Page 42 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“I’d like to go too,” said Elaine, glancing at Kade. “But I would feel better with you driving.”
It was settled. He had a little shopping to do in the city while his parents met with Pops’s doctor in three days.
Kade breathed with relief as they left the hospital and made their way across the parking lot to the truck. Getting Pops through the week ahead with minimum fuss would task them all. But the festival loomed and Kade had more on his mind than just his father’s health. A formal event with a certain someone came in as a close second.
ChapterFifteen
Fallon flipped on her signal to turn into Macy’s parking lot late Tuesday morning. She’d made an impromptu and clandestine trip back to Hendricks the night before, slipping into town as the sun set behind her. Making a reservation at the Flint Hills Motel before she left the Twin Cities this time, Fallon assured herself of a place to stay in case a snowstorm took her by surprise again.
The hours of extra driving afforded Fallon more time to reflect on Kade. She’d stopped beating herself up for asking him to go to the sponsors’ dinner with her. It didn’t mean anything more than a night out among people who worked behind the scenes to make the festival happen. Agnes had noted a fair number of people who sponsored the trees to benefit the year’s designated charitable cause would be there too. If Kade read more into it than that, well, that was his problem.
She’d met the people with the wagon at their farm earlier that morning after they’d invited her to breakfast. It was all she could do not to decline, but then she realized she had nothing to wear for the sponsors’ dinner in three days. Hence, her stop at Macy’s in Duluth on her way back home from Hendricks.
The interview had gone well. The buckboard wagon Jed Clevelle owned was charmingly rustic and would look perfect draped in fir swags and red ribbon. She could picture Fred and Elaine in their Santa and Mrs. Claus costumes sitting in the back. Taking the Clevelles up on their offer to drive the wagon was a no-brainer too; Fallon was sure they felt more comfortable commanding their own team of horses than fielding suggestions from Fallon on who might take their place. To top the morning off, Marianne Clevelle had prepared the most wonderful breakfast. Fallon wouldn’t be surprised if she and Elaine Behar traded recipes.
The only strange part of the morning, now that she thought about it, was the surprised look on Jed’s face when she told him he’d be pulling the Behars. She thought Agnes said she’d ironed out the details with the Clevelles, including who would be riding in back. Jed had reacted as if he’d been asked to chauffeur the President and First Lady themselves.
The ringtone of her phone chirped at her. June’s name showed on her console. Fallon pressed the connect button.
“You’re catching me in my car again. You probably think I spend all my time driving when I’m not at the office.”
“I trust you’re not driving through a snowstorm this time?” joked June.
“Bright and sunny as we speak.”
“Good,” said June. “Sooo, flowers arrived for you this morning.”
This was news. She never got flowers. “From whom?”
“Your Behar friend.”
“Elaine is such a sweetheart. The festival hasn’t even happened yet.”
“Uh, not Elaine,” June said. “These would be from Kade.”
She gritted her teeth. “Really?” she said after a pause.
“Yes, really. ‘Looking forward to Friday night’ says the card.” The note of humor in her tone was obvious.
“Youreadthe card? June!”
“It wasn’t sealed. The flap was just tucked into the envelope.”
“Still! That doesn’t give you the right to—”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just…my kids tell me nothing.”
“It’s no wonder.”
Fallon didn’t really mind. It wasn’t like June lived in Hendricks, where she might do some damage with her loose lips.
“Is he your date for the sponsors’ dinner?”
“Yes. Listen, June. I know you and Agnes are friends, but please don’t say anything to her about this. She’s warned me about him, so I don’t feel like hearing any more on the subject from her. She’ll see us together Friday night anyway.”
“I wouldnotdo that, hon. She’s always been sour grapes about him anyway.”
“And why is that?”
