Mistletoe Mine by Emily March Page B

said as they walked up to the Angel’s Rest booth. “I stopped to buy my parents’ Christmas gift at the gallery booth up the street.”
    “Not a problem. I had shoppers here until just a minute ago. Three lovely ladies from Tennessee bought six angel figurines, three angel ornaments, two angel tree toppers, and an angel-themed Christmas tree skirt.”
    Sarah observed, “I thought they might buy everything you had left. You don’t have much to pack up as it is.” To Molly, she added, “The others got back from their fishing trip a little while ago. Some of the kids went on to Angel’s Rest to soak in the hot springs. Lori took a load home for me a few minutes ago, and she asked me to tell you that she’ll be right back.”
    “Okay. Great.” Molly couldn’t wait to share her news with her best friend. With Mom. With Dad. But not with Mom and Dad. She picked up an angel figurine and began to carefully wrap it in bubble paper.
    “Molly, dear, what’s wrong?” Celeste asked a few minutes later.
    “You’re crying,” Sarah said, her tone concerned.
    “Aw, Molly,” Charlie added.
    “Nothing’s wrong,” Molly said, swiping at her cheeks with the back of her hand. She set the figurine carefully into a storage box and added, “Everything is won … won … wonderful. Charlie and I just got engaged.”
    Even as fresh tears spilled from her eyes, she held up her left hand and wiggled her fingers. The diamond flashed in the sunlight. Sarah moved forward to wrap her arms around Molly and said, “Congratulations.”
    “Thanks.”
    Celeste beamed at Charlie. “That’s a beautiful engagement ring, Charlie. I’m thrilled for you both.”
    “Thanks,” Charlie said.
    Celeste addressed Molly. “So, dear, these are tears of happiness?”
    “Yes. No. I don’t know.” Molly smiled crookedly and added, “It’s complicated.”
    Celeste clicked her tongue and glanced from Molly to Charlie and back to Molly again. “I don’t want to intrude, but is there anything we can do to help?”
    “I wish you could help. It’s the wedding. It’s my parents.” Molly met Sarah’s gaze and added, “It’s the wedding and my parents.”
    “They don’t approve of your choice?” Nic asked.
    “They love Charlie.”
    “Your mom loves me,” Charlie corrected. “Your dad tolerates me. He doesn’t think any guy is good enough for you.”
    “So what’s the problem?” Sarah asked.
    Molly swiped tears off her cheeks with the back of her hand. “My parents don’t speak to each other. They haven’t seen each other in over three years.”
    “Oh, no,” Celeste said.
    Sarah frowned. “I know your mother is a renowned concert pianist and that she travels the world, but I didn’t realize your parents were divorced.”
    “They’re not divorced,” Charlie said.
    “They just hate each other,” Molly added.
    That pretty much put a stop to the questions. One of Nic’s girls started crying, and she took her leave. Lori’s mom finished packing up her booth, then moved to help pack the glass Christmas ornaments in the Angel’s Rest booth. Celeste didn’t have a whole lot of stuff left, but what she did have was fragile. When Charlie put a knitted angel puppet on his hand then used it to “kiss” her cheek, Molly gave him a watery smile.
    “I’m so happy and so sad at the same time because I’m thinking about my marriage, which makes me think about my parents’ marriage. Isn’t that stupid? I should be able to just be happy.”
    “I don’t think it’s stupid at all.” Celeste reached over and patted her hand. “Nothing gives us quite as much joy or causes quite as much pain as family.”
    “Is your mother’s career the problem?” Sarah asked. “Your father is a rancher, right?”
    Molly fingered a glass ornament shaped like angel’s wings. “Commercial farmer and rancher, yes. He’s tied to the land, but Mom’s career was something they seemed to manage okay. Then, four years ago …”
    She closed