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I winked. “I think that’
s just the adrenaline.”
“That too.”
We put our heads together over my phone. It would have been more efficient to split up and go through my list, but spending time together was way more fun. We discussed the pros and cons of every gift as if we were debating the next presidential election, then ended up buying twice as many things as we’d intended to.
We met Victoria and Chloe at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Eduardo’s Tacos, just one block away from Union Square.
Victoria whistled, looking at our hands.
“I was expecting you girls to have twice as many bags.”
“Victoria!” Pippa exclaimed in mock offense. “This was just the second round. We’ve already schlepped the first one to the car.”
Victoria laughed. “My bad. You two really shouldn’t go shopping without supervision.”
Pippa flashed a grin. I tried not to look too guilty.
“What did you get me?” Chloe asked, batting her eyelashes.
“You’re not going to find out until Christmas morning,” I warned, fully knowing I had failed to surprise my baby sister for the past four years. I didn’t even know how she found out every time. I fiercely guarded my lists.
Chloe sighed but didn’t insist, which only confirmed my suspicion that she already had a plan to find out anyway.
“Hope you didn’t buy me a kid gift though,” she said.
“You’ll see.” She was twelve and had declared that she wanted to be included in the teenager group.
“What kind of tacos are you girls in the mood for?” Victoria asked.
“How about one of everything?” I said. The aromas of freshly baked tortilla and chili, and the displays with guacamole, chicken, chips, and salads were making my mouth water.
Victoria rubbed her belly. “I like how you’re thinking.”
“I’ll go order at the cashier,” Chloe offered.
“How was the parent-teacher conference?” I asked once Chloe was out of earshot and Pippa, Victoria, and I headed to a table for four at the back. She was a great kid and never got into trouble, and yet I couldn’t help worrying about her.
After our parents passed away, I’d desperately wanted to shield the little ones from hurting. Lucas was a few years older than Chloe, and there had been no sugarcoating the loss for him. But it had been a blessing that Chloe had been so young. In many ways, Christopher and Victoria were the only parental figures she knew.
“The usual. She hates math, reads fantasy books under the desk. I pretend I’ll be stricter; the teacher pretends she believes me. What’s new with the two of you?”
I glanced sideways at Pippa, who gave me a small smile. Aha! She’d keep my secret, thank goodness.
No need to get Victoria involved in the matchmaking game as well. Unfortunately, my sister completely lacked any skill in that department, but she persisted, which had resulted in several cringe-worthy dates.
But I had a lot of faith in Pippa. She could somehow sense when two people had that spark together.
I was in such an excellent mood that I’d nearly forgotten I’d be chained to my office building for the next few weeks.
After downing the last taco, I made the mistake of checking my email. Winston had sent me a calendar invitation. He’d blocked the meeting room next to his office from six to eight p.m. every evening until Christmas.
That wasn’t my favorite meeting room. It was small, and it was the only one I hadn’t decorated for Christmas yet.
As the VP of branding, part of my job was spearheading the department store’s Christmas program, and that included decorating every floor and window display.
I’d loved, loved, loved going with Mom and Dad to Statham Department store as a kid during the Christmas countdown weeks, and now I was part of creating that magic. How amazing was that?
