Although, in Chasity’s defense, Hope had been a bear the last few months. Sometimes Chasity had to tiptoe around her and her emotions. Not something she wanted to think about.

“What’s up?” Hope asked when Chasity didn’t respond to her last comment.

“Stu and I were talking this morning about Christmas. We were thinking we’d spend Christmas Eve with Grandpa in the afternoon and then have something at our house on Christmas Day. Does that sound good to you? We were going to invite Dad and Stu’s parents.”

Hope couldn’t control her groan.

“I know, I know. Stu’s dad is trying to be nicer.”

Hope rolled her eyes but didn’t respond. That man didn’t know the meaning of nice. She had worked for him long enough to know exactly the kind of asshole he was. Sure, he was the mayor of the town—most people didn’t see the meanness behind the facade he portrayed—but she knew the truth. The only reason he was cozying up to Stu—his own son—was to get him heavily on his side as he ran for governor. Elections were coming up next year for the governor position. He started his promoting last year, trying to weasel his way into the people’s good graces. She didn’t trust the guy.

“Hope?”

She didn’t want to put a damper on Chasity’s plans, and despite the turmoil going on inside her, she was trying to make this a good holiday. Not one with her wallowing in ridiculous pity.

“Yeah, sounds awesome. I’ll be there.”

“We can—”

“No, it’ll be great. I promise. No changing plans. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Maybe. She shouldn’t promise that. She had a wild streak she couldn’t control sometimes. She’d been called a drama queen more times than she could count on one hand. By teachers, by her mother, by her sister, and countless others she didn’t even want to name. Whatever. She was who she was and people would have to deal with it. But she could at least attempt to be pleasant for Chasity’s sake.

Chasity chuckled. “Let’s try to grab lunch later this week. I miss you.”

She returned the sentiment, promised her sister they’d catch up later, and hung up. It was ridiculous how much she missed Chasity as well. They lived in a small town. It was hard not to run into the same person at least once a week. Yet she hadn’t seen her sister in two weeks. Not since the beginning of the month when they bought trees together. One for Stu’s house—where Chasity now lived with him—and one for her apartment. She had taken over Chasity’s lease when she moved out. The place she lived last year had become too expensive when she quit her job working for the asshole mayor. It had been a blessing her sister let her live with her. Three months after dating Stu, she moved out and let Hope take over the lease.

Her place hadn’t been as expensive. Within those few months, she had found a new job at the church. Eileen—longtime secretary for Father Benson—had finally retired. It had been perfect timing for her. Running an office was what Hope did best. She liked the organization, the day-to-day details of keeping everything on track. It proved to her she could keep things together when her private life was nothing but utter chaos.

“Knock, knock.”

Hope glanced at her doorway where Father Benson stood with a bright smile on his face. She swore the man never frowned. It helped the happiness suffocating inside her seep out in little pockets. She loved his positive, joyful attitude.

“Oh, I like the headband this morning.”

She touched the reindeer headband she put on this morning and grinned. Her attempt at faking happiness started today. And what better way to do that than prove she could be as merry as the rest of them. She decided for the next two weeks before Christmas, she’d show her holiday spirit with finesse. She had a ton of crap at home. Kind of like a hoarder. The amount of Christmas paraphernalia she had wasn’t something a normal person owned. She was glad Father Benson approved. It would’ve dampened her spirits if he told her not to wear it.

“Thanks. I contacted Lynn already and she will have ten dozen cookies ready for the Sunday brunch. They will be delivered bright and early that morning.”

“Oh, I do love her goodies. Thank you, Hope, dear. The contractor to fix the Nativity will be here in a little bit. Can you make sure he has everything he needs? I want that fixed as soon as possible. Just terrible what happened.”

For a brief moment, Father Benson’s brows puckered, yet a short smile remained. She wouldn’t exactly describe it as just terrible what happened. She’d say it was downright the shittiest thing that could happen two weeks before Christmas. Of course, she’d never swear in front of a priest—or inside a church. It was hard at times to curb her tongue, but she prevailed. Sinning inside a church was the last thing she wanted to do.

