Season of Joy

by Annie Rains

  Granger was only offering the hayrides on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. The rest of the days, he’d be helping his dad to sell the live trees. “I’m already dreaming about new things for next Christmas, and it’s only day one of the season. Assuming Dad lets me hold on to the reins after this year.”

  “Why wouldn’t he?” Joy asked.

  Granger shrugged, directing his gaze forward. “If I screw it all up, he might not trust me to run the show again.”

  “If today is any indication, you won’t screw it up.”

  Granger reached for her hand. “Well, I have you around this year. I think that Christmas tree workshop is going to be a big hit. It could pull in people from surrounding towns too. We have something the other tree farms don’t—you.”

  Joy laughed softly, the sound carrying in the breeze. “Well, next year I’ll hopefully have my gallery open.”

  “Are you already starting to prepare me for the fact that you won’t be coming back after December twenty-fifth?” He was teasing but a sudden ache resonated on the left side of his chest.

  “Not exactly. I might be able to squeeze in some time for you next December.”

  “Good to hear.”

  “So, what are these new ideas you’re thinking about for next year?” she asked.

  Granger stopped the tractor and waved his hand in an arc in front of him. “Mistletoe Trail.”

  “I’m intrigued. What is that?”

  Granger grinned. “A ride for lovers, with twigs of mistletoe dispersed along the way. There’s lots of kissing involved.”

  Joy laughed harder this time. “I’m not so sure about that idea. Sounds like it could be problematic somehow.”

  Granger reached into his pocket and pulled out a sprig that he’d found on the trail earlier today. He’d been saving it for tonight with Joy. “Let’s test it out.” He held the sprig over both of their heads and looked at her.

  Joy’s gaze flicked to the mistletoe and back to him, a smile curling at the corners of her very kissable mouth.

  Granger smiled too. “It’s bad luck not to kiss someone if you’re caught under the mistletoe.”

  “Bad luck? I’ve never heard that.” She narrowed her eyes. “Is that true?”

  “I don’t know but I’d be one lucky guy if you did kiss me.”

  Joy leaned into him. “I was going to kiss you anyway, I’ll have you know. You didn’t need the mistletoe,” she said, before pressing her mouth to his in a long, lingering kiss.

  His hands ached to touch her but he kept them to himself. He and Joy were new, and he didn’t want to get ahead of himself. It was as much because he wanted to be a gentleman as it was because he was wary of jumping into a relationship. She’d reminded him again and again that she wasn’t looking for anything serious.

  “I’ve been waiting for that all day,” he said in a gruff voice once they’d pulled away.

  “Me too,” she sighed, kissing him again. And again. “Maybe we should slow things down. We haven’t even had our first official date yet.”

  Granger leaned against the tractor’s seat and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll just have to keep this sprig of mistletoe handy for tomorrow too.”

  “When does your new Santa start?” she asked after a quiet moment.

  “Jack is starting next Friday night.”

  “Jack Hershey?”

  Jack was one of Granger’s best friends in town. “After the fire this past spring, he offered to do anything he could to help the farm out. I collected on that offer. He’ll have to pad the suit, of course.”

  Joy grinned. “Will Emma be his Mrs. Claus?”

  “I’m guessing she’ll come down and dress the part with him if she’s not running the Sweetwater Café that night.”

  “Mmm, hot chocolate from the Sweetwater Café would be amazing right now.”

  “The best in town, in my opinion,” Granger agreed.

  “And it’s right down from my storefront.”

  “Your storefront, huh?” Granger reached for Joy’s hand. “How’s that going?”

  “Well, I sold a few pieces tonight. And after a few more classes like we had tonight, I’ll have a nice-size deposit to put down on the place. I’m really excited. I can see my artwork selling there and picture myself giving classes. I can even envision taking Chelsea to the store with me during the day.”

  “Chelsea, the attack cat?” Granger laughed. “You’re not worried about her leaping at your customers?”

