Season of Joy

by Annie Rains

  Erin was here to stay, and Joy was happy for her. There was no reason to be jealous because Granger and Erin had both told Joy they weren’t interested in each other romantically. Otherwise, she’d make herself miserable.

  Joy had needed Mrs. Fields’s help to make Erin’s tree. Joy looked at it now, her gaze running down the collection of photographs of Abby and Willow. She’d made copies of the originals and had used laminating paper to protect the images so Erin could enjoy the tree for years to come.

  Joy looked from one tree branch to another, each reflecting the girls’ beaming faces at various times in their lives. They were smiling, happy, beautiful girls. And Joy loved them. She loved their father too.

  “Joy?”

  Her emotions were already high, thinking about all these people who meant so much to her. Granger most of all. She turned to face him, steadying her breath and trying to keep her tears at bay. She had so many feelings bubbling out of her.

  “I’ve been looking for you. I didn’t know you were out here,” he said, stepping closer.

  “I’ve been here most of the day.” She shrugged. “I came here looking for you earlier.”

  “And apparently never left.” Granger took another step, his gaze fixed on her. “Aren’t you freezing out here?”

  She shook her head, even as a chill ran through her. “The space heaters are keeping me warm. And I’ve been working steadily out here. The view makes for good inspiration. I love a white Christmas.”

  “Me too.”

  They stood a couple of feet apart, looking at each other. Just a couple of days ago, they would have greeted each other with a kiss. They wouldn’t have been able to pry their hands from one another. Now their hands were shoved in pockets or fidgeting in front of them.

  There were so many things Joy wanted to say but she couldn’t figure out where to start.

  Granger blew out a white puff of air as he looked around. “What have you been working on out here?”

  Joy looked around as well. “Trees.”

  Granger smiled back at her. “I thought I was the one in the Christmas tree business.”

  She cocked her head to one side. “I guess you and I have a few things in common.”

  “More than a few things, I’d say.” He moved closer. She watched him take a breath as a cast of micro expressions rippled over his face. “I was a jerk.”

  Joy’s lips parted. “No, you weren’t.”

  He held up a hand. “I let one of the best things to happen to me in a long time walk away. And I regret it. That’s why I’ve been looking for you all day. I want another chance.”

  “There’s another thing we have in common. That’s why I was looking for you too,” Joy said. “I should have trusted you when you told me Erin kissed you. I should’ve trusted myself. I was just…” She shook her head, looking for the right words. It felt like Christmas depended on saying this right. It felt like the rest of her life would be determined by what happened in this moment. “You were right—I was looking for you to do something wrong. I was expecting it.”

  “Because you’ve been hurt in the past. It makes sense.”

  Joy swallowed. “Maybe, but that doesn’t make it right. If we’re going to be together, we need to trust each other. I’m sorry, Granger.”

  He kept his gaze heavy on her. She wanted to look into these eyes for the rest of her life. Was that too much to ask?

  “So,” he said, “can we maybe start again?”

  Joy hesitated and then shook her head. “That’s not what I want.”

  Disappointment flashed across his unwavering gaze.

  She reached for his hand. “Starting over would mean erasing this entire December, which has been the best month of my life. This is the month that I fell in love with you. I don’t want to lose that for anything.”

  “Neither do I.” Granger grabbed her other hand and squeezed them both. “I fell in love with you too, Joy. Deeper and harder than I ever expected. I’ve loved every second I’ve gotten to spend with you, and call me selfish, but I want more. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get enough of you.”

  Joy smiled, feeling an overwhelming feeling of relief and excitement. She went up on her tiptoes to kiss him, stopping short of his lips. “Wait. Not yet.”

  Granger gave her a questioning look as she laughed, her breaths coming out in white puffs.

  “I have a present for you.” She gestured for him to follow her to one of the trees she’d worked on today. Like her aunt Darby’s tree, this one was wrapped tightly with thick vines from the woods. She hadn’t painted this one though. Instead, she’d taken every sprig of mistletoe she could find and had woven them into the folds of the conical structure. “I know you want a mistletoe path for lovers but I thought this year we could have a mistletoe tree. For us.”

  Granger’s smile seemed to grow as he admired what she’d made for him. “A mistletoe tree?”

  She nodded. “Do you like it?”

  He turned to face her. “I love it. And I have a present for you too,” he said, reaching into his coat pocket. He pulled out the origami rose that Joy had helped Abby make. “I know I didn’t make this myself but it’s still coming from my heart.” He held it out to her. “Merry Christmas, Joy.”

  She took the paper flower, remembering how careful Abby had been in folding the paper. She’d worked with precision, and Joy had been so proud of her. She was such a sweet girl to give it to Granger as a present for Joy.

  Emotion swelled at all the implications. Abby accepted her. Willow did too. And Granger wanted her. It was complicated and simple, all at once.

  They both looked at the tree again. It twinkled brightly with the mini lights that Joy had strung around it.

  “Does this mean I get to kiss you now?” Granger asked. “I mean, I have plenty of mistletoe to help a guy out.”

