Page 18 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
“I don’t know what I’d have done without Mom. Although I kind of feel like a mooch,” Arianna admitted.
“You’re not mooching, you’re regrouping. And besides, your mom loves it, and it’s great for Sophie. Anyway, we all have to hit restart once in a while,” Molly said.
“It’s been harder to hit than I thought it would be,” Arianna confessed. “I’m still so mad at Wyatt. I honestly think I hate him for what he’s done. And yet, sometimes I wish I could go back to what we had. It felt so...secure. Even though it wasn’t,” she hurried to add.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t depend on others for security,” Molly said. “You have to stake your own tent.”
“That’s profound,” Sunny said in awe.
Molly chuckled. “Yeah, that’s me. Profound.”
“Someone has to be,” Sunny said. “Heaven knows, I need all the help I can get.”
“Oh, I’m very good at managing other people’s lives,” Molly joked.
“Speaking of managing,” said Arianna. “What day do we want to do our Christmas-in-January party?”
Sunny brought out her phone and checked the calendar. “The twenty-fifth is on a weekday and that might be a pain getting over to the skating rink. How about we do it the Saturday before?”
“I can do that,” said Arianna. She looked to Molly, who shrugged and nodded.
They worked out the details, and then Sunny announced that she needed to get going. “But first,” she said, digging in her purse, “I have something for you, Molly.” She produced a bobblehead Santa. “For you to take to work. I figure he’ll help you keep your Christmas spirit this year, and he might even inspire some of your customers.”
Molly chuckled. “Thanks. Maybe he’ll serve as a reminder that Santa’s watching them.”
“Here’s to Santa, then,” Sunny said. She held up her mug and finished her coffee.
“And to keeping Christmas all year long,” Arianna added. What did they have to lose?
The first Saturday of the New Year found Arianna on the porch, hanging the Christmas lights she’d gotten—on sale, 50 percent off, thank you!—her daughter “helping” by holding the tail of the string while Arianna worked.
Both of them were wearing their new bling. She’d found a cute necklace for Sophie with a unicorn pendant and a pretty ring for herself. The stone wasn’t a real ruby but it sure looked like it, and the price had been right. She was wearing it on her right hand, and every time she looked at it, sparkling there, it made her smile.Somebody loves you: you!
She’d finished with the railing and was about to climb the stepladder and start on the roofline when she caught sight of her neighbor, who had let his dog out. She immediately lost her helper, who ran next door to greet the dog.
“Happy New Year,” she called, and waved. Like a good neighbor.
He gave her a wave and called back, “Happy New Year to you, too.” He cocked his head. “It looks like you’re...putting those up?”
“I am,” she said with a lift of her chin. “I’m having a holiday redo—Christmas in January.”
He nodded. Slowly, politely. The way you would to someone whose mental health was of grave concern.
“It wasn’t the best Christmas ever. Or the best year, so I’m starting the new one off on a positive note,” she explained.
“Interesting,” he said.
Interesting. That was the polite word forweird. Was this whole idea silly?
No, she told herself. Lots of people left their lights up all year long. And she was not only redoing this year’s Christmas. She was also getting a jump start on next year’s.
He motioned to the string of lights in her hand. “Need some help?”
“No.” That sounded abrupt and ungrateful. Shades of Christmas Day. “Sophie’s helping me, but thanks for asking. I’m sure you’ve got things to do.”
He shrugged. “I’m about to head over to my folks to help take down the tree and the lights and watch the game.”
He wore jeans and boots and a jacket that showed off those beautifully broad shoulders. Stringing lights together sounded so idyllic, like something you did when you had a Hallmark-happy relationship. Except Wyatt had convinced her that there was no such thing.
