by Mary Leo
“How could you keep something like this a secret?” Carson asked, but as soon as the words tripped from his mouth he wanted to suck them back up.
“I, um, I...” She pointed at Jimmy, who seemed now to be permanently planted out in the snowdrift. “You ruined everything,” she yelled. “How could you?”
Then she spun and ran back into the house, slamming what had to be the bedroom door so hard the house shook. The dogs, no doubt scared by all the ruckus, started barking and came charging out the door just as the ginormous blue spruce went crashing down on the food table and broke through the front windows in a roar of crunching glass. A few startled cries went up, but other than that everyone jumped clear of the danger as Kayla’s Christmas angel plopped onto the porch floor and cracked in two.
“I only have one question,” Henry said as he draped his arm across Carson’s shoulders.
“What’s that?” Carson asked, knowing full well his dad was going to say something about how Zoe jinxed his birthday party and to ask him why on earth had he hired her to plan the thing when everyone knew she was bad luck. And how much more proof did he need to know he had to hire a new wedding planner.
At this point, Carson wasn’t in the mood, especially after seeing the look of shock on Zoe’s face. This mess was entirely caused by his overly excitable sister—his overly excitable pregnant sister, a concept that had taken him completely by surprise.
He turned to face his father, ready to defend Zoe and blame his dad’s little darling of a daughter.
Carson’s dad looked him in the eye, his wizened face deadpan as he asked, “Do you think it’s too late to order another cake?”
Chapter Five
It had been almost an entire week since Henry’s birthday party fiasco, and Zoe still hadn’t been able to face Carson or anyone in town for that matter. She’d tried not to let her sometimes overactive imagination get the best of her, thinking that everyone blamed her for what had happened when it was clearly a mixture of bad luck and a broken heart. She’d sent Henry another birthday cake and had refused to take any of Carson’s money for her time, but despite all of that, she still felt somehow responsible for ruining his dad’s birthday.
She’d locked herself away in her parents’ Briggs house, thinking no one would look for her there. The place stood empty most of the time. Her parents only used it occasionally, once in the summer for a few weeks, and over the Christmas holidays. Otherwise her parents were either working at their law firm and living in their Boise home or traveling. Zoe had opened the house up early and been surviving on delivered pizza, bread sticks and salads for the past six days. She’d developed a new appreciation for pepperoni, and what it could do to a person’s digestive tract if eaten in mass quantities.
She had barely spoken to Piper and had refused to answer any of Carson’s phone calls, not that he’d made more than two, but still. He’d never left a message either time, so she assumed she was still handling his wedding, although she wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to take his business elsewhere. After everything that had happened, it would probably be a wise decision, yet she couldn’t fathom someone else stepping in at such a late date.
And to top it all off, she couldn’t get that attempted kiss out of her head, nor could she get past the fact that she had feelings for him, now more than ever. It was her all-time worst personal disaster.
“You can’t be serious,” Piper grumbled while she arranged one more string of white lights over the town square’s gazebo railing. The purple highlights in her hair intensified in the morning sun, and her deep red lipstick matched the red on the ornaments that hung overhead. She wore a white sleeveless quilted vest over a bright red sweater, black jeans, heavy black Goth boots and bright green bell earrings. Aside from her boots, Piper fit right in with the cheery decor that surrounded her.
The Briggs town square was filled with more than a dozen volunteers who had cleared away most of the snow from the walkways and any other flat surface so they could decorate anything they could hang an ornament or light from, and that included the gazebo. The square was usually decorated by now, but the snowfall had been too intense for the past couple of weeks to allow for it. The weather forecast hadn’t called for any more snow in the near future, so the volunteers were taking full advantage of the blue skies.
“Dead serious. You have to do this for me,” Zoe insisted. She’d given it a lot of thought and decided this was her only option.
Piper shook her head. “You aren’t going to push Carson Grant off on me. You have to face him sometime. You do realize this wedding is exactly two weeks away, right?”
“I can’t believe he still hasn’t fired us. I assumed he’d want to go with another service.”
Piper’s forehead furrowed, as if what Zoe had said was completely preposterous. “He’s never once mentioned jumping ship, only that he wants to talk to you, in person, not on the phone.”
Zoe and Piper stood together inside the gazebo. Sunlight swirled off the sparkly red bows, golden garlands and shiny red-and-green ornaments that seemed to consume the large expanse of open space. All the pine trees in the square had been decorated just last week in preparation for that night’s events. Santa would officially be arriving in Briggs, not that Zoe even remotely cared about Santa, Christmas or anything festive.
Santa’s red velvet chair sat in the center of the gazebo waiting for Milo Gump’s arrival. Milo had been playing Santa for several years now, and Zoe couldn’t think of a time when Briggs had a better Santa Claus. Parents drove their kids in from all the surrounding towns to meet him. Zoe was certain it was his great big smile and his ability to calm even the most fearful child. For the next two weekends, along with the final days leading up to Christmas, Santa would be taking requests.
“I can’t,” Zoe finally said, trying to make it clear she simply couldn’t face Carson Grant ever again.
“Why not?”
