Page 70 of The Holiday Fakers
“Okay, let’s get this race started!”
He blasts a bullhorn, the bunting across the start line drops, and the runners take off.
“Go, Cody!” Mia screams at her brother.
It might be a fun run, but the folks at the front are clearly in it to win it.
As the pack rounds the end of Main Street, John steps down from the stage, shaking hands and hugging people. His love for this town is unmistakable, and it’s clear the residents love him right back.
“Has anyone stood against him for mayor since I’ve been away?” I ask Piper.
“Nope,” she replies. “But you know him, he never rests on his laurels. He’s always pushing for bigger and better.”
I nod, then let myself be drawn into a bear hug by the man himself.
“You survived a trip to The Perfect Package, then?” he asks with a smile.
I raise my eyebrows. “It was educational.”
John laughs and pats my shoulder. “Every day’s a school day.”
“Grandpa!” squeals a little voice. Martha comes toward us through the crowd, perched on Ethan’s shoulders, Hudson by their side.
“Hey there, pumpkin! How’s my favorite grandchild?”
Martha attempts an eye roll, but it makes her go cross-eyed. “I’m youronlygrandkid, Grandpa.”
“And still the best,” he replies.
All three are wearing Santa hats, and Martha’s has her name crocheted in red across the white brim.
“How’s it going?” Ethan asks. His tone is friendly, but I catch the guarded look in his eyes. And the way he notices me holding Piper’s hand.
“Good,” I reply. “I was given the honor of revealing today’s date on the Christmas Calendar this morning.”
“Where was it?”
“Um …” I lower my voice. “The Perfect Package.”
Hudson starts laughing.
“I know that place,” Martha says. “Grandma has an orn’ment for the tree she got there. It’s a clitsuss.”
Ethan briefly closes his eyes and lets out a heavy sigh as we all laugh.
“What’s funny?” Martha asks.
“Your daddy,” John replies. “You can’t see him, because you’re up there, but he pulls the silliest faces.”
“Especially when he’s mad,” Hudson murmurs, then grins at me. “What’s it like in there? Cauldron? Broom? I’ve heard she’s got cats.”
“You, out of all people, should pay that place a visit,” Mia says archly as she joins us. “You might learn a thing or two.”
“I don’t need to learn anything,” Hudson says, swaggering.
“You think you’re a master?” Mia taunts him, a sly smile on her lips.
“Yeah? And?”
