Page 15 of Tinsel & Timber
Graham follows, because of course he does—like he’s morally obligated to supervise any entry of strangers into a historic home.
I open the door and find a woman bundled in a tartan coat, red scarf, and the kind of enthusiastic smile only possessed by people who’ve already had too much caffeine or too much holiday spirit.
“Hi!” she chirps. “You must be Maura Kensington!”
“Mara,” I correct out of habit. “But yes. Can I?—?”
“I’m Juniper Hart!” she says, thrusting out a mittened hand. “Though everyone calls me Juni. I live two houses down. Welcome to Mistletoe Bay! And oh my gosh—” She peers over my shoulder. “Graham Whitlock is here. That’s convenient.”
“Define convenient,” Graham mutters behind me.
Juni beams at him like she’s immune to sarcasm. “Perfect timing! I was going to come by your office after this.”
I glance between them. “Is everything… okay?”
“Oh, absolutely!” She clasps her hands together. “I’m here because I run the Candlelight Historic Home Tour, and we wouldloveto include your house this year.”
My jaw drops. “This year? But… the tour is soon, right?”
“It’s already started!” she says cheerfully.
“Oh. Uhm. I…The house is far from ready to be a part of any home tour.”
That much should be obvious, but she is undeterred. She steamrolls right over it.
“And everyone is SO excited that one of the founding family homes is finally being restored! And by a Kensington descendant! You’re basically Mistletoe Bay royalty!”
I choke on my own spit. “I—what—no—what?”
Graham steps onto the porch beside me, voice firm. “Juni. The house isn’t remotely ready for public access. There are safety hazards. Exposed nails. Loose boards. Dusty and drafty.”
“Historic dust,” she says serenely. “Peoplelovethat.”
“No,” Graham counters. “They don’t.”
She waves him off. “Well, not consciously. But they love authenticity, and this house is dripping with it.”
“Hazards,” Graham repeats flatly.
“Authenticity,” Juni sings.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m flattered. Really. Truly. But I’m nowhere near ready.”
Juni’s smile softens like she expected that answer, but came armed with rebuttals.
“Totally understandable,” she says sympathetically. “Which is why I brought this!”
She reaches into her bag and pulls out?—
“Oh no,” Graham mutters.
—an enormous binder.
“‘Bring History Home!’” I read off the cover. “Is that… glitter?”
“Yes!” Juni says happily. “I mod-podged it myself.”
Graham groans under his breath.
