Under the mooseltoe, p.3
Under the Mooseltoe, page 3
Ava busied herself with the poufy red ribbon on the smallest basket.
“What are you doing here?” Brayden asked, turning his attention to the assortment of baskets. Each was a different size, all filled with Alaskan goodies. Many he recognized from her store—small Alaskan coffee packets, northern lights ornaments, and an assortment of fudge made in Fairbanks. Each basket was adorned with beautiful holiday ribbon and a giant bow.
“Trying something new.”
“Ava, have you seen this bookshelf? Your neighbor is so talented!” Sophie cooed. “The book club will love it. And the best part? The guests will always feel welcome to join in on any current discussion.”
“Clever idea,” Ava complimented. “Leave extra copies of the books out here for them to browse—”
“You got it.” Sophie looked back and forth between the two of them. “You two should join!”
“Oh, I don’t have time to read,” Ava said.
Sophie’s eyes fell on Brayden, forcing an answer from him. “Maybe after the holidays.” He nodded at the bookcase. “Lots of orders still to fill.”
“Well, there’s always room if either of you change your mind.”
“Here you go,” Cadence said to Ava, shoving an envelope at her. “I know it’s short notice, but Ford and I hope you can come.”
Brayden raised an eyebrow, certain the envelope contained a wedding invitation. As kind as the Whitmore sisters were to him when he arrived, he’d been too distant since then to earn an invitation. He liked Ford Harris, but Brayden hadn’t spent much time getting to know him as more than a passing acquaintance. When Brayden thought about it, the only true friend he’d made in Sunset Ridge was the hardware store owner, Harold Davies. And Ava, once upon a time.
“I better grab you a check,” Sophie said to Brayden. “Be right back.”
“A Christmas wedding?” Ava’s eyes illuminated.
“Two days before Christmas, so we don’t intrude too much on anyone’s holiday plans. Besides the fact my sisters are relentless in reminding me that I was the first of us to actually get engaged but the last to tie the knot, we want to make sure Rilee can make it. She has a summer internship next year, so we decided to stop waiting.”
“I have an interview with Rilee later,” Ava said. “I’ll be sure to give her that day off.”
“Wonderful! Bring a plus-one if you like.” Cadence briefly glanced at Brayden, her lips parted as if she were about to say more, but a ringing phone drew her away. She held up a finger. “Two minutes.”
Ava folded her arms, then unfolded them and shoved both hands in her pockets. He wondered what she had to be nervous about. Surely a gentle insinuation that she bring him as a plus-one didn’t have her all jittery. Their virtual fake relationship wouldn’t require him to attend.
“What’s with the baskets?” he asked when they were alone.
“Side project for the store,” she answered without looking at him.
Brayden knelt down, taking special interest in them. The attention to detail, from the ribbon to the way each Alaskan-made item was nestled inside, was exquisite. These weren’t simply baskets thrown together without care and precision. “This is what’s in your garage, then?”
“Yes.”
He hated how clipped her answers were and wished he could fix the awkward tension between them. Even if their fake relationship was only virtual, they still had to put on smiles and sit close together for some sweater deal. He wanted her to be comfortable around him. It’s still that letter, isn’t it, Ava? “Hey, why don’t we grab those pictures now?” When she hesitated, he added, “I’m not wearing pajamas, and I don’t know how long that’ll last.”
Ava cracked the faintest smile. “Fine, but make it quick.” She shed her coat and waited for him to do the same. “I have a sales pitch to do.”
The pieces fell together. Ava was here to convince the Whitmore sisters to offer gift baskets to their guests. He wished he could stay to help. Sales pitches were a specialty of his, and these baskets would be an easy sell.
“I’m ready,” Ava said.
Brayden was no selfie master, but he stood next to Ava and extended his arm above them as if he knew what he was doing. Though he possessed a wealth of social media knowledge for marketing purposes, he wasn’t very good at anything personal.
“You’re horrible at this,” Ava ribbed. “Give it here.”
