by Debbie Mason
“I’m sorry, Mal, but my followers have been begging for an update about you and our hunky chief of police ever since he arrested you last July. And I always give my followers what they want—don’t I, guys?” She ducked out of the way of Mallory’s hand. “So breaking news from Highland Falls: our hunky chief of police and single father of three adorable boys is the next-door neighbor of our gorgeous senior care specialist and single stepmother to two handsome teenage boys! Sounds to me like Highland Falls just got their very own Christmas romance. Stay tuned for weekly updates!”
Chapter Eleven
Come on, Kayla. You can’t possibly be buying that. Abby is just trying to promote her channel. It’s a gimmick, nothing more,” Mallory heard Gabe say from behind her as they walked into Highland Falls Recreation and Civic Center. She couldn’t hear the other woman’s response, but the way Kayla walked past her with her head held high and her back stiff didn’t bode well.
“You didn’t do your best friend any favors,” Gabe said to Abby. Then he gave Mallory’s arm a brief, reassuring squeeze. “I’ll talk to her and get it straightened out.”
She nodded her thanks as he followed Kayla through the open double doors on the right. The center had several meeting rooms as well as a gym, an arena, and a pool.
Abby, who’d been standing with her mouth hanging open, recovered and called after Gabe, “I resent that. I wouldn’t use my best friend to promote my channel.”
That’s exactly how it sounded to Mallory, but the one thing she didn’t doubt was that Abby’s heart was in the right place.
“So what was your plan?” Mallory asked as she and Abby walked through the double doors. At the front of the room, a mural of Highland Falls in winter filled the back wall. Two trees decorated with colorful lights stood in front of it, while Santa sat on a big red chair between the Christmas trees. She didn’t have to search the crowd for the boys. Gabe’s sons and hers stood to the right of Santa, talking to a couple of teenage girls dressed in green elf costumes.
“Other than pointing out the obvious that you and Gabe are perfect for each other? Although I’m kinda ticked at him right now.”
Mallory filled Abby in on everything that had happened at the station yesterday. She hadn’t been able to tell her last night with the boys around. “So now you understand why Gabe reacted like he did. The last thing we need is for Kayla to think we’re involved or that Gabe’s recommendations are biased.”
“Yes, and that’s exactly why I’m doing weekly updates from Reindeer Road. I don’t trust Kayla McPherson and neither does Eden. I saw the way she was looking at you and Gabe. She’s already made up her mind about you. So what we need is a high-profile publicity campaign that shows everyone what an incredible woman and mother you are. The press did a number on your reputation last summer, and it’s going to take a concerted effort to rebuild it. Now, I thought we’d call the segments Love on Reindeer Road or Christmas on Reindeer Road. I’m leaning toward Love on Reindeer Road. What do you think?”
Mallory’s heart pumped an extra beat. “That you and Eden are worried I might actually lose custody of the boys.”
“You have to stop focusing on losing the boys. Thoughts become things, you know. Stop focusing on the negative.”
“How about the reality? First, Gabe is not going to let you put him and his sons on camera, and I don’t blame him. Second, I don’t want Oliver and Brooks on camera either. And third, Gabe and I aren’t in a relationship and won’t be, and I can’t tell you why, but it’s really important right now that not even a whisper that we might be gets out. I’m serious, Abby. This isn’t me trying to shut down your matchmaking. For the next few weeks, we have to do whatever we can to protect Gabe’s reputation.”
“Okay, I know when you’re serious, and you’re definitely serious now. I’ll do whatever I can to help Gabe. His reputation with the senior citizens in town could use a boost, so maybe you could help him there.”
“I doubt it. After yesterday, I’m sure Dot and the seniors at her diner want me run out of town.”
“Are you kidding me? You obviously haven’t been online, Mal. They love you. In their eyes, you’re a hero now. You saved Ruby.”
“Really?” Her knees went weak with relief. She hadn’t realized until that moment how nervous she was about facing the seniors Monday morning.
“Yes. Really. See for yourself.” Abby nodded at a group of older women sitting together at one of the tables that were set up throughout the room. Each of the tables was draped in white linen and held a red poinsettia and a plate of baked goods. A couple of the women at the table waved, and the rest smiled warmly.
