Page 27 of Mine For The Winter

“I did,” Kelly protested. “I kind of got some help.”

“You got help? And the world didn’t blow up?”

“Haha.” Kelly wrinkled her nose. “You’re supposed to be my friend here.”

“I am. I just know what you’re like.” Amber was grinning at her. And for a moment Kelly wondered if Amber knew that Kris had been the one to help her.

Luckily at that moment, Will shouted through the door.

“Kel? You want me to open up?”

“Yes please. I’ll be there in a minute.” She shot Amber an apologetic look. “I gotta go.”

“I know.” She stood slowly then walked over to Kelly, hugging her. Amber’s stomach pressed against her hip. “Take these,” she said, placing something metallic into Kelly’s hand.

Kelly glanced down at her palm. “Why are you giving me your car keys?”

“Because I don’t need them and you do. I put you on the insurance this morning. I prefer driving North’s truck anyway, and you need a car, so don’t you dare start protesting."

“I wasn’t going to,” Kelly said. “I was just going to say thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Amber smiled warmly at her. “I hate this time of year. We never get to spend any time together.”

“How’s work?” Amber ran the farm with North, her husband. And from fall until the holidays they were constantly busy, the same way that Kelly was at the Tavern.

“Stupidly busy. North left to go over there before the sun came up. And Willow’s with Everley. We’re taking her, Finn, and Candace to see the new Christmas Trail.”

“Cole’s over there. Let me know if he misbehaves.”

“Cole never misbehaves.” Amber shook her head, smiling. “He’s a good kid.”

“So everybody keeps telling me.” She liked that. Maybe too much. She’d made a mess of so much, but not Cole. She was thankful for that.

“Well I gotta go.” Amber kissed Kelly’s cheek. “Keep the car as long as you need.”

“It won’t be long.” If she got this loan they could pay for her dad’s surgery and a car for her. Nothing fancy, nothing new. But maybe something more reliable. “And thank you so much. I owe you big time.”

“No you don’t. You do a lot for me, too. Remember how you took care of me after Shaun?” Amber asked.

Kelly winced at the name of Amber’s ex. The one she’d run from on their wedding day after Amber had found out about his infidelity. Biologically he was Willow’s father, but he’d ceded his rights to North.

“You’re my best friend. I’d do anything for you.”

“Ditto.” Amber blew her a kiss. And Kelly couldn’t help but smile. Because things were looking up.

For now she had a car and next week she’d get that loan, then everything would be okay. She was back in control and it felt good.

* * *

“Okay, you can plug it in,” Kris shouted. He was halfway up the large Christmas tree at the end of the trail. The lights had shorted out ten minutes before the trail was due to open and Alaska had run to find him and Gabe, panicking. The Inn’s electrician was working on another problem in the Winterville Inn itself, leaving Kris and his brother to locate and change the bulb that had shorted the whole lighting system.

They’d always been the ones to troubleshoot problems when they were kids, and their grandmother employed them to work at the Inn over weekends and holidays. Kris had been a fast learner, shadowing all the tradesmen as they worked through their job lists. It came in handy any time he had an issue at his own home.

Truth be told, he’d forgotten how much he enjoyed this kind of good, honest work with his hands.

“Hey, Mr. Winter!” Cole appeared at the end of the trail, his face flushed.

“He talking to you or me?” Gabe asked.

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