“Do you have information?” I ask Angela. “Did you see anything?”
“Not exactly. But I heard Kate Shaller has been stockpiling decorations in her garage. She even rearranged a few things in yards around her neighborhood to make everything more aesthetic for the holiday home tour.”
“Are you saying you think Kate took the elves?” Jesse asks directly.
“I’m saying I wouldn’t put anything past her when it comes to holiday decorating.”
“We’ll keep that in mind,” Jesse says, shooting me a look that says he’s not buying Kate Shaller as a suspect.
“Kate’s on the town council,” Jesse informs me as he walks me back to my car. “She takes holidays seriously. She’s in charge of Bordeaux Days and the selection of Miss Corn Husk for our parade. And she manages the Red, White, Blue and Corn Too street festival over the Fourth of July.”
“The …” I start laughing before I can repeat everything Jesse just said.
He stops dead in his tracks, serious-officer face in place. “Are you mocking our provincial life?” he asks.
“No, Gaston, I’m not,” I say with a playful smile.
“Why Belle …” he starts, his voice intentionally deeper, but then he can’t keep his expression serious and we both end up laughing.
I want to ask him to use that deep voice again. It does things to me.Bread crumbs. Not the whole loaf.
“I’ve got to run,” Jesse says. “I’ll pick you up at ten tomorrow for your tour. Sound good?”
“Ten works,” I say, sliding into my car and watching him walk away.
Lexi calls me later that afternoon. I’m curled up on my couch reading a cozy mystery. “Want to come with me and the kids to take photos with Santa?”
A part of me wants to say no and stay tucked in the warmth and solitude of my home. I’m not an introvert, but I love my quiet pockets of time when there’s nothing else on the agenda. But another part of me feels honored that she’d include me.
“I’d love to,” I say.
“Great. We’ll pick you up in a half hour.”
When Lexi’s van pulls into my driveway, I’m already out the door. I hop into the passenger seat, turning to say hi to Poppy and Oliver.
“We seeing Santa,” Oliver tells me.
“That’s exciting,” I tell him.
“I have a list,” Poppy says, holding up a piece of paper. Numbers run down the side, neatly printed in marker. Next to each one is an item she’s hoping to get for Christmas.
I read some of the items out loud. “Unicorn pillow. Unicorn bean bag chair. Unicorn slime. Unicorn pixie crush …”
“That’s a stuffed unicorn,” Poppy informs me.
“I’m sensing a theme here,” I tell Lexi.
She smiles softly. “We’re into unicorns this week. Last week it was Disney princesses. Also, if you get my child slime of any sort, I’ll disown you.”
“Got it. What about if we use it at Auntie Alex’s house only?”
“You’ll bump yourself up to favorite aunt status indefinitely.”
“Well, that’s the plan,” I say, smiling.
“Unicorns have glitter in their slime,” Poppy informs me.
“You’ve been forewarned,” Lexi teases.
