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“Here we go, please join in,” Mom said, putting her arm around my waist.
We had decided before the party that our song tonight would be Silent Night. My mother and father always started, then we joined in. I moved back from the mic and took my spot between August and Trey. I was so distracted by the elf staring at me that I kept forgetting the words. When it came to my solo part, I totally botched it and received an elbow to each side of my ribs.
Something is off here. Why wouldn’t the guys tell me the elf had my phone. They clearly know her. Maybe it’s not my phone. Lots of girls have sparkly phone cases.
I glanced over to her a few times, trying to get a look at her cell, but she had her hands behind her back and had stopped looking my way. I looked around the room at smiling faces and my eyes landed on a girl I didn’t know who was busy texting on a very sparkly phone. I continued scanning the room and found another girl with a sparkly case. By the time I finished scanning from the stage, I’d counted six.
Okay, so there are six, including the elf. Now I just needed to narrow it down. I should start with Gunner to see what he knew about the elf.
Chapter 52
Paige
Istood nervously next to Gunner and Charlie. They’d just dropped the bomb that they knew who the mystery man was and that I was Apple. I’d just admitted I wanted both options, knowing full well I couldn’t. My mystery man had asked me to meet him, but I switched it on a whim and said where I was and that he should come and find me.
“What am I going to do?” I asked the two men. “I want to be adopted. It’s been a dream of mine my whole life.”
“But?” Gunner prompted me to go on.
“But it’s a tough decision.” I looked around. “Maybe it’s not so tough. Mystery man didn’t come for me. Or, he did but didn’t like what he saw.”
“Who wouldn’t like you?” Charlie smiled. “I think I deserve another candy cane for that.”
I checked my pocket for a candy cane, but I was empty. I walked over to the workshop and grabbed a handful of them. The Hawthorne family was, one by one, climbing the steps to the stage.
This is it. I get to see who my husband would be if I say yes.
“That’s the family up there. The two on the far end are cousins,” Gunner said. “Their wives are next to them.”
“They all have wives. I don’t get it. Which one is for me?” I looked them over again. “See, there are only couples up there.”
Victoria was calling for someone but, with everyone laughing, I couldn’t make out the name she was saying. A person slammed into Gunner standing next to me, then zoomed around him. We met eyes briefly.
It’s the cute guy with the long hair.
He continued past us to the stage steps. I watched as he looked at me once more, then stumbled and hit the floor.
At least I didn’t knock him down this time. Maybe I didn’t the first time.
I listened as Victoria spoke about her family, hoping to catch a clue to the husband.
“Well, you all know my son, Asher, and how much he likes to make an entrance,” she chuckled into the mic. “I think we’re ready now, if his brothers can get him upright.”
The cute guy with the long hair is her son? Holy cow. I knocked him down. How did I not get fired? Victoria is looking directly at me. That has to be him.
I couldn’t stop looking at him. They were singing Silent Night, but I had to get away. I needed to talk to my mystery man. Victoria was going to want an answer and I had to have one. I waved to Gunner and Charlie, then hurried off to the workshop. I wasn’t ready to talk to anyone, so I did what I’ve always done, I hid.
“Paige, I know you’re in there. Come on out and let’s talk about this,” Gunner called from outside of the workshop. “I don’t fit inside there so you have to come out.”
“Why didn’t the mystery man come?” I moaned. “No one ever wants me.”
“Come on, let’s go to the office and chat before the Hawthornes get off the stage.” Gunner stuck his hand inside the little door. “Don’t make me lift this building up.”
I crawled out laughing. “As much as I’d like to see that, I’ll come peacefully.”
We walked off to the office. Gunner locked the door and I plopped down on the couch. I pulled the cell phone out and sent a text.
“Why didn’t you come find me?”