“Your arms are too short,” he countered.
“Well, at least point the phone down.” She shimmied closer. “And put your arm around me like you actually like me or it’ll never work.”
Ava’s peppermint scent drifted around him like an intoxicatingly euphoric cloud, momentarily causing him to forget what they were doing until she bumped him with her elbow. “I’ll take a few,” he said. “Now, smile like you don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you.”
Brayden snapped a few pictures. “Oh, really?”
“Really.”
After a dozen clicks, footsteps forced them apart, but her peppermint scent lingered on his shirt. He quickly scrolled through the pictures when Sophie was detained by a guest with a question.
“Any good?” Ava asked, leaning over his arm to see.
He angled his phone better for her to see. “This one should work.” He’d chosen the picture that best captured her dazzling smile and that hint of playfulness when she insisted she didn’t hate him.
“Good, send it to me. My mom has taken it upon herself to set me up on a date with some guy named Pete and without this, I’m not getting out of it.” She stepped away the moment he hit send, pretending to fuss with her already perfect baskets.
“Here you go,” Sophie said, handing him a check. “I still don’t think it’s enough.”
“It’s plenty,” he said, folding and stuffing it into a shirt pocket. “I hope your book club enjoys it.”
“Remember, the invitation is still open to join.”
Brayden nodded. His gaze inevitably fell on Ava as she launched into her spiel with Cadence over the baskets, his cue to leave before he did something foolish like intervene without an invitation. He could help in other ways. Like notifying his property manager to order a basket for each of his tenants once Ava officially announced they were for sale.
For now, he had an appointment with the local realtor about another property. One that needed a bit more work than some of the previous houses he’d bought. But the location promised it was worth every penny. In the end, the community would benefit the most. He’d been buying properties in poor condition and having them flipped all year long. His way of giving back to a town that had provided him such peace of mind.
He sat inside his truck, giving it a moment to warm back up. Mom had another half dozen text messages waiting for him, this time about missed opportunities and some woman she’d wanted him to marry being engaged to someone else.
Brayden: I’ve met someone.
He included his favorite picture with Ava in the message before silencing his phone and backing out of the gravel drive. He drove through town feeling lighter. Maybe he couldn’t shirk his business responsibilities forever, but at least Mom should stop trying to arrange him in a marriage he didn’t want.
Parking on the curb in front of the town’s newest listing, Brayden meant to notify Jolene he was there for the showing. But Mom’s name flashed on the screen. She’s quick.
Mom: I’m not amused.
Brayden: Careful. We might elope ;)
Mom: You can’t be serious about her.
Brayden: Deadly
A few ominous minutes elapsed as he waited in the truck. When Jolene Davies pulled up behind him, his phone buzzed once more.
Mom: I’m coming to Alaska. Be there Friday.
Chapter Three
Ava
“You didn’t tell me you were dating Brayden Young!” Kinley James burst into the Forget Me Not Boutique and marched straight to the counter, pinning Ava in an uncomfortable stare. Her best friend’s eyes were much too bright and her smile three times the size it should be. This can’t be good.
“You’re finally seeing that handsome young neighbor of yours?” Glenda cooed, clapping her hands together. The older woman, who reminded Ava a lot of her grandmother, wasn’t due to arrive for her shift for another hour but found herself unable to sit still at home. Any other day, Ava would’ve been grateful.
“Brayden Young?” Becca, the teenager who worked odd shifts around her school schedule, chimed in. Ava felt sabotaged by everyone currently in her store. “He’s so dreamy!”
“What are you all talking about?” Ava asked with a raised eyebrow, doing her best to remain cool on the outside. Inside, her heart beat wildly with fear. She hadn’t had time to fill Kinley in on the fake relationship. She was planning to mention it tomorrow when they met for lunch to talk bridesmaid dresses. “I’m not dating him.” A few giggles followed, forcing Ava to repeat herself. “I’m not.”
Kinley leaned against the counter, that mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she scrolled through her phone. “Here it is.” She held it up for Ava to see the screen.
