Page 94 of Mistletoe and Mischief

“With Grandma Carlucci’s marinara sauce?”

“Would I use anything else?” The recipe came from Kent’s maternal grandmother, who was Italian. Because the dish demanded a lot of time and effort she only served it on special occasions. It was one of Kent’s favorites, too. She’d actually made it for him, thinking...well, what she’d thought was irrelevant.

“Did your father tell you when he plans to come over?” she asked, trying to hide how anxious this news made her.

“He’s on his way now.”

“Okay,” she said, rubbing her palms together. “Why don’t you girls help me carry down the ornaments and we can have everything ready for when your dad gets here.”

“Can we bring Roscoe downstairs?” Bailey pleaded.

“Sure, but you’ll need to keep a careful eye on him. He’s still a bit weak.”

Roscoe was Beau’s—the Hardings’ puppy’s—brother, and the sickliest of the litter. Ted hadn’t held out much hope for his survival, but Beth had given the undernourished puppy plenty of love and attention, bottle-feeding him and carefully administering his medication. At three months he seemed to have turned the corner and she thought he’d survive.

“Can we bring Princess in the house, too?” Sophie asked.

“Of course.” Her dogs spent more time inside than out.

For the next few minutes Beth and her daughters carried down boxes from the storage area upstairs. Princess watched from her place by the sofa. Roscoe was in his bed with his chin resting on his paws, still too weak to move about much, although he seemed to enjoy the activity around him. “Did you and Dad ever have birds?” Bailey asked, standing near the canaries’ cage.

Beth unsuccessfully hid a smile.

“What’s so funny?”

“I did have a canary named Tweetie shortly after we were married, but we had to give her away.”

“But why? Dad loves animals, too!”

“Yes, I know, but both your father and I were gone during the day. We had to keep the apartment heated for Tweetie, and after the first heating bill, your father insisted I find her a wealthier owner.”

“Did you hate giving her up?”

“A little. She went to an aunt of mine, who had her for years.” She smiled again. “Your father promised me there’d be other birds when we could afford them.”

“But you never got another canary until you came to Cedar Cove.”

“And now you’ve got two.”

“So they could keep each other company,” Beth said. Kent had long ago forgotten his promise and, frankly, so had she. Then one day last year she saw the canaries in a feed store and impulsively purchased them.

They heard a car drive up to the house.

“Dad’s back,” Bailey said, looking out the living room window.

“Is... Did Danielle come with him?” Beth asked, trying to make the best of this.

Sophie joined her sister and glared out the window.

“Yup. Danielle’s with Dad,” Bailey said in a stark voice.

Beth didn’t know why she’d expected anything else.

6

“Is that Allison?” Rosie Cox called from the kitchen.

Zach glanced out the window and, sure enough, his daughter’s car had just pulled into the drive. “Yes,” he called back. She’d gone to pick up her boyfriend, Anson Butler, at the airport, since he’d be spending the holidays with them. Rosie had been cooking and decorating for days in preparation for Christmas. Zach had gotten roped into helping, not that he minded.

---