Page 45 of Holiday Hook Up

Chapter 10

“Thankyou for meeting me here.” Bethany opened the Christmas Corner’s front door. She’d returned Abby’s demand yesterday that she drop everything and meet her with an urgent one of her own.

There was no denying it. She was spooked.

Was Mary Reed the MR in MR Wedding? If so, how was it even possible that she was sending all the boxes that now filled the back office? Did ghosts have their own FedEx account?

“So what’s going on?” Abby pulled off her green mittens and then her matching hat, letting her red hair flow past her shoulders. “Need me to cast a spell for more ornaments?” She raised her hand and wiggled her fingers in front of the tree.

“Aren’t you only able to pull off spells that involve Brandon?”

“Don’t believe anything you hear from Josh. He’s just jealous.” She put her hands on her hips. “So, what’s up?”

“I’m not sure where to begin.” Bethany motioned for Abby to follow her into the back where she’d carried in yesterday’s shipment. They weren’t heavy, considering they were full of garter belts. Hundreds of white, gold, and silver ones.

She took a deep breath. “So, for the last week I’ve been receiving mysterious packages. My parents have no idea who is sending them.”

“What’s in them?” Abby asked, eyeing the shipment.

“Beads, tiaras, heels, lingerie, and yesterday . . .” She paused and reached down for a silver garter, twirling it with her finger. “These came in.”

“And you think I know who they’re from?”

“Yes. I mean, maybe.” She pulled one of the flaps back. “My name is on all the boxes, but look at the return label. MR Wedding.”

“MR Wedding? Hmm . . . Doesn’t sound familiar.” Abby tapped her finger to her chin. “I haven’t booked a catering gig with them if that’s what you’re asking.”

“No, but you’ve met MR—whose full name is . . .” She paused, feeling the hair on her arms stand at attention for the big reveal. “Mary Reed.”

Abby’s eyes immediately widened. “Oh, my God. You think Mary’s been sending these?” She walked in between the boxes, her high black boot heels clicking on the wooden floor.

“I have no idea.”

“So these all came this week?”

“Yes.”

“Before or after you opened the hope chest?” She pulled out a handful of beads and held them up in the air.

“Before.”

“Interesting.”

“And spooky.”

Abby set the beads down, examined each box for a few minutes, and finally waved her hand. “You have nothing to be scared about. If it’s even her, I’m sure there’s a good reason why she’s sending these to you. We just need to figure it out. Besides, Mary is practically family, and she’s Adam and Tom’s distant cousin. She’s not doing anything malicious.”

“But why me? I’m not in either of your families.”

“Yet.”

“I told you Adam and I are just friends.”

Abby came up beside her, squeezed her shoulder, and pointed to the calendar hanging on the wall above Bethany’s desk. “It’s so wonderful to see how supportive you are of his modeling debut.”

Crap.Bethany glanced at the calendar. “I like cats.”

“So how long has Mr. July been up there?”

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