  “She only leaps at the ones who threaten to steal my attention.” There was a light in Joy’s eyes as she looked at him with amusement.

  “Well, when you get that gallery of yours, I’ll be your first customer.”

  “Thanks.” She pulled her gaze from his and looked around at the final destination on the lighted path.

  “What do you think is on Abby’s list?” Granger asked. “She was pretty secretive when she put her letter in that mailbox. She’s been increasingly secretive these days,” he added. “I guess that’s part of her getting older.”

  Joy sighed softly. “Whatever is on her list, I’m guessing it’s not more art lessons.”

  Granger knocked his arm against Joy’s gently. “What makes you say that?”

  “Just a feeling.”

  “Well, there’s only one way to find out.” Granger stood.

  Joy reached for his arm. “Wait. What are you doing?”

  “Getting her letter. In case you didn’t know, I’m Santa Claus.”

  Joy grimaced. “Granger, you can’t read her letter. That’s private.”

  His brows dipped. “Yes, but she’s my daughter. And how do you think I figure out what to get them every year?” Granger turned and looked at the mailbox again. “I’ve always read their letters to Santa.”

  Granger hopped off the tractor, jogged to the lighted mailbox, and opened the lid. Then he pulled out the letter from Abby and jogged back to the tractor where Joy was waiting. He sat back down beside her and passed her the envelope. “Here you go.”

  Her lips parted. “You want me to open it?”

  “I’m making you my accomplice.” He winked.

  Joy hedged for a moment. Then she ripped open the top and pulled out the flimsy piece of paper with Abby’s neatly printed handwriting. She opened the flashlight app on her phone to cast light on the paper. “Dear Santa,” she read out loud. “All I want for Christmas is for you to bring home my mom. Before it’s too late for us to be a family again.”

  Granger’s heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. He’d always done his best to deliver what was on his girls’ Christmas lists but that order was tall and out of his hands.

  Joy’s breath came out in visible puffs as she continued reading. “I believe in you and know you can help me. But please act soon before my daddy finds someone else. Love, Abigail Fields.”

  “Wow.” Granger sat dumbfounded for a moment. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her lately. Nothing has happened to make her want her mother back all of a sudden.”

  Joy glanced over. “Something kind of has happened. Us. She saw us getting closer and then she saw our kiss on the hayride that night. And now you and I are going on a date. That’s a lot for a little girl to take in.”

  Granger thought about that theory before shaking his head. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you apologizing to me?”

  “I don’t know. Because we were having a romantic night, and now we’re talking about my ex.”

  “Can’t you try to get Erin to come home? I mean, I know you say you’ve tried before but can’t you try again? For Abby and Willow’s sake?”

  Granger clenched his jaw. “I have tried.”

  “I know, but what if she wants to come home, and she’s just hesitating for some reason?”

  Granger shook his head. “It’s the busiest season of the year, and I’m in charge this holiday. It’s not the time to do a missing-person search and recovery.” And it wasn’t the time for him
to be going on first dates and losing his heart to the woman who was saving his Christmas this year but here he was.

  “You’re probably right,” Joy said. “Sorry I mentioned it.”

  He blew out a breath. “And I’m sorry I got defensive.” He reached for the letter that Joy was holding. “It’s just I don’t know what to do with this. I can’t give her what she wants for Christmas this year.”

  “She’ll be okay. Girls are tough.”

  Granger looked at Joy, suspecting she was speaking from experience. He didn’t know a lot about her, despite having lived in the same town forever. He wanted to know more though. He wanted to know everything she’d ever been through that had made her into this beautiful woman sitting beside him.

  She shivered as the cold seemed to overwhelm her.

  “I guess I better get you back home. I don’t want to turn you into an icicle before I get a chance to date you,” he teased.

  “It feels like we’ve already been on several dates,” Joy said.

  “It really does. I feel like we’ve been seeing each other for months.” He started the tractor back up and set it into motion. Even though he’d done his best to smooth the path, the tractor still bumped along the trail, its motor making an oddly musical grinding sound.

