Joylyn studied the small snowman. “I guess I could help.”
“Good,” Wynn said. “I’ll give her your contact info. I’ll be getting the paper in first thing tomorrow and I can drop it off.”
“Why will you get the paper?”
“I have a graphics and printing business in town. Natalie is ordering the supplies through me.”
Joylyn stared at her. “You own your own business?”
“I have for about ten years. Ever since Hunter and I moved here.”
“But you’re a single mom.”
“That’s true. I was never married.”
Hunter looked at his mom. “She does great, but if she wanted to get married, that would be good, too.” He grinned. “Maybe you’d like to date someone who lives by the golf course.” He turned to Joylyn. “Most of those houses have big swimming pools.”
She laughed. “So you don’t care about your mom’s happiness—just getting a pool?”
“Why not have both?”
“You are weird.” She stood. “Come on. Let’s clear the table, then we can go play video games. I bet I can beat you again.”
“You didn’t beat me. I let you win because you’re new. Tonight there’s no mercy.”
Garrick was more caught up in the fact that Joylyn was being pleasant and voluntarily helping.
It took them only a few minutes to get the leftovers into the refrigerator and disappear down the hall. He watched them go before returning his attention to Wynn.
“You worked a miracle.”
“I’d love to take credit, but I didn’t do anything.”
“She was almost nice.”
Rather than smile, Wynn shifted in her seat. “I’m going to say something that may get me in trouble.”
“I doubt that.”
“You haven’t heard what it is yet.” She moved her wineglass around the table. “Garrick, you need to have expectations when it comes to your daughter. Joylyn is pregnant, but she’s not sick. She can do something around here. Tell her she has to cook two meals a week and, I don’t know, manage the grocery shopping. Whatever. You can come up with the list, but don’t let her just sit on her butt and brood all day. It’s not good for her.”
“You’re right,” he said, wishing he’d thought of that himself. “She should do more. I don’t look forward to the fight, but it’s the right thing to do.”
She stared at him, as if waiting for more. “That’s it?”
“What else do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know. I thought you’d be mad.”
“Why? You’re helping. You gave her a job. You have good advice.” He held up the wineglass. “I have dishes because of you. Even more important, you’re raising a great kid. Of course I’m going to listen to you.”
“Thank you. I just think she’ll be happier when she has more to do.”
“I’d like that. Not just for me but for her. She’s really different these days. She’s constantly in tears. I know she misses Chandler, but I worry she’s too emotional. She was always so easygoing as a kid.”
“I think the word you’re looking for is indulged.”
“So harsh,” he teased, then glanced at her empty glass. “More wine?”
“Thanks, but I need to get Hunter home. It’s a school night.”
“For us, too.”
They both stood. He reached for her empty glass at the same second she reached for his. Their hands bumped and their arms tangled. They both pulled back, and he looked at her.
She was beautiful, he thought absently. High cheekbones and a full mouth, the soft glow of her light brown skin. Plus all that long, curly hair.
Without considering he might be crossing a line, he reached out and fingered one of the curls. Her hair was as soft as he’d imagined. Her gaze met his, and he read interest in her brown eyes. The kind of interest that got a man’s attention and turned any day into a very good one. Awareness crackled between them.
He released the curl and drew her close, then slowly, deliberately settled his mouth on hers.
Her lips were soft and warm, igniting heat in his body. She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned into him. He felt the imprint of her breasts on his chest, the brush of her thighs against his. When he touched his tongue to her bottom lip, she parted and he eased inside.
It was a great kiss. All sexy and hot as they discovered the rhythm of the dance. He teased her tongue, liking the heat flaring and the way she hung on.
He wanted to pull back just enough to kiss his way along her jaw, then down her neck. He wanted to lift her up on the table so he could move between her thighs and start to explore her incredible body. He wanted to move her toward the bedroom and figure out at least fifteen ways to make her come before burying himself inside her and finding his own release.
And none of that was going to happen.
They broke apart at the same time. Her eyes were slightly glazed, which was gratifying considering his massive erection.
“If only we didn’t have kids in the next room,” she said, then cleared her throat. “Why is life all about timing?”
“Rain check?” he asked.
“Absolutely.”
* * *
JOYLYN CAREFULLY APPLIED a thin layer of glue on the tiny black hat, then set it on top of the snowman’s head. She held it in place for a count of ten before moving her fingers and studying the finished snowman.
The work wasn’t very interesting. She’d taken the morning to plan out the best way to put the pieces together. Once she was familiar with the components and the process, she quickly figured out how to attack the project using a kind of assembly line approach. It took more work upfront but allowed her to complete more snowmen per hour.
The money she earned would be helpful once the baby came. Just paying for diapers was going to be a challenge.
She moved the completed snowman to the box next to her, then glanced at the clock by the bed. She had a call scheduled with Chandler in a few minutes and didn’t want to be late. They only got to FaceTime a couple of times a week, so those calls were important to her.
