Page 98 of Once Upon a Holidate
“Okay. I think he understands the gravity of what he did. As soon as school’s out, he’s going to get started on the deck.”
“He’ll be a busy guy,” Carol said. “He’s been in touch with me about helping at the animal preserve.”
“Make sure he does the grunt work,” Wynn said. “It’s not supposed to be fun.”
“He’ll be cleaning out the barns every morning for a week,” Carol told her. “And on weekends until he gets his hours in.” She smiled. “It’s a lot of poop to deal with. I doubt he’ll think it’s fun.”
Everyone laughed and headed for their seats. Joylyn found herself sitting between Renee and Natalie.
“In the end, Hunter did the right thing,” Pallas said. “That has to make you happy.”
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Wynn admitted. “We’ll see what happens over the holiday break.”
“Do you think he’s going to apply to JROTC again?” Bethany asked.
“I hope so, but that’s up to him.”
Joylyn thought Wynn had handled the situation with her son really well. She wasn’t sure she could have gotten over being mad to act so responsibly. She rested her hand on her belly as she reminded herself that in a few short weeks, she was going to be a parent. At least she wouldn’t be alone—Chandler would be with her. They would figure it out together.
Conversation shifted to what was going on in each of their lives. Bethany was still wondering what her parents were going to do over Christmas.
“Like Wynn, I’m cautiously optimistic,” she said with a laugh. “I think we have a good chance of getting through Christmas without the royal family descending.”
“When does the king’s private jet arrive to whisk you all to El Bahar for New Year’s?” Silver asked, her voice teasing.
“On the twenty-seventh.” Bethany sighed. “When she gets older, my daughter is going to have a very rude adjustment to normal life.”
“You mean like flying commercial?” Carol laughed.
“That among other things. Of course if there’s ever a discussion about what everyone’s grandparents do, she’s going to have a really interesting story.”
“The other kids won’t believe her,” Renee said.
Joylyn listened a lot more than she spoke. She was content to let the words wash over her. She didn’t know the details of each life they discussed, but that was fine. Some situations were universal.
She missed this, she thought. Having good friends she could count on. For the hundredth time, she told herself she should have stayed on base where she had support. But this time, instead of feeling sorry for herself, she vowed that she would learn from her mistake and do better next time. She would make sure she had friends she could count on, not ones who showed up drunk and mocked her for not partying when she was nine months pregnant. In return, she saw she had to be a better friend.
A good life lesson, she told herself. One she would hang on to.
***
“You sure that’s not too heavy?” Garrick asked, as Wynn helped him carry the first of five large folding tables through the house.
Wynn, gorgeous as always, in jeans and a T-shirt, her holiday pinecone charm glinting against her chest, rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. I doubt the table weighs fifteen pounds.”
“I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“I’m not infirmed.”
“Still.”
They reached the patio area by the pool and set down the folding table. He immediately pulled her close and kissed her.
“I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you,” he told her.
“I appreciate the concern but again, not fragile.”
“I agree, but you are special.”
