Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold #19)(68)

Everyone laughed. Madeline hugged her friend on the way to her seat. “I don’t want your job,” she said. “But planning one small wedding has been fun.”

Patience, the owner of Brew-haha and apparently Dellina’s enabler, nodded. “I’m sure it’s been a good distraction, what with your family not coming for the holidays.” She held up her hand. “You’re a grown-up, you’re fine and I know you had fifteen invitations for Christmas, but it’s not the same.”

Her words were kindly spoken and meant, Madeline thought. After all, she and Patience had known each other all their lives. Patience was a couple of years older, so they hadn’t been in the same grade, but they’d grown up in this family-centric town and knew how that left a mark.

“It’s nice to be busy,” Madeline admitted.

“And hanging out with Jonny Blaze,” Bailey added. “Do you have a crush on him? Isn’t it fun? I had such a crush on Kenny.”

“We knew,” Taryn told her. “We all knew and were charmed by it. Now you’re together and blissfully in love. Which is nice, but the crush was more interesting.” She looked at Madeline and raised her eyebrows. “How’s your celebrity crush going?”

“I’m over it,” Madeline said, knowing it was the truth. “He’s a regular guy now.”

“Is that good or bad?” Shelby asked.

“Mostly good. It’s nice to be able to talk to him without being starstruck. My sentences have gotten longer.”

Everyone laughed. Madeline felt herself relax. No one knew that anything was different. As long as she thought about her friends and the holidays, anything but Jonny, she would be fine.

“The toys were a huge hit,” Taryn said. “They were special and so well made. I hope he does more for next year. I plan to talk to him about that.”

“He’s a nice addition to the town,” Bailey added. “He’s friendly and participates. I was wondering if he would just keep to himself, but he doesn’t. He gets involved. That’s nice.” She turned to Madeline. “How’s his hand? I heard what happened and I know Eddie and Gladys feel awful.”

“It’s nearly healed.”

“He adopted that dog,” Larissa said. “You’ve gotta love a man who adopts a dog.”

Conversation shifted to other people who had adopted pets and from there transitioned to who was doing what for the holidays. Madeline talked about the addition of the fainting goat and potbellied pig to the Live Nativity, and how special arrangements were being made in case the goat really was too scared to endure the event.

They placed their orders, and by the time her salad came, she’d relaxed enough to enjoy the company of her friends. But as she walked back to the store, her tension returned.

She was in love with Jonny. What on earth was she supposed to do with that information? He wasn’t going to love her back. He couldn’t. He’d told her a thousand times.

She should have protected her heart more carefully. She should have listened to her mother. Now she was trapped and she didn’t know what to do to make it better. And she was going to have to do something. Or she would be facing something ten times bigger than the Ted debacle. And then where would she be?

* * *

Jonny spent the day with his sister. When Ginger left to drive back to San Francisco, he went home and got Raven. The two of them hung around town until it was time for Paper Moon to close. Somewhere around five, it started to snow. A white Christmas, he thought. The kids would be happy. Plus, it would be a beautiful backdrop for Ginger’s wedding.

He walked by the park and then up toward Madeline’s store. He stopped to buy her fudge and then did a quick detour through Jenel’s Gems, looking at different pieces. Because he wanted to get Madeline something for Christmas. Something personal and meaningful.

When he left the jewelry store—still without the right present—he made sure Raven’s jacket was snug and protecting her from the cold. The dog waited patiently while he did his check, then gave his hand a quick lick. He rubbed her ears.

“Let’s go see Madeline,” he told the dog.

They walked to Paper Moon and went inside. Madeline was finishing up with a bride. The other woman was wiping away tears.

“It’s perfect,” she said. “I love everything about it. Thank you for being so patient.”

“I was happy to help. You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”

Two dresses on the same day, he thought. She would be happy about that. Because, as he’d thought before, they both made magic with their work. Only hers lasted a lifetime. Hers was filled with memories that were treasured.

She’d been sweet with his sister. Ginger hadn’t stopped talking about how Madeline had handled everything. He appreciated that when the dress he’d ordered had arrived, she hadn’t simply called him an idiot. She’d gone to the trouble of pressing it and putting his sister in it so he could see he was an idiot.

She was sweet and funny and easy to be with. She got his sense of humor and made him laugh in return. They were good together. They belonged together.

The last thought surprised him. He turned it over in his mind a few times and realized the truth had been staring at him all along.

Madeline was the one. He cared about her. No, he loved her.