Page 26 of Fa-La-La-La Faking It
“Um, no.” Jace scrubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t want Adaline’s friends to get the wrong idea...even though it sort of seemed they’d already taken that leap all on their own. Could a guy not gift a woman a Christmas tree without people jumping to all sorts of conclusions?
“I guess I just thought she’d be here,” he said, digging himself even deeper.
Ginger and Peaches swarmed his legs, no doubt picking up on his anxiety. Therapy dogs really were incredible that way.
“We’re tag teaming the cocoa stand since it’s going to be here for two full weeks. Adaline made a spreadsheet,” Jenna said.
“It’s us tonight. Adaline and Maple will be here tomorrow.” Belle peeled another sticker off the spool in her hands and stuck it onto a cup. “In case you were wondering or anything.”
“Got it. Good luck with the cocoa cart tonight. Let me know if you two need anything.” Jace said as he descended the steps of the gazebo. He felt a tug of disappointment with each footfall, and the feeling was every bit as palpable as it was nonsensical.
This was good, he tried to tell himself. Probably for the best. Tonight he could fully concentrate on his work instead of being distracted by the sound of Adaline’s laughter while he wound twine around pines for customers or refilled the large plastic tree stands. Something about the bell-like sound of it was soothing, as was the way the twinkle lights that crisscrossed the town square made the golden waves of her hair look like a luminous halo.
The lot seemed unusually quiet without the echo of that laugh among his trees. When light, feathery snow flurries began to fall, Jace immediately searched out Adaline, forgetting he wouldn’t find her in the gazebo. Belle returned his smile, but something in her big brown eyes told him she knew exactly who he’d been hoping to find grinning back at him instead.
Jace put his head down and returned to the task at hand. Business was steady and consistent, just as it had been the night before. The only difference was that it didn’t seem as fun. Then, only an hour or so before closing, someone tapped him on the shoulder as he was handling a seven-foot spruce tree.
“Jace?”
He wrapped a hand around the tree’s thick trunk and turned to find Jenna standing behind him with Ginger tucked into the crook of her elbow. The dog cocked her head and panted, pink tongue just visible in her little mouth.
“Sorry to interrupt, but there’s someone here to see you. She’s up at the gazebo.” Jenna hitched a thumb over her shoulder. “Do you want to come up, or should I send her down here?”
He propped the spruce against the orange temporary fencing he’d set up to separate the rows of trees and then tugged his gloves off. “I’ll come up. Thanks for letting me know.”
She hadn’t specifically said the visitor was Adaline, but a wave of disappointment washed over him all the same when he spotted a stranger waiting for him instead of Adaline’s heart-shaped face framed by buttery blond bangs.
“I’m Jace Martin. I’m the owner of Texas Tidings.” He shook the unfamiliar woman’s hand. She wore leather gloves, a wool dress coat and tall suede boots with pointy, stiletto-style heels. Her hair was pulled back into a low bun. Whoever she was, she stuck out like a sore thumb in a small town like Bluebonnet. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, Mr. Martin. It’s so good to finally meet you. You’re a tough man to track down. I stopped by your farm a few days ago and left an envelope in your mailbox. I swung by again yesterday because I hadn’t heard from you and my letter was still there, untouched.” She cast an approving glance around the Christmas tree lot. “This is so charming. I’m glad I got a chance to see your sales plan in action.”
“Thank you.” Jace still had no idea who this woman was or why she’d made the five-hour drive from his farm all the way to Bluebonnet. “I’m sorry, but who did you say you’re with again?”
“My apologies. I didn’t.” She reached into her massive handbag and fished out a business card. “I’m Maureen O’Connor.”
Jace ran a thumb over the raised lettering on the crisp white card.Maureen O’Connor, Senior Vice President. Briarwood Properties.
He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“I work for a company that searches out properties with unique aesthetics and transforms them into in-demand tourist destinations. Texas Tidings Christmas Tree Farm is quite the hidden treasure. You should be proud of what you’ve built there, Mr. Martin. Everyone at Briarwood is very impressed.”
“I’m still not following,” Jace said.
He didn’t have time for whatever this was. Across the lot, a couple with two small children looked as if they’d chosen a tree and were waiting for him to accept payment and help them to the car with their purchase. During the few minutes he’d already spent on this unplanned interruption, the man had checked his watch twice. If Jace didn’t get over there pronto, he was going to lose the sale.
“Then I’ll cut straight to the chase. Merry Christmas, Mr. Martin.” Maureen O’Connor offered him a tight smile as she hiked her designer bag higher up on her shoulder. “Briarwood Properties would like to buy your farm.”
Chapter Nine
Fuzzy’s red Comfort Paws vest was strapped in place, as were his reindeer antlers when Adaline led him into the lobby of the senior center the following morning.
The vest was a sign to staff, patients and visitors that Fuzzy was a trained therapy dog, but the gear also let Fuzzy know when it was time to work. Adaline hadn’t needed to train her puppy to associate the vest with visiting patients. He’d made the association all on his own, just like he knew it was time for a walk every time she grabbed his leash. Dogs were so great at reading body language and social cues. Adaline envied them, honestly. Such things had never been her strong suit.
“Are you ready, Fuzzy?” she asked her pup in the upbeat, singsong voice she’d practiced at training class. “Let’s go visit.”
Fuzzy walked politely by her side as she guided him toward the sitting area where a group of seniors were hanging ornaments from the boughs of an imposing fir tree, aglow with twinkling lights. The tree was new. It hadn’t been here yesterday morning when Adaline had visited Gram. When she dropped to one knee and picked up Fuzzy so an older man wearing red suspenders could easily pet him from his wheelchair, she spied a discreet red sign propped on one of the lower branches.
Graciously donated by Texas Tidings Christmas Tree Farm.
