by Annie Rains
“She’s our babysitter,” Abby supplied with a bright smile.
Joy shook her head, wanting to say no. No, she was not the babysitter. That was never the deal. She was the art teacher. And she had become more than that. To all of them. Hadn’t she?
“This is Joy Benson,” Granger told Erin. “She’s been giving the girls art lessons. She’s also teaching a Christmas tree workshop here at Merry Mountain this year.”
Erin nodded slowly, looking between him and Joy as if filling in the blanks.
“I see. Nice to meet you, Joy.” Erin said it in a friendly tone, even if Joy didn’t get warm fuzzies from her. “That sounds wonderful. Art, huh?” She turned back to Abby, who nodded proudly.
“I love art,” Abby said, the desperation to please her mother evident in her small voice.
Joy gave Granger another look. “I’ll be inside to watch the girls when they’re ready,” she told him.
“No, that’s okay,” Abby said, overhearing. “Mom can watch us. Can’t you, Mom?” Abby turned back to her mother with a hopeful look that it would be impossible to say no to.
Erin looked at Granger. “I’m sorry to intrude. I know I should have called.”
“Yeah, you should have,” he bit out coldly. “You can’t just show up whenever you want. We have plans. I have to work tonight.”
“But Mom doesn’t. She can watch us,” Abby said, overcompensating for Granger’s demeanor by putting on an even bigger smile.
Granger shook his head. “Stay out of this, Abby.”
Erin’s mouth popped open at the rise in his tone. Joy wanted to run to his defense but that wasn’t her place. She had no idea what was right or wrong in this moment but she didn’t blame Granger for how he felt. “I need to get ready for the crowd tonight,” he finally said. “If I had known you were coming, I might have suggested a different time,” he said, not bothering to hide his resentment. “I can call Mom to come supervise a visit,” he said. “She’s running the cider stand with the girls tonight but there are a few hours before that time.”
Erin wrung her hands in front of her. “Supervise. Right,” she said quietly. “Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you, Granger.”
Granger looked at Joy, something apologetic passing across his gaze. Was he sorry because he was cutting her work with the girls short today? Or for some other reason? “Joy, it looks like you’re free until it’s time for your workshop.”
Joy breathed past the hurt suddenly spreading through her chest. She wasn’t sure what she had wanted him to say. They certainly couldn’t discuss how this would affect their relationship right now in front of Erin and the kids. She handed him Abby’s book bag that she’d retrieved from her car a few minutes ago. “I can go home and grab a bite to eat.”
Granger took the bag. “Sounds good.” He gave her a fleeting glance. It felt like he looked through her instead of at her this time, which left her feeling cold inside.
Joy pulled her keys out of her pocket. “Bye, girls. I’ll see you later.”
Abby didn’t even look at her. Willow did though. She still looked wide-eyed and pale. Joy wanted to go over and reassure the little girl that everything would be okay. But she wasn’t sure that was true. Joy wasn’t sure of anything right now.
She got into her car and pulled out of the driveway. She’d been so busy lately that she hadn’t had time to go grocery shopping. So instead of going home for the next hour, she decided to drive down Main to grab a bite. An added bonus was that she could drive by her store. Janelle Cruz still hadn’t returned her call. If she didn’t hear from her in the next hour, she’d try again.
Joy slowed her car as she passed the old clockmaker’s shop a few minutes later. It looked different somehow. It took a moment for her to realize what was missing. The FOR LEASE sign that had been in the window was now gone.
“No.” Joy pulled over and reached for her cell phone in the passenger seat. She pulled up Janelle Cruz’s number and pressed Dial.
“Janelle Cruz,” the real estate agent said in the receiver a moment later.
“Janelle, this is Joy Benson.” Joy’s heartbeat felt erratic. Panic was overtaking her like quicksand pulling her under. “I’m on Main Street.”
“Right. I’ve been meaning to return your call. The place you’ve had your eye on went under contract yesterday morning. I’m very sorry, Joy.”
