Because he knew her well, Erik could see by her posture that she was feeling a little shy. But she stepped further into the room with Gael by her side, carrying an enormous foil-wrapped tray.
“Merry Christmas,” Gael said. “We brought cookies.”
“They’re from Trudy at the inn,” Jenny added.
That was met with predictable enthusiasm from everyone. The vets all crowded around Jenny and Gael as they made their way to one of the tables and set down the big tray, uncovering it to reveal amountainof gorgeous cookies.
Trudy had outdone herself. There were sugar cookies, gingerbread boys, what looked like rum balls, and even beautiful Italian pizzelles sprinkled in powdered sugar.
One or two guys broke into spontaneous applause, which prompted good-natured laughter from everyone.
“This is just what we needed,” Steven said as he turned to Jenny, his mouth already half full of gingerbread. “Now itreallyfeels like Christmas.”
“My nonna used to make these,” Tom said appreciatively as he lifted out one of the pizzelle snowflakes, a big smile on his face.
Jenny’s cheeks went pink with pleasure.
“Can I have one?” Gael asked her quietly.
“Of course,” Tom told him before Jenny could reply. “Kids should have lots of cookies on Christmas.”
But Gael waited until Jenny nodded to him before he reached out and took a gingerbread boy.
The two of them headed over to join Erik, and he reached out instinctively to take Jenny’s hand and pat Gael on the shoulder.
“I’m so glad you came,” he told them. He waswishing he could say more, but he was pretty sure they understood.
“This is really special,” Jenny said, looking around. “Everyone seems so happy.”
“We have a great group of guys and gals here,” Erik agreed. “And so many volunteers from town who all want to help out.”
“I can see why,” Jenny said, smiling as she watched Betty Ann talking avidly with two young men who seemed to hang on the older lady’s every word. “It’s such a welcoming place.”
“Cold enough for you?” Fallon asked playfully as he approached them.
“Oh, we’re used to it in Boston,” Jenny replied right away.
Fallon got a funny look on his face and Jenny’s eyes went wide as she realized her mistake.
Erik had a moment of panic. He’d been so thrilled to get Jenny to finally agree to go along with this crazy plan, only to have it blow up in their faces almost immediately.
“I mean,” Jenny said, fumbling a little, then regaining her composure. “I went to college in Boston, so I got used to it back then. We’re not from there, of course. We just flew in from…”
“Seattle,” Erik finished for her.
“That’s good,” Fallon teased. “Cap could never marry a Patriots fan.”
Gael let out a good laugh at that, and Erik could only hope that there were no follow-up questions.
“Hey, whatcha got there?” Fallon thankfully asked Gael instead, gesturing to the box Gael was pulling out of his backpack.
“It’s a guessing game,” Gael told him excitedly. “I got it for Christmas. Do you want to play?”
“Of course,” Fallon said, his eyes lighting up as he nodded. “Do we need more players?”
Gael seemed very excited at that prospect, and the two of them started off around the room, discussing the game and asking other vets if they wanted to play.
“He’s a great kid,” Erik said, watching the boy approach the vets one by one, practically vibrating with excitement each time someone nodded to him.