“You have to ask?” Piper knew exactly why, but liked to play dumb whenever it suited her.
“The tree thing wasn’t your fault.”
“Tell that to this town. I can feel their eyes burning through me right now.”
Zoe and Piper glanced around at the volunteers and not one of them was looking their way, but that didn’t mean they weren’t thinking about it.
“It’s all in your head,” Piper told her, as if that was the final word on the subject.
“It’s only because they don’t know it’s me. My disguise is working,” Zoe whispered.
Zoe wore the big black sunglasses she’d found on her mom’s dresser, her mom’s black knit hat pulled down over her forehead, her mom’s black jacket with a fur collar and cuffs, her own black jeans and black over-the-knee leather boots.
“Maybe I’m wrong, but I believe you’re one of a handful of redheads in town.”
It never occurred to Zoe to cover up her hair, which cascaded down her back and over her shoulders like a neon sign that screamed This Is Zoe Smart. She gathered up her hair and shoved it under her hat, pulling it down over her ears, then she flipped her collar up just as Amanda Gump stepped up into the gazebo carrying two large covered paper cups.
“I thought you two could use some hot chocolate,” she said, then handed them each a cup. “Nice to see you out and about again, Zoe.”
Zoe cringed. “You, too,” Zoe mumbled under her breath, completely crestfallen.
Piper thanked Amanda for the hot drinks and before she walked away she said, “Love the shades, Zoe. They enhance the color of your hair.”
“Thanks,” Zoe replied.
Amanda winked, then, leaning in closer to Zoe, whispered, “Just between you and me, none of that stuff at Henry’s party was your fault, no matter what anybody says.”
Then she sashayed down the stairs as she said her goodbyes.
“That’s it.
I’m dying my hair brown,” Zoe announced once Amanda had left.
“No, you’re not,” Piper said. “You’re going to volunteer to be an elf tonight.”
“You heard what she said. I’m not paranoid. This town thinks I’m jinxed, so why on earth would I ever want to volunteer to be an elf? No one would bring their kids to see Santa.”
“I only have a few hours until the sun goes down and the entire town will show up for the official tree lighting ceremony. After that, I’m helping set up for the annual Art Attack inside the community center. Thank goodness that event seems to be coming together nicely. This event, on the other hand, has issues. As it stands, we don’t have enough generators to make the tree lights happen, and my order of large candy canes Santa usually hands out has been stuck in Chicago for the past two days due to the weather and we’re still missing an elf. I need three elves for Santa, and I can’t seem to get that third one to commit. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get somebody to agree to be an elf?”
Piper seemed to be swimming in chores. Whenever she got like this, Zoe knew to stay clear. Piper would certainly handle everything in the end, but getting to the end could land Zoe right in the center of the fray. “Can’t say that I do. No.”
“That’s what I mean. Nobody gives the elves much thought, but where would Santa be without his jovial little helpers?”
Zoe chuckled and shrugged. “Stuck making his own toys?”
“Don’t joke. This is serious business. I couldn’t possibly take over Carson’s wedding simply because you can’t...” Piper stopped hanging lights and turned to Zoe, as if she’d finally focused on the request. “Wait, what do you mean by you really can’t see him? He’s still our client, our only client. Of course you have to see him. Zoe, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. Nothing’s going on.” But Zoe knew she didn’t sound very convincing.
Piper dropped the string of lights back into the box, took Zoe’s gloved hand and led her over to Santa’s chair, where they could be a bit more private.
“Sit down and tell me the truth,” Piper ordered, pointing to the chair.
She cautiously sat in the big comfy chair that engulfed her, causing her to feel like a kid. Her feet barely touched the floor, and if she leaned back, she’d almost be lying down.
“There’s nothing to tell.” Zoe had no intention of telling Piper anything, especially the fact that Carson had tried to kiss her.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll guilt you into playing an elf tonight, and you’ll be stuck with Kitty Sullivan all afternoon while she customizes your costume and gives you a speech about how to make your life ‘green.’ I hear her lecture on Composting During the Winter Months can be quite informative.”
Zoe had met Kitty on a couple occasions and knew all about her “green” obsession. No way did she want to sit through that. Truth be told, Zoe secretly wanted to get Piper’s opinion on the attempted kiss, but didn’t want to take the chance of possibly embarrassing herself any further.
“Fine, but you have to keep this to yourself. Sisterly bond, okay?”
They hooked pinkies as they had done ever since they were in second grade. It was their way of guaranteeing that neither one of them would repeat what was said, even if they were being tortured by aliens. Not that either one of them believed in aliens anymore, but the promise of silence was still strong, no matter who tried to get the information.
Or so Zoe hoped.
“You got it, babe. Now tell me what this is all about.”
“Carson tried to kiss me.”
“What? Where?” Piper took a step back, as if someone had just shoved her.
“On the mouth.”
Piper moved in closer. “No, silly, I mean where were you when this happened? Was this before or after the tree incident?”
“Well before, out in front of his house. It wasn’t as if we were alone or anything. Half the town was probably out there. He’d just brought the tree home with Travis, and I guess he was excited to see everyone and, well, he leaned in and I stopped him. It was more than just his attempt at kissing me. There was something about it...about the moment. I can’t be sure, but I had the distinct feeling he wanted more than a simple kiss.”