“Trust me,” Abby continued. “We’re going to milk that for all it’s worth. I’ll be here Monday to film your first day on the job. I’m so excited we’re working together.”
Along with being a famous YouTuber, Abby ran the Liz Findlay Foundation, a charitable organization named after her great-aunt. The foundation’s main focus was helping homeless women get back on their feet, and Abby had begun actively looking for projects to invest in.
In a conversation a couple of weeks ago, when Abby brought up Gabe for what felt like the twentieth time in so many minutes, Mallory had suggested she turn her matchmaking sights on senior women. Not to find them a new love interest but to find them someone to share an apartment with. As Mallory had discovered over the past few months, many senior women could barely make ends meet after their husbands died. One thing led to another, and that was how Mallory found herself accepting the mayor’s offer to coordinate the town’s new senior initiatives.
“I’m excited to work together too. At least for the Golden Girls Project.” They’d named the new initiative after the popular eighties television show about four widowed women living together in Miami. “I’m not sure about your new YouTube idea though,” Mallory admitted.
“Trust me. I know what I’m doing.” Abby chewed on her thumbnail. “We’ll have to tweak my original idea though. If we can’t tease my followers with a budding romance, we’ll have to go with the Christmas element. Which should be almost as popular. Everyone loves the holidays. So Christmas on Reindeer Road it is. We’ll go full-on Hallmark Christmas. The local holiday events, the decorating, the cooking, the scenery. It’ll be a great way to showcase the home and life you’re trying to make for the boys and bring you guys closer together as a family.”
Mallory stared at Abby. This had to be a sign. “You’re right. It’s perfect.”
“Yay!” Abby hugged her. “I’m so glad you think so. You had me worried for a minute.”
“Hey, what are you guys celebrating without me?” Sadie asked, joining in their group hug.
“Mallory is onboard with my plan. We’re going live with Christmas on Reindeer Road next week,” Abby told Sadie, who’d swapped out her Claire Fraser outfit for jeans and a pretty cream sweater that accentuated her baby bump. Sadie had pulled her long, dark hair into a ponytail, her beautiful heart-shaped face shiny and makeup free. A talented graphic designer, Sadie had a full-time job at a company in Charlotte, and she worked part time for Abby.
“I’m not sure live is a good idea, Abby. You might want to film and then have Sadie edit and upload,” Mallory suggested.
“The live posts are really popular. People love to interact in the moment so we’ll try one and go from there.” Abby looked around and then her face lit up. “How perfect is that? Oliver and Brooks are in line to visit Santa. We’ll get a couple shots for our teaser trailer.”
“I don’t think the boys will go for that, Abby. Oliver’s almost sixteen, and Brooks is fourteen. And if you look closer, you’ll see they’re waiting off to the side while Teddy gives Santa his Christmas list.” Mallory frowned. “Why’s Teddy pointing at me?”
Abby grinned. “And would you look at that? Now he’s pointing at his dad.”
Mallory followed Teddy’s finger to where Gabe leaned against the far wall near the refreshment table, talking to Kayla. His booted feet
crossed at the ankle, he sipped on what looked to be a cup of coffee while keeping an eye on his boys. So Mallory had a pretty good idea why he’d just choked on his drink. Like her, he knew exactly what Teddy wanted for Christmas.
Apparently so did Abby. “If I had to take a guess,” her best friend said, “he’s just asked Santa to bring the Buchanans a new mom for Christmas, and you’re it.”
“Teddy told you at the Santa breakfast, didn’t he?” Mallory said.
“Yes, and I nearly started blubbering right then and there. That kid is just the sweetest.”
Sadie sniffed, then waved a hand in front of her face. “Ignore me. I’m emotional all the time now. Stupid baby hormones.”
Abby and Mallory shared a glance. “Are you sure that’s all it is, Sadie? Drew isn’t giving you a hard time, is he?” Abby asked.
