Page 37 of A Cozy Christmas Blizzard
At the car, Wynn took the suitcase from his father and stored it in the trunk. This gave K.O. an opportunity to study father and son. She glanced at Wynn and then back at his father. After the description Wynn had given her, she’d expected something quite different. Yes, Max Jeffries looked like an old hippie, as Wynn had said, but his hair was neatly trimmed and combed. He wore clean, pressed clothes and had impeccable manners. He was an older version of Wynn and just as respectable looking, she thought. Well, except for the hair.
“It was a surprise to hear you were coming for Christmas,” Wynn commented when he got into the car.
“I figured it would be,” his father said. “I didn’t mention it earlier because I was afraid you’d find a convenient excuse for me not to come.”
So Max Jeffries was direct and honest, too. A lot like his son. K.O. liked him even more.
They chatted on the ride into Seattle, and K.O. casually invited him for cocktails the following afternoon.
“I’d enjoy that,” Wynn’s father told her.
“Katherine wants to introduce you to her neighbor, LaVonne.”
“I see,” Max said with less enthusiasm and quickly changed the subject. “I understand your book is selling nicely.”
“Yes, I’m fortunate to have a lot of publisher support.”
“He’s writing a second book,” K.O. said, joining the conversation. It pleased her that Max seemed proud of his son.
“So, how long have you two been seeing each other?” Max asked, looking at K.O.
“Not long,” Wynn answered for them. His gaze caught K.O.’s in the rearview mirror. “We met through a psychic,” he said.
“We most certainly did not.” K.O. was about to argue when she realized Wynn was smiling. “We actually met through a mutual friend who believes she has psychic powers,” she explained, not telling Max that her neighbor and this “psychic” were one and the same.
As they exited off the freeway and headed into downtown Seattle and toward Blossom Street, Max said, “I had no idea Seattle was this beautiful.”
“Oh, just wait until nighttime,” K.O. told him. It was fast becoming dark, and city lights had begun to sparkle. “There’s lots to do at night. Wynn and I took a horse-drawn carriage ride last week and then on Friday night we went on a merry-go-round.”
“My first such experience,” Wynn said, a smile quivering at the edges of his mouth.
“Your mother and I never took you?” Max sounded incredulous.
“Never.”
“I know I had some failings as a father,” Max said despondently.
“Not getting to ride on a merry-go-round isn’t exactly a big deal, Dad. Don’t worry about it,” Wynn muttered.
That seemed to ease his father’s mind. “So what’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” he asked brightly.
Wynn cast K.O. a look as if to say he’d told her so.
“I can take you on a tour of Pike Place Market,” K.O. offered.
“That would be great.” Max thanked her with a warm smile. “I was hoping to get a chance to go up the Space Needle while I’m here, too.”
“We can do that on Tuesday.”
Max nodded. “Do you have any free time, Wynn?” he asked.
“Some,” Wynn admitted with obvious reluctance. “But not much. In addition to my appointments and writing schedule, I’m still doing promotion for my current book.”
“Of course,” Max murmured.
K.O. detected a note of sadness in his voice and wanted to reassure him. Unfortunately she didn’t know how.
Eleven