* * *
Granger had spent the last couple of hours zombie-driving down Peppermint Path and Santa Street. His thoughts had been somewhere else the entire time, and he wasn’t even sure how he’d managed to give the ride. Now he sat parked at the end of the final ride as Santa came walking toward him.
“You okay?” Jack asked, pulling on his fake white beard.
Granger blinked him into focus. “No.”
“You wanna sit on my lap and tell me what you want for Christmas?” his friend teased.
This made Granger smile despite himself. “Not so much, buddy.”
Jack climbed into the tractor seat beside Granger where Joy had sat so many times in the last couple of weeks. The crowd had gotten off at their exit and headed to their cars. Now Granger was expected to go back to his house where Erin was likely still sitting with the girls. His mom had called in a friend to help with the cider stand tonight and had stayed at the house to keep a close eye on them.
Granger didn’t think Erin would hurt the girls. Or take them. Or anything like that. But he also wasn’t comfortable leaving them alone with her. It was the emotional repercussions he was concerned with.
“Erin’s back,” Granger told Jack, looking over in time to see Jack’s smile fall.
“Since when?”
“Since this afternoon.” Granger sighed. “She showed up after the girls got out of school. She’s with them right now.”
“Wow. And you didn’t know she was coming home?” Jack asked.
“She’s not coming home. She can’t stay at the house,” Granger said, even though he understood that Jack hadn’t meant it that way exactly. But that’s the very thought that had been bumping around in Granger’s mind along with the tractor and trailer down the lighted path. “I’ve always told her that she can return when she’s ready. But there’s a way to do it and a way not to. I needed to talk to the girls first. I needed to talk to Erin and make sure she was in a good emotional place to spend time with the girls. She can’t just waltz back into our lives like nothing happened.”
“Is that what she’s trying to do?” Jack asked.
Granger shook his head. He wasn’t sure. He hadn’t had time to sit down and have a discussion with Erin yet. He’d needed to prepare for tonight, and it was obvious there was no way Abby was going to let her mom out of her sight immediately. “Abby said something about writing Erin a letter. She got the address from my private drawer.”
Jack clasped his hands in front of him. “So she appealed to Erin to come home, and it worked. Makes you wonder what Abby said or what made this time different.”
Yeah, that was another thought that had been rattling around in Granger’s brain for the last couple of hours. He had no idea but the look he’d seen Erin giving Joy made him suspect Abby had taken action because of his new romantic relationship.
He blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair, tugging softly on the roots.
“What does Joy think?” Jack asked.
Granger shook his head. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to her either. Abby called her a babysitter and told her she could leave. Joy came back for the Christmas tree workshop but we only had time to wave at each other before the crowds arrived.”
“You two are an item now, right? I heard it through the grapevine so it must be true,” Jack said sarcastically.
Granger swallowed. He and Joy had discussed continuing to see each other past the holidays. But that was before Erin had shown up. This new change of events complicated things. He thought the girls would be okay with him dating again, but now that their mother was back in the
picture, they might have a harder time understanding.
“Well, buddy, you’re not going to know anything until you go inside and talk to Erin,” Jack finally said. “And Joy too.”
“I didn’t know Santa was in the business of doling out advice.”
Jack chuckled and stood. “This Santa is heading home to his other half.” He was talking about Emma. He and Em had started dating this past summer, and Granger was glad to see his friend happy.
“Thanks for playing Santa, bud.”
“I’d say anytime but that would be insincere.” Jack let out another dry chuckle. “I have heard so many toy and video game requests tonight that my head is spinning. I’ll probably dream of the stuff…Good luck, buddy. We need to meet up at the tavern again sometime soon.”
“We will.”
After Jack had descended the tractor steps and disappeared toward the parking lot, Granger drove the tractor to its barn, parked, and got off. He scanned his gaze over the parking lot looking for Joy’s car as he walked toward his back door. She was already gone. He needed to talk to her but first he needed to talk to Erin.
