Page 127
I thought about texting Jo or Sam, but what then?
How did you tell your best friends that your home and so many lives were about to be changed forever?
I fell onto my bed and pushed my face against one of my pillows as the tears finally came.
So much for Christmas wishes.
Chapter Thirty
“Nothing like Christmas to help a family rediscover its magic.”
—A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
The family group chat buzzed constantly the next day with sightings and “covert photos”—courtesy of Marco—of Mr. Bailey and the new outsiders lurking around town with their clipboards and iPads. Jo said the “suits” even ordered their lattes extra hot, which was not only dangerous for the baristas to make, but it also completely ruined the coffee.
Jerks.
With only one day left till Christmas and just a few short ones till we found out what Mr. Bailey planned to do with the estate of The Market, the entire town seemed on edge. Sure, we sang songs like elves while we worked and continued to get things ready for our final two events of the season, but underneath the holly jolliness of it lingered one of the worst things to have in your heart, especially during Christmas.
Doubt.
Everyone who had a vendor stand in The Market passed the real estate section of the local newspaper back and forth among them, hoping someone would spot a cheap piece of property another person had overlooked. Dana from Creek Gems and Victoria from Glass Works started discussing what their future shared store could look like, but neither had enough money to put down. It was the same for Scott of Whispering Wicks Candles and Ms. Louisa’s Cozy Covers businesses. No one in Mullings Creek had realized just how affordable their rent was, how little Mr. Paxton charged them to use the space, until he was gone.
Even Nona’s traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes—a meal that was normally pretty tame except for that one time when Nico chased Bianca around with the baccalà till she punched him in the nose—felt different.
Marco didn’t make poop piles with chocolate chips near the animals in Nona’s nativity.
Aunt Helen forgot to buy the torrone.
And Mom almost burned the panettone.
Sure, several conversations were still happening at once in her kitchen as most of us went back for another helping of the linguine with clam sauce, but they were all about the uncertain future. Mom and Aunt Helen scrolled through property listings while they ate, but nothing had the right kind of light that Mom claimed she needed. Bianca attempted a positive spin, chiming in with different “fun” and “new” stores that could bring in even more business to our town, but Nico shut her down when he mentioned that more business meant more traffic and stoplights—both of which Bianca hated.
When the noise became a bit overwhelming, I joined Leo in front of the living room fireplace. The front door opened and Nona came inside, tucking her phone back in her sweater pocket, my mom following closely behind her.
“Where did you two go?” I asked them as they stepped out of their boots. I didn’t even remember them leaving.
“Just outside to take a call and talk about a couple of things.” Nona smoothed her hair and walked back toward the kitchen.
“Mrs. Holt needed to run over some details before the caroling tonight.” Mom winked at us and then followed Nona.
I took another bite of my lasagna—the melted mozzarella and spinach portions perfect, as usual—and checked the time, frowning.
Hold up.
That couldn’t be right.
It was Christmas Eve. Sam’s family always went to church before the caroling. And his mom would definitely not take phone calls during church.
My Uncle Gabe popped his head into the living room. “You two up for Spades?”
Leo and I both stood, but I put my hand on his arm. “If it gets too loud in there, just tap my leg with your foot a few times under the table, okay? I’ll make an excuse to leave, and you can come with me.”
“Next year is going to suck, isn’t it?” His bottom lip trembled. “Everything is changing.”
I took a breath and swallowed over the ache in my throat. “It’ll be great. You’re going to try new things, remember? You said you wanted to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering with Sam and Nico so you could join the club after school.” I took his hand. “Change can be a good thing.”
That’s rich coming from me.
