Page 50 of The Snuggle is Real
“All’s well that ends well, I guess?” I said. “But I thought we were going to talk about Elias’s happy ending with Roman.”
Elias groaned. “I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.”
Taylor laughed. “No such luck. It’s your turn in the hot seat.”
With Christmas season in full swing, it had been too long since we all got together. But relaxing with Elias and Taylor reminded me that I wasn’t really alone in this little town.
Sure, everywhere I turned there was a happy couple or a cute little family in matching mittens. But there were also those of us who lived here year-round, who kept this town, this festival, this community running.
Whether it was taking care of stray pets or dealing with city management or helping folks stay warm, we all had our roles to play. And they were all part of what made Christmas Falls a place worth being.
Even if it got a little lonely in my drafty house on cold winter nights.
CHAPTER 14
Ford
Dottie moved alongside me,her cane clomping in the snow, and I kept a hand hovering just over her shoulder.
She wouldn’t tolerate me actuallyhelpingher across the park. Charlie clung to my left hand, oblivious to everything but Santa.
The line for photos twisted like a snake, angling around the edge of Sugar Plum Park and all the way to the towering wooden gnome that marked its entrance, a gift to the city from local artisan Murphy Clark.
“Oh goodness,” Dottie said. “I sure am glad I don’t have to wait in that line.”
Over the heads of restless children and frazzled parents, I could just make out the little table where Mason had set up the Holiday Hope Foundation toy drive.
Dottie had volunteered to help, despite hating the cold.
“You couldn’t have set up in the crafts fair?” she grumbled as she made her way around the table.
Mason pulled out a chair and made the terrible mistake of trying to help her sit. She smacked his hand away. “I’m fine. I’m a grown woman!”
“Sorry!” His blush made his freckles stand out. “This snow can be slippery. That’s all. Right, Ford?”
I smirked. “Yep. You can’t be too careful.”
Dottie flapped her hand. “Then go help Ford get in line.”
Mason hesitated a beat, but he was committed to his story now. “Uh, okay.”
“Just hurry,” Charlie urged. “There’s more people headed that way.”
“You run ahead,” Dottie said. “The boys will catch up.”
Charlie took off like a shot, and I groaned. “I am not looking forward to freezing my balls off for hours.”
Mason fell into step with me as we crossed the frosted grass. “It’s a busy event.”
“Hopefully you’re getting a lot of donations out of it.”
“More requests for help, honestly. It’s a tough year for a lot of folks.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that. Can the foundation help everyone who needs it?”
He paused a beat. “Not everyone, no. We have finite resources, but we’ve expanded a lot from last year. We’re helping more people.”
I glanced over the crowd. It was a mixed bag, some folks dressed in nice warm wool coats and others in jackets that had seen better days.