Ava’s eyes tripled in size as the photo she and Brayden took only a couple of hours ago stared back at her. One she had sent to only one person. “Where did you find that?”
“Your mom’s Facebook page.”
The color drained from Ava’s face as she realized the single photo she’d sent her mom was now posted on social media with dozens of heart emojis. Mom had way too many friends. Way too many local friends. Her post, hardly an hour old, already had over fifty interactions and dozens of comments. Ava recognized far too many names. Should’ve just gone on the date.
She dropped her elbows on the counter and covered her face with both hands. Deep breaths. “This is a disaster.”
Three expectant sets of eyes fixated on her. For once, Ava was relieved the store was empty of customers. Not that they’d be alone for long. She suspected more than a few locals would pop by to pry into her love life. Well, they’d better buy something too. “It’s a . . . long story.”
“So, are you, then?” Kinley pressed.
Ava spent too long selecting words in her head. Before she could get any of them out, her phone buzzed beside her. She didn’t have to look at the screen to know who it was. After dozens of ignored texts, Mom was back to calling.
As tempting as it was to send her to voicemail and crawl into a dark hole until this all blew over, she was too furious about the invasion of privacy. “Give me a minute.” She swiped her phone off the counter and barricaded herself in her office, away from prying ears. After a breath so deep she thought she might pass out, she hit the answer button.
“Ava, I’m so happy for you!”
“Mom, take it down. You had no right.”
“Oh, come on. You can’t send me such an adorable picture and expect me to keep it a secret. Especially when Mary Ellis’s daughter just announced she’s having twins. That boy is pretty cute, Ava dear. How long have you been keeping him a secret from me?”
Ava groaned and dropped into a chair. Maybe this whole thing was stupid. If she’d only thought it through for twenty-four hours, she’d never have agreed. Common sense would’ve warned her where this might lead. Why did she let Brayden talk her into this? How would she explain to an entire town that this was just a hoax? “That was a private photo. It wasn’t yours to share with the whole world, Mom.”
“I’m sorry, dear. I was just so happy you finally met someone. And he’s so dishy, too!”
“Can you please take it down?” Ava asked through gritted teeth, working to calm her erratically beating heart in a futile attempt at multitasking. So much for spending time at the shop today. The moment she was finished with Rilee’s interview, she’d have to head straight home and warn Brayden of the impending doom. He could hide out in his shop until the holidays were over. Or at least until Cadence’s wedding. The town generally forgot level-one dating when a wedding was on the horizon.
Ava dropped her forehead into the palm of one hand, phone still pressed to her ear. She couldn’t abandon the store, though the temptation to hunker down at home in pajamas for a couple of weeks sounded nice.
“I don’t know how to do that. I’m still learning, you see.”
Mom, you are such a terrible liar. Ava swore she could hear the giggle in her mom’s voice. “Have Jamie show you. You’re over at her house, right?”
“She ran to Target. I’m hanging out with Trey. Ava dear, are you sure I can’t leave it up? It’s such a cute photo. I can tell from those eyes that he looks like a keeper. I know Pete will be devastated once he sees it, but I’m sure he’ll understand. It might help lessen the blow.”
“Pete?”
“Geraldine Franks’ grandson.”
Right. The setup. How could I forget the bullet I barely dodged? “He’ll be fine, Mom. Take it down.”
“I’ll talk to your sister when she gets back.” Mom cleared her throat, and Ava held her breath, awaiting whatever question came next. “How’s the store? Did you get all the decorations up for Christmas? Run all the holidays sales? I thought you underpriced those angel ornaments. You should mark them up a dollar.”
Ava pressed her palm against her forehead a little harder, pretending she could rub away the growing headache. This was why she sent most of Mom’s calls to voicemail. To avoid this conversation. After she figured out how to get off the phone with her lovingly overbearing mother, she was going to blackmail Jamie into getting that photo off social media, like yesterday. “Fine, Mom. Everything is fine. All is on schedule.”