He stood outside his home, staring in for a long moment. His family was inside. He wanted to do right by them, but for the life of him, he wasn’t sure what that was. Was it sending Erin out of here? Or welcoming her to stay?
Chapter Seventeen
Joy awoke the next morning with a sense of loss bearing down on her so heavy that it was hard to breathe. And for a moment, she couldn’t remember why she felt so awful.
Then it hit her like two large blocks of ice over her head.
Granger’s ex had returned yesterday. And Joy’s dream store had gotten leased. All in a day’s time.
Joy rolled into her pillow and buried her face. She had a long to-do list today that didn’t give her the luxury of sulking. This day couldn’t possibly get any worse than yesterday so she might as well rise, shine, and smell the coffee.
She shuffled down the hall to her coffee brewer and opened the container of grind. Empty. Joy frowned. “Bah humbug,” she muttered as Chelsea came meowing into the kitchen. Chelsea’s meow seemed to reflect the same sentiment. At least she had her catnip. Joy’s catnip—coffee—wasn’t immediately available. And there was no way Joy was braving the world without her morning caffeine so the only thing to do was get ready and head down to Sweetwater Café. Emma’s coffee had a way of transforming Joy’s mood anyway. Hopefully that would be true today.
A half hour later, Joy was headed toward the front counter at the local café.
“Hey, stranger,” Emma said, perky as always. Even perkier these days, thanks to Merry Mountain Farms’ new Santa.
“Starving artists can’t afford to buy fancy coffee every day,” Joy said.
Emma shook her head. “You’re hardly a starving artist. From what I hear, your work is selling all over town, and your Etsy store is taking off.” She waved a hand. “Today’s coffee is my treat. But only if you agree to sit down with me. I’m taking a break, and one should never drink alone.” Emma turned to her employee Dina. “Can you cover the counter?”
Dina nodded. “Of course. Go chitchat.”
“Thanks.” Emma made two cups of coffee and gestured toward an empty table.
Joy wasn’t exactly close to Emma. They’d both grown up here and crossed each other’s paths regularly. But they didn’t usually sit down together. Some part of Joy just wanted to be alone after yesterday but another part needed the distraction of another person to take her mind off herself.
“So how’ve you been?” Emma asked. “I’ve seen you and Granger getting cozy over the last couple of weeks. And I’ve heard the talk around town.”
Joy sighed. She couldn’t get away from her problems even for a moment. “I’m helping Merry Mountain Farms this year because of the fire. We came up with the Christmas tree workshop as another way to bring in customers.”
“That helps you too,” Emma pointed out.
Joy sipped from her beverage. “That was the plan. I had my eye on the vacant store down the street. I wanted to open my own gallery.”
“The one that just leased?” Emma asked, her skin pinching just above her eyes.
“Yep. Do you know who leased it?” Not that Joy needed to know. Knowing might make her feel worse.
Emma nodded. “Hearsay is that it’s a vineyard owner from the West Coast. I think they’re setting up a wine shop maybe?”
Joy raised a brow. Her art gallery was going to be a wine shop? And not even local wine?
“At least that’s what I’ve heard. You can’t sneeze around here without everyone hollering, ‘Bless you.’”
Joy laughed.
“So you and Granger aren’t a couple?” Emma asked.
Joy tilted her head. “Am I talking to you or the town?”
Emma drew back. “Come on, Joy. You know me better than that. I hear everything but I never repeat it. My lips are sealed.” She fastened an invisible zipper across her lips.
Joy’s shoulders rounded forward. “Sorry. Yes, I know I can trust you…Granger and I were teetering on the line between friends and more, but then…his ex returned to town yesterday afternoon.” Fresh pain poured over Joy. It wasn’t like with Dan, who’d cheated on Joy behind her back. Granger hadn’t done anything wrong. But Joy still felt cheated.
“Erin has returned?” Emma’s back went rod straight. “Wow, I never thought I’d see the day.”
“I didn’t either,” Joy said. “The girls are thrilled.”