There wasn’t anything Sadie had wanted more than a baby, and she’d been over the moon when she found out she was going to be a mom. She wasn’t as enamored with the baby’s daddy but she’d felt he at least deserved to know she was carrying his child. For the baby’s sake, he’d insisted they try to make it work. Sadie had reluctantly agreed. Two months in, she knew it wouldn’t work but Drew wasn’t ready to concede or to let Sadie leave.
“Not any harder than usual. I know you guys are worried about me, but you don’t have to be. Drew just needs some time to come to terms with the idea that we’re not setting up the baby for failure just because we won’t be living under the same roof.”
“Did you talk to the lawyer Eden recommended?” Abby asked.
“Yes, and we’re meeting next week.”
“Good, and you’re coming home for the holidays, right?”
Sadie nodded. “Drew’s not happy I won’t go to Boston to spend the holidays with him and his family but the last thing I want to do is ruin their Christmas. Besides, I’m looking forward to spending time with you guys.”
“Yay! This is going to be the best Christmas ever. Now let’s get your stepsons to pose with Santa before they take off, Mal.”
“I have to head out, guys. Drew has a dinner thing, and I promised I’d be there.”
“But you just got here,” Abby complained.
“Not to mention that it’s almost a four-hour drive back to Charlotte,” Mallory added, concerned for her friend.
“Trust me, I know. I just don’t want to make any more waves until everything’s worked out with the lawyer.”
After they said their goodbyes, they watched Sadie make her way out of the room. “Do you really think she’s okay?” Abby asked as some of Granny MacLeod’s friends stopped Sadie to rub her baby bump.
Mallory nodded. “Yes, but I worry what will happen when she tells Drew it’s over. He doesn’t sound like a guy who takes no for an answer.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. It’ll be good to have her here over the holidays. We’ll sit her down then and have a heart-to-heart.” Sadie turned at the door, smiled, and waved. They waved back, and Abby said, “Okay, let’s round up Oliver and Brooks.”
“Honestly, don’t waste your breath. There’s no way they’ll agree.”
“Don’t bet on it,” Abby said while texting on her phone. She glanced up. “Great. Santa just bought us some time. Looks like he’s headed to the little boys’ room and his elves are free to socialize.”
A woman, her hair long and dark, walked over with a smile. “Mallory, welcome home,” Winter Johnson, the mayor, said and gave her a warm hug. Then she drew back to look at her. “I’ve heard that it was less than welcoming, and I want you to know I’m going to do what I can to intervene with social services on your behalf.”
“Thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure it will work itself out.” Mallory had a feeling that if the mayor tried to pull some strings on her behalf, Kayla would just make things harder for her.
“Did you also hear that she’s a hero?” Abby asked.
“I did, and I was just going to thank her.” The smile Winter offered Mallory was as warm as her hug. “I stopped by the hospital before the parade, and Ruby’s prognosis is excellent. The doctor said it wouldn’t have been had you not been at the station and intervened.”
“I’m glad she’s doing well. I thought I might drop by the hospital later today.”
“I’m sure Ruby and her family would love to see you. And I look forward to seeing you at work Monday morning, but now I have to find our illustrious chief of police. Have either of you seen him?”
They pointed her in Gabe’s direction. “Wish me luck. I have a special request to put to him, and I’m sure he’s going to be less than thrilled.”
“That’s an understatement,” Abby murmured, and from Gabe’s expression when he noted the mayor coming his way, she was right.
“What’s going on?” Mallory asked.
“Owen has offered to take over for Ruby until she can return to work. Actually, he didn’t offer—he begged and pleaded—so I have a feeling that the mayor’s going to insist Gabe agree.”
“He didn’t seem thrilled to see Owen at the station, but I thought it was because he knew our history.”
“No, it had nothing to do with you. Owen can’t seem to stay away. If he isn’t telling Gabe how to do his job, he’s trying to do it for him. There’s even a petition started online to get Owen reinstated. If you ask me, Dot’s behind it.”
“That’s horrible.”
“Trust me, it gets worse. When I told you he could use some help rehabilitating his reputation, I was so not kidding.” Abby’s face lit up with a huge smile, and she lifted her hand. “Over here, honey.”
