Page 88 of Mad About Yule

Normally, Lila would fire back a sassy response to my continued questions, but she almost looks like she’s going to cry. Maybe I could have welcomed her better. I haven’t seen her in a couple of months, but I’m just so surprised, I still don’t know what to say.

“Of course you’re welcome,” I say, softening my voice. “It’s just unexpected, that’s all. Mom and Dad didn’t say anything about you coming for a visit.”

“They don’t know yet. I thought it would be more fun if it was a surprise.” Lila seems to snap out of her funk. “Let’s pick up pizza at Mario’s. Can I stay with you for a few days?”

“Sure, but there’s not a lot of room.”

“I don’t mind the couch.” She grins again, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. In fact, it looks a little desperate. “I don’t want to stay with Mom and Dad. You know how they can be.”

“Yeah, and they’re going to be pissed with you for waiting until after Thanksgiving to come down for your little surprise visit. Why didn’t you come for the holiday?”

“I wasn’t feeling well on Thanksgiving. I’m all better now, though, so don’t worry about germs.”

I see what Griffin said the other day—the Homecoming Queen smile isn’t genuine at all. How many times has she smiled like that, and I never recognized it? “Lila, is everything okay?”

“Of course. I just wanted to come see the big event in person.” Her smile vanishes, and she shifts into her serious business look. “I’ve already got social media posts ready to go. I can’t wait to show you. I’ll take pictures around town this week, maybe post some behind-the-scenes shots of what you’re doing. Give a glimpse of the magic. We’re going to get this little Christmas festival to go viral and get everybody in the state headed this way. It will betheevent of the season.”

Oh. It all clicks into place now. She’s not dropping in to seeme. She’s here because of the festival. I didn’t let her get involved from a distance, so she’s here in person to make it impossible for me to refuse her.

She smiles even wider again, and this one looks more natural. “Are we going for pizza or what?”

“Right. Pizza.”

I pull my purse from behind the counter, flip off the lights, and flash my own fake smile at her as I lock up. I haven’t decided if her eagerness to help out stems from a sudden sense of hometown pride or if Lila is just as convinced as everyone else that I can’t make it a success without her.

THIRTY

GRIFFIN

I must becrazy if I’m looking forward to working all day on a Sunday. But considering who my coworker is, I can’t get to the warehouse fast enough.

I’ve got the final Winter Wonderland house to make, and she’s still painting. This afternoon, we’ve got a light-stringing party planned with a bunch of volunteers in town square. Hopefully, by the end of the day, Hope will have enough done she can take it easy the rest of the week until tree lighting.

And by take it easy, I mean do the fiftyotherthings she has to do before the festival.

She’s got Christmas music going, and Bing Crosby’s voice croons from her phone like melted caramels. Maybe I should have worn Caleb’s elf hat today and really fit the theme. Decked out in her painting outfit of jeans and a sweatshirt, she looks like she’s ready to snuggle up on the couch with me and watch Christmas movies. Not something I usually daydream about…but if we pay attention to them like we did the last one, I’d be game.

“I brought coffee,” she chirps when she sees me. “And donuts, since we’ll be here a while.”

“I knew you were a superior boss.”

She finishes getting her painting supplies ready and walks over to me. “You’ll never guess who turned up in my store last night.”

I willnotsay the dentist her mom’s trying to get her with, even though that’s the first person who popped into my mind. A rich, handsome jack-in-the-box I’d like to punch in the face. “I give up.”

“My sister.”

“You weren’t expecting her?”

“Nope. Lila just showed up as I was closing up The Daisy, ready to help out with the Christmas festival marketing.” Her nose wrinkles like something about that explanation smells off.

“That’s not a bad thing, right?”

She examines the closest Wonderland building. “I guess.”

“Why don’t you want her to help? There’s plenty of things to do.” Frankly, I think she can stand to spread her responsibilities to a couple more people, but it’s a little late for that now.

“She just swept in with this whole game plan. You should have heard her talk about what she wants to do. I think she’s been working on it for weeks, just waiting for me to break down and ask her to help. Only, I didn’t ask for help, so she’s barging in anyway.”

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