“Great.” With a relieved sigh, he straightened. “Not all heroes wear capes, Brailyn.”
“Whatever. It still costs extra.” She tapped the keypad on the register, then held out her hand for his debit card.
Worth it. He stepped over to the pickup end of the line. Now if he could absorb just a few sips before Holly shifted into Cindy Lou Who mode—
“I’msoexcited! This is the perfect time to go Christmas shopping!” Holly jingled up next to him and took his arm. This time, he didn’t even bother to check where the bells were on her person. Earlier in the day they’d been attached to her socks, and before that, her earrings. At least they warned him she was coming. “Maybe we’ll get ideas for our matching outfits for the party.”
He closed his eyes. Caffeine was on the way. He could do this. Surely he could pacify Holly by popping into a few booths with her until it was time for the tree lighting, and maybe find something to send to his parents for Christmas. Just becausethey didn’t celebrate together didn’t mean he was off the hook for a gift.
More than that, he should find something for Thomas and Grace as a thank-you for letting him crash their family gathering.
Nick opened his eyes.Thatidea he could actually get behind.
He mustered the energy to mimic Holly’s eager holiday smile. “Too bad we don’t have a dog to match with. Apparently that’s all the rage here in Point Bluff.”
Mistake. He could practicallyseethe wheels turning in her head.
Then blessedly, his order was ready. Nick shrugged out of Holly’s grip to grab it. He cradled the red cup as if it were a national treasure, taking care to dodge Janie’s flailing arms as she jumped on one foot across the tiled floor in a makeshift game of hopscotch.
“Mo-om.” Her little voice grated the coffee-scented air in a whine as she hopped toward the exit, pigtails bouncing. “Mason keeps hitting me with his new slime.”
Olivia grimaced as she held the door open for her mom. “Mason, come on. That stuff is disgusting.”
“No, it’s not. It’s cool.” Mason strung the red and green slime between his fingers in an oozy mess and grinned as he followed them outside. He’d bought it roughly ten minutes ago from another fundraising booth, and it already boasted pieces of dust and other unidentified gray matter.
Grace smiled as she adjusted her scarf against the wind funneling around the corner of the building. “You used to love that stuff too, Liv.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Here’s hoping he outgrows it just as quickly.” Then she took her mom’s arm, as if she thought the woman needed help navigating the transition off the sidewalk and onto the festival grounds. Holly pressed in on her other side.
Nick frowned. Like Thomas, Grace seemed fit for her age, though probably more naturally slender. She hadn’t had any issue keeping up with them in the woods yesterday while tree-hunting. So why was Olivia pulling on the proverbial kid gloves now?
Grace didn’t seem to mind the special treatment, though. Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she watched Janie and Mason skip ahead toward the maze of booths spread across the grounds. “It goes fast, sweetie.” She frowned a little. “All of it.”
“All of what, Mom?” Holly asked.
“Growing up. Life.” Grace waved one hand through the air, then laughed. “Oh, listen to me being all nostalgic. The holidays will do that, I suppose.”
Holly and Olivia exchanged a glance behind her back.
Oh no. Nick hesitated, lagging behind to sip his coffee as Grace detangled herself from her daughters to examine a piece of art. Holly and Olivia pushed their heads together and whispered as they kept walking. He should say something to stop the misassumption—but what?Your mom’s not sick, and the only reason I know that is because she wants to sell your family home to me and move to Florida.
No. There had to be another way. Maybe he could let Thomas in on what his children were thinking, so he and Grace could figure out what to say or not say together. The next time they were alone, he’d bring it up.
SPLAT.
Nick turned in time to see Mason tugging the length of his Christmas slime from the back of his coat. “Sorry.” Mason offered a sheepish grin. “I was aiming for Janie.”
Gross. Nick ruffled the boy’s hair, trying not to think about what might be living on his jacket now. “No worries, kiddo.”
“There you are!” From a few booths down, Chloe waved.Axel, shivering next to her in a windbreaker, held up two fingers in a peace sign.
“I told him to bring a heavier coat.” Kat huddled inside her own fleece-lined parka as everyone met up in front of the Christmas jewelry booth. “This isn’t Cali.”
“No problem-o.” Axel shoved his hands in the shallow pockets as he smiled down at Chloe. “I just look at Chloe here and get all warm inside. Like a fudge brownie.”
“That’ssosweet.” Chloe cooed and snuggled into his arm. “Isn’t that so sweet, you guys?”
Lydia, holding several shopping bags as she stood next to Ryan, offered a gracious smile and nod. At her husband’s silence, she swatted him with a bag.