Piper folded her arms across her chest just as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” blasted from the overhead speakers. Zoe wanted to throw something at the speakers. Could the timing have been any worse?
“I knew it. I knew that man wasn’t going to go through with his wedding. Once again, the rumors are true.”
Zoe jumped up. “Who said he wasn’t going through with his wedding?”
Two older women who were decorating a bench looked up at her. Zoe smiled, waved and said, “...with his sledding.” She turned to Piper and spoke in a clear, loud voice. “Santa will come right up to the gazebo in his sled. He’ll be sledding all over the place.”
The women went back to their decorating task, ignoring Zoe and Piper.
“Well, how can he if he’s trying a little knoodling with you?”
Zoe stepped in really close to Piper. “Could you please keep your voice down?”
“How long do you think you could keep your affair with Carson a secret?” Piper whispered as Mariah’s recorded voice echoed what Zoe was feeling. Okay, so yeah, she would like to see Carson standing outside her door or, better still, under her tree...
But he was getting married.
“We are not now, nor will I ever have an affair with Carson Grant,” Zoe whispered furtively, “as long as I can stay away from him. That’s why I want you to take over for me. We can switch. I can help out with the Heart Attack this year.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Especially since it’s not Heart Attack, it’s Art Attack, and you don’t know the first thing about running that venue. And just out of curiosity, is the feeling mutual?”
Zoe took a few steps back and ran into cardboard boxes filled with Christmas decorations. “Of course not. I don’t feel anything for Mr. Grant other than a professional relationship between a client and a vendor.”
“You’re lying. I can always tell, especially when you go all formal on me. Mr. Grant? Seriously? Plus, you always try to move as far away from me as possible. Fortunately, there’s not much room in this gazebo. You like him, don’t you?”
“Absolutely not.”
Piper lifted one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. “There’s that word.”
“What word?”
“Absolutely. I’ve found whenever someone uses that particular word combined with the word not, they’re big-time lying.”
Zoe flashed on a conversation between herself and her last boyfriend when she’d confronted him about his cheating. Absolutely not were his first words. Even politicians, thieves and murderers used the absolutely not refrain.
Piper had her cold. Zoe walked back to the Santa chair and plopped back down.
“Fine. Call me out, but I can’t seem to help it. No matter how many times I tell myself I’ll never fall for another rogue, I’m right back to doing exactly that. I’m pathetic.”
Piper sighed and plopped down next to her in the Santa chair. Zoe scooted over a bit to give Piper more room.
“How bad?”
“Seriously bad, to the point where in the last week, he’s all I can think about.”
“This really is a problem. I had no idea Carson Grant was a two-timing degenerate. But I suppose you can’t be the darling of an entire town and not be full of yourself. Little kids idolize him. He’s like some kind of town god. I’m surprised I never heard of his dalliances before.”
“I guess some men know how to keep these things a secret.”
Piper leaned back, nipping on her thumbnail. A habit she resorted to whenever she had to ponder something taxing. Apparently, Ca
rson’s love life had become a taxing problem.
“Didn’t he once date Lana Thomson?” Piper asked in a hushed voice.
“If he did, what does that prove? Lana dated half the men in this town,” Zoe replied using the same hushed voice.
“True, but she mostly only dates guys she can lure away from other women. I’m pretty sure this happened during freshman year of high school. I kind of remember when it was all going on. You and I were both still virgins and were waiting for our first kiss.”
“Speak for yourself.”
Piper sat up. “What? You weren’t a virgin?”
Zoe shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Of course I was a virgin. My parents barely ever allowed me out of their sight until I was seventeen. And even then, Spud Drive-In was off-limits.”
“But you kissed someone and didn’t tell me?”
Zoe nodded. “Yep. Beau Grant.”
“Father Beau Grant?” Piper turned to Zoe. An indignant look on her face, as if she’d caught Zoe in some sort of sin.
“He wasn’t a priest then, nor had he even mentioned the possibility to anyone. At least not that I can remember. Plus, he probably doesn’t remember. It was dark outside. Skaits Ice-Skating Rink wasn’t lit up like it is now. I did it on a dare and ran and hid as soon as it was over. It was an awkward first kiss, but really sweet. And I remember thinking how much I liked it. I wanted to kiss him again, but we both know how that turned out.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me this?”
“I always meant to, but when I heard he wanted to become a priest, I thought for sure the church would see him as a sinner for kissing me and not allow him to sign up. Of course, that was only the misconceptions of an eleven-year-old.” She shrugged. “Then after a while, I forgot about it.”
“Until now.”
“Yep. Until you mentioned Lana Thomson. She’s a couple years older than me, so she’s always been the more experienced woman.” Zoe chuckled at her memories of tall, trendy Lana, and how she had wanted to be just like her. “She kissed Beau right after I did, and soon after that she made out with Carson. They were hiding behind the ticket booth. I was so jealous I could spit. I’d had a secret crush on him from the first moment I saw him. Nothing ever came of it, but I was smitten for a long time.”