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“Because it’s festive and you love seasonal stuff.”
“The real question is when everyone decided that chocolate mint was a seasonal thing.” I dared to take a sip of the strange-looking concoction. “Hmm, not bad actually.”
“So, how did Santa’s workshop go?”
“It went well, though I met the strangest guy before it started,” I mused, telling her the story of the handsome stranger who’d allowed me to push him into a tiny hut, and nearly gone along with letting me dress him up like Santa.
“Wow, we get one new hot guy in this boring town and you’ve probably scared him off forever. Good going,” Lily toasted me with a sarcastic grin coating her cherry lips.
“Well, might as well scare him off sooner rather than later. I’m an acquired taste, after all,” I sighed. There was no point in lamenting my terminally single status. I’d done it enough over the years, and it hadn’t changed a single thing.
“Well, who cares. I heard a rumor that some hot shot from the city is coming to take over ownership of Ivy House.”
“Really? Ivy House? I can’t believe it. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to get my hands on that place for a fundraising concert? It’s perfect for a festive one. I wonder who the person is from the city?”
Lily leaned in close to me and lowered her voice. “Don’t say anything, but I heard from my cousin, who heard from at the baker on Mainstreet, who heard it from her husband, a lawyer, that it was Lars Nilsen.”
“Lars who?”
Lily scoffed. “You’re such a hopeless case. Lars Nilsen, the local rock legend. A picture of rock god perfection, with too much talent for one body to contain, and a stone cold cool that no one can thaw.” Lily’s flare for the dramatic was really on point today.
“Oh, I don’t really follow celebrity news.” I took a deep drink of my cocktail. It was growing on me.
“This isn’t just any celeb, this is the most famous person Briar Vale ever produced!”
“Wait, Lars Nilsen, isn’t he the one who grew up at Sunshine Home?”
Sunshine Home was the local orphanage and desperately in need of funds. “This is great news. He might be really open to supporting the cause!”
“Don’t get too excited. I heard he isn’t very approachable. Apparently, he’s a bit of a recluse.”
“You can’t be a recluse around Christmas, or you’ll end up in a TV special and being visited by three ghosts. I’m sure he’d listen to the proposal, at least.”
Lily grinned at me. “If you’re planning on marching over to Ivy House and demanding that Lars Nilsen let you host a concert in his house, or else he’ll become a scrooge to all in town, I need to come with you.”
“I’m sure it won’t come to that. He might not even be going to live here. Maybe he’ll just sell it, or something.”
“Yeah, maybe. Still, don’t get your hopes up too high,” Lily warned, knowing me far too well.
“Too late!” I clinked my glass against hers. “I can’t wait to raise a ton of money for the kids at Sunshine Home!”
CHAPTER3
Charlie
The next morning, I headed out early to meet the manager of Sunshine Home, Chris. We’d gone to school together, and he was about the only person in Briar Vale who cared as much about the orphanage as I did.
“Morning,” he smiled at me, passing me a hot drink, and getting into the passenger side of the car, as I idled outside the local coffee place.
“You’re a lifesaver!”
“Did Santa’s Grotto take it out of you yesterday?” Chris teased. Anything that involved Christmas events and kids promised to be the most tiring thing by far, and the most rewarding.
“Definitely, but we raised a lot, so I’m happy,” I sighed, sipping my coffee, before nestling it in the cup holder and pulling out into the morning traffic winding along Mainstreet.
“You’re an angel, in case anyone hasn’t told you that for a while,” Chris said, tugging his seatbelt on and settling back.
“That’s a bit far, but if this Ivy House thing works out, I might just agree with you. I swear, all that Sunshine Home needs is the right publicity, and the donations would pour in.”