  “Well, we have been seeing each other for months,” Joy pointed out. “Maybe not romantically, but I’ve been teaching the girls art for the past year.”

  “Who knew that all I needed in my life was a little canvas and paint to brighten things up?”

  Joy laughed. “You need to work on your cheesy lines before tomorrow night.”

  “Cheesy?” Granger grinned. “Yeah, I guess I am a little out of practice,” he admitted. “I’ll work on it.”

  * * *

  Joy sucked in a deep breath as she looked in the mirror to make sure there was no chocolate smudged on her lip after downing a piece of Dawanda’s fudge, kept in the freezer for emergencies.

  And a first date counted as a chocolate emergency in her book.

  But this was Granger. She’d spent so much time with him lately. She shouldn’t feel nervous. They’d kissed, held hands, and stared into each other’s eyes. They’d even shared painful pieces of their pasts. If there was some playbook to follow, they were technically on the third or fourth date by now.

  Maybe that’s why she was nervous. What if they did more than just kiss tonight? What if the expectations were different? What if Granger came back to her house after the event and wanted to come inside?

  She took in another breath. Then the phone rang, giving her a welcome distraction.

  Joy pulled out her cell phone and glanced at the caller ID before answering. “Mom. Hi.” She was actually surprised that her mom would be calling her right now. “Everything okay?”

  “Oh, fine. I just didn’t get to talk to you on Thanksgiving so I thought I’d call you now. Are you busy?”

  Joy decided now wasn’t the time to offer up that she was preparing for a date with Granger. Her mom had opinions on everything, and she wasn’t sure she wanted Dr. Mom’s opinion on whether or not Joy should be dating Granger Fields. “No, I have a few minutes to talk. What’s up?”

  “Well, you haven’t applied for the receptionist position at the hospital yet,” her mom pointed out.

  Joy walked over to the edge of her bed and plopped down. “I don’t think I ever said I would.”

  “You said you’d think about it.”

  Hmm. If Joy had said that, she’d meant that she’d think about how bad of an idea it was. “I have a job, Mom. Multiple jobs, in fact.”

  “Some of which are seasonal work, Joy. There’s one month until Christmas, and then what?”

  This wasn’t really a conversation Joy wanted to have right before a romantic date. “And then I lease my gallery and start drawing in customers with my art and a few classes.”

  “Oh, start-up businesses rarely succeed, Joy,” her mother said.

  “It wouldn’t be a start-up business, Mom. I’ve been making a living as an artist for a long time now.” Like a decade. “It’s an extension of what I’m already doing with my Etsy store and all the work I’m consigning around town.”

  Her mom seemed to ignore her. “That receptionist job won’t stay open long, and it won’t come around again for a while, I suspect. It has benefits, and you can still do your art on the side.”

  Joy closed her eyes as her mother continued. At some point, she forgot to listen, and she just waited for her mother to stop talking. Then Joy realized that her mom was waiting for her to respond. “I’m sorry, what was the question?”

  “How is Mr. Fields? He’s my patient, you know.”

  “Right. He’s fine. I saw him last night at the farm.”

  “I hear you’ve spent quite a bit of time over there lately,” her mother said.

  Joy shouldn’t be surprised. Her mother would no doubt know about Joy’s date with Granger tonight within twenty-four hours too. That would at least give her mom something else to complain about the next time they spoke. Surely she must be running out of flaws to discuss by now.

  “I just want you to be happy,” her mom said on the other end of the line.

  Joy held the phone away from her ear and looked at it for a moment. In what reality would Joy working as a receptionist equal happiness? “Mom,” Joy said, “I am happy.” Relatively at least. “Are you?” Joy had learned that trick from a therapist she briefly saw after her failed pregnancy. Turning the question around and echoing it back was a technique her therapist used on her often. And it had worked. That was therapy though. When Joy did it, it was technically deflecting.

