Page 17

Every year, Kinstead hosts its Christmas market for a weekend in early December. Many, many years ago, several towns in the area came together to create festivities as tourist magnets.

During the first weekend of December, Kinstead sets up wooden booths our town invested in. We decorate our main square and spend a weekend selling handmade crafts, sweets and food. Then, the weekend before Christmas, it’s Wayward Hollow’s turn.

Both Christmas markets are quite the tourist attraction. And Kinstead’s only tourist attraction apart from a nearby national park. Maybe we should steal Wayward Hollow’s idea of doing an autumn fair as well.

It’s a team effort to get tourists into the area. Every weekend from Thanksgiving to Christmas, a different small town holds its festivities, a way to chop the tourism up into manageable chunks.

Five years ago, we tried to keep our Christmas market open for the entire season, during weekdays and weekends, every single day from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The experiment ultimately led to a lot of frostbites and a lot of frustration when an average of only two people visited it during the weekdays.

Harry, the committee lead from Wayward Hollow, wasn't thrilled about it either, because he feared nobody would come to their Christmas market anymore. Secretly, he must have been thrilled about our town's little experiment failing.

"No, I haven’t considered it yet."

"Saki and I can do a special praline or chocolate bar, and donate the proceeds from it to your shelter," she explains, rubbing her hands together for warmth. "And maybe you can talk to Rae and ask if she can do a special painting or wine and paint event. I bet your brother can arrange a special maple syrup from your parents’ farm. And, you know, I bet all the others will do something similar to help you out."

Huh. I'm almost taken aback. So far, my thoughts went to ‘which organ could I sell without bad repercussions,’ not to the Christmas market.

"Oh my god, Rebecca, you might be onto something. Thank you so, so much."

"Of course." She pats my arm again. "We have to stick together, and it's for the animals after all. Trust me, if I wasn’t allergic, I’d probably adopt all of your dogs." Dorothy is taking an interest in the ruffles of her apron, and I gently pull on her leash. After this revelation, and in general, I don’t want Rebecca to end up in the ER because her windpipe swells shut.

The more I think about it, the more excited I get. Not only at the prospect of having this particular emergency solved, but finding a way to get donations that are not from Mrs. Bernard for the future.

Bless her for everything she has done for me and the animals, but if this has taught me one thing, it’s how risky it is to depend on one donor for the important stuff.

Fool me once…

"Well, I've got to run, but I wanted to pop in and let you know we'll help where we can."

"Thank you so much, Rebecca. I appreciate it."

She stares at the dogs. Sophie nudges my thigh again, catching a wistful look from her.

"That's just cruel." She flexes her fingers, as if she’s actively fighting against wanting to per her. "I’ll have to pay the allergist a visit, maybe there’s a chance after all. Anyway, I'll see you around."

With one more little wave, she runs off, leaving me with my thoughts and four curious dogs.

"Okay, here we go," I tell the girls as we near a clearing in the forest.

Evan found this spot half a year ago and has been raving about it ever since. However, this is the first time I managed to come here. He said it was the perfect space to clear his head and sort his thoughts, which is exactly what I need.

Now, with most of the leaves off the trees and bare branches, it isn’t particularly stunning, but I'm sure come spring, when the whole meadow blooms with flowers and branches sway in gentle breezes, this will be a magical spot.

"Huh, it appears Evan was right for once." My voice is barely louder than the trees rustling as I slowly turn around myself. It’s definitely remote enough for me to let the girls run a little. Not all of them have great recall yet, but Rose does. And where Rose goes, the others go, so I’ll risk it.

"Brooke!" A voice appears right as I unclip Sophia’s leash. I jump, my heart beating so hard I fear it might jump out of my chest.

Clutching my jacket and forcing myself to take a deep breath, I slowly turn to the voice.

"Kieran? What the hell are you doing here?" My heart is still thundering, though suddenly for a very different reason.

"Um, walking my dog." He points down at the most adorable golden retriever. “Duh.”

"You have a dog?" I stare at him and slowly tilt my head. "How did I not know you have a dog?"

"I reckon there's a lot about me you don't know." He shrugs and leans down. "Brooke, this is Dick Van Dyke. Dick, this is Brooke."

I blink at him, my jaw dropping.