Mistletoe Magic
Mistletoe
Magic
© Copyright 2013
Melissa McClone
The Tule
Publishing Group, LLC
ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED
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Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work
of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products
of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons,
living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN:
978-1-940296-19-7
Contents
A
Copper Mountain Christmas Novellas
Mistletoe Magic
On December
twenty-fourth, a rousing rendition of “Deck the Halls” played on
iPod speakers in the living room. Caitlin Butler hummed along to
the merry tune, waiting for Jay and Jen Patterson and their
children, Justin and Jasmine, to finish packing and leave on
vacation. Going away for the holiday hadn’t stopped them from
decorating the house. No space was left un-decked.
Inside or
out.
Not that Santa
needed to stop by here tonight. Jolly Old St. Nicholas would
deliver the kids’ gifts to their grandparents’ house in Idaho,
rather than slide down the chimney in Montana. Unless he wanted to
leave something for Caitlin. The idea of waking up to a stocking
full of goodies and a mysterious present under the tree brought a
smile to her face.
But she knew
better than to believe.
Still, she
rubbed her thumbs over her fingertips, her excitement growing over
housesitting for friends. She loved this old house, full of
character and charm and within walking distance of Marietta’s Main
Street. She’d babysat the kids many times, but she’d never spent
the night.
Now she had
the place to herself. Well, almost.
Her heart beat
with anticipation.
Spending a
week in this house would be like winning the blackout jackpot at
the St. James monthly Friday night bingo. Much more festive than
spending winter break in her above-a-garage studio apartment on the
wrong side of town. Bet the sink never backed up and all stove
burners worked in this house.
Warmth settled in the center of her chest. She glanced around
the living room, with its wide slipcovered chairs for reading with
the kids, knick-knacks, photographs, and a wood painted sign that
read:
Life takes you to unexpected places.
Love brings you home.
Jay and Jen
Patterson had created a home.
Something
Caitlin missed since her parents moved away. She’d dated, but still
hadn’t found anyone to bring her home.
Someday…
Not today.
Anything she
lacked would be filled with the holiday spirit, something
overflowing here.
The scents of
pine and cinnamon lingered in the air. Red plush stockings hung
from the white brick fireplace’s wood mantel covered with boughs,
holly, white candles, and miniature teddy bears wearing Santa hats.
A beautiful, six-foot-tall tree filled one corner of the living
room. Cranberry and popcorn garland was strung around the branches.
Ornaments hung by strands of twine. Twinkling white lights reminded
her of tiny stars.
Caitlin
sighed. She couldn’t wait to read and watch movies and enjoy time
off. Relaxing, doing what she loved, sounded like the perfect way
to spend this week.
Justin, a
student in the preschool class she taught, ran into the living room
like a bull out of a rodeo chute. He wore a red and black plaid
shirt, elastic waistband jeans and black cowboy boots. Formal
attire around these parts. Eyes wide, he skidded to a stop in front
of her. “Miss Caitlin. You’re here.”
“
I am.” She ruffled his curly brown hair. “It’s almost time for
you to go to your grandparents’ house. I’m going to stay here and
watch yours.”
“
And feed Butler.”
“
Yes, I’ll take good care of your fish.”
Justin marched
around the room clapping his hands. “Almost time for Santa. Santa.
Santa.”
Jay stood
under the archway to the living room, a blue parka in hand and a
smile on his face. “Santa knows where to find you, buddy. Time to
put on your coat so we can get to Nana and Papa’s house before
dinnertime.”
Justin stuck
out his arm. “Nana always has candy.”
“
Yes, she does. But she’s baking a ham tonight.” Jay helped his
son into the jacket. He looked at Caitlin. “Like the
tree?”
“
Love it.” The three-foot tall, bought-on-clearance fiber-optic
tree that changed colors was in the trunk of her car. She hadn’t
wanted to wake up on Christmas morning without one. The two
presents she’d bought herself—a novel featuring a hot cowboy hero
by her favorite romance author and a DVD starring her current
man-crush—needed to be under the tree. “I thought you said you
weren’t putting one up this year.”
“
I voted against a tree since we’ll be in Idaho Falls.” Jay let
go of his son. “But I was overruled.”
“
I like the tree.” Justin was a mini version of his dad, cute
with the same smile, a goofy grin that had lit up their classroom
years ago at Marietta Elementary School. “Do you like trees, Miss
Caitlin?”
“
I do.” The ornaments hanging on this one looked sturdy and
unbreakable, a lesson learned after Justin climbed last year’s
tree. The thing toppled over and he ended up with four stitches on
his forehead. “You have a pretty one.”
“
Carson Tree Farms.” Jen, a bursting-with-energy
twenty-six-year old who volunteered at the preschool, entered the
living room with a bag hanging from her left shoulder and
eighteen-month-old Jasmine held against her right hip. The little
girl wore a pink snowsuit and matching boots. “Getting a tree there
is tradition. Doesn’t matter where we spend Christmas. We also
picked up that gingerbread house kit there. The kids had lots of
fun decorating.”
“
The kids had fun eating the leftover candy.” Jay nodded toward
the dining room. “Take a peek at Jen’s handiwork on the
table.”
Caitlin did.
An elaborate gingerbread house, with white scalloped icing on the
roof and colorful candy pieces symmetrically placed, sat in the
center of the washed pine table. “Wow. That looks amazing.
Incredible job.”
“
Thank you.” Jen beamed, shifting Jasmine against her other
hip. “The secret’s the pre-packed icing tubes.”
Jay shook his
head, but he couldn’t mask the pride in his gaze. “Jen’s found a
new calling thanks to Rachel Murphy.”
“
Rachel.” Caitlin had heard the name mentioned around town and
by a few parents at the preschool. “She’s Ty’s sister. The baker
from Arizona?”
Jay nodded.
“We bought a dozen of her gingerbread cookies, but they didn’t last
long.”
Justin rubbed
his stomach. “Yummy for my tummy.”
Jasmine
pointed toward the back window. “Ki-iy.”
Hurt flashed
across Jen’s face.
Caitlin
reached out to her friend.
“
Miss Kitty ran away, honey.” Jen’s voice cracked. “I know you
miss her. We all do.”
Including
Caitlin.
When she
babysat, Miss Kitty would curl next to her after the kids went to
bed. The cat loved to be brushed and purred like a snowmobile.
She’d escaped through an open door in September. No signs or reward
offers or going door-to-door turned up any clues, even though the
cat had been micro-chipped.
Justin pressed
against his father’s legs. “Maybe Santa will find her.”
“
I don’t know, little man. It’s been three months,” Jay said.
“Miss Kitty might have found another home.”
“
Remember, Christmas is a time for magic. For miracles.” Jen
stroked Jasmine’s hair. “Anything is possible.”
Caitlin hoped
so. She glanced at a clock on the wall. “You’d better hit the road
if you want to arrive by dinnertime.”
“
You’re right.” Jen headed to the door. “You know where
everything is. Clean sheets are on the bed and fresh towels in the
bathroom.”
“
Wait.” Jay stopped reaching for the suitcases. “I forgot to
bring in the garbage can.”
Caitlin shooed
them toward the front door. “No worries. I’ll get it.”
“
Sure?” Jay asked.
“
Positive.” She gave each a hug. “You have a four-hour drive
ahead of you. Go.”
“
Call if you need anything,” Jen said.
“
I will.” Caitlin watched them put the suitcases into the back
and load the kids into the small SUV. “Have a safe drive and Merry
Christmas.”
Jay waved.
“You, too.”
A feeling of
contentment settled over her. She had a feeling this was going to
be a very Merry Christmas.
For her
friends, and for her.
