“Perfect. I’ve been meaning to speak with Regina,” the mayor said, surprising both me and Liam. Beetle had stopped to speak with Cora Barnes, much to my mother’s dismay. She wouldn’t be the one to leave first, though, and she would stand there with a pasted smile on her face until the conversation had ended naturally. “She inquired about an heirloom in my family that has been handed down for generations. I didn’t even know it existed, yet your mother thought my sister might have a pendant dating back from the 1800s.”
I didn’t think it was possible, but my evening just got worse.
“A pendant?” Liam asked, already knowing from the way my jaw was mimicking a fish that I couldn’t find my voice. “Does it hold some meaning to Regina or—”
The mayor was already walking toward my mother, not hearing Liam’s questions. I grabbed ahold of Liam’s jacket sleeve with my left hand in dismay. He was rubbing my back in support, but the only thing that would give me reassurance that my mother wasn’t involving herself in coven business was hearing that directly from her.
Your mother is getting a lump of coal in her stocking. And to think I was in a giving mood earlier. Bah humbug!
“You rescued Randy the Reindeer today, Raven.” Liam gazed down at me with absolutely no doubt in his dark eyes. There was something to be said for somebody having complete faith in you. “You can handle anything thrown your way. I’ll go insert myself into the conversation and send your mother over this way. Talk to her. I’m sure that whatever she’s trying to do is for your protection.”
Your mother’s name went back on the naughty list, Raven.
Leo had been invisible, but his anxiety that my mother might be dabbling in the coven war had him making a physical, yet disheveled, appearance from around an inflatable penguin. His longest whisker was twitching uncontrollably.
“Ho-ho-ho!”
All four of Leo’s feet came off the ground. All I can say was that I was grateful that the football team had put disposable lids on the cups of hot chocolate. Steve Nickels was dressed in his red suit, black belt, and gold-rimmed glasses. His blue eyes twinkled with merriment.
“Hi, Santa Claus,” I greeted, keeping most of my attention on my mother. Liam was, indeed, trying to insert himself into the conversation and all but pushing my mother my way. “Did you hear that Randy was returned to Barry Mina?”
“Yes, I did. What wonderful news,” Santa replied, patting the black buttons on his red coat in relief. I did manage to spare a glance at his long white beard, wondering how he got it to look so real. “Christmas Eve will now go off without a hitch, thanks to you, my dear.”
Here we go again with the irritating pretense of being Father Christmas. Well, speaking of giving, we don’t have time for this exchange, Raven.
“I’m glad we could help,” I said, going along with Mr. Nickels in case one of the young children overheard us.
“Well, who else would I want on the case but the best amateur sleuths in the business?” Santa Claus whispered as if we’d just conspired to abscond with all the presents from the elves. “Ho-ho-ho!”
Uh, Raven? How would this man in the red suit know about our nicknames if he…Christmas on a cracker! It’s Kris Kringle! It’s St. Nicholas! It’s Father Christmas himself! Quick…what are my six things? I need to write them down again!
“Wait,” I called out, almost surprised when Santa Claus actually stopped and turned around. There was that infectious twinkle in his blue eyes again. “Are you…”
I realized that it was foolish of me to ask Santa Claus if he was real in front of eagerly waiting boys and girls. As if he understood my predicament, he winked and called out another ho-ho-ho.
“You already know the answer, my dear Raven.” Santa Claus had leaned down and used his hand to prevent others from hearing him. “My Rosemary said you were a special one. She was right. Thank you—and Leo, of course—for saving Christmas this year.”
Santa Claus lowered his hand and belted out one of those jolly laughs, leaving me and Leo quite speechless with such an announcement.
“Merry Christmas!”
Leo and I were left behind to watch in disbelief as Santa Claus began to make his way to his chair. Santa Claus was real. The original St. Nicholas had actually graced Paramour Bay with his magical presence. And the most surprising thing of all was that Father Christmas had known my grandmother.
“Leo?”
What can I say? Short-term memory loss. It does make life exciting, doesn’t it? I mean, discovering that Santa Claus is real for the second time is even better than the first time around! I think. You know what this means, right? We’re on the nice list!
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud in happiness at the knowledge that we’d met Father Christmas himself. It was an honor, and he’d even thanked us for making sure that he could deliver presents to all the boys and girls around the world. Liam, my mother, Beetle, and the others turned to see what had happened, so I wiggled my fingers and enjoyed my hot chocolate. I would share the news with them later, and I would even postpone grilling my mother about whatever pendant she was trying to acquire from the mayor.
