self-appointed, holiday elves around the Hollings household.
Grant’s sister, Jane, had moved in
with her boyfriend, Gary Lawrence. They were coming for Christmas day after
spending Christmas Eve with Gary’s family. There would be a full house, lots of
noise and mouths to feed, presents to open, and gags to laugh over. Excitement
was building in Gracie’s heart as she made list after list of chores to be done,
gifts to be bought and food to be cooked.
Since there was only a two o’clock
matinée performance that day, in honor of Christmas Eve, festivities began at a
normal time. Grace was planning to serve a fabulous dinner at six thirty.
“Jake’s bringing his keyboard. We
need a piano in this house.” Cara turned around slowly, eyeing the living room.
“Where would you put one?” Grant
asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t know yet. But I’m working on
it.”
“Jake has a keyboard?”
“Yep. He’s musical. His mom’s a
music teacher. He plays piano and sings rather well. I’d love to do a musical
with him.” The buzzer interrupted, and Sarah ran to talk to Rex on the
intercom.
“It’s Jake!” The little girl
hollered.
Gracie scurried into her room to
comb her hair and refresh her lipstick. What
am I running for? Primping for that country boy? Why? Not like we’re going
anywhere. Two different ways of life. Still, Cara says, “Always look your
best.”
Sarah waited at the door and opened
it for him. He was loaded down with Christmas gifts, an overnight bag, and his
keyboard. Grace grabbed his keyboard before it hit the ground.
“Moving in?” she asked, a
mischievous smile on her lips.
“Into your room, possibly?” he
joked. Grace could feel the blush creep up her neck.
“Come on. You can put your bag in my
room until tonight.” She let him into her small room and Jake dumped his bag on
her bed.
“Nice. I could be very comfortable
in here.”
He’s
only flirting. Grow up, Grace. Do you even care? Jake leaned down to touch
her lips with his, but she pushed away. “My sister invited you here, I didn’t.” Resist. Good looks, nothing more.
“You’re still mad at me?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean I want
contact, either.” Liar.
“Come on, Grace. I’m stone cold
sober. Don’t you feel the chemistry between us? I only want a little Christmas
kiss. Is that such a big deal?” She stood silently debating with herself. A
look of exasperation swept over his face. “Never mind. Merry Christmas,
Scrooge,” he said in a sharp tone as he brushed by her.
He left the room, laden down with
brightly wrapped packages. When he entered the living room, Sarah gave him a
hug and Grant a manly handshake. Jake deposited his gifts under the huge,
fragrant, beautifully decorated tree in the corner by the window. Grace hung
back, leaning against the archway, watching.
“Something sure smells good.” Jake
avoided her stare.
“We have ham tonight, turkey
tomorrow, lots of cookies…I made some of them…and a bunch of other stuff,”
Sarah said, bouncing from lap to lap.
“Have a drink,” Grant offered. “Or
would you like this hot, mulled wine instead of the usual?”
“Hot mulled wine? Haven’t had that
in a long time.”
“Grace made it.” Jake’s gaze
flickered over to hers for a moment before he turned his attention back to
Grant, who scooped up a cupful for the young man. The sideboard in the dining
room was set up with serving pieces. A tray with crudités , olives, and dip was on the coffee table. Jake relaxed on
the sofa while Grace got busy in the kitchen.
“Quinn and Susanna are going to stop
by tomorrow after the show. They’re headed to Pine Grove and his sister’s house
tonight,” Cara said. “Play for us, Jake.”
He set up his keyboard while Grant
found him a chair. “Which carol do you want to start with?”
Cara glanced between Jake and Grace,
who hugged the doorway.
“How about ‘ Adeste Fidelis’?” He said, playing the first few
Grant’s sister, Jane, had moved in
with her boyfriend, Gary Lawrence. They were coming for Christmas day after
spending Christmas Eve with Gary’s family. There would be a full house, lots of
noise and mouths to feed, presents to open, and gags to laugh over. Excitement
was building in Gracie’s heart as she made list after list of chores to be done,
gifts to be bought and food to be cooked.
Since there was only a two o’clock
matinée performance that day, in honor of Christmas Eve, festivities began at a
normal time. Grace was planning to serve a fabulous dinner at six thirty.
“Jake’s bringing his keyboard. We
need a piano in this house.” Cara turned around slowly, eyeing the living room.
“Where would you put one?” Grant
asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t know yet. But I’m working on
it.”
“Jake has a keyboard?”
“Yep. He’s musical. His mom’s a
music teacher. He plays piano and sings rather well. I’d love to do a musical
with him.” The buzzer interrupted, and Sarah ran to talk to Rex on the
intercom.
“It’s Jake!” The little girl
hollered.
Gracie scurried into her room to
comb her hair and refresh her lipstick. What
am I running for? Primping for that country boy? Why? Not like we’re going
anywhere. Two different ways of life. Still, Cara says, “Always look your
best.”
Sarah waited at the door and opened
it for him. He was loaded down with Christmas gifts, an overnight bag, and his
keyboard. Grace grabbed his keyboard before it hit the ground.
“Moving in?” she asked, a
mischievous smile on her lips.
“Into your room, possibly?” he
joked. Grace could feel the blush creep up her neck.
“Come on. You can put your bag in my
room until tonight.” She let him into her small room and Jake dumped his bag on
her bed.
“Nice. I could be very comfortable
in here.”
He’s
only flirting. Grow up, Grace. Do you even care? Jake leaned down to touch
her lips with his, but she pushed away. “My sister invited you here, I didn’t.” Resist. Good looks, nothing more.
“You’re still mad at me?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean I want
contact, either.” Liar.
“Come on, Grace. I’m stone cold
sober. Don’t you feel the chemistry between us? I only want a little Christmas
kiss. Is that such a big deal?” She stood silently debating with herself. A
look of exasperation swept over his face. “Never mind. Merry Christmas,
Scrooge,” he said in a sharp tone as he brushed by her.
He left the room, laden down with
brightly wrapped packages. When he entered the living room, Sarah gave him a
hug and Grant a manly handshake. Jake deposited his gifts under the huge,
fragrant, beautifully decorated tree in the corner by the window. Grace hung
back, leaning against the archway, watching.
“Something sure smells good.” Jake
avoided her stare.
“We have ham tonight, turkey
tomorrow, lots of cookies…I made some of them…and a bunch of other stuff,”
Sarah said, bouncing from lap to lap.
“Have a drink,” Grant offered. “Or
would you like this hot, mulled wine instead of the usual?”
“Hot mulled wine? Haven’t had that
in a long time.”
“Grace made it.” Jake’s gaze
flickered over to hers for a moment before he turned his attention back to
Grant, who scooped up a cupful for the young man. The sideboard in the dining
room was set up with serving pieces. A tray with crudités , olives, and dip was on the coffee table. Jake relaxed on
the sofa while Grace got busy in the kitchen.
“Quinn and Susanna are going to stop
by tomorrow after the show. They’re headed to Pine Grove and his sister’s house
tonight,” Cara said. “Play for us, Jake.”
He set up his keyboard while Grant
found him a chair. “Which carol do you want to start with?”
Cara glanced between Jake and Grace,
who hugged the doorway.
“How about ‘ Adeste Fidelis’?” He said, playing the first few
Similar Books
