Page 7 of Second Chance Christmas

“All about who you know, hon. Oh, look! December just got one up on Hardt.” She laughed softly and double tapped the screen to blow up the image of Mr. December delivering basket after basket of freshly baked loaves of bread to the church for this Sunday’s potluck. All the packages were perfectly wrapped in baggies tied off with red and gold ribbons at one end. Beautiful and thoughtful.

“I think I’ll repost this and tag Mrs. Hardt. Gotta keep on your toes, you know. Plus Hardt will have a fit when he sees this.”

Ivy shook her head as she poured herself a cup of coffee and sealed her trap.

Aspen had the good sense to chuckle and keep quiet as they exchanged a look over the top of green spongy curlers.

She took a clean mug down from the cabinet and looked expectantly at Aspen who held a hand up. “Hold that thought, ladies, that reminds me. I’ll be right back.” He trailed a hand down her arm before he turned and left the way he came in.

Ivy waited until the count of five to make sure he was out of earshot.

“Okay, change of subject. Gran, what the heck was that about?” She pointed at Aspen’s retreating back to make sure she didn’t miss the point.

Gran glanced up from the smartphone Ivy gifted her while visiting Seattle for her birthday over the summer. Thanks to her grandmother’s wicked ability with new tech, every senior citizen of the town armed themselves with one and knew how to wield it for mass amusement.

“Sweetie, when you get to be my age, there’s nothing better than putting it out there like it is. You guys might not have worked out way back when you were both too young to understand love and sex. But let me tell you something. That man is still in love with you. Always has been. I’m trying to make sure you both aren’t too stupid to see it.”

Well okay then. What else could she say?

“Gran, there’s nothing between Aspen and me. Not anymore. I doubt there ever will be.”

“When there’s doubt there are possibilities. So stop contradicting yourself, hon.”

Gran flicked the phone around and couldn’t hold back the laugh. “See, Lucille understands.”

Lucille was Ivy’s former teacher and her grandmother’s oldest friend, who happened to have a deep affection for yoga pants, tight shirts, and selfies from the looks of it.

Ivy leaned in. “Wow! I didn’t even know that yoga pose was possible. Where did she learn that?”

“She teaches yoga now. And you have to appreciate that she color-coordinated her outfit for the holidays.”

True. “Probably something she picked up from you.” She nudged her grandma with a soft laugh. As nonchalantly as possible she leaned against the kitchen sink a bit for a clear line of sight to the truck in their drive. It was there, but no sexy firefighter in sight. “Hey, I don’t think Aspen is coming back in. I don’t see him.” Ivy moved the curtains to the side just to make sure.

“Negative, girly. You young people miss all the signals. I thought I was blind. That man’s eyes lit up like the northern lights when he saw you on the porch ready to take him out with my frying pan. I watched it all. He looked forward to you taking a swing at him. I saw the kiss, too, in case I didn’t mention.”

“You mentioned.”

Gran patted her arm with a mischievous tone. “It might have been a while back, but I still remember how his eyes lit up over you.” Gran’s gaze locked on hers. “And they still do. I don’t think he’s going anywhere at the moment.” Eyes back down, her grandmother’s thumbs trolled over the screen stirring up no telling how much mayhem judging from the crooked smile playing on her lips.

She sighed heavily. “I just don’t agree. I hurt him, Gran. He might be happy to see me and might have a smile and kiss to give. But those days are over, Gran.” Ivy couldn’t help but feel the sting of past memories. Their relationship had been one of love, even if they were teenagers. She’d thought they were meant to be but life didn’t let her in on that plan until it was too late and she couldn’t do anything about it.

That earned her a raised brow of disagreement. “Want to make a bet?”

It didn’t matter how heartbreakingly handsome he was or how good he looked in those black Wranglers. Boyfriends and romance, in general, were in her time-out zone. Maybe forever. But definitely nixed in the bud and dead on the stem until further notice. She felt ten years older and a hundred years wiser over the last month and a half.

“If I took that bet you would lose, and how would I look taking your money, Gran? Men are not worth the trouble.”

“You can’t let that no-good ex of yours ruin something special, Ivy hon. Or the fact you already tried the whole wedding route with Aspen. Both of you were too young at the time. Everything happens for a reason. Take it from me.” Gran’s soft blue eyes brightened. “Your grandfather was a special man, bless his soul. I would hate for you to miss out on something like that. Life is way too precious. And short to be stuck up and prudish.”

Okaaay.

“I know, Gran. Maybe just not now.” She was twenty-six so yeah, maybe the clock was ticking according to Gran and Mom. She heard about it every week from one or the other. But for her, she could wait. She pulled the curtains aside and peeked out for another look.

“And if you’re not wanting anything with a man, then maybe a lady friend then?”

“Gran!” She choked out around a laugh, spilling her coffee over the rim of her mug. There was the time in college and then again graduation night, but nothing that led to anything permanent. But Ivy kept her lips sealed. “Not really.” She grabbed a paper towel and cleaned off the mess. If she were to survive Christmas with this lady, simple coffee wouldn’t do. She needed something stronger.

Gran threw her hands up in her defense, but the sly grin that teased her lips canceled out the defeated gesture. “Okay. Just checking. But wouldn’t that shake things up a bit in town?”

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