Mallory glanced over her shoulder to see Hunter Mackenzie striding their way with Bella in his arms and Wolf at his side. The six-foot-four former soldier looked like this was the last place he wanted to be. Which was understandable given how much he disliked crowds. Before he’d met Abby, Hunter had lived a reclusive life on Honeysuckle Ridge.
“Hey,” he said to Mallory, then thrust Bella at his fiancée. “You good? That’s all you need?”
Abby’s eyes sparkled as she tried not to laugh at her fiancé’s grumpy demeanor. “How many people asked you to build their floats for next year?”
“Too damn many,” he muttered before taking Abby’s chin between his fingers and kissing her. “I’ll see you at home.”
Abby sighed as he walked away. “I swear, that man will make me swoon when I’m ninety.” Then she spotted Santa heading back to his chair. “Boys! Oliver and Brooks, can you do me a big favor?” she asked as she hurried their way with Bella in her arms and Wolf loping after her. “I want to get a picture of our dogs with Santa, and I need some help. Would you guys mind?”
“No, that’d be cool. He looks like a real wolf.” Oliver crouched to offer his hand for Wolf to sniff while Brooks adjusted Bella’s reindeer ears with a big grin on his face. The dogs were a hit with the boys and, just as Abby had obviously expected, the perfect incentive to get them to pose with Santa. Although they did look a little leery when they were finally perched on either of Santa’s knees. They looked even leerier when Abby had Mallory pose with them.
“I promise, guys. It won’t take long at all,” Mallory told them.
“Wait. We wanna be in the picture too,” Teddy said, dragging his father over by the hand.
“Buddy, I think Abby just wants Mallory and her boys in the shot,” Gabe said.
“But I want a picture of all of us together with Santa, Dad. Please, can we be in the picture too?”
“It’s fine, Gabe,” Mallory said, unable to resist Teddy’s pleading puppy-dog eyes.
“The kid has your number,” Gabe said under his breath as he came to stand beside her behind Santa’s chair.
“Dylan! Cody!” Teddy waved over his brothers, who were loading cookies into napkins and stuffing them in their pockets. Only instead of stuffing a napkin into his pocket, Cody was unknowingly stuffing the tablecloth.
“Wait, don’t run, Cody! You have the tablecloth
…Oh, jeez.” Gabe covered his eyes with a hand.
“It’s okay. The mayor saved the day,” Mallory said.
Gabe glanced over his shoulder as the twins settled in for the picture. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
Mallory followed his gaze to see Kayla staring at them with her arms crossed. Santa Ho ho hoed and then looked up at Mallory and winked. “You two kids have nothing to worry about. Santa’s on the job.”
Teddy grinned. “And he’s going to make my Christmas wish come true. Yours too, Mallory.”
“Okay, say Merry Christmas!” Abby instructed. “All right, how about we say ho ho—oh no.”
Oliver and Brooks had pulled off Santa’s beard, exposing him for the fraud that he was.
Chapter Twelve
You might not believe in Santa, and you might not have been thrilled to pose for a picture with him, but that is absolutely no excuse for what you boys did today,” Mallory said as she put the bags of groceries on the kitchen counter.
She had never been as angry with her stepsons as she was now. In the past, she’d let their behavior slide, made excuses for them, and walked on eggshells in order not to upset them. But she couldn’t get Teddy’s devastated little face out of her mind.
“I don’t know why you’re so bent. All we did was pull off the old man’s beard. Everyone knows Santa isn’t real,” Oliver muttered, setting another bag of groceries beside hers.
“No, Oliver, some children, like Teddy, actually do believe in Santa. And now, thanks to you and your brother, he’s not sure what to think.”
“That’s not my problem,” Oliver said.
“Oh, yes it is. And you and Brooks are going to make it right.”
“Brooks can make it right. I have things to do,” he said and stormed off.
“Oliver, I’m not finished speaking with you. Oliver—” The bedroom door slammed.
“He’s embarrassed. He feels bad he made Teddy cry. We both do. But the girls were laughing at us so he was just trying to be cool.”
