“There’s also spiked hot chocolate and Mistletoe Margaritas.” Kayla bounces her shoulders. “And funnel cake.”
“Actually, a drink sounds nice,” Mom says.
Ron smiles. “Lead the way.”
About ten minutes later, with our drinks procured, we push through the crowds toward the main stage where the community bell choir is finishing an enchanting rendition of “Carol of the Bells.” The tinkling of the chimes carries through the audience, flickering above the hushed voices like fireflies. The song finishes with a flourish, and everyone erupts into applause, including those passing by who’ve been stopped in their tracks by the performance.
“Give it up for the Loving Bell Choir,” a deep, velvety voice belonging to a short man with jet-black hair and a five o’clock shadow booms into a mic. Eddie O’Donnell hosts a popular morning radio show in Nashville, but he’s lived here for years and brings his adorable pit bull, Dolly, to the clinic. He’s something of a local celebrity.
Eddie claps along with the audience as the choir files offstage with smiles and waves.
“We’re going to take a five-minute break, but when we come back, it’s time for some holiday karaoke,” Eddie says. “The beautiful Agnes from The Knitting Post is manning the sign-up booth to the left of the stage. Give us a wave, Agnes.” He looks to where a woman about my mother’s age with a white-blonde chignon and an emerald green coat is sitting, and she wiggles her fingers in the air. “Remember, there’s a three-night stay at a gorgeous cabin in Gatlinburg up for grabs, so you better run like Rudolph to register.”
“I’ll scope out some good spots,” Ben says, starting for the seating area where people are beginning to disperse.
“Woo boy.” Kayla takes a slurp of her margarita. “I better get my name on the list before the tequila wears off.”
“Wait for me,” Aunt Rose says, reaching for Kayla’s arm. “Maybe I’ll put my name in.”
I twirl my finger at her. “You’re not fooling anyone. You just want to check out Eddie.”
“Of course, I do.” Aunt Rose lifts her chin, giving me a sly smirk. “I’m going to need a handsome suitor to accompany me to the mountains when I win.”
Oliver leans his head toward mine, his voice low as Kayla and Aunt Rose disappear through the crowd. “Your aunt is…” He trails off, searching for the right words.
“A man-eater? A shameless flirt? Likely to one day set off her Life Alert bracelet so a bunch of hot firefighters show up to rescue her?”
“Exactly.” He chuckles and takes a sip of his coffee. “So, your aunt has a thing for firefighters?”
“Any man in uniform, really. Why?” I ask. “Know someone at the fire hall you can set her up with?”
“I don’t,” Oliver says. “I was just wondering if this is something that runs in the family.”
I cock my head. “You want to know if I have a thing for men in uniform?”
His lips quirk. “Firefighters, specifically.”
I touch my finger to my chin, pretending to think about it. “You know, I’ve always been partial to park rangers.”
“It’s the hats, isn’t it?” he says with a grin. “I get it.”
This time, my fingers are the ones finding his. “But there’s one firefighter I think is pretty cute.”
“Over here!” Ben waves from the end of the third row.
Noah is already bounding toward him with Ellie and Emily on his heels, leaving the rest of us to follow suit.
“After you.” Ron smiles, gesturing for Mom to walk ahead.
“Half of us can sit here, and the other can sit in front of us,” Ben says as we get closer.
“I’m sitting in front of you,” Lucy says. “I don’t want anything to block me from seeing Kayla butcher that Mariah Carey high note.”
Oliver and I file in behind her and Willow, leaving two seats for Kayla and Rose, while Mom and Ron settle in behind us next to Ellie.
“We could do our famous duet,” Lucy says to me, leaning over Willow’s lap.
“Don’t you mean infamous?” Ben wrinkles his nose. “I didn’t think ‘Last Christmas’ could get any worse.”
