“Yeah. I noticed he wasn’t at the gingerbread house contest though.” Julie reached over and petted Kringle, who rolled onto his back and started purring.
“I know. I saw him this morning in the driveway and offered to drive him over, but he acted as if he had forgotten he even signed up for it. Said he was going out of town.”
“Out of town? I thought he was staying to help his dad,” Julie said.
“Kent said he was only staying for a little while, so maybe he’s done helping,” Ida suggested.
Kristen shrugged, brushing the cookie crumbs off her fingers and taking the last sip of coffee. “I don’t know, but we have to hand in the skating-pond-decorating plans tomorrow, so if he’s out of town, maybe mine will win by default.”
“Let’s hope!” Julie said.
“I’m sure yours will win anyway,” Ida added. “Now, what do you say we get started with that decorating?”
Chapter 23
Dorothy watched as Kent took a healthy bite of one of her Christmas cookies. They were sitting in her kitchen over coffee after having noticed each other out decorating their porches. It felt good to make new friends, and even though neither of them had any romantic inclinations toward the other, it was nice to be neighborly.
“I haven’t had homemade cookies in ages.” Kent helped himself to another cookie, this time a chocolate chip.
George trotted over to sniff Kent’s socks. George had insisted on taking his boots off at the front door. Kent bent down to pet the cat. “Hey, there, little fella, how are you?”
“He’s great when he’s not getting into my yarn or trying to push all my knickknacks off the shelves.” Dorothy’s tone was light because even though George actually did do those things, she couldn’t be upset with him. She loved him too much already. “So how are you settling in over at your place?”
“I’m settling in quite nicely, thank you. At first, I wasn’t sure. It was such a big move, and since my wife left… well, things have been hard. I needed a change, and this is a new start for me. For the first time in a long time, I feel optimistic and hopeful for the future.”
Dorothy could relate to that. “And Mason? What does he think? He’s a very nice young man, by the way.”
Kent beamed at the compliment. “Mason thinks it’s good for me. He’s been a big help. Just between you and me, I wish he would stay on here. His job is demanding. He’s always traveling. It’s stressful. He needs to settle down, maybe have some kids of his own.”
“There’s nothing like having family around. It feels great to have Kristen back home. I know she’s going to get a place of her own, but she’ll still be in town.” Dorothy glanced down at George, grateful she’d have the cat for company in the house once Kristen moved out.
“She’s a nice girl. I noticed she and Mason seem to be getting along, and I was thinking… well… If they spent more time together, maybe Mason would have another reason to stay in Pinecone Falls.” Kent looked at her over the rim of his mug as if feeling her out to see if she thought maybe Kristen and Mason might be a good match.
Dorothy had actually been thinking the same thing. She’d seen the way Mason looked at Kristen when he was over the other day, and he did seem like a nice guy. It might be a little too early for Kristen to get into another relationship, but there was no harm in their being friends. And if she had a love interest here in town, it would be another reason for her not to start yearning for her old city life.
“That’s not a bad idea. I think they like each other.” Dorothy picked up a Hershey’s thumbprint cookie and bit into it. It was sweet and sugary, and the Hershey’s kiss in the middle added a velvety texture. “I think Kristen might like Mason even more if she didn’t see your business as somewhat of a competitor to ours.” Dorothy took another nibble and watched Kent’s face closely. He actually seemed a little bit surprised at the revelation. “You know, things are a little rocky here since Charlie died, and Kristen is trying to get the business back on an even keel. She might be overly sensitive. I know she’s taking this skating-pond competition to heart.”
“Oh, that! Mason seems to be taking it to heart too.” Kent’s face softened. “But you guys have been doing it for years. You should decorate it. I’ll tell Mason to let it go.”
That was very generous of him, but there was no reason for her family to take charity handouts. Kristen wouldn’t be happy about that. “I have an even better idea: maybe they could work together.”
Kent’s brows drew together. “Work together? That is a good idea. But I doubt Mason would get on board with that if I suggested it.”
Dorothy nodded. “Yes, same with Kristen. We need to make them feel like it’s their idea. But I think it could work. I mean, decorations don’t have to be all natural or all artificial, right?”
Dorothy glanced over at the silver-tinsel Christmas tree on Kent’s porch, and fond memories of her childhood Christmases bubbled up. “I always wanted to have a tinsel tree, but Charlie never wanted to, and I didn’t push it because he felt it wouldn’t look very good for the business. I don’t necessarily agree with that, and that tree makes me feel nostalgic and sentimental in a good way.”
Kent followed her gaze. “Yeah, and even when people have artificial trees, they still have some real greenery around. Not everyone wants to bother with the mess of a real tree.”
“Exactly. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. I think there’s room for both, and Mason and Kristen should be able to see that.”
Kent stood and held out his hand. “I agree. Put on your coat. I think I have an idea.”
Chapter 24
“I’m really going to need you to pull out all the stops at this trade show.” Brad sat behind his big mahogany desk, looking all serious and stern. Mason didn’t like the vibe, not one bit. And what, exactly, did he mean by “pull out all the stops”? But he knew better than to ask directly. With Brad, things always had to be approached a certain way, or he would get vague answers.
“I always give one hundred and ten percent at every trade show. You know that.”
