laughed. “At least, not according to the old man who was just here.”
“Well, we’ll see. All good wishes are worth the wait. You ready for our first adventure?”
“Yeah.” She turned her attention to Drew. “What took you so long?”
“My credit card wouldn’t run through for some reason. They tried twice.” He shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe I maxed it out in Thailand last month.”
Her heart fell, realizing that was probably where Drew’s and Olivia’s matching tans came from.
“Did you find out what S.W. stands for?” Drew asked.
“Not really. But the old man told me we’d be meeting someone named Natasha there. And that’s what it says on Luke’s agenda, so I guess we’re on the right track.” She paused. “And the old man knew my name, too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I get the feeling something bigger is going on than us planning your brother’s wedding.”
“Like what?”
“Not sure.” Her eyes rested on the tree. She’d refrain from telling Drew about the rogue snowflake ornament that had appeared out of no where and was the exact replica of the one she’d made for him all those years ago. He’d think she was nuts.
They walked back to the car and drove the short trip toward the mountain. “So,” Lauren tapped on her iPad, “We’re meeting a woman named Natasha. It says on the agenda that she’s short and sweet.”
Drew tilted his head to see Lauren’s iPad screen. “Those are weird notes. Who’s Luke’s assistant these days? A second grader?”
“Vivian’s actually very nice, and just celebrated her sixtieth birthday last month.” She glanced out the window, taking in a huge conglomerate of red and green houses, all decorated from top to bottom in Christmas lights. This place must be spectacular in the evening all lit up.
“Where the hell are we?” Drew ran his hand through his hair.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered, not believing what was in front of her. “It’s
Santa’s Workshop
.”
“What?”
“S.W. stands for Santa’s Workshop.” She thought back to the old man she’d just met. He’d said it was his workshop. Did that make him Santa?
Drew parked the car and they got out. “Why would Luke want to get married in some tourist trap when we have a perfectly good Santa’s Village set up at JDL Toys?”
“That’s a good question.” Luke was definitely up to something, but she wasn’t quite sure what. A woman wearing a long green wool coat greeted them with a smile that lit up her face. Vivian had been correct—if this was Natasha, she was definitely on the short side.
“Lauren. Drew.” She waved. “How was your trip in? Are you all settled in at the cabin?”
“Yes. Thank you. You must be Natasha.” Lauren extended her gloved hand. The fact that this woman knew they were staying at the cabin really didn’t surprise her. It was becoming clear with each interaction that all of the town’s residents had gotten the memo.
“Yes, I am. It’s so nice to finally meet you both. Let’s get you inside. It’s been a bit frosty on the mountain this week.” The petite woman spun on her heels and headed toward the first of the red and green houses.
Drew leaned in. “What did she mean by ‘
finally
meet you’?”
Lauren shrugged, and he hummed the
Twilight Zone
theme.
“Stop it.” She gave him a playful swat. “Natasha seems sweet.”
“Yeah, and that’s probably what Hansel and Gretel said about the lady they met before they entered the Gingerbread House.”
“Well, it’s a good thing Luke’s the one with a sweet tooth and not you,” she teased as they caught up to Natasha and entered the first building. Inside, her mouth dropped. The open space was packed with Christmas trees, sparkly decorations dripping from branches. A model train circled above them while holiday music filtered through the air. A big sign hanging on the wall read “Toys this Way” with a bright red arrow pointing to the left.
“Is this a toy store?”
“Well, we’ll see. All good wishes are worth the wait. You ready for our first adventure?”
“Yeah.” She turned her attention to Drew. “What took you so long?”
“My credit card wouldn’t run through for some reason. They tried twice.” He shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe I maxed it out in Thailand last month.”
Her heart fell, realizing that was probably where Drew’s and Olivia’s matching tans came from.
“Did you find out what S.W. stands for?” Drew asked.
“Not really. But the old man told me we’d be meeting someone named Natasha there. And that’s what it says on Luke’s agenda, so I guess we’re on the right track.” She paused. “And the old man knew my name, too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I get the feeling something bigger is going on than us planning your brother’s wedding.”
“Like what?”
“Not sure.” Her eyes rested on the tree. She’d refrain from telling Drew about the rogue snowflake ornament that had appeared out of no where and was the exact replica of the one she’d made for him all those years ago. He’d think she was nuts.
They walked back to the car and drove the short trip toward the mountain. “So,” Lauren tapped on her iPad, “We’re meeting a woman named Natasha. It says on the agenda that she’s short and sweet.”
Drew tilted his head to see Lauren’s iPad screen. “Those are weird notes. Who’s Luke’s assistant these days? A second grader?”
“Vivian’s actually very nice, and just celebrated her sixtieth birthday last month.” She glanced out the window, taking in a huge conglomerate of red and green houses, all decorated from top to bottom in Christmas lights. This place must be spectacular in the evening all lit up.
“Where the hell are we?” Drew ran his hand through his hair.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered, not believing what was in front of her. “It’s
Santa’s Workshop
.”
“What?”
“S.W. stands for Santa’s Workshop.” She thought back to the old man she’d just met. He’d said it was his workshop. Did that make him Santa?
Drew parked the car and they got out. “Why would Luke want to get married in some tourist trap when we have a perfectly good Santa’s Village set up at JDL Toys?”
“That’s a good question.” Luke was definitely up to something, but she wasn’t quite sure what. A woman wearing a long green wool coat greeted them with a smile that lit up her face. Vivian had been correct—if this was Natasha, she was definitely on the short side.
“Lauren. Drew.” She waved. “How was your trip in? Are you all settled in at the cabin?”
“Yes. Thank you. You must be Natasha.” Lauren extended her gloved hand. The fact that this woman knew they were staying at the cabin really didn’t surprise her. It was becoming clear with each interaction that all of the town’s residents had gotten the memo.
“Yes, I am. It’s so nice to finally meet you both. Let’s get you inside. It’s been a bit frosty on the mountain this week.” The petite woman spun on her heels and headed toward the first of the red and green houses.
Drew leaned in. “What did she mean by ‘
finally
meet you’?”
Lauren shrugged, and he hummed the
Twilight Zone
theme.
“Stop it.” She gave him a playful swat. “Natasha seems sweet.”
“Yeah, and that’s probably what Hansel and Gretel said about the lady they met before they entered the Gingerbread House.”
“Well, it’s a good thing Luke’s the one with a sweet tooth and not you,” she teased as they caught up to Natasha and entered the first building. Inside, her mouth dropped. The open space was packed with Christmas trees, sparkly decorations dripping from branches. A model train circled above them while holiday music filtered through the air. A big sign hanging on the wall read “Toys this Way” with a bright red arrow pointing to the left.
“Is this a toy store?”
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