Page 30 of Christmas in Kiwi Country

Despite my wildly outgoing personality, I don’t have a lot of girlfriends outside Flora and the second generation of Thayer women. I’m plenty friendly with everyone in town, and emulating Miss Thelma is my retirement goal, but being a young single mom all those years seemed to put me in a different category than everyone else.

When Fallon and her son, Briggs, moved to Clementine Creek, it warmed my heart to be included in the meltdown party that Otto planned for her. We’d talked plenty since then, but I most enjoyed those stolen moments with her both to commiserate and encourage.

“So what are you doing for the holiday? I’m shattered after all this last-minute shopping.” She eyes Riley who shrugs innocently before taking a sip of his soft drink.

“We’re here for a few days and then traveling to Paihia for Christmas. Just looking to enjoy our time and maybe explore a little bit.” Side-eyeing Cullen I add, “He booked us quite the spa day at the resort.”

Cullen lifts a shoulder. “I heard retired people like to relax.”

Riley chuckles. “You’ll be right.” Looking at Eve quickly before back at us he says, “Come to the house for dinner.”

“Oh my gosh, we couldn’t possibly impose like that,” I say, but Eve smiles.

“You said it yourself, love, you’re on vacation.” She loops her arm in mine. “More importantly, I could use a drink.”

I look to Cullen who shrugs. “What the hell.”

Laughing, I look back at Eve. “All right. Let’s do it.”

“We’ll get takeout and make it easy,” Cullen says.

“Takeaways, mate,” Riley says as he slaps Cullen on the shoulder. Cullen grumbles good-naturedly, but he’s relaxed and it looks so good on him.

Agreeing to follow them to their house, we make our way to our respective cars and then I pull out my phone and send off a quick message to the girls.

GWEN: We made friends with a couple at a sausage sizzle.

GWEN: Headed to their house now for takeaway

CHEYENNE: Mama!

FLORA: Look at you makin’ friends

FLORA: (heart emoji)

ISLA: Are we all going to ignore that they met at a sausage sizzle?

ISLA: Gwen I love you but I want zero details of any sizzling sausages in regard to my father

RHEA: I’m cackling but also I’m all set on those details too

RHEA: (laughing emoji)

GWEN: Y’all are crazier than bug spray on the fourth of July!

ISLA: THAT IS NOT A THING

MARLEE: (gif of woman laughing)

GWEN: It’s like a hotdog stand but with sausages

RHEA: That’s remarkably less fun

CHEYENNE: No one is concerned with my mama goin’ to a stranger’s house?

HANNAH: Technically I didn’t really know case when I moved in with him

MARLEE: That’s a good point

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