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Convince Jared to forgive me.
Kiss Jared five times a day.
Try to control my temper.
Take a vacation with Jared.
Slow dance with Jared.
Take a cooking class.
Ask Sarah to teach me to knit.
Knit Jared beanies for next winter.
Make sure Mittens and Rip become best friends.
Tell Jared I love him every minute of every day until he believes me.
Jared sucked in a breath. Anna Beth loved him?
“Was it something good?” Forrest asked.
“Yes.” Jared held up the ornament and his sisters all complimented it.
Savannah stood and leaned over the coffee table. “What did the letter say?”
“None of your business,” he answered.
Grayson went for the tree. “I’m next.”
“Get your butt back,” Dad growled. “Only your mom says who is next.”
Several arguments broke out between the siblings, but Jared wasn’t really listening as he stared down at the picture of him and Anna Beth smiling. Anna Beth loved him. She’d gifted him a picture of the two of them as though they were together. Even though he’d been keeping his distance, she still went out on a limb to show him how she felt.
“If you’re not feeling great, honey, why don’t you go home and rest?” his mom said.
“Are you sure?”
“I insist, but I want you back here bright and early with your smile in place.”
Jared rolled his eyes. “Yes, ma’am.”
He got up and said his goodbyes. Once he’d slipped into his coat, he went out onto the porch and took his phone from his pocket. There were no missed calls from Anna Beth.
The door opened behind him and he stopped, expecting his mother to lure him back inside. But, when he turned around, he found Casey, his hands shoved in his pockets, acting nervous.
“I just wanted to say, I ran into Lane. He told me what you visited and what a cool guy you were. I wanted to say thanks. He was really cool to me and I know it’s because of you.”
Jared nodded. “Your welcome, Case. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Jared held out his arms. “Hug?”
“Yeah, right,” Casey laughed, ducking back inside.
Jared chuckled. Someday the kid would come around.
When he climbed into his truck, Jared pulled out his phone. Nothing from Anna Beth. Why would she go to the trouble of giving him a gift, but not call? He ran his thumb over her contact picture. Maybe he’d just wish her a Merry Christmas. That wouldn’t be weird. Get a conversation going, mention he loved her too.
Jared hit the button and dialed Anna Beth, putting it on speaker phone. After two rings, it went to voicemail. She’d sent him there, but he left a message anyway.
