Page 78 of Second Chance Christmas

“That’s my girl! So, which is it? Terrible, horrible or beautiful and what can I do to help?”

“Can you plan a large dinner for all the guests and invite Ms. Lucille and Charlie? If it works out we’ll need to celebrate. If not, we’ll all need comfort food and copious amounts of whiskey.”

Gran whistled low. “You have a doozy up your sleeve. Okay. I’ll set to work and see if I can get Harry to help me. Mrs. Wilber would love to jump in too.”

Ivy paused. “You knew this would happen all along, didn’t you?”

Her grandmother looked at her, the wisdom of her years crystal clear in her blue eyes. “You needed the perfect storm and I knew the guests would help create the perfect conditions to move you along. Everything else was kismet. Now get to it before the getting isn’t good anymore.”

“Yes, ma’am. If you’ll excuse me I’ll do just that.”

Aspen was hers damn it and nothing and nobody would ever keep them apart again. Ever her foolish self.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Five hours later Ivy had a plan in place. Okay, so plans were her pitfall and her Achilles heel, but this one would work. It had to. Her future really did depend on this one.

“Joe, I can’t thank you enough.” She shook hands with the former Joe’s Christmas Tree Farm owner. A portion of his property connected to the B&B’s. During the summer it would be a wonderful hike, but in the winter the snow was too deep so she opted to drive.

“The pleasure is all mine, Ivy. I know you’ll take care of the place and I couldn’t be happier knowing the place is in good hands.”

“What will you do now?” She couldn’t imagine wanting to part ways with such a beautiful place. He must have his reasons.

“My daughter moved to Hawaii last year and I’ve always wanted to live at the beach.”

“Wow! That’s a big change. All that sunshine and white sand.”

“These old bones can’t take the winters up here anymore, you see.”

“I do. You’ll be happy and close to your daughter.”

“Yes.” He smiled, taking her hands in his. “Now you have a Merry Christmas and settle into the place. We’ll talk after the New Year’s again, of course and finish any outstanding paperwork. Give your gran a hug for me.”

She waved as Joe climbed into his truck and vanished down the long drive.

Alone, she took out her phone and paused, her fingers over the keypad. “What if he doesn’t answer?”

She didn’t have time for doubts. A couple of seconds later it rang and her heart wanted to jump out of her chest and melt all at once.

“Aspen!” she rushed out before he had the chance to say a single syllable.

“Ivy Sunday. Is everything all right?” He sounded tired.

“You need to meet me at Joe’s. It’s urgent.”

“Okay. I’m on my way. Give me five.”

ASPEN ROLLED TO A STOP OUTSIDE Joe’s red barn and eyeballed the large tarp over the sign that welcomed visitors.

Odd.

Up for a solid thirty-six hours, weary from the night, the second he heard Ivy’s voice his senses went on high alert.

He slid from the cab and started across the gravel parking lot when an angel walked around the side of the barn.

She came to a stop by the sign. “Aspen, you came.” Surprise lit her face and she looked adorable with her hair pulled back in a loose braid over one shoulder, her cheeks flushed from the cold.

“Of course, I came, baby. I said to call anytime you needed me and I would be there. Are you okay? I thought I’d missed you before your flight.”

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