Page 147 of A Very Merry Mistake

“I’m proud of you. Really proud. Look at all of this, babe. You did this on your own. Turned your ideas into reality. Some people really suck at execution, but not you.” I pick up a globe and study it. It features a woman and a man kissing under mistletoe. Many of our special memories have been captured forever in this art.

“I remember this,” I tell her, and she walks over.

“Yeah,” she whispers.

“It was when you kissed me,” I remind her.

“Because you were too much of a Southern gentleman to make a move!” She shakes her head.

“I would’ve…eventually.”

“Aren’t you glad I did?” Claire asks as I set the globe back on the shelf.

“I wonder if we’d be where we are today if you hadn’t.”

She fists my shirt, tugging me toward her. “I wonder what would’ve happened had you not insisted I get in your truck.”

“We can go back even further than that. What if you would’ve actually stopped for fuel?”

She laughs. “While it’s embarrassing, it’s still my favorite mistake, because it led me to you.”

“Everything happens for a reason,” I tell her, kissing her forehead. “I gotta leave and help Hudson on the farm.”

“Okay, fine,” she grumbles. “I just love your company and selfishly want to keep you to myself. Always.”

“I know, darlin’. I can never get enough of you. Growing old together is gonna be fun.” I shoot her a wink.

“Still waiting,” she says, wiggling her left ring finger. I laugh, blow her a kiss, then leave. I climb in the truck and make my way to the farm.

Lately, my brother has been drowning himself in work, but it’s getting harder on my parents to help take care of Colby. Grandma can’t keep up with a three-year-old anymore. Claire even offered to help, but considering the shop isn’t great for toddlers, everyone knows that won’t work. In two years, my nephew will be in kindergarten, but until then, Hudson needs help.

I drive up to where my brother’s sweating his ass off. When I get out of the truck, he ends the call and walks over to me.

“Remember the other day when I told you that I was going to search for a nanny?” He meets my eyes.

“Yeah, but I thought you were kidding.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks defeated. “I was, but I’m not anymore. Mom can’t keep babysitting. Her and Dad’s schedules are too hectic, and they can’t lug Colby around. Of course, they’re too nice to say anything, but the writing is on the wall.”

“Hey, I’m happy to help you however I can. You ask, and I’ll make it happen.” It hurts my heart to see Hudson like this. He never complains about his situation and does the best he can for his son. But still, I notice how hard it’s been for him the last two years, raising a baby as a single dad.

“I appreciate that, but it’s no one’s problem but my own. Something has to change, or I’m going to wear myself out.”

I grab his shoulder and squeeze. “You don’t have to do it alone, okay?”

“Thanks. Now, want to help me move all this shit?”

“Yeah.” I look at the items that came from the storage shed that have to be moved because that’s where the new building will go. Since the farm did so well this last season, Hudson had an incredible idea to build a shop where we can sell souvenirs on-site. Once this area is cleared, they’ll start construction. They told us it will take about six weeks to complete, which puts it finishing in the middle of August. We have no time to spare, and Hudson has been working his ass off to make it happen, but that responsibility comes with being the operational manager.

I move lawn equipment, extra saws, random axes, and metal chairs out of the building. When I head back, I hear Hudson screaming and shaking around.

“Is it on me?” He jumps and swats around.

“What? Tell me!”

“It was huge. Black.” He brushes his arms and his back.

I let out a howl of laughter, searching him from head to toe. “No spider, dude.”

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