  Joy grinned. “The nice thing about being a couple is that we can kiss each other anytime we want. No mistletoe required.”

  Granger’s eyes narrowed. “A couple, huh? That sounds serious.”

  “Definitely,” she said.

  The corners of Granger’s lips curved. “That’s good because you are all I wanted for Christmas this year.”

  Joy pulled in a breath. Her chest felt full with so many emotions—all wonderful. There was no fear. Not anymore. Just excitement, anticipation, and a whole lot of love. “You are all I didn’t know I wanted. And more,” she whispered.

  Granger looped his arms around her waist as he stared into her eyes. Warmth gathered between them. She could stay here forever and not be cold, no matter how hard the snow came down. “I guess sometimes Santa gets it right.”

  And sometimes her heart did too. All the time, if she listened closely.

  Pressing her body to his, Joy went up on her tiptoes once more, waiting for Granger to dip his lips to hers. Then they shared the first of many magical Christmas kisses to come.

  Epilogue

  A million tiny lights sparkled against the dark Christmas night. Joy shivered underneath the heavy burlap blanket that Granger had laid across their laps.

  “One last time down Peppermint Path?” He looked over with a handsome smile. It warmed Joy from the inside out. It’d only been one year since she and Granger had started dating but it seemed like forever.

  Granger reached for her hand and cranked the tractor’s engine, its motor quietly grinding along with the faint sound of holiday music streaming in from the speakers attached to the back for any passengers on the trailer. There were no passengers tonight. It was just Granger and Joy.

  They rode for a long time in silence, watching the lights. Tomorrow, Granger would take them down and put them in storage for next year. The big day had come and gone with all of its excitement and wrapping paper. There’d been carols and handcrafted gifts made from the heart. And lots of family and friends, reminiscing of past Christmases.

  “This time last year, I was worried that you’d be leaving in the New Year.” Granger glanced in J
oy’s direction. “You told me you were only staying through the holidays.”

  Joy shook her head. “That was before.”

  He lifted a brow, pretending not to know what she was talking about. “Before what?”

  Joy knocked her body softly against him. “You know exactly what it was before. You’re fishing, Granger Fields.”

  He grinned, carving out deep dimples in his cheeks. “Maybe. But sometimes a guy needs to have his ego stroked.”

  Joy giggled and tipped her head up to the sky. A million stars danced up there, all for them, it seemed. “That was before you stole my heart like a thief in the night.”

  Granger laughed lightly. “Oh, I don’t remember it that way.”

  She looked at him again. “No? How do you remember it?”

  Granger stopped the tractor, freeing up his hands to take hers. “The way I’ll tell the story one day, many Christmases from now, is that you stole my heart.”

  Joy swallowed as chills rode up and down her spine. She loved the thought of being with Granger many Christmases from now.

  “From the very first moment I brought the girls into the library for one of your art classes, my heart was yours.”

  Joy shook her head as a small laugh bubbled out of her. “That’s not true.”

  Granger squeezed her hands. “It is. I knew as soon as I saw you. There was just something in the air between us. A spark. I knew if I spent any amount of time with you, I’d be a goner. I was scared of getting hurt again though. I was a broken man, and somehow you put me back together again.”

  Joy wasn’t sure why she was suddenly crying but tears streamed down her cheeks. “Funny. I thought you put me back together again.” She smiled as he leaned in and kissed her softly. His lips were warm and inviting.

  “So there you have it—we can argue about what really happened every Christmas from now until we’re one hundred. Do you think you can put up with me for that long?”

  Joy thought he was joking at first but then she caught the look in his eyes. He was waiting for her to answer him. “You’re being serious.”

  Granger’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah. You stole my heart, and I don’t want it back, Joy. I never want it back. All I want this year, every year, for Christmas and every other day for the rest of our lives is you.”

  More tears slipped down her cheeks. She didn’t want to cry but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

  “Are you okay?” Granger asked, his eyes worried.

  She squeezed his hands this time. “Better than okay,” she finally said, sniffling. “You’re all I want for Christmas, and forever too.”

  “Good.” He grinned at her. “I lied.”

  Joy furrowed her brow. “What?”

  “I actually do want one more thing,” he said.

  Joy started laughing, even as she continued to cry happy tears. “You need to get some new tricks. I know exactly what you have in that coat pocket.” She reached in ahead of him, expecting to find a sprig of mistletoe. But this time, her fingertips hit a piece of smooth, cool metal. A gasp tumbled over her lips. “What is this?”

  Granger shrugged, his gaze unwavering. “Pull it out and see.”

  Joy trembled as she brought the ring out of his pocket and looked at it in the starlight. “This isn’t mistletoe.”

  “No. I’m aiming for much more than a kiss tonight.”

  Joy looked at him. “This is a ring.”

  Granger nodded. “And if it’s too soon, you can tell me to wait. I just wanted to show you that I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to stay.”

  Joy shook her head. “It’s not too soon. It’s perfect, actually.”

  “Yeah?” Granger took the ring from her hand and held it to her finger. “Warning. I come with two little girls and six dogs.”

  “And I come with one jealous cat,” Joy added on a laugh.

