Page 89 of Take Me Home for Christmas

A huge tent stretched along the shore, beneath which ten sand sculptors set up shop on various spots along the beach. They had eight hours to produce a unique snowman that stood at least three feet tall. Among them were a few amateurs from town who decided to try their luck.

“Isn’t this fabulous?” Bernice practically bounced on the toes of her bright red Crocs, the movement lighting up the soles.

The older woman had never met a fashion risk she didn’t take. Today was no exception. She was wearing a puffy red jacket over forest green velvet pants to go with her crazy shoes. The elf hat that had become synonymous with her this time of year was perched jauntily on her head. A wrist full of bracelets jingled whenever she moved. Even her glasses had a holiday vibe, sparkling silver whenever the sunshine hit them just right.

Elle panned the crowd with her cell phone camera. “I have to admit, Bernice, this is an out-of-the-box idea that will probably take off. It will get us tons of hits on social media, that’s for sure. I think I’ll interview some of the sand sculpture artists for a blog we can post on the town’s website.”

“Don’t forget to get some video of the kids building their snowmen.” Bernice pointed to an area on the beach where one of the sand artists instructed Emily, Henry, Whitney and a couple dozen other kids on the best techniques for building a snowman out of sand. “Everyone loves an adorable kid playing in the sand.”

“Unless they are on the beach towel next to them,” Gavin said when he joined them.

“Oh, you are a party pooper,” Bernice accused.

“Not today. We just got an offer on the loft, and I’m ready to celebrate,” he replied.

“No way! Congratulations. That’s great.” Elle bumped her brother’s shoulder. “Although I’m going to miss that place.”

“I’m sure West will let you come visit him there,” Gavin said.

Elle rocked back on her heels in surprise. “West bought your loft?”

“Yep. It’ll be a bachelor pad once again.” It was ridiculous how proud her brother sounded stating that fact.

“Humph.” Bernice donned a cat-ate-the-canary grin. “Not for long, if the scuttlebutt around town can be believed.”

“Says the purveyor of the town’s scuttlebutt,” Gavin teased.

Bernice shrugged. “It’s about time Kitty got out of her sister’s house and started living again.”

Gavin shuddered. “Yeah, especially since Claire Lovell was on the warpath this morning.”

The older woman’s ears perked up. “And you know this how?”

“I just came from the inn. Claire was having a hissy fit that Livi Turner flew the coop early.”

Hayden’s mom wasn’t the only one shocked by that news. Elle was caught off guard when she arrived at the inn for breakfast and learned that Livi and Jeremy had already checked out. Together, it would seem.

According to Elle’s mother, Jeremy offered her a ride back to New York on his private plane. Livi’s parents were arriving home that evening, and she was anxious to see them, her mom explained. As relieved as Elle was that Jeremy had left, she hated that she didn’t get the opportunity to warn Livi about him. She prayed the woman had enough sense not to join the mile-high club on their flight today.

Bernice tsked. “That woman hasn’t been right, since—well, since you know when.”

Gavin draped an arm around Elle. She leaned her head on his shoulder, grateful, as always, for his silent show of support. At least Claire Lovell was the only one who blamed Elle for the events of ten years ago. They stood that way for a peaceful minute until Tatum wheeled her pastry cart up next to them.

“Yum.” Gavin pulled away to check out the holiday treats on Tatum’s cart. “How do you always know to show up when I’m hungry?”

“It’s not that hard to figure out, Gavin. You’re always hungry,” Tatum quipped.

Elle laughed while Gavin plucked two snickerdoodle muffins from the cart.

“Keep laughing and I’m not going to share, sister o’ mine.” He handed the muffins to Elle then pulled out his credit card. “Bernice, what would you like?”

“To be twenty years younger.” She reached for a sugar cookie decorated as a reindeer.

“I ought to charge you a surcharge for what your mangy mutt did to my store the other day,” Tatum said, holding out her credit card reader for him to tap his card against. “Where is Midas the Menace anyway?”

“He’s been banished from town while the sculptors are working,” Bernice announced.

Gavin sighed. “Midas is still adjusting to no longer being an only child,” he said. “He’ll come around. Eventually.”

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