Page 53 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“It’s the wagon. Kade refuses to use it.” She wagged her head. “Didn’t I say he was trouble?”
That explained his foul look. “This doesn’t make sense. What’s wrong with the wagon? I just talked to Lucy last night. Kade even complimented her decorating.”
“Only, he just found out about the wagon this morning. He was still under the impression his parents were riding in the truck.”
She had to find Kade. Trusting Agnes for the full story was not a good idea.
Agnes’s mouth was set. Yet behind her irritation, Fallon sensed Agnes was withholding key information.
“What exactly did Elaine say when you told her you found a better replacement for the pickup truck?”
Agnes fluttered her eyes and looked away. “I don’t quite remember. There’s been so much to keep track—”
“Youdidgive her the details, right?”
“Yes, yes. I’m sure of it.”
“Yet for some reason, Kade isn’t thrilled with them riding in it. And we’re just finding out about this now.”
Agnes scoffed. “Well,Kadedoesn’t need to worry about it because he’s not in the parade.”
This was her fault, not Agnes’s. She shouldn’t have to let Agnes talk her out of using the truck in the first place.
“I have to find Kade. Maybe this is still salvageable.”
Agnes huffed. “Don’t count on it. He thrives on trouble.”
If she listened to Agnes cut down Kade for a second longer, her head would explode. Fallon left Agnes sputtering more excuses and went to find Kade, making a stop at the restrooms first.
A few minutes later, Fallon washed her hands and studied her reflection in the mirror. Worry lines creased her forehead. What would the Holly Days parade look like without Santa and Mrs. Claus? She’d be vilified if the townspeople found out. Her firm would be vilified. What would June say when she heard this project went up in flames all because Fallon didn’t follow up with a phone call about a buckboard wagon?
A conversation taking place in the bathroom caught her attention as she tossed her paper towel in the garbage.
“Well, I heard their sleigh was broken. That’s why they had to settle for the Clevelles’ wagon.”
“I almost died when I saw it. I mean, it’s beautifully decorated, but with the Clevelles’ farm name sign plastered on both sides? My goodness, no wonder Fred is having heart problems.”
The voices rose up from the stalls, unaware that Fallon had everything to do with the predicament.
“No wonder is right. I bet they’re sorry they brought in that woman from the Twin Cities to make over the festival.”
“Ruin the festival is more like it.”
Fallon braced herself against the sink and closed her eyes. How did word get out so fast and she was just now hearing about it? And why didn’t Kade come to her?
She took a deep breath. It was time to find some answers.
ChapterTwenty
That morning Kade dared to think his life was finally coming together like a neatly wrapped Christmas gift with flush corners and a handcrafted bow on top. He was retired yet he wasn’t even forty. His supportive, wonderful family lived within a mile of each other. Even his return to Hendricks wasn’t as wrought with drama as he expected. And then there was Fallon. To say he had high hopes after their near-kiss last night was an understatement.
Yeah, life looked like sunshine and apple pie until Jed Clevelle pulled up in front of the auction house a half hour ago in a buckboard wagon, ready to escort his parents in the parade.
He’d made a fool of himself in front of Jed, insisting there must be a mistake. Jed, in turn, said Agnes and Fallon made the arrangements last week. Elaine happened to be pulling into the parking lot to make a quick appearance at the tree auction just as his and Jed’s conversation was heating up.
Now Elaine pressed a hand against Kade’s chest, trying to calm him down.
“I didn’t know a thing about this,” Elaine said. “I’d talked to Fallon at the December First party about borrowing Chase Ford’s truck, remember? She said she’d take care of it.” His mother put a hand against her forehead. “Something’s not right.”
