Page 53 of Puppy Christmas

“What is it?” Helen asked quickly. “Why do you keep writing things down and then crossing them off?”

Lila tapped the pen against her teeth, thinking. “I was just wondering if it might be best if I ask him to meet me somewhere—for dinner, maybe, or even to come over to my house to pick something up. Oh! I like that one. Then we can arrange it so you just happen to be there, too. What could be more natural?”

“You wouldn’t mind?” Helen asked.

“Of course not,” Lila said. In fact, the more she thought about this plan, the better she liked it. With any luck, Helen would distract Patrick from whatever guilt was driving him to self-flagellate all over her.And good riddance.“That way, you can bring the boys along. They can help me out in the puppy kennel so you won’t have to worry about a babysitter.”

“You’d do that?” A loud crash sounded from the direction of the boys’ room, followed by a muffled howl. Helen made no move to go to her sons’ aid, instead stifling a sigh and giving Lila a wary look. “Are you sure? They’re an awful handful. Especially—”

Lila clutched the pen between her fingers, bracing herself for the inevitable.Especially for a woman like you. Especially for someone with no affection or sincerity or love for her fellow humans.

But Helen surprised her. “Especially when you’ve already done so much. Emily’s wrong. You’re not a princess. You’re my fairy freaking godmother.”

That description pleased Lila almost more than the third chocolate chip cookie Helen slid onto her plate.

“If that’s the case, we also need to decide on what you’re going to wear.” Lila got her pen ready again. “Now. What do you have in your closet that sparkles?”