Last night, some drunken idiot had crashed into the Nativity sitting in front of the church, destroying the beautiful scenery. It wasn’t a small Nativity either. It crushed the figures standing around the manger where Christ lay, who, in some small miracle, had been spared any damage. But the three wise men and a lamb needed to be replaced along with the frame for the Nativity. Unfortunately, it had been a hit-and-run. Chief Duncan was looking into the crime himself. She had already spoken to him this morning as well about the incident. She even offered to call the contractor to fix the Nativity, but he said he knew someone and would take care of it. It had bothered her she couldn’t do it herself, but Father Benson had been standing there and agreed and she hadn’t wanted to argue with a priest.

“I’m on it, Father. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

His smile emerged even brighter. “I never do when I know you’re in charge. I’ll see you after mass.”

She nodded and waved good-bye, thankful she didn’t have to go to mass. She was good about going to Sunday mass—some weekends, anyhow—but she couldn’t do daily mass. It was a good thing she was needed at her desk.

Time to make sure the Nativity was put back to rights as soon as possible. Hope picked up the phone and dialed Betty’s Craft Corner without looking up the number. She wouldn’t say she had a wonderful memory, but she knew pretty much every number for each business in town. One of the perks she acquired working for the mayor’s office. He might’ve worked her to the bone, but it also helped her learn the ins and outs of how the town was run. She missed it some days. The day-to-day intricacies of how the town ran, not the mayor himself. He could go sit on a stick and rotate for all she cared.

“Betty’s Craft Corner. Merry Christmas. How may I help you on this beautiful day?”

Ha! See, she wasn’t the only one merrily answering the phone.

“Hey, Betty, it’s Hope. I need three wise men and a lamb.”

Sweet, musical laughter floated to her ear. She knew Betty would have heard what happened at the church—as most of the town probably already knew—so explaining why she needed what she did wouldn’t be necessary. It did sound comical and like the start of a good joke. Except, what was the punch line?

“I figured you’d be calling me sooner or later. I put in a rush order. It should be here in two days, at the latest. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.”

“You are a lifesaver. Thank you. Send me the invoice and I’ll pay it straight away.”

“Heavens, no. This is on me. You tell Father Benson not to worry about a thing.”

Aww, the joys of living in a small town. People could be so generous.

“I’m sure he sends his thanks. It’s very kind of you. Thank you.”

She hung up with Betty, feeling even better about the situation. Two days wasn’t very long to wait for the new pieces to the Nativity. While Betty sold a wide range of crafts galore, she also sold Christmas decorations of all varieties. When people wanted to decorate their home, Betty’s was the place to go. Well, the large, sometimes gaudy outdoor decorations, anyway. Lights and other little Christmas trinkets could also be purchased at Bernie’s Hardware Store. But for what she needed, Betty was her gal.

Needed a tree? Jeff’s Tree Lot had the best around these parts. Baked Goods? Lynn’s Sweet Treat Delights could beat out any place with flying colors. They might live in a small town—full of annoying gossip—but it was a pretty damn awesome town. She wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, despite how she felt lately, wanting to escape.

Another knock on her doorframe had her popping her head up. If she hadn’t been sitting down in her chair, she would’ve fainted and fallen at the sight in front of her.

Mase Brandt.

Sexiest man to ever walk into her life—and out of it.

“Hey, Hope.”

Shit on a stick.

Just her luck.

“I’m here to build a Nativity set.”

Of course he was. Because he was the best damn carpenter around these parts. She should’ve known when Chief Duncan said he’d take care of it that he’d call Mase.

The one thing that had made her life hell the last few months stood right in front of her.

She had fallen in love and had her heart broken all in one fell swoop.

Copyright © 2021 Amanda Siegrist.

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