  “What kind of question is that?” her mother asked.

  “A yes-or-no question.”

  Her mom didn’t immediately answer, which Joy found surprising. Having a fancy high-profile job as a distinguished doctor apparently didn’t equal happiness either.

  The doorbell rang. Granger’s timing was perfect. “I’ve got to run, Mom. I’ll talk to you later. I love you.”

  “I love you too,” her mom said.

  After a quick goodbye, Joy disconnected the call and shoved her cell phone into her bag, which she looped over her shoulder. Then she hurried to the door and answered.

  Granger was standing on her stoop wearing dark jeans and a brown leather jacket over his cotton T-shirt. He looked sexy, and part of her wanted to pull him into her town house, close the door, and enjoy some alone time with him. Before she could give in to temptation, she stepped onto the porch and pulled the front door shut.

  “In a hurry?” Granger asked.

  “I just don’t want Chelsea getting ideas of escaping.”

  “I see.” He walked beside her to his truck. “Has Chelsea escaped before?”

  “Oh yeah. But she hates the cold, so I doubt she’d go far.”

  Granger opened the passenger-side door for her. She got in and fidgeted nervously as he ran around to the driver’s side and got in. Then he quietly cranked the engine and pulled onto the main road, heading toward downtown.

  “It’s amazing how the town seems to transform overnight for the holidays,” she said quietly.

  “It’s the most magical time of year.”

  She’d always felt the same way. But after losing her baby, a dark cloud had hung over her last Christmas. She’d thought this holiday would be just as difficult, but time healed, and Granger was doing a good job of lifting her spirits.

  They parked in the public parking area and walked among the crowd, dipping in and out of shops as they strolled. All the storefronts were decorated for the season with lights and wreaths. Some sported mannequins wearing ugly Christmas sweaters.

  Joy paused when she got to the empty window of her store.

  “This is it, huh?” Granger asked.

  While everyone else was admiring the decorations farther down, they stared into the empty space, the only decoration of this place a FOR LEASE sign in the window.

  “This is it,”
she said on a sigh.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Granger nod beside her. “I like it. Not too small, not too big.”

  “Big enough to hold classes,” she pointed out.

  “And it’s the perfect location to attract impulse shoppers, like you said.”

  “Exactly. And next year, I could have a festive store window for the Lights on Silver Lake event. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

  “It would.” Granger reached for her hand.

  She turned toward him, her heart leaping the same way it did every time she allowed herself to get excited about the prospect of having her own art gallery.

  “I hope you get everything you want for Christmas, Joy Benson.”

  Looking up into his eyes, she discovered she wanted something else. Something she hadn’t planned on. She wanted to keep Granger.

  But she wasn’t ready for anything serious right now. Her heart seemed to have a short memory but her brain didn’t. She was finally feeling like herself again after last Christmas. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—risk that.

  Granger held her gaze as he reached into his coat pocket.

  “I know what you’re doing,” she said.

  A smile curved along his lips. “Sometimes a guy needs a little help.” He pulled out the sprig of mistletoe from last night and held it over her head.

  She laughed as her gaze flitted up to the sprig and back down to him. Sometimes a heart needed a little help, too, because hers wasn’t listening to all the reasons her brain was giving for why she shouldn’t fall for Granger Fields.

  He dipped and pressed his mouth to hers, wrapping his arms around her and capturing the warmth between their bodies. She melted like a snowflake against him, wishing she could stay here for the rest of the night. A restless ache weaved through her body as their kiss seemed to last forever. They were far enough away from the crowd that there was no reason to pull away or worry that they were making a scene. There was only so much one could do out here in the public eye anyway. Once again, her thoughts jumped ahead to what they might do when they were truly alone later.

  “Hot chocolate?” Granger asked, pulling back from the kiss.

  It took a moment for Joy to even process the question because she was floating in a dreamlike state, basking in the endorphins that were so much better than what chocolate could give her. “Hmm?”