Page 55 of Joy to Noel
“Shut that hum right up, Clara Jane,” I mutter.
When Davis and Liam approach us, Liam pulls my phone out of his pocket and hands it to me. “Here you go. It charged to eighty percent, at least.”
“Thank you,” I say, pocketing the phone.
“Liam here is gonna join us on our float trip,” Davis says, clapping Liam on the back.
“That’s great!” Clara exclaims. “From what Beau has said, you’re putting in long hours at the factory every day. You deserve to enjoy the fun side of Noel, too!”
“Speaking of the factory, was everything okay there?” I ask Liam.
He nods. “Yes, the generators were doing their thing. But since the power could be out for another day or so, Beau came in and we cut back part of the production line to conserve power, just in case. It will hurt our numbers for the month, but you can’t avert natural disasters.”
Our numbers. He claimed the plant so naturally, I wonder if he even realized he did it.
“We’ll come eat with you guys!” Clara says, giving me a serious side eye. “I just saw Clark walk in, so we can all take a break together and figure out what to do next.”
After filling plates, we head outside to Clark’s truck in the parking lot. Chase’s tail goes into hyperdrive mode as we approach, and he gives Liam a cheerful greeting when we climb into the truck bed. We spread out and sit along the edges, chatting as we eat. Liam freely shares an update about where they are in the approval process for the new production line—information everyone is eager to lap up.
“I was thinking that we should take some food over to Pops,” Clara says as we finish eating. “I know he said he was fine when we called this morning, but it wouldn’t hurt to go over and check on him.”
“Davis and I still need to pitch in to cut up and haul away a couple of the bigger trees that fell on the main road into town,” Clark says. “We could go after.”
“Clara and I can just drive over there,” I assert. “We are strong, independent women, after all.”
“I don’t know how well the road to Pops’ house has been cleared yet,” Clark counters. “Just wait a couple of hours and we’ll go over there.”
“I could drive them,” Liam offers. “I’ve heard about Pops but haven’t met him yet.”
Clark gives Liam an assessing look but agrees.
I could protest more about Clark’s overprotectiveness not letting us drive alone, but I know it’s just his nature. Plus, I’m a little giddy about the prospect of watching Liam meet Pops for the first time.
“Prepare to meet one of the greatest human beings on planet Earth,” I say from the back seat. Clara is sitting up front, giving Liam directions to Pops’ house.
“What’s so great about him?” Liam asks as we pull into the long driveway.
“He’s a straight shooter, in the most endearing way,” Clara replies.
I laugh. “I don’t think Pops ever had a filter to begin with, but add on the phenomenon of elderly people losing their filters, and you get the most unfiltered remarks ever.”
Liam smiles and puts the SUV in park. “Sounds like my kind of man.”
“If it weren’t for Pops, Clark and I may not even be married,” Clara says, a sentimental tone to her voice.
“Yeah, because that dummy McScrooge needed some sense knocked into him,” I add, hopping out of the car and closing the door.
“I get the sense there’s a long story there, and I hope you’ll tell me about it later,” Liam says. “But for now, we should probably try to get some of those tree limbs cleared away from the walkway and porch.”
I carry the bag of food, and Liam pulls a large limb off the sidewalk so we can make it up to the front door. Clara knocks on the door and calls, “Pops? It’s Clara and Madison! We brought you some food.”
“And a new friend to meet!” I add, smiling slyly at Clara.
A minute later, the door opens. Pops stands there leaning on his cane, smiling at Clara. “Well, now, Miss Clara, I told you I’d be just fine. You didn’t need to trouble yourself to come out here.”
Clara leans in to kiss Pops’ cheek. “You know it’s never any trouble to come out and see you.”
“Miss Madison, how are ya?” Pops asks. With his stooped stature, he’s pretty much at eye level with me.
