her tiptoes and gave him a celebratory kiss.
Granger wrapped his arms around her, holding her captive. “And you’re the first person I wanted to share the news with.” She was the first person he thought of when he opened his eyes in the mornings these days, and the last person he thought of when he went to bed.
“I’m honored,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “And I know what you mean.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded as he released his hold on her. “I sold a piece of artwork today, and I have more than what I need to put the deposit on the store on Main Street. I left a voicemail for Janelle Cruz to call me as soon as she can.”
Granger was even happier for Joy than he was for himself. “Joy, that’s terrific.”
She beamed. “And you were the first person that I wanted to share my news with.”
“Sounds serious,” he said, treading lightly. She’d made it clear that she wasn’t looking for serious. Looking or not, he was pretty sure they’d found it.
She lifted one shoulder slightly. “It feels serious.”
Granger’s heart knocked around in his chest. Sometimes taking risks led to great things. “Maybe that means you’ll let me hang around a little longer in your life?”
Her eyes widened just a touch. “Only if you let me hang around in your life a little longer,” Joy finally said, the corners of her mouth lifting softly.
“The girls would insist on that…I would too.” Granger reached for her hand, needing to touch her. “I want to make sure I’m not misunderstanding. We’re talking about staying together past the holidays, right?”
Joy nodded. “Yeah. Those kisses of yours are addictive. I’m not sure I could stop you at this point.”
Granger took that as a hint to pull her in for another kiss. A little longer could mean until January. Or next Christmas. Or forever. All he knew was that it didn’t have to end anytime soon. And that was enough—for now.
They pulled away at the sound of a car’s tires rolling over the dirt path. Granger didn’t recognize the burgundy midsize SUV, and it was the wrong entrance for Christmas tree customers.
Joy stepped even farther away, heading back to the car. She removed Abby’s book bag and shut the trunk.
Granger headed in the direction of his guest, his steps slowing as he got a better glimpse of the woman sitting behind the steering wheel. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him at first. But as the driver cut the engine, opened her car door, and stepped out, his thoughts were confirmed.
“Mom!” Abby cried, bursting out the back door and down the porch steps toward her mom.
Willow followed behind her, but paused once she reached the ground.
“Mom! I knew you would come,” Abby said. She threw her arms around Erin as she started sobbing.
Granger held his breath, waiting to see what Erin would do, relieved and also furious when she wrapped her arms around their daughter and hugged her back. What was she thinking coming back here without contacting him first? Without giving him a chance to prepare the girls for her visit? To prepare himself.
* * *
Joy felt out of place in this sudden family reunion.
Willow stood on the sidelines as well, looking as if she felt the same way. She had likely seen pictures, but she didn’t know this person any more than Joy did.
Joy’s gaze flitted to Granger’s. His expression was stoic, and his eyes a little sad.
“Hi, Erin,” he finally said.
The woman looked up.
Joy was surprised at how beautiful Granger’s ex-wife was. In her mind’s eye, Joy had painted the woman who left her little girls when they needed her most as something ugly—a monster. But Erin was far from unattractive. She had light-brown hair and the lightest brown eyes that Joy had ever seen.
“Granger,” Erin said shyly, looking down for a moment and then looking over at Willow. Her gaze was hesitant, and Joy wanted to feel sorry for her. Then she reminded herself that Granger and the girls were the victims here. They’d been abandoned by this woman. Erin had left her children when Joy would have done anything to hold her own. Erin didn’t deserve sympathy. She deserved someone to tell her to get back into her car and return to wherever she’d been hiding all these years.
“You got my letter, and you came,” Abby said, looking up with a large smile.
“What letter?” Granger asked.
Abby looked proud of herself as she turned to look at him. “I found Mom’s address in your private drawer. I know I’m not supposed to go in there but I just knew that if I wrote to her and told her how much we needed her, she’d come. I knew it,” Abby repeated, looking back up at her mom. Joy wasn’t sure she’d ever seen Abby so happy.
Joy looked at Granger again. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen him so…upset. She couldn’t blame him. The girls would be devastated if their mom came back for a visit only to disappear from their lives once more. He had to be terrified right now. And angry at Erin for not talking to him first.
Erin looked at Willow. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Hi.” Willow’s voice came out small.
“Willow, give Mom a hug. She came back to us,” Abby said.
Willow took a half step forward. Then her mother broke away from Abby and kneeled in front of her.
“Hi.” Erin held open her arms. “You’ve gotten so big. I can’t believe it.”
That’s what happened when you left a newborn. They got bigger every day until they were no longer recognizable to a person who should’ve been there all along.
Joy bit her lower lip. Who was she to judge? She wasn’t a mother. She’d never gotten a chance to hold her own baby in her arms.
Willow took another step and then she fell into Erin’s arms.
Emotion clogged Joy’s throat, making it hard to take in a full breath. She turned to Granger. “I should probably…should probably go inside so you all can be alone.”
Erin looked up and met Joy’s gaze. “Who are you?”
“I’m, um, I’m…” For a moment, Joy couldn’t even remember her own name. The girls’ mom had come home. Was she here to stay? To stay at the same house? Did she want to reunite with Granger too? The thought made Joy’s chest feel like it was caving under the emotion. She hadn’t wanted anything permanent with Granger. Or she hadn’t thought she did.
