Page 64 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
Bart winked at him and looked pointedly at Fallon. “Don’t blame you. Hey there, Fallon.”
Elaine had her hand on Bart’s shoulder, steering him back to the dining room. Leave it to his mother to guard his and Fallon’s privacy even better than he did. Their voices drifted into the study as Elaine led Bart away.
“We’re so glad you made it for at least part of the night,” Elaine said.
“Are you kidding? We can’t pass up an invite to a Behar Christmas,” Bart bellowed.
Fallon nudged him. “What’s Sara doing here?” she whispered.
In the other room, Sara helped her daughter out of the puffy coat and pulled a musical toy from the diaper bag to give Lillianne.
“Bart and Teresa asked her to celebrate with them today. I don’t think her family’s close by. So Bart must have asked if she wanted to tag along for dessert too.”
There was that wistful smile again. Fallon shifted on the love seat so she could have a clear view of everyone gathered at the dining room table. Pops dealt cards for their first round of Crazy Eights. The night always started with kid games until they grew bored and Elaine enticed them away with popcorn and a Christmas movie. Then therealgames began.
“What is it?” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
“I thought Hendricks was Christmas Central. But it’s really this house,” she said.
“I take it this time of year is growing on you a little?” He hugged her close again.
When she leaned into him, Fallon’s kiss was a featherlight touch grazing his mouth this time.
“I think December is becoming my most favorite month of all,” she said.
Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
Fallon sat at a stool in the Behars’ kitchen on Christmas Eve, wearing a fleece sweatshirt and the flannel pajama bottoms adorned with alpacas that Elaine had gifted her with the night before. They’d just returned from an early church service in town. Kade’s brothers had gone back to their respective homes after saying they’d return bright and early the next morning for presents and breakfast. Despite the cozy kitchen heated by the oven, Fallon hadn’t been able to warm up all day. The temperature outside had fallen into the teens when she arrived two days ago. Hopefully it would warm up before she left midweek. Kade had promised her a tour of their property on cross-country skis sometime during her visit. She sipped her coffee while trying to catch the hushed words between Kade and his father in the other room.
Elaine waved the air in front of her face as she opened the oven.
“Wooo!I thought I’d burnt it! Does it look too done to you?” Elaine asked her.
The casserole looked pretty enough for a magazine spread. Kade had long ago warned her about Elaine’s kitchen histrionics.
“It looks delicious, Elaine.”
“Are you sure? Because the cheese looks a little too crusty now.” She slid it onto the cooling rack with a clatter.
Fallon hopped off the stool to give the casserole a proper inspection. She’d learned to humor Elaine or else the dear woman peppered her with questions.
“I don’t think it could look any more tempting.”
Elaine nudged her with an elbow. “I see Kade has trained you to say exactly what I want to hear to shut me up,” she said with a sly smile.
Fallon giggled. “What? I’m notthateasily swayed. Honestly, everything you make is amazing.”
That seemed to satisfy Elaine who took off her oven mitts and went back to slicing a pineapple.
Kade poked his head in the kitchen a few minutes later and hooked his finger at her. “You’re coming with me.”
She slipped off the stool again to follow him into the foyer. He already wore his coat and a ski hat.
“Where are we going?”
“For a little ride,” he said with barely suppressed laughter in his tone.
