HOPPER
Our last Christmasevent of the season arrived on a bright, sunny day that was cold but clear.
Christmas Market Fest, Noel’s invention, was a big sale at the end of the season for our shop decor, baked goods, and gifts for last-minute shoppers. Ed had resumed his role as Santa, belting out ho-ho-hos to throngs of people, and Noel had gotten Kevin to volunteer as an adorable gift-wrapping elf, while Maggie ran the shop.
Kevin’s brother, Hunter, had brought his young family to the event, and Toby was currently chatting with Santa while Hunter’s husband, Clark, looked on. He was a slightly geeky but cute history teacher at the high school.
Noel, a few feet away, raised his phone and took a snapshot, then flashed me a thumbs-up. He’d appointed himself marketing director for the day and was taking photos and videos and posting to social media, as well as lending a hand wherever he could.
A couple of days ago, this event would have been a bittersweet ending before Noel left town. Now that he was staying, it was only the beginning.
Literally the beginning. Noel had set us down last night and walked us through the many,manyplans he had for the farm in the off-season, starting with investing in better event facilities that would include an attached kitchen.
Maggie, Ed, and I had all exchanged slightly frightened looks as Noel laid out his vision for the future, and yet, we all believed he’d find a way to do it.
Grisold Christmas Tree Farm would be the site for weddings, parties, and other special events year-round—as well as an active tree farm during the holidays.
“Hey, man, great turnout.”
I turned to see Gray. He was with his boyfriend, Emory, and behind him was a group of other men.
“Thanks. It’s all Noel.”
Gray smiled. “I’d forgotten how determined he could be. He always told me he’d leave this place and make a great life for himself.”
“He did that,” I agreed. “And now he’s coming home to make a great life here.”
Gray’s eyebrows shot up. “No kidding? Well, sometimes we need to find ourselves before we can come home.”
“Okay, wise one,” one of the guys with him said, tone dripping with sarcasm.
He wore ripped jeans, a leather jacket, and a beanie over long blond hair that trailed over his shoulders.
Gray half shifted to gesture toward the group. “The sarcastic asshole is my brother Axel.”
I recognized him from the photo Kevin had shown us at the pub a few weeks ago.
Gray continued. “The man beside him is his boyfriend, Sheriff Harvey. The man is a saint to put up with my brother, just saying.”
“Hey,” Axel protested as the rest of the guys laughed in agreement.
“Good to see you again, Sheriff,” I said, nodding respectfully.
He wasn’t in uniform today, but I’d talked to him a few times in his deputy days when we had to deal with kids trying to party out at the farm during the summer months.
“My oldest brother there is Holden. Bossy as fuck. Look out for him.”
Holden rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He held hands with a much shorter man with pretty green eyes. “His boyfriend is Shiloh, and also the only guy who could put up with him.”
“That’s the truth,” Holden said with good humor, shooting Shiloh a small smile full of love.
“And the pouty one at the back is Bailey. He’s annoyed he’s even here, but we’re forcing him to engage in Christmas cheer.”
Bailey, a guy with messy brown hair, light blue eyes, and a scowl that would make any baby brother proud, flipped Gray the bird.
I laughed. “Thanks for coming out today, guys. I recommend getting into the market and trying to snag some cinnamon rolls before they run out. Noel made some extra baked goods for the event, and they are flying off the shelves. I think everyone wants an easy Christmas breakfast.”
Bailey’s eyes lit up. “I’ll go.”
