Page 31 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“Fair enough,” said Pops as he backed away from mother and baby. “Seems like a nice person, that Fallon.”
He nodded, wondering again how Fallon liked the inn. Surely, she wasn’t getting better hospitality there than his mother doled out while Fallon stayed at the house.
“Good, solid head on her shoulders too,” added Pops.
“Seems like it.”
“Too bad she didn’t stick around here longer. You know your mother would have been delighted.”
“I think the party scared her off.”
“Not one for big gatherings?”
Kade shook his head. “Not one forholidaygatherings it seems.”
The other alpacas in the pen continued trying to nose their way into the circle to welcome the new baby. As soon as he and Pops left the stall, they could visit all they wanted.
“There’s no shortage of parties around here this time of year. Too bad.”
Kade opened the stall gate and let his father go through first. “What’s too bad?”
“A woman like that will help you settle down in no time,” said Pops with a casual air.
The gate slipped from his grasp and closed behind him with a loudclank.
Kade couldn’t have come up with a more resounding end to the conversation than that.
ChapterEleven
Fallon found a table in the far corner at Two Tree Coffee, an eclectic little cafe in downtown Hendricks, on Wednesday afternoon. As soon as she settled into the plush green sofa, Fallon texted her boss to ask for a video call if June was available.
You sound desperate, June texted back right away.
You have no idea, Fallon responded, opening her laptop. Within seconds, June’s request to conference popped up as a message on her screen.
“I have to get out of here,” she said as soon as June’s face appeared on her screen. Fallon looked up, hoping she didn’t say that too loud and attract unwanted attention.
June gave her a sympathetic nod. “I’m sure you’re chomping at the bit. What’s the news on your car? Wait, is that a boat hanging from the ceiling?”
Fallon looked up and behind her. Sure enough, a green skiff overflowing with ferns hung from the ceiling suspended by cables.
“It is. See, I’m so preoccupied with my situation, I don’t notice when large watercraft are inches from my head.”
“So, your car?”
She sighed. “Yes. I’ve been calling every day since Saturday for a status report. I figured I’d give them a break today. I’m sure they’d like to be done with me as much as I’d like to leave Hendricks.”
“Or they’ve put you at the bottom of the list since you’re not local.”
Fallon swallowed. “I can’t even think about that possibility.”
“How is planning going?”
Fallon patted the binder with her media plan for the festival. “I’m wrapping things up this week. I thought I’d never have to set foot in Hendricks again once I leave, but Agnes just presented me with tickets to the sponsors’ dinner that Friday night.”
“What if I send you out of town for a job? Then you’ll have an excuse,” said June.
She opened her email’s inbox in another tab. “I’ve already told her I’d come. Unless there’s another snowstorm.”