“I imagine.” Emma reached for Joy’s hand. “You don’t have to worry about Granger. He let Erin go a long time ago. I remember when he’d come in here and order coffee and hot chocolate for the girls. For a while, he was broken. Then he gradually came back to life.” Emma shrugged. “I see that stuff standing on the other side of the counter. And then he started seeing you, and he’s a new man. I’ve seen that too.”
This made Joy smile. She felt like a new woman these days too.
“You really like him, huh?”
Joy nodded. “More than I wanted to let myself.”
“That’s how it happens.” Emma let go of Joy’s hand. She giggled and sipped her coffee. “I’m really happy for you. Maybe we can go out on a double date or something in the New Year. Me and Jack and you and Granger.”
“That sounds fun,” Joy said with a smile. The thought of Erin was still bothering her but Emma had eased her mind a bit. Just because Erin was back didn’t mean that she was losing Granger. She’d just found him. She wasn’t ready to let him go, which both surprised and terrified her.
“Well, I better get back to the counter. Coffee breaks around here are short and sweet. But come back again next week, and let’s do this again.”
“I’d love that,” Joy said. She watched Emma return to the counter for a moment. Then she collected her coffee and bag and headed down Main Street for a little window-shopping. She wasn’t one to give store-bought gifts to others. Homemade was best. But she didn’t mind buying a little something for herself. Maybe something new to wear when she went out with Granger on their next date.
The old, fearful Joy would be canceling that date now that Erin was back in town, thinking that she couldn’t trust Granger or her heart if someone else was in the picture. Joy definitely felt like a new woman these days. The doubts might come but she was doing her best to push them away. She had feelings for Granger, and she wasn’t going to let a little fear of heartbreak and rejection lead her astray.
* * *
Granger sat in the stiff vinyl booth of a diner just outside of Sweetwater Springs. He was anxious and hungry. Last night when he’d gone inside the house after the hayride, Erin had already left. She’d left a number where she could be reached and a note asking him to meet her for breakfast. He’d texted her when he’d found it this morning to make arrangements, and they’d chosen a place far enough removed from the valley where they were unlikely to run into anyone they knew.
“Can I get you so
mething to eat?” a waitress asked.
Granger looked up at the older woman. She’d already asked him once, and he’d told her he was waiting for someone. That someone wasn’t here yet though. And maybe Erin wasn’t coming after all.
Granger blew out a breath. Maybe last night had been a fluke, and Erin had run away again. Maybe she had no intention of returning to the farm and teaching Abby how to knit like Abby had gone on and on about before bed last night.
“Would you like a plate of biscuits while you wait?” the waitress suggested.
“I, uh…”
A bell rang on the entry door to the diner, and Erin stepped inside. She looked around for a moment before spotting him. There was a note of hesitation in her eyes as she headed in his direction, dressed in a heavy wool coat with a brightly colored scarf around her neck.
“Looks like your date arrived,” the waitress said with a smile. “I’ll leave the menus here and be back to take your order in just a minute.”
Granger wanted to tell her this wasn’t a date. If he didn’t, he’d feel a little disloyal to Joy. But the waitress had already stepped away, leaving him and Erin alone.
Erin slid into the booth across from him. “Sorry I’m late,” she said. “I guess I forgot how to get here.”
Seven years would do that to a person.
This was the spot where he and Erin used to come when they’d first started dating. They hadn’t wanted anyone to intrude on their new romance. They’d wanted to keep it to themselves as much as possible. What had Granger been thinking when he’d chosen this place? He didn’t want any romantic ties to Erin. He just wanted to be removed from the public eye.
“You’re not that late,” he said, studying her face. He hadn’t gotten a good chance yesterday afternoon. He’d been too taken aback that she was actually standing in front of him. But now, he looked at her more closely. It had been a long time since he’d laid eyes on her. She looked healthy. And just as attractive as ever, but he didn’t think of her that way anymore.
“It’s not okay,” he finally said. “Coming back without discussing it with me first isn’t okay, Erin.”