2. Decorate the cat room
3. Sign up for baking classes
4. Build a gingerbread house
5. Go sledding
6. Romantic kiss under the mistletoe that takes my breath away
7. Make a holiday recipe for fun
8. Dinner at Pasta Fresca to treat myself
9. Visit Milwaukee
10. See a shooting star
Oh, no. Hal hadn’t started explaining yet, but I already didn’t have a good feeling about where this was going.
“When I emailed you both, I wasn’t sure how this conversation would go. Then, when I stumbled upon Lily’s list, it all came together,” Hal started. “Life has a funny way of working out.”
I let out a dry scoff. There wasn’t anythingfunnyabout this.
“Gabe, if you want a chance at owning the building, you’ll first help Lily at Purrfect Blend while she brings on a new hire. Then you’ll complete the list with her. Along the way, you’ll be getting to know people in town.”
“What?!” we both exclaimed. Suddenly, Hal’s comment from yesterday—you’ll be here a while—made sense.
Hal continued. “Lily, I want you to enjoy the holiday season. This is your favorite time of the year, and I want to see you living your life. I’d like you to complete this list. Not only that, but I want you to have fun while doing it. Sign up for the baking classes you’ve talked about, go sledding, and the other ideas you have on here.”
“Hal, you can’t be serious.” Lily shook her head vehemently. “We can’t—we can’t do this list together.”
I rubbed my temples, my eyes zeroing in on the list, specifically number six. My jaw clenched, and I shook my head, too. “I’ve been in town for a day and a half and people already want me gone. There’s no way I’ll be able to get to know them.”
“He’s going to drive out my business simply by being there!”
“How much are you intending to sell the building for? Whatever you’re looking for, I’ll double it. Triple it, even.” I was desperate, looking to cling to anything to get out of this situation. To keep this strictly business. Because if I stayed here, if I got to know people, those lines would get blurred.
“Of course, you’re trying to throw money at the problem.” Lily raised her hands, letting her palms slap against her jean-covered thighs.
I brushed off her comment, telling Hal, “I have an idea for the building already.”
Her head whipped toward me, her blue eyes ice cold. “You’ve been in Golden Falls for two seconds. You can’t possibly know what this town needs or wants. You can shove that idea up?—”
“Let’s get back on track here,” Hal interrupted, which was a shame, really. I wanted to know where she was going to tell me toshovemy idea. “This isn’t about the money.” He shook his head. “I won’t be taking any offers or listening to ideas from either of you just yet. If you don’t like my conditions, you can back out. I won’t be offended or upset.”
I turned my head toward Lily, raising an eyebrow. Was she going to back out?
Lily looked at me and scoffed. “I’m not backing out. Are you?”
“Nope,” I said, popping the P. Even with Hal’s conditions, and having my trip extended, this was my one viable chance to create something that would benefit a community. To get noticed by my father for the work I wanted to be doing. I wasn’t going to give that up, even with a few obstacles. I couldn’t go back to Nelson Group empty-handed, only to continue doing the work my father wanted me to. It was time to finally take matters into my own hands.
“How will we know when you’ve made a decision?” Lily asked Hal.
“Once you complete the list, I’ll make up my mind and let you both know. Likely sometime early in the new year. But I have a feeling you’ll know before me.”
“We have to doeverysingle thing on my list?” Lily asked, exasperated, at the same time I asked, “But what about myactualjob?”
That meant I’d be in Golden Falls at least through the end of December, likely into January, too. I inhaled deeply, running my fingers through my hair. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make this work, but I’d find a way. I’d work remotely, but I wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news to my father that I was going to be in Golden Falls for a few weeks or more.
