“Not up to something. Just happy.”
“About?” Katie asked, restocking the pastries in the front display.
“The Harvest Festival Ball.”
Katie couldn’t hold back a groan. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to try and set me up with someone.”
“No. Why would I?” Charlotte asked, her face screwed up with confusion.
Peeking over at the Stanleys, she saw they were focused on their meal. Satisfied they wouldn’t overhear, Katie whispered, “Mr. Stanley suggested I go with Kyle.”
“Kyle? As in their neighbor kid? The one who sometimes helps at my parents’ corn maze?” Charlotte questioned.
“Yeah.”
Charlotte tried to stop herself, but laughter sputtered out of her. “Isn’t he like, twelve?”
“Sixteen, I’m told.”
“Oh, Katie. I’m sorry. That must’ve been horrifying.”
“It’ll make it a good story, I guess. But seriously, why is everyone so concerned about whether or not I’m going with someone? Can’t I be happily unattached? Maybe I’ll go by myself. It’s the twenty-first century, after all.”
Charlotte shrugged. “Meddling and knowing everyone else’s business kind of comes with living here.”
“I know.” Katie sighed. “So, if you’re not offering dating advice, what about the Harvest Festival Ball is making you so giddy?”
Charlotte looked like she was about to explode, shaking her hands and squealing in her seat. When she couldn’t take it any longer, she said in a stage whisper, “Harvey asked me to go with him. Finally.”
Katie nearly dropped the salt and pepper shakers she was holding. “You’re kidding me! How’d he work up the courage? He’s the quietest, shyest guy I think I’ve ever met.”
“Yeah,” Charlotte said starry-eyed. “I’ve been dropping hints like crazy that I wanted him to ask, and last night after I cut his hair, I thought he was going to pass out because it turns out, he’s been trying to ask me to go with him for a month. He had to work up the courage is all.”
“Well, I’m happy for you. You deserve it.”
Charlotte pulled out her wallet and put a five-dollar bill on the counter before helping herself to two large apple-stuffed fritters from the display. “So do you. You know, finding a date would put an end to everybody’s matchmaking pretty quickly.”
“Easier said than done,” Katie countered. “I’m fairly positive there is no one in the whole of Blessings that I can think of who’d make a suitable date.”
Katie heard the front door bell ding again, and she did a double take as a man she’d hardly seen in four years strolled in. Revealing a pair of dimples, he grinned at her as their eyes met.
“Hello, Katie. Long time, no see.”
Other Books in the Blessings of Love Series:
Brushstrokes and Blessings by Danielle Thorne
Blessed by the Fake Boyfriend by Lacy Andersen
Bless His Heart by Jessica L. Elliott
Abundantly Blessed by Rachael Eliker
Twice Blessed by J. J. DiBenedetto
Backward Blessings by Rachel A. Andersen
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
When my children get sick, the one thing they absolutely know we’ll eat is chicken noodle soup. Having two little ones with allergies means we’ve had to tweak and adjust recipes over the years. Luckily, chicken noodle soup really didn’t need a whole lot of tweaking. But when things are crazy and there’s not time to make the noodles, shortcuts come into play. And since soup is an easy way to sneak vegetables into my picky eater’s diet, we tend to like ours with lots of canned goodies. This soup is our go-to on cold, wintry days, or days when someone’s not quite feeling one-hundred percent.
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
1 32oz can of chicken broth
1 can Italian style diced tomatoes
1 large can of cooked chicken, drained (or 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken)
1 can cream-style corn
1 can mixed vegetables, drained
1/2 16oz. package of frozen broccoli
2-3 large handfuls of wide egg noodles
Put all ingredients except noodles in a stock pot. If needed, add water until all ingredients are covered. Set on the stove and heat over medium-high heat. When broth comes to a soft boil, add in egg noodles. Turn heat to medium-low and cook about 20 minutes, until noodles are soft and flavors blend. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Other Books by Jessica L. Elliott
Sweet Romances
Welcome to Romance Series
Katie’s Chance for Romance
Operation: Romance
Santa’s Visit in Romance
Love From the Lamp Series
Oh, Snap! (short story prequel)
How to Marry a Genie
How to Date a Genie
Fairy Matched Series
Of Snow and Mistletoe
Of Stars and Evergreen
Almost a Fairy Tale
Holly and Mr. Ivy
Scarlett and Blizzard
A Mermaid Under the Mistletoe (print only)
Wrapping Christmas
Fantasies
Charming Academy Series
Charming Academy
Finding Prince Charming
Prince Charming's Search
Becoming Prince Charming
The Ultimate Prince Charming
Prince Charming's Quest
Through the Rainbow series
Into the Rainbow
A Summer of Rainbows
Talori and the Shark (illustrated short story)
Toil and Trouble
Anthologies & Boxed Sets:
“Talori and the Shark” in Fantastic Creatures
“Leticia's Song” in Hall of Heroes
A Mermaid Under the Mistletoe in Wish Upon a Christmas Star
Bless His Heart Page 10