  “Sounds like one big, happy family to me.”

  Joy nodded and looked down at the ring as Granger slid it on her left hand.

  “It’s not homemade but it does come from my heart. This was my grandmother’s,” he said.

  “It’s beautiful.” Joy wiped away her tears. “I couldn’t have drawn up a more perfect ring for myself.”

  “I’m glad you love it.” Granger tipped his head back down to his coat. “Okay, now check the other pocket.”

  Joy narrowed her eyes. Then she reached into the other side of his coat, and her fingers hit a small sprig of mistletoe. She pulled it out and held it over his head, and then leaned in to press her lips to his. “This is the best Christmas ever,” she said, echoing what Willow had shouted out in the living room this morning as she’d unwrapped her presents.

  Granger brushed his lips over hers in tiny kisses as he spoke. “Until next year. What do you say? Same time, same place. We can get married right here under the stars on Peppermint Path.”

  Joy looked around, taking in the idea. “It is pretty magical out here.”

  “We can make it a small affair for family and friends. You in a white dress…”

  She looked at him and smiled. “And you in a checked flannel shirt and jeans?” She couldn’t imagine anything more perfect. “I say yes,” she said. Then she snuggled in closer, tucking herself into the crook of his arm as they both looked out on the night, dreaming of Christmases past and Christmases to come, and every moment in between.

  Acknowledgments

  ’Tis the season to make a list and check it twice. My list of those who’ve helped me with this book, and in my author career, is long. I’m so thankful to every person who has offered their time, knowledge, and support in bringing Joy and Granger’s story to life.

  First, I want to thank my family. With every book, I have a greater understanding of my family’s own sacrifice to help me bring these books to the shelves. Thank you, Sonny, Ralphie, Doc, and Lydia, for making sure I have the time I need to get these stories written down. You are my personal heroes every day, and I love you all so much!

  Secondly, my editor Alex Logan deserves an award greater than my thanks. I do believe I have the most amazing editor in the world (I might be biased), and I’m so lucky to have worked with you on this series. I’m also in awe of my publisher, Grand Central / Forever. Thanks to everyone who works so hard behind the scenes!

  I also believe I have the most wonderful agent in the world in Sarah Younger (again, I could be biased). Thank you, Sarah, for your encouragement, advice, support, etc., etc., etc.! You are amazing!

  Thank you to Rachel Lacey for always being my first reader—you make my stories so much better! Thank you to Tif Marcelo for your constant cheerleading in this author journey—some days that’s the difference between putting words on paper or procrastinating because they won’t come easy. Thank you (again) to my husband, Sonny, for helping me plot and develop the apple cider recipe in the back of this book. I also want to thank my mother-in-law, Annette Rains, for taking care of the kids while I plotted and drafted this book last summer. I’m not sure I could’ve written this story without that added time to focus.

  This book is dedicated to my dad, David Hemby, who I also want to thank here in my acknowledgments. Mom often says, “I don’t know where you got your writing talent.” I do believe the answer is from you. You are a master storyteller. I learned from watching and listening to you over the years. Thank you for that, and for being an amazing father above all.

  Last, but never least, I want to thank my readers for returning to Sweetwater Springs again and again, story after story. Your kind words, reviews, and support are such a gift. Thank you. I hope this holiday season is a merry one for all of you!

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  Merry Mountain Farms’

  Famous Apple Cider

  There’s nothing better than a cup of tasty goodness fresh from Merry Mountain’s orchards to warm your heart during the holi
days! It’s the perfect beverage to have while trimming and decorating the tree (hopefully live from our tree farm).

  Ingredients:

  12 medium-size apples (Fuji apples are great for sweet cider. Granny Smith apples are a good choice for those who like their cider on the tart side.)

  2 peeled oranges (sectioned)

  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  1 tablespoon ground cloves

  Optional: 1 tablespoon ground ginger and/or 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

  1 gallon filtered water

  Brown sugar to taste (the sweeter the better when the grandchildren come to visit!)

  Instructions:

  1. Wash, core, and slice the apples. Add the apple and orange wedges to a large slow cooker. Add the spices and pour water into the slow cooker until it completely covers the fruit by a good inch.

  2. For the patient chef, cook on low heat for 7–8 hours. Added benefit: Your home will smell like Christmas! If you’re in a hurry, cook on high heat for 3 hours.

  3. After cooking, use a large wooden spoon to mash the softened fruit as much as possible—squeeze out every last drop! Drain the liquid from the leftover pulp (but save the pulp for homemade applesauce).

  4. Time for a taste test. Add more sugar for sweetness, if desired.

  5. Serve your cider warm on a cold winter’s day. Refrigerate the rest for up to a week. It tastes so good that you’ll be lucky if it lasts a day. It certainly doesn’t when friends and family come to visit.

  * Don’t forget to add the secret ingredient before serving—lots of love! Shhh—don’t tell.

  Happy holidays from Merry Mountain Farms!

  About the Author

  Annie Rains is a USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author who writes small-town love stories set in fictional places in her home state of North Carolina. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s living out her own happily ever after with her husband and three children.