Page 47 of One Hundred Humbugs

“It’s a memory jar,” Becket explained, his voice soft and a touch nervous. “I wrote down all the moments we’ve shared here in Aspen Cove. And the basket ... well, I thought you might like a taste of the town to take with you. Or ... to enjoy here. If you want.”

Tears pricked at Ruby’s eyes as she lifted the jar, seeing glimpses of Becket’s handwriting on the folded papers inside. She opened one at random, reading aloud, “The way you laughed when Houdini stole your scarf.”

The memory flooded back, vivid and warm. It had been a crisp afternoon, not long after she’d arrived in Aspen Cove. Becket had been showing her how to feed the goats,and she’d been so focused on not dropping the feed bucket that she hadn’t noticed Houdini sneaking up behind her. The goat had snagged her scarf right off her neck, prancing away with his prize. She’d been startled at first, but Becket’s laughter had been infectious, and soon they were both doubled over, watching Houdini parade around the garage with the scarf trailing behind him like a royal train.

Ruby looked up at Becket, her heart full. “This is perfect, Becket. Thank you.”

She reached into the jar again, pulling out another slip of paper. “The look on your face when you tasted Maisey’s apple pie for the first time.”

Another memory washed over her. They’d stopped at the diner after a long day of sorting through Uncle Peter’s belongings. Ruby had been feeling overwhelmed and homesick, but one bite of that pie had transported her. The rich spices, the perfect balance of tart and sweet—it had felt like home in a way she couldn’t explain. She remembered looking up to find Becket was watching her, a look in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat.

“I can’t believe you remembered all these moments,” Ruby said, her voice thick with emotion.

Becket moved closer, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. “I remember everything about our time together, Ruby. Every smile, every laugh ... every moment I’ve fallen a little more in love with you.”

Ruby’s breath caught in her throat. Hearing him say it so openly still felt like a milestone, even though they had both hinted at it before. Now, the word “love” hung between them, full of promise and possibility.

She turned to the basket next, exploring its contents. There was a jar of local honey, a package of Katie’s famous brownies, a bag of coffee from the Corner Store, andvarious other treats that represented the flavors of Aspen Cove. Each item sparked another memory—lazy mornings sharing coffee, and late-night snacks as they pored over Uncle Peter’s papers.

“Becket, this is...” Ruby trailed off, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of the gift and the emotions it stirred.

“Too much?” Becket asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

Ruby shook her head emphatically. “No, it’s perfect. It’s just ... last night, when we were together, it was like...”

“Like what?” Becket prompted when she hesitated.

Ruby took a deep breath. “Like you were saying goodbye. Like it might be the last time. And now this gift... Are you planning on leaving, Becket?”

Becket’s eyes widened in surprise. “Leaving? Ruby, no. I thought ... I thought you might be the one leaving. Going back to Chicago. That’s why I wanted you to have these memories, these tastes of Aspen Cove. So, you’d have a piece of this place—a piece of us—wherever you went.”

Relief flooded through Ruby, followed by a wave of affection for this man who had so thoroughly captured her heart. “Oh, Becket,” she said, reaching out to cup his cheek. “I don’t want to leave. I don’t think I could, even if I tried. This place, these people ... you. It all feels like home now.”

Becket leaned into her touch, his eyes shining with emotion. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”

They stayed like that, savoring the newfound certainty between them. Then Ruby remembered her own gift. “Oh! You still need to open yours.”

She reached for the neatly wrapped package under the tree, nerves fluttering as she wondered how her gift would compare to Becket’s thoughtful offering. “It’s not as elaborate as yours, but I hope you’ll like it.”

Becket took the package, unwrapping it to reveal aleather-bound notebook. He opened it, his eyebrows rising in surprise as he flipped through the pages.

“It’s a business plan,” Ruby explained. “For expanding our little yard-based goat farm. I’ve been doing some research, and I think there’s real potential here—artisanal goat cheese, soap made from goat milk, even goat yoga classes. I know it might seem presumptuous, but I thought ... well, I thought maybe we could build something together. Here in Aspen Cove.”

Becket looked up from the notebook, his eyes shining. “Ruby, this is ... it’s incredible. You’ve put so much thought into this. But are you sure? This would mean staying here, changing your whole life.”

Ruby nodded, feeling more certain than she had about anything in a long time. “I’m sure. Last night, being with you ... it felt right, Becket. Like everything in my life had been leading me here, to you, to this place. I want to see where this can go. I want to build a life here, with you.”

Becket set the notebook aside, then pulled Ruby into his arms. “I love you,” he said. “I think I’ve loved you since the day you let me and the goats camp in your yard ... or maybe it was when you brought me those old crackers and rancid peanut butter for a meal.”

Ruby laughed, wrapping her arms around him. “I love you too. Even if you do smell like goats most of the time.”

They stayed in each other’s arms for a long moment, the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree casting a warm glow over them. Eventually, Becket pulled back. “Speaking of goats, it’s a good idea to check on Daisy and the kids. Make sure they’re not feeling neglected on their first Christmas.”

Ruby nodded, smiling. “Lead the way, Goat Whisperer.”

Hand in hand, they strolled to the garage. The air wascrisp and cold, their breath forming small clouds in the fading light. Inside, warmth greeted them, along with the gentle rustling and soft bleats.

Daisy was curled up in her corner, her two kids nestled against her side. Houdini and Sir Chomps-a-Lot were huddled together nearby, looking for all the world like they were plotting their next coup.

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