Page 46 of Christmas in Paradise

“It’s all right, but we probably need to have mats down or else guests will be tracking in mud and snow. This is where we’re setting up Santa’s workshop during the Christmas market. That will all be in the barn.” She takes her iPad from her purse and types in her notes.

“Yeah. And boot scrapers,” I add. “Plenty of cowboys around here.”

“Good idea,” she says, still typing.

I look down and realize not just my feet are covered in mud. Uncle Rad’s muddy paw prints are all over my jacket, t-shirt, and jeans. Plus, I still can’t put her down because the leash handle is filthy.

“I’ll be right back,” I say to Hope then go back outside to the restrooms.

They’re located in another outbuilding close to the barn. When I go inside, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and my stomach drops.

Hope wasn’t just laughing about me talking to Radley. There’s mud splatters all over my face, and my hair looks like I’ve walked through a wind tunnel.

“Great.” I set Radley in the sink. “Look what you’ve done. You made me look like a goof. Worse. An idiot.” I run the water in the other sink and scrub the spots from my face and jacket, then go to work on my hair. “Are you listening to me, Radley?”

She’s not. She doesn’t even look up from licking her paws.

“Uncle Rad! I’m talking to you!”

Now, of course, she looks. Hard as I’ve tried, she won’t answer to Radley. She prefers Uncle Rad. She’s okay with Rad, if really pressed.

I sigh and talk to myself instead. “Pull it together, man. Just be cool.”

Five minutes later, I lead Uncle Rad by her mostly clean leash back to the barn. We’re both a little cleaner, but there’s no washing away the embarrassment still burning through me as I join Hope by the front doors.

But I fake my way through my humiliation and say, “Tell me about the events you’ve got planned.”

“Here at the barn?” she asks.

“Those first, so we can figure out what you need. But I want to hear about all the events. It sounds like you and Carson have done a ton of work already.”

A slow, pleased smile crosses her face. “We really have. Do you want to see the website we’ve created?”

“Yeah,” I nod, and after a few taps, she holds her iPad in the crook of her elbow to show me.

I move closer, grateful for the invitation. This is what I want. To be invited in. So I’m counting this moment as my one win for the day.

I lean in to look at the page. Under the Yulefest at the top, there’s a Christmas house with twenty-four days, like an advent calendar. Each number is highlighted.

“You open the pages like it’s a real advent calendar? That’s pretty cool.” I press the number one and the door opens to a page with information about Paradise’s Yulefest Parade.

“Thanks. It was my idea. Check this out.” She exits out of that page and opens the number ten door.

Behind that door is a video that requires the user to sign in. Hope taps in an email and password, and an under-construction sign appears.

“We’re working on a video right now that will teach people how to make those Danish heart and star decorations,” she says.

“Julehjerterandjulestjerner? I used to love making those as a kid. We’d do it every year in grade school.” I try not to notice how close she is, but I smell a hint of cinnamon that wakes every cell in my body.

I don’t think she’s wearing perfume or chewing gum, so maybe the smell is left over from years of Christmas parties once held in this barn. The smell always reminds me of spiced cider on cold, winter days. It’s a soothing smell but invigorating at the same time.

“There’s a former teacher who’s going to do the video for us. She’s perfect. She has the best voice and is completely engaging.” Hope’s face lights up as she describes the person who can only be one woman.

“Is it Margot Christianson? Mrs. C?”

“Yeah! You know her?”

“Everyone who’s lived in Paradise in the last fifty years has had her for the second grade. We all know Mrs. C. She’s worked for me since she retired.” I hope the grin on my face doesn’t look as mushy as it feels, but I can’t help it.

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