Page 48 of If You Give a Grump a Christmas Tree Farm
“You’d be helping me make twenty-two more wreaths for the town.” She grimaces while waiting for the reply.
“You got the job? That’s fantastic.”
“It is, but there’s no way we can finish them in the time they gave us.”
“What about your business partner?”
Rebecca’s eyes shift to me. “He’s awesome help, but he doesn’t have a woman’s touch, and I want the wreaths to look good.”
“Hey,” I say. “You said they looked okay.”
“They do, JJ.”
“Is he standing right there?” Amanda asks.
“Yep,” Rebecca replies.
“So, he tried to help?”
“He did, and they were great. I was teasing him. But he’s not real fast.”
“Fine. I’ll help,” she huffs out.
“Yes, thank you, thank you.”
“But I want to keep one for my house.”
“Okay, twenty-three wreaths, it is. Can you come early?”
“Only if you make me some of your famous muffins.”
“It’s a deal. I’ll have muffins and coffee waiting. Thanks, Amanda.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Rebecca disconnects, and the moment she does, her phone chimes with a text.
I don’t like the frown that forms on her face, or the way her jaw tenses when she reads it.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Your mother. She wants me to meet her and your father on Monday for lunch. Says she needs to talk to me about something urgent.”
“Meet them where?”
“Santa’s Kitchen.”
“I’m coming with you,” I say, pulling the door open.
“I don’t know… They don’t mention you.”
“I don’t care. I know how they can be, and I’m not going to let them pressure you into some decision or other that you don’t want to do.”
“You don’t know that’s what they’re planning. Besides, you can’t stand them. You really want to sit through lunch?”
“It’s the last thing I want to do, babe, but if it keeps them from bullying you, I’ll gladly sit through whatever I have to in order to protect you.”
Her eyes soften, and I’m shocked by how good that makes me feel.
