Page 17 of Christmas Secrets

Chapter 5

Dottie nibbled on herthumbnail as Ben drove through the grounds of the Christmas Gardens. It was a fun place to tour either by vehicle or on walking trails whichever you chose to do. It was one Christmas event her parents enjoyed, probably because her dad was an insurance salesman and Portman’s Insurance had a display every year, so she had been here many times as a child. The Christmas light show was amazing. Different businesses would rent spaces in the garden to advertise their wares through a lighted display. Some were really elaborate.

She and Ben had chosen to drive through because of the cold this year, but there were still very brave or very foolish people walking around on foot. She enjoyed being tucked up next to her husband on the bench seat of their warm truck. Hot chocolate and biscuits could be had at the end if you gave a donation to help with the upkeep.

“Look, there’s my dad’s display.” She pointed out a flashy display with a winking Santa with his hand in a huge jar of insurance contracts. The wording was‘give your loved one’s peace of mind for Christmas,’along with the Portman Insurance sign on Santa’s left. “Not my idea of a Christmas present, but I guess it’s the thought that counts,” she giggled.

Ben chuckled. “Ye can’t deny it’s an original thought.”

“Aye. My dad even has an insurance policy on Bruno. A small one fer burial expenses, so he said.”

Ben’s eyes popped. “Ye mean that huge Bernese Mountain dog of yours?”

Dottie rolled her eyes. “Ha! He may have said it was fer me when Bruno was a puppy, but he and that dog bonded right off the bat. He’s not my dog, that’s why I didn’t take him with me. Not that I wouldn’t like to have one, they are very protective and great family dogs. Hard workers too.”

“Hmmm,” Ben mused. “That is a thought. I love the chocolate brown and white coloring of Bruno. It would be nice to have my own dogs. I bet those dogs cost a fortune to feed though.”

Dottie shrugged her shoulders, the mention of costs reminding her once again of how much she’d spent on those meals. Probably more than the cost of buying a purebred Bernese puppy. She nibbled nervously on her thumb again.

“I’m looking forward to that hot chocolate,” she said, changing the subject. She shot him a quick smile, trying to brush away her disturbing thoughts and just enjoy herself.

“Me too,” Ben replied, smiling down at her. Then he grabbed her hand and frowned at her thumb before switching his gaze back to the road. “Are ye chewing yer thumbnail off again? I thought ye got past that.”

“I have. Mostly,” she amended, staring at his eyebrows sliding to the roof of the cab.

“Ye have beenmostlyon edge fer the last several days,” he replied. “That’s when ye usually do it. Which is why I’ve been asking ye what’s going on with ye, but ye always say nothing.”

Dottie waved her hand around in the air. “That’s because there is nothing, just the usual holiday stress.”

“I don’t remember ye being this stressed last year.”

“That’s because ye weren’t as in tune with my Christmas moods as ye are this year,” she supplied with a serious face. “Honestly, Ben, I’m fine.”

He was silent for a moment. “Just remember I’m yer husband and ye can tell me anything, even if ye have done something ye think I won’t like. I took a vow to protect ye with my life and I mean that, Dottie. Even if it’s from yerself.”

A stab of guilt ran through her. Had Ben somehow guessed what she’d done? Surely not. If he had, he’d be extremely upset with her right now, that much she knew. He might be a patient and kind man, but he would never let that amount of money go unexplained. Or the lies to cover it up. But he’d have to know sometime, wouldn’t he?

Toni’s words came back to her. Mayhap she should follow her friend’s advice and just enjoy the accolades and let her real cooking skills, lame as they were, be known. Even if they weren’t chef-worthy, they were certainly better than what she’d been intentionally doing. It could be done a little at a time, like Toni said. Unfortunately, if she took that route, then she’d just trap herself into a lifetime of cooking she didn’t want to do. She sighed and started chewing on her thumbnail again.

“Stop that,” Ben ordered gruffly.

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