“Thankyou, Audrey. You have been amazing this holiday season. I know our plan was for you to babysit only for a month to earn extra cash for your mom’s Christmas gift, but if you want to stay on after the holidays, let me know. We could even work out a schedule for you to come one or two days a week so you don’t miss out on homework time or hanging out with friends.”
“I would like that.”
She checked her watch. “I’m sure you’re in a rush to be home, but if you want to wait for twenty minutes or so until I finish this arrangement, I can drop you off on our way to deliver it. I have to go right past your house.”
“That would be great, as long as I’m there before UncleRyan and Mom show up. I wanted to turn on all the tree lights and the outside decorations to welcome her home. Mom is going to be so happy with the way you helped us decorate for Christmas.”
“I hope so.”
She also hoped Kim had found what she needed to deal with some of her demons. She had missed the other woman’s help at the store these past few weeks. More than that, she had missed her friend.
While Audrey and Lydia watched a YouTube video in the break room, Holly hurried to finish the arrangement. She was tucking in the last spray of baby’s breath when Ginger walked through the employee entrance.
“How did the deliveries go?”
“Good, except I have one for someone who wasn’t home. I figured I would check again on my way home after I close.”
“Thanks for closing for me today.”
“You’ve put in so many long days this month, I wish you could take the whole month of January off.”
“Wouldn’t that be lovely?” Holly said as she tucked the card into the arrangement.
“Are you sure you still want to close early tomorrow?”
“Yes. If people haven’t purchased all the flowers they need before three p.m. on Christmas Eve, they don’t deserve my flowers anyway.”
With Ginger set to close the store, Holly poked her head into the break room to speak with Audrey and Lydia. “Okay. I’m ready to go.”
“Guess we’ll have to finish the show another time, kiddo,” Audrey said.
Holly helped her daughter into her coat and boots, cleaned up the snack debris and then ushered both girls out to her SUV.
The lake gleamed in the sunshine, reflecting the majestic snow-covered mountains as she drove the short distance to Kim’s house.
Audrey hopped out. “Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem. I’ll swing by later with dinner.”
“I wonder if my mom would like some Christmas cookies.”
“I’m sure she would.”
“I have a pretty good peanut butter cookie recipe, the kind where you press a chocolate candy in the middle. Mom loves those. And I bet Uncle Ryan does, too.”
By some miracle, Holly had spent several moments without thinking of him but now memories of their kiss crowded back.
She likely would see him later when she dropped off the food, a prospect that almost made her wish she had never suggested it.
Maybe she could drop the food off on the porch, ring the doorbell and run.
With any luck, Audrey or Kim would meet her at the door and she wouldn’t even have to talk to Ryan.
Somehow she doubted the likelihood of that.
“I KNOW Ialready told you this but it bears repeating. You look great, Kim,” Ryan commented to his sister as he drove the route from Boise to Shelter Springs.
He meant the words. She had cut her hair since he had seen her last, when she had visited him in San Diego after his accident. She had started to regain weight and no longer looked thin to the point of gaunt. Most obviously, her eyes seemed to reflect an inner light again, something he hadn’t realized was missing until it was back.
