Page 15 of Mishaps and Mistletoe

Kevin was left breathless.

“Jojo Ward?” he asked on a giant exhale.

She looped the handle of her purse over her shoulder as she stood. “Oh, that’s just a nickname from when I was a kid. Johnny’s the only one who still calls me that anymore.”

That wasn’t true.

Any time Kevin thought of the beautiful girl on the beach collecting seashells like they were priceless treasure. The vibrant girl he’d tenderly held in his scrawny arms while they watched the sunset. The amazing person who’d made such a lasting impact on his life she’d probably never believe it. Whenever he’d revisited those memories over the last twenty-five years, Jojo Ward was exactly what he’d called her.

And he couldn’t believe that after all this time, he’d finally found what he’d never had the courage to look for.

ChapterFive

“You’ve arrived,” the GPS announced as Kevin’s Jeep pulled into the parking lot. Not that Josie needed a navigation system to get to Feisley’s Tree Farm. She’d been here every holiday season since she could remember. The huge, white barn was as much a part of her Christmas memories as decorating cookies and writing letters to Santa. Except, she hadn’t been here since Courtney’s accident. Her body trembled, and it had nothing to do with the dip in temperature in the past twenty-four hours.

Why am I even here?

An image of a young Kevin, sitting in a treeless living room, without presents, decorations, or cookies came to mind. And her heart broke a little more.

Oh, that’s why.

But it was her own memories that were breaking her heart now.

This was a bad idea. Coming to Feisley’s to cut down a Christmas tree had been the Ward family’s favorite tradition. What was she thinking, making this the first stop in her quest to regain some Christmas spirit? This was like jumping off the high dive without knowing how to swim.

“So, we’re in Ohio?” Kevin gestured to the navigation screen he’d insisted on using, claiming it helped him learn more about the area. The robotic directions filled the silent moments Josie was too preoccupied to fill. And there had been plenty. If Kevin noticed she seemed off today, he at least had the sense not to comment on it.

“Yep. We entered the Buckeye State when we crossed the river.” Josie hopped out of the Jeep. The familiar pine-scented air filled her lungs, and she swallowed down the thickness that coated her throat.

“But if you’re in Wheeling, you can drive twenty minutes in the other direction and end up in Pennsylvania,” he stated, though it sounded more like a question. Josie nodded as she rounded the vehicle. “So, in about forty minutes, I could drive through three states?”

“Give or take, yeah.”

“Wow. In Florida, I’d have to drive hours to cross just one state line. I grew up in West Palm Beach, by the way—don’t think I mentioned that before.”

“I actually vacationed there once.”

“Huh.”

“Yeah,” she responded, drawing out the word. A massive smile spread across Kevin’s face. He sure seemed happy to be at the tree farm—and why not? Josie remembered her first time cutting down a tree. Kevin was making precious holiday memories, ones she was lucky enough to have made with her family. Ones she swore she’d never make again. It was too painful. But she was doing this for Kevin. And for her job.

Kevin still smiled at her. Had all that sniffling caused a snotty situation on her face? Was he about to tell her she had a bat in the cave? She dabbed her nose with her gloved hand. Gross, but she reasoned it was better to be a little disgusting than utterly humiliated if there really was a booger situation on her face.

“Feel like walking this morning?” She saw he’d already grabbed the small bag of tools he’d brought. She patted the tape measure tucked in the slip pocket of her coat. They had measuring sticks at the farm, but she wasn’t taking any chances after what happened the last time she was here. Kevin didn’t need to know how hard it was to scrub tree sap off the ceiling.

“Sounds great to me.”

The dirt path led them to the first bunch of trees, and the crunch of the terrain beneath their boots provided a rhythmic background for the birds to chirp to.

Kevin stopped and cast his head to the sky as he turned slowly in a circle. “It’s gorgeous out here—what?” He stopped and looked at her.

“I’m sorry. You’re just giving meThe Sound of Musicvibes. You just need to put your arms out to the side—there you go,” she instructed as he had his Maria von Trapp moment.

“This better?” She saw puffs of air leave his lips as he laughed, and she wondered if he was warm enough. Mother Nature had flipped her furnace into theoffposition overnight, ushering in seasonably appropriate temperatures. Kevin had goosebumps when it was thirty degrees warmer. But today, he was rocking the puffed-up Michelin Man look. He was probably fine.

“Are they alive?” Kevin asked, still spinning.

“Are who alive?”

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