Page 89 of Mad About Yule

“What’s the harm in letting her do it? You’ve delegated plenty of tasks already. Besides, anything that brings more people in to see the incredible festival you’ve got planned is good in my book.”

“Now you’re just sweet talking me.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

She walks to the Wonderland house she’s been painting. This one’s going to be a toy store, but right now she’s still getting the main building colors on the primed plywood.

“It’s just…accepting Lila’s help will prove I can’t handle this project on my own. That I need my big sister to take over and rescue me like everyone thinks.”

“Hey.” I turn her around to face me. “Anyone who thinks that doesn’t know you and doesn’t matter. Sometimes you have to accept a little help, sweetheart. Even from your family.”

She grumbles but settles into my arms and runs her hands over my chest. “I wanted this festival to distinguish me from Lila. Now, people will say I can’t do anything without her help.”

“You know what I say to that?”

She rolls her eyes. “‘Who cares?’”

I hug her closer. “Not quite. Could you have made this Winter Wonderland by yourself?”

She laughs, but already sees where I’m going with this. Her little grumble is adorable. “No.”

“But I’m not taking over, right?”

“I mean, you’ve tried.”

I dip my head down to get her to look at me. “I made suggestions. There’s a difference. But you can’t do everything. Just because it takes a whole crew to do it doesn’t take away from the end result, boss. Everybody working together just makes it better.”

“Is that the same at your work?”

“Of course. The cement crew lays the foundation, the framers get the bones up, and the drywall crew comes in to smooth it all out. Then a dozen more crews come in to do all the finish work. Everybody does their part to make a beautiful custom home in the end.”

She smooths her hands across my chest, looking up at me with soft eyes. “Every time you talk about your work, you talk about construction, not landscaping.”

Her voice is gentle, almost a whisper, but it hits like a shock to the solar plexus. I let go of her and slowly slip out of her arms. “Habit. I’m still adjusting to the change.”

True. I just don’t expect to get used to it until somewhere around retirement.

She lays a hand on my forearm, stopping me from going too far. “You obviously love doing custom woodwork.”

I clench my jaw, because I can’t get into this. After everything I told her at the riverside, she knows my reasons. Whether she understands them or not is out of my hands.

“I’m not saying you have to make a change, but it’s okay to miss it.”

Maybe. But admitting that I miss it would involve admitting I’m not happy doing the thing my family needs me to do. I need to be here for them, and that includes at the business.

“Look at me,” she goes on. “I worked with my mom for almost a year, and I was miserable. Can you see me selling houses and locking down leases on retail properties?”

“Actually, I can.” Her enthusiasm and dedication would win over anybody on the fence. Or maybe that’s just because I’d buy anything she tried to sell me.

“I was good at it, but I didn’t enjoy it. I needed to follow my heart.” She squeezes my forearm where she’s still holding onto me. “I just want you to follow your heart, too.”

If I followed my heart right now, it’d lead me to wherever Hope was. I’m ready to lock this thing down with her, and I still haven’t taken her on a first date.

“Do you have time for a night out this week? Maybe a pre-celebration celebration?”

She smiles, but her eyes narrow on me. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’ve got a few ideas.” I already know what it’s going to be—providing the weather holds.

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