“Hey,” Heidi said somewhat breathlessly, appearing out of nowhere. “What did I miss?”
Only the best thing ever—Santa Claus! ’Tis the season to believe, and as the famous poem states…Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
~ The End ~
It’s a baffling time when quirky dreams become reality in the next mystifying installment of the Paramour Bay Mysteries by USA Today Bestselling Author Kennedy Layne…
Click HERE
It’s that time of year when winter’s icy grasp is still hanging over the area, yet a few hopeful hints of spring are dangling in the crisp air. You know that moment when the feeling of regret has everyone on edge and thinking that maybe they should have gone ahead and taken their vacation in the deep south where the sun is still shining and warm, the birds are merrily chirping, and dreams are just dreams.
That’s not the case in the quaint coastal Connecticut town of Paramour Bay. Raven Marigold is flummoxed when not one, not two, but three shockingly realistic dreams have come true in the span of only one week. She might be a witch, but she knows for certain that she isn’t psychic. When a fourth dream reveals a wicked witch casting a fatal spell upon one of the Marigolds, it’s a race against time to prevent her nightmare from coming true.
Bring your comfy pillow and a magical dreamcatcher if you want to help Raven and the gang attempt to solve this latest mystery pertaining to vision of winter’s most frightening forecast!
Books by Kennedy Layne
Hex on Me Mysteries
If the Curse Fits
Cursing up the Wrong Tree
The Squeaky Ghost Gets the Curse
The Curse that Bites
Curse Me Under the Mistletoe
Paramour Bay Mysteries
Magical Blend
Bewitching Blend
Enchanting Blend
Haunting Blend
Charming Blend
Spellbinding Blend
Cryptic Blend
Broomstick Blend
Spirited Blend
Yuletide Blend
Baffling Blend
Office Roulette Series
Means (Office Roulette, Book One)
Motive (Office Roulette, Book Two)
Opportunity (Office Roulette, Book Three)
Keys to Love Series
Unlocking Fear (Keys to Love, Book One)
Unlocking Secrets (Keys to Love, Book Two)
Unlocking Lies (Keys to Love, Book Three)
Unlocking Shadows (Keys to Love, Book Four)
Unlocking Darkness (Keys to Love, Book Five)
Surviving Ashes Series
Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, Book One)
Hidden Ashes (Surviving Ashes, Book Two)
Buried Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Three)
Endless Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Four)
Rising Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Five)
CSA Case Files Series
Captured Innocence (CSA Case Files 1)
Sinful Resurrection (CSA Case Files 2)
Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files 3)
Campaign of Desire (CSA Case Files 4)
Internal Temptation (CSA Case Files 5)
Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files 6)
Redeem My Heart (CSA Case Files 7)
A Mission of Love (CSA Case Files 8)
Red Starr Series
Starr’s Awakening(Red Starr, Book One)
Hearths of Fire (Red Starr, Book Two)
Targets Entangled (Red Starr, Book Three)
Igniting Passion (Red Starr, Book Four)
Untold Devotion (Red Starr, Book Five)
Fulfilling Promises (Red Starr, Book Six)
Fated Identity (Red Starr, Book Seven)
Red’s Salvation (Red Starr, Book Eight)
The Safeguard Series
Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One)
Faithful Addiction (The Safeguard Series, Book Two)
Distant Illusions (The Safeguard Series, Book Three)
Casual Impressions (The Safeguard Series, Book Four)
Honest Intentions (The Safeguard Series, Book Five)
Deadly Premonitions (The Safeguard Series, Book Six)
About the Author
First and foremost, I love life. I love that I’m a wife, mother, daughter, sister… and a writer.
I am one of the lucky women in this world who gets to do what makes them happy. As long as I have a cup of coffee (maybe two or three) and my laptop, the stories evolve themselves and I try to do them justice. I draw my inspiration from a retired Marine Master Sergeant that swept me off of my feet and has drawn me into a world that fulfills all of my deepest and darkest desires. Erotic romance, military men, intrigue, with a little bit of kinky chili pepper (his recipe), fill my head and there is nothing more satisfying than making the hero and heroine fulfill their destinies.
Thank you for having joined me on their journeys…
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
facebook.com/kennedy.layne.94
Twitter:
twitter.com/KennedyL_Author
Website:
www.kennedylayne.com
Newsletter:
www.kennedylayne.com/meet-kennedy.html
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