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1
Sarah’s kitchen lay in a state of homey disrepair—a Walt Disney muddle, soundtrack and all. She smiled as she pictured it on the big screen, her radio bopping to that jingle-bell beat,fat ink-spot notes bouncing from the speakers. Birds peeking in through the cracks in the walls, cheeping and whistling and—
“—that sound okay?”
Sarah cleared her throat. She’d zoned out completely, soothed by the cadence of Aunt Nancy’s chatter. She reached for her spatula, and for an excuse.
“My phone must’ve cut out. Could you say that again?”
Aunt Nancy made a huffing sound. “The ChristmasGames,” she repeated. “I thought we’d team you up with Cassie and Amy. Amy’s sprained her ankle, so she’ll need lots of help.”
Sarah dropped her spatula, the bright Disney sparkle disappearing from her day. She’d wanted to win this year, to hit the family’s annual holiday games like a storm. To crush the competition and snatch the Cup—Chickadee who? My name’s Sarah. Sarah!But Cass, bless her heart, just played for fun, and Amy, with her ankle, what help could she be?
“It’ll be great,” said Aunt Nancy. “No pressure to win, so you’ll just relax—play games, sip cider, have a good time.”
Sarah stifled a groan as her aunt rattled on. She rinsed her spatula clean and was shaking it dry when the front door flew open. Little Weston burst in and came thundering down the hall, red-nosed from the cold, winter coat flapping. His dad followed sideways, maneuvering a huge diorama down the narrow hall. He was singing along with the radio, his low, pleasant baritone smooth as melted butter.
“What’s all that noise?” Aunt Nancy’s tone was sharp. “You got company I don’t know about?”
“Just Tad and West.”
“Who?”
“Thaddeus Murphy and his son, Weston. You’ve met them, remember? Tad’s the carpenter renovating my house.”
“So he’sTadnow, is he?”
“Everyone calls him that.” Sarah waved, flushing, as Tad set his diorama on the kitchen table. He and West must’ve spent all night on that—a quaint little settler town straight off a postcard. Needle-felt horses stood at toothpick hitching posts, red ribbon reins hanging off their necks. Marshmallow ducks floated on a smooth tinfoil pond. Tad would kickassat the gingerbread house competition.Hewas the kind of partner she needed if she wanted to snag that Cup.
Aunt Nancy made a clucking sound, calling her back to the present. “All that banging around, I don’t know how you stand it. I mean, why not stay in the big house? There’s plenty of room, and your family’s right there…”
Because I’m twenty-five, and I need my own space?Sarah bit her tongue. That wasn’t an argument her aunt would understand. “Will and Suzanna need private time, and that’s hard enough with the twins underfoot. It was the least I could do to get out of their way. Besides, I love this old cabin.”
Aunt Nancy tutted again, but she dropped the subject. “So, you, Cass, and Amy, right? I can put you down as a team?”
“Huh? Oh, the Games.” Sarah shook her head. “Listen, you caught me in the middle of about ten different things. I’ve got dishes to wash, cookies in the oven. Could I think it over and let you know tomorrow?”
“What’s to think over? The three of you, it’s a match made in heaven.”
Sarah nudged a bowl off the counter so it clanged on the floor. “Whoops—gotta go! I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Sarah hung up, and everything was Disney again—Christmas songs on the radio, the air sweet with baking. Tad had found a dustpan, and was sweeping up debris from West’s diorama. He paused as the music stopped and the DJ cut in.
“And today’s trivia question, worth two square dancing lessons at Jen’s Dance Barn on Main…this delicious striped candy also serves as an expression of disdain. Name that candy for—”
“Humbug.Bah, humbug.” Tad stood up, grinning, and dumped the mess in the trash. “They make ’em too easy. Who wouldn’t get that?”
“You’d be surprised…” Sarah cocked her head, considering. Tad reallywouldmake a perfect partner for the Games. He’d slay karaoke, dominate Christmas trivia. A real fighting partner, how great would that be? “You know, I was thinking—”
“Can I have a cookie?” West beamed up at her, missing two front teeth.
“They’re still baking,” said Sarah. “Can you wait five more minutes?”
“I think so…” He wilted a moment, then immediately perked up. “Hey, on the phone just now, was that about the Games?”
“You’ve heard of the Games?”
“Beth and Ann told meeverything.” He jigged up and down, top-full of excitement. “How your family all fights for this big Christmas cup, and there’s singing and snowball fights, and evenmagic.I heard last year, at the talent show, Miss Jen made ahorsedisappear. And Beth and Ann’s dad wore the ugliest shirt.”
