“A role of a lifetime. Of course. What was I thinking?”
Ian grinned, but then he went on, “Actually, I said I’d only do it if she agreed to feature Judd’s Orchard on Santa’s float. Since y’all have done so much for the film and—and for me. Your family has welcomed Georgie and me with open arms. I want to share the spotlight with you and highlight the farm.”
Candace and I shared a commiserating glance while Mercer and Brady started laughing.
Ian looked between the four of us. “What?”
In between wheezes, Brady said, “They got into a huge food fight the last time they were in the Christmas parade together.”
Ian’s blue eyes widened. “What?” he repeated. “I want to hear this story.”
“No!” Candace and I shouted in unison.
“It’s embarrassing,” my sister added. “I wasn’t my best self.”
“Yeah, you really weren’t,” I agreed.
Candace whacked me on the shoulder, and I chuckled.
“Anyway,” I said, meeting Ian’s amused and way-too-interested gaze. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re going to pass on the float thing. It’s not even a float anyway. You’ll just be riding on the back of Bubba Walcott’s hay trailer.”
Ian looked crestfallen. “But I already told Eloise that you’d dress up as Mrs. Claus.”
My siblings burst out laughing.
My mouth dropped open. “You did not.”
Just then, George came running into the kitchen and hugged me around the waist. The little stinker must have been eavesdropping because he immediately launched into a sales pitch. “Joanie, I get to ride on the float too! Uncle Ian says it’s okay because I’ll be in a costume and no one will know me. I’m going to be an elf. I want you to be an elf, too. Sophia’s going to be an elf. And Darren is going to be Rudolph.”
I glanced at Ian, who was biting his lip in a futile effort to hide his smile.
“An elf sounds good,” he agreed seriously, after he’d composed himself. “Or you could always be Mrs. Claus.”
I shot him a glare.
“Please, Joanie,” the kid begged, his blue eyes impossibly big. “Please ride the float with me.”
My chest constricted at the hope on his little face.
Everyone was looking at me, waiting for an answer. I’d rather drink ten cups of Ian’s coffee than ride on some stupid hay trailer for two hours in the cold this Sunday night.
“I’ll take care of the costumes,” Ian said. “You just have to show up.”
“Pleeeeease,” George pleaded.
With dread sinking like a weight in my belly, along with some truly horrific coffee, I managed a weak smile and said, “Sure, George. I’ll be an elf, too.”
The boy pumped a small fist in the air and let out a whoop. I could already feel the reluctant smile urging my lips into action.
My attention snagged on something clutched in George’s hand as he lowered it. There was a friendship bracelet wrapped around his fingers. The beads were alternating gold and silver, but I couldn’t make out the letters from here.
Before George could take off again, he ran over to Ian and said, “Here, I made this one for you.”
My family was oblivious to what was happening, back to talking amongst themselves, but I straightened on my stool. I knew Ian didn’t have a bracelet from George yet. I’d seen the longing on the man’s face when he caught sight of mine.
But now, it looked like Ian had been hit by a truck.
George thrust the beaded bracelet toward his uncle, and Ian lowered his big body down on one knee to accept it.