She got up and stretched, feeling the pull in her back. She was so gross, she thought, waddling to the kitchen where she got herself another glass of water. Staying hydrated was important.
Once her glass was full, she opened the refrigerator and stared at the contents. She’d gone to the grocery store earlier to buy what she needed to fix dinner. Her dad had told her he wanted her to be responsible for dinner twice a week—not a surprise after her conversation with Wynn. She’d thought about telling him no, but it had seemed like too much energy. Plus she supposed she knew that Wynn wasn’t wrong about all the things she said. Joylyn might not feel like she had it easy, but the truth was she did. The fact that she was away from her friends was her own fault. She should have stayed on base when she had the chance.
Feeling her mood spiral, she headed back to the bedroom and tried to distract herself with the snowmen construction.
Right on time, her laptop came to life, indicating an incoming call. She pushed the button to accept the call, then felt her heart jump when Chandler’s face filled the screen.
“Hey, beautiful girl,” her husband said with a smile. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” she said, even as tears filled her eyes. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. It’s just over a month until we’re together. You need to hang in there.”
“I’m trying. Tell me what’s happening with you.”
As he told her about his days and what he was doing, she stared into his eyes and longed to feel his arms around her. Being apart was so hard and unfair.
“How are things with your dad?” he asked. “You getting along better?”
“I guess. I hate being here.”
“I k
now you do, baby, but you and your dad used to be tight. Maybe that can happen again.”
“I don’t know. I just can’t trust him not to leave me.”
“You’re the one who’s going to be leaving when I come home. I hate to see you suffer.”
She faked a smile. “You don’t have to worry about me, Chandler.”
“Sure I do. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“You heard from your mom?”
“No. Not a word.” The tears returned. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her or why she did what she did.”
“It doesn’t make sense to me, either. But sometimes the things that happen aren’t about us. They’re about the other person.”
Joylyn knew he was trying to make her feel better, and while it would be nice if her mom had sent her away because she had some issue she had to deal with, Joylyn knew the truth wasn’t that convenient. Time and distance had allowed her to see that maybe she hadn’t been the easiest person on the planet to get along with. That maybe her complaining and general annoyance with the world had gotten to be too much.
“I don’t want to talk about her anymore,” she said. “Look what I’m doing.” She held up one of the snowmen. “They’re for a wedding, and I’m getting paid to make them. I’m saving it all, Chandler. For us and the baby.”
“That’s great. How do snowmen fit in a wedding?”
She laughed. “I have no idea, but apparently it’s a thing.”
“If you say so.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I gotta go. I love you and I’m counting the days.”
She touched the screen. “I love you, too. I can’t wait to see you. I miss you so much. You’re everything, Chandler.”
“You’re everything to me, too, sweetie.”
The call ended and the tears came right on cue. Joylyn brushed them away and went back to work. She might not be able to see her husband, but she could build the stupid little snowmen and save money so that when she and her husband were together again, they could buy what they needed and be happy.
* * *
THE MONDAY BEFORE, Thanksgiving, Wynn got up a half hour early and made pumpkin spice cupcakes. She showered while they were baking, then took them to the office with her. Just after eleven thirty, she drove the short distance from downtown Happily Inc out to the animal preserve where she pulled in next to her friend Silver.
“What did you bring?” the platinum blonde asked as she got out of her truck.
“I went seasonal. Pumpkin spice cupcakes.”
Silver smiled. “I can always count on you to do the right thing.” She held up her own container. “Potato salad. Carol texted yesterday and said she was making pulled pork sandwiches for our main course.”
Their biweekly lunches were something Wynn looked forward to. They met on a Monday or Tuesday, before the craziness of the week’s upcoming weddings kicked in. The location varied. When it was Carol’s turn, they usually ate outside at the animal preserve. Natalie hosted at the Willow Gallery where she displayed her work, and Bethany had them out at the ranch. Pallas and Renee used the space at Weddings Out of the Box, while Wynn chose either her business conference room or her own dining table.
The meals were fun, friendly affairs. Whoever was able to come brought something. The hostess provided the main entrée and drinks. Sometimes there were five salads or five desserts, but more often than not, there was a mix of foods. The not knowing what to expect added to the fun.
They walked along the main path in the preserve, careful to close the gates behind them so no animals would escape. Last year Carol had installed a nice picnic table in a shady spot. There were supports for a canvas overhang, if the temperatures were too high. Happily Inc was a desert community, getting plenty hot in the summer. Having it be a dry heat helped, but there were a few weeks in July and August when retreating to air-conditioning was the only way to survive. But today the temperature was in the midseventies, with a bright blue sky and lots of sunshine.
“I heard there’s a snowstorm expected back east, just in time for Thanksgiving,” Wynn said as she double-checked that that last gate was secure.
“All those idiots traveling are going to suffer.”
Wynn hid a smile. “You mean those poor people trying to get home to their families for possibly the second biggest holiday of the year?”
Silver grimaced. “Yeah, that. My sympathies and all that.”
