Page 10 of My Greatest Joy

I pray that isn’t the case this time.

Only a few hours have passed, and Fallon’s already driving me crazy because sheneedsto get ahold of her assistant or boss or whoever-the-fuck knows. The girl couldn’t live off the grid if her life depended on it.

After we eat lunch in awkward silence, I go outside and make sure the generator is ready in the event we lose power. The lights have been flickering, so I have no doubt it’ll happen.

The cold doesn’t bother me, but given that Fallon’s already wearing two layers, I assume she’s not a fan.

After I look everything over, I contemplate hopping on my snowmobile to check on my parents. The snow continues to fallheavily, and I can’t risk getting stuck at my folks’ and leaving Fallon here alone. Only God knows what would happen to her, and I can’t bear that responsibility.

Plus, my mom and dad have been through countless blizzards, so I know they’re fine.

When I walk inside carrying as much wood as I can, Fallon’s pacing the living room like reception will magically appear. I stack the logs neatly by the fireplace, wondering if I should make another trip outside.

“This is unreal,” Fallon mutters, tossing her phone on the sofa with a huff. Her laptop is open on the coffee table, and she curses under her breath. “How am I supposed to charge my laptop if we lose power?”

“What will you need it for if there’s no internet?” I ask.

With a hand on her hip, she twists and glares at me. “I can still write, but I won’t be able to make much progress if the battery dies.”

I scrub a hand through my hair, biting my tongue at how worked up she is. “If the electricity goes out, the generator will automatically kick on to run the fridge, a couple of lights, and the water well pump. One plug is connected but should only be used on an emergency basis. If it’s overloaded, we could overheat or destroy the generator completely. That’d leave us in complete darkness and without food. However, if you need to charge your computer for an hour, that should be fine.”

She rolls her eyes as if I’m responsible for this inconvenience.

“On the bright side, I have propane, so we can still use the stove and take hot showers.”

“Great,” she says with fake enthusiasm. “I didn’t know people lived like this.”

“Like what?” I kneel to pet Dasher and try not to sound offended.

“Off the grid…” She waves a hand through the air. “In the wilderness…the middle of nowhere. Sounds dangerous if you ask me. What if there’s an emergency?”

I chuckle because her idea of beingoff the gridis comical. “I’m twenty minutes from town. I’d hardly call that roughing it.”

“You don’t even have cable. Or food delivery.”

“No, but I have working appliances and a pantry full of food. Plus, I can stream shows and movies, which works decently enough on my Wi-Fi…well, except in this weather.”

“Of course.” She sighs, her hands smacking her knees when she takes a seat and gives my rug a break.

“I’m gonna grab some more logs while I can and let Dasher run around. Wanna join me?” I ask politely.

She frowns with a side-eye that confirms she willnotbe going outside.

As soon as I open the door, Dasher flies off the deck and into a huge snowbank. He still has as much energy as he did the day I brought him home two years ago. If it were up to him, he’d live outside twenty-four seven.

“C’mon, Dash. This way.” I head toward the woodshed. I’m used to being out here alone. I like it and don’t mind the quiet. It’s peaceful, and the views are irreplaceable. Having Fallon here for the past couple days has been an interesting change and a reminder of what it’s like to have someone around. Too bad she’s a grinch who wouldn’t know happiness if it plowed into her.

Also, who the hell hates Christmas?

A beautiful woman who’s snippy as fuck, that’s who.

I can’t help but wonder if her biases will find their way into her writing. She could have a huge impact, and not in a good way. It’s already hard enough for local small businesses to keep up, and a bad feature could negatively affect their revenue. The holiday tourists shop a lot, and that money keeps them afloat throughout the year.

I was born and raised here and won’t let some grumpy, spoiled city girl tear it down.

If I could talk to my best friend, Finn, he’d tell me to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen. Show her what Maplewood Falls is about—community, holiday spirit, and a place people visit to reconnect.

As soon as this storm passes, I’ll give her a personal tour and show her everything we have to offer. It’s a shame she’s so reluctant because Maplewood Falls goes all out to create a magical holiday experience for visitors. Even if her first impressions haven’t been great, I’ll personally make sure she enjoys herself the rest of the time she’s here.

---