“I didn’t see the buy-three-get-one-free fudge sale mentioned on the website.”
“I’m not running that one this year. Switching it up.”
“That’s a shame. Was always one of my best sales.”
And my worst last Christmas. “Did you need something else?”
“I’m surprised you answered,” she continued. “It’s usually so busy this time of year. I remember working fourteen-hour days and forgetting all about lunch. If Chase didn’t cook dinner some of those nights when your dad was working late too, you all would’ve starved. There simply wasn’t time for me to do it and keep up.”
“I’m working on the schedule.” Ava opened her planner to the scheduling page, just so she wasn’t telling a complete lie. Her meticulously color-coded system stared back at her. “Glenda and Becca have things covered out front for now. Plus, I’m interviewing Rilee Harris in half an hour. She’s going to take some shifts while she’s home for Christmas.”
“Is that in your budget?”
No. “Don’t worry about that, Mom. You’re retired, remember?” When Ava decided to go all-in on her customized Christmas basket idea, she left only enough money in her business account to cover her employee expenses. If she was forced to close her doors on Christmas Eve, she wouldn’t send anyone away without full compensation. Including Rilee.
Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that. Though the Whitmore sisters hadn’t given her a concrete yes, their maybe was promising.
“I want the store to be a success for you, Ava. And for your daughter someday.”
Time to change the subject. “How’s Jamie?” Ava wasn’t as close to her little sister as she was to Chase. Most of her updates about Jamie and her family came from Mom. Those were the texts she actually welcomed, especially the ones with pictures of her four-year-old nephew, Trey. “Everything going well with her pregnancy?”
“Oh, yes! The doctor is quite pleased. The baby is healthy and everything is right on track. So much calmer this time around.”
“That’s good.” Ava shuffled through the mess on her desk, embarrassed she’d let things get so out of hand. She didn’t want Rilee to panic and run before she ever got started, so she cleaned things up, hoping to also make peace with her mom before the conversation ended.
“How serious are things with this Bradley?” Mom pried.
“Brayden.”
“Brayden,” Mom repeated. “Is there a ring in your future?”
“Mom!”
“It’s a fair question.” When Ava didn’t offer up an answer, Mom continued. “Is he from Alaska? Has he been married before? Any kids?”
“Mom, I’m twenty-eight, not dead. There are still single, never-been-married-before men my age.” She couldn’t say for sure Brayden was one of them, only that she thought he was. She gave up organizing the chaos on her desk and instead scooped it all into a box she promptly shoved under her desk. “We’ll talk about him later, okay? Just get that picture down before the whole town sees it.”
“Just one more thing, honey.”
“Yes?”
“I thought it was time I came and spent Christmas with you and Chase. Meet your new beau.”
Ava was thankful her coffee cup was empty. She’d have choked on it. “You can’t leave Jamie alone this year. She’s about to pop. And what about Trey? You don’t want to miss Christmas with your only grandkid.”
“Jamie’s fine, dear. It’s baby number two. It’s all downhill from here. She doesn’t need me hovering. And Trey is already excited about Skyping with Grandma this year. I talked to him all about it.”
This sounded . . . ominous.
“Mom, it’s fine. You don’t need to come. I’ll be busy with the store. Chase, well, you know how he is.”
“Too late.”
“What?”
“I already booked the ticket. Chose that nonrefundable option because it’s so much cheaper, you know. I’ll be in Anchorage Friday morning. I’ll get Chase to pick me up from the airport. I’m sure you’ll be much too busy with the store.”
Ava felt what color remained drain from her face. This couldn’t be happening. Things were already bad enough with Mom meddling in her life. Brayden would probably run far, far away when he discovered what a mess her family had created for him. She wouldn’t even blame him. And the store. How on earth was she supposed to keep the imminent demise of the store a secret over the holidays with Mom in physical proximity to snoop? The bank would post their foreclosure notice on Christmas Day if she didn’t pull this off.