They rounded a grove of trees and saw Carol putting out stacks of plates and flatware. The table was already decorated with a brightly colored cloth. A side table held a big covered dish and a stack of buns, along with a dispenser filled with lemonade. But what really caught Wynn’s attention was the—relatively—small giraffe following Carol from place to place like a very oversize and leggy dog.
“I see Bodey is still in love with you,” Wynn called.
Carol looked up and laughed. “He is a curious guy.” She motioned to her left where Millie stood keeping a watchful eye on her two-month-old son. “As long as Mom stays close.”
Bodey was the first giraffe born in the animal preserve. He was visibly taller and stronger every time Wynn saw him.
“Hey, little guy,” Silver said, slowing her approach as Bodey turned to stare at them. “We’re just here to eat lunch and tell you how adorable you are. Is that okay?”
His eyes were huge—dark brown with long lashes. His nostrils flared as he studied them.
“He’s cuter than he was,” Wynn said softly. “How is that possible?”
Carol grinned. “I know. I keep taking pictures of him. Mathias keeps reminding me we have our own baby. I think he’s jealous on Devon’s behalf.”
The conversation was too much, or maybe it was the sight of three humans all together. Either way, Bodey retreated on his gangly legs, circling to the far side of his mother where he could watch while protected by Millie.
“Speaking of Devon, where is she?” Silver asked, settling her potato salad next to the buns.
“She has a bit of a cold. I didn’t want her exposing the other kids, so she’s with her dad today.” Carol’s eyes were bright with amusement. “Mathias complained that he wouldn’t get any work done, but the truth is they both love hanging out together. By the time I get home, she’ll either be on the mend, or he’ll be sick, too. I’m hoping for the former.”
“It’s us,” a familiar voice called.
Renee, Natalie and Pallas joined them. Renee and Natalie each carried two large tote bags while Pallas had her son with her. Little Ryan squealed when he saw all his lady friends, writhing and waving his arms to be put down. Pallas obliged and the toddler took off, racing first to Wynn and then to Carol and Silver. All the women crouched down to get hugs and very wet kisses.
Just as the greetings began to calm down, Bethany walked in with her daughter Addison on her hip. Ryan clapped his hands and hurried over as fast as his chubby legs would take him.
It took several minutes to unload food and get the kids settled. Baby Bodey hovered on the edge of the picnic area, curious but cautious. Millie chewed on leaves and regarded them with bored disinterest. The only human she really loved was Carol. The rest of them were simply a part of the landscape.
“This was easier pre-kids,” Wynn said as she took a seat next to Renee. “But much less fun.”
Natalie sat down with Ryan in her arms. Her nephew leaned against her baby bump. “At the rate we’re reproducing around here, we’ll have to get a separate kids’ table in another year or two.”
Silver looked at Renee. “Pressure’s on you, lady.”
“To find a kids’ table? Sure. I can do that.”
Everyone laughed.
“I think she meant you should get pregnant,” Wynn said.
Renee shook her head. “I will. Eventually. What about you, Silver? You and Drew aren’t too old.”
Silver waved her hand. “I don’t know. We talk about it. Maybe. We like what we have now. Why mess with that?”
Wynn knew that Silver and Drew had a teenage daughter together. Silver had gotten pregnant in high school and had given up the girl for adoption. Over the years, she’d stayed close with the adoptive mother and had been a part of her daughter’s life. Drew had only found out about Autumn a couple of years ago, and the three of them were spending more time together. Wynn would guess Silver wasn’t sure about adding a baby to the mix. She wouldn’t want Autumn to feel she was being replaced.
They served themselves lunch. Conversation flowed easily between the friends as they caught each other up on what was going on.
“What’s the plan for the royal holiday season?” Natalie asked Bethany.
Bethany sighed heavily. “My parents,” she began, pausing when everyone laughed.
“What did the king do now?” Wynn asked. “I know the man loves royal proclamations. You should tell him to get them all printed at my shop. I’d give him the royal discount.”
“Because you have so many royal customers?” Pallas asked, her voice teasing.
“Not yet, but I’m willing to explore the market. I’ll be fair on the pricing. No gouging simply because he’s one of the ten richest men in the world.”
“I think he’s only fifteenth,” Bethany said.
“How tragic for you and your family,” Renee teased.
“We’re dealing with the ugly reality. As for the holidays, that’s an ongoing discussion. El Bahar doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving—what with it being an American thing. My mom does sometimes, but she’s kind of letting it go. Christmas and New Year’s are more complicated.”
Bethany was the adopted daughter of the King of El Bahar. He’d married Bethany’s mother nearly twenty years ago, adopting Bethany when her biological father later passed away. Bethany had three half brothers and was an actual princess, something her friends liked to kid her about.
When the king had first found out his daughter was pregnant, he’d insisted on sending over bodyguards...and a helicopter. It had followed her everywhere, ready to whisk her away to a medical facility should she have the slightest problem during her pregnancy.
Happily This Christmas--A Novel Page 9
