Page 107 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
Big dog with a big happy family. Who all seemed delighted to meet her.
“So I finally get to check out my son’s neighbor who brings him all those wonderful treats,” Mrs. Brightman said, taking Arianna’s hand in both of hers. “And Mia, Alden told me about you. I’ve been watching all the things you’ve done with your daughter on her YouTube channel. You are positively inspiring. Both of you.”
Inspiring. How much warmth that one word packed. “Thank you,” Arianna said, right along with her mother.
“Arianna does all the work. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“I can tell she’s a treasure,” Mrs. Brightman said. She turned to Sophie, who’d grown springs on her feet and was bouncing up and down in anticipation. “And this is Sophie.”
“I am,” Sophie said with an eager nod.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sophie. Do you like trampolines?”
“I don’t know,” Sophie said.
“Well, we have one set up around the side of the house. Would you like to try it?”
“Yes!” Sophie cried.
“Then, come with me and I’ll introduce you to some kids who will show you all kinds of tricks you can do,” Mrs. Brightman said. “I’ll look forward to getting to know you ladies better as the night goes on,” she said to Arianna and Mia, before taking Sophie’s hand and leading her off.
“By getting to know you she means telling you how wonderful I am and how much she wants grandchildren,” Alden joked. The minute the words were out of his mouth he looked like a man who had stepped into something he’d been avoiding.
“Don’t panic,” Arianna teased. “I’m not worried you’re about to propose.” Although, she had to admit, she didn’t hate the sound of it.
He retrieved Buster and they started toward the front door.
“And thank you for putting my ex in his place. That was positively heroic.”
He smiled. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Kind of like... Christmas in July.”
“Well, then, Merry Christmas early,” he said.
Yes, indeed.
The party was in full swing with kids racing back and forth across the lawn or jumping off the dock into the lake, vying with teenagers for a turn in the three-person tow tube behind an uncle’s ski boat. As Alden walked across the lawn, he saw Mia was ensconced in a lounge chair, visiting with his Aunt Jane. Sophie and one of his nieces and his two nephews were jumping on the trampoline. His sister, Autumn, had Arianna cornered by the dessert table and was probably grilling her like one of the bratwursts on Dad’s grill. He had just dug a wine cooler out of the ice chest and was about to go rescue her when his mom intercepted him.
“She’s a lovely girl,” Mom said.
“Yeah, she’s pretty awesome,” he agreed.
“Is this getting serious?”
“We’re just neighbors. We’re not even dating.”
His mother frowned at him. “You don’t bringjust neighborsto a family party. I hope you’ve at least kissed the girl.”
“Now you’re wanting a play-by-play on my sex life?”
“Don’t be smart. You need to stake a claim on her heart before someone else snaps her up.”
“She’s going through a lot. The timing’s not right. She doesn’t need some guy hitting on her while her mother is sick. She needs a friend.”
Mom picked up a wine cooler of her own. “You don’t know what she needs. Don’t you be letting those cold feet of yours keep you from moving forward. You could miss out on something really special.”
“If it’s meant to be, it’ll be,” he said.
