Chapter 8 #2
Jackson tugged the paperwork out of the envelope and scanned them both.
They certainly looked legit to him as well.
The original lien was dated so far back he couldn’t imagine it was a scam.
Back in those days, Christmas Grove had been much smaller.
Everyone knew their neighbors, and it would have been nearly impossible to place a lien without everyone knowing about it.
The foreclosure was standard paperwork, but it had what he needed to track down who owned the LLC.
“This will definitely get me started,” he said.
“I’m going to need to spend some time on the internet combing through records.
You’re welcome to stay if you want to. If not, I’ll come out to the orchard and let you know what I find out. ”
“I wish I could stay,” she said, giving him a tiny frown. “Unfortunately, I need to get back to work. We’re almost out of Christmas Cheer.”
Jackson jerked his head up to give her his full attention. “You’re almost out? What happened? Did we use it all up last night?”
Felicity laughed, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she shook her head at him.
“No, we didn’t use it all up last night.
I’m not talking about that anyway. Marilyn has enough of that kind of cheer to power the entire town of Christmas Grove for years to come.
I mean Christmas Cheer, the apple-spiced drink we sell that is literally infused with some Christmas magic. ”
“And who makes that, Marilyn?” he guessed. “Do you run the store while she works her magic?”
“No.” Felicity rolled her eyes at him. “I make it. I’m an earth witch with some unusual manifestations. As long as I use water from our spring, I’m able to charm the drink and infuse it with the ability to boost someone’s mood significantly during the holiday season.”
“So that’s where all your Christmas joy ends up.
In a drink that probably makes Christmas Grove residents downright giddy since most of them live for December.
” It was their favorite month after all.
The excitement in the air was palpable at the end of November as the holiday approached.
It only ratcheted up throughout the season as more and more magic filled the air.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny,” Felicity said. Then she frowned. “Do you really think it’s possible that’s been part of my issue all along?”
“It could be,” he said, “But I haven’t seen what magic you put into this drink on a regular basis.”
“Not much if I’m being honest. I mostly just activate the magic from the spring.
” She bit down on her bottom lip before she looked at Jackson and said, “No. I haven’t had one spark of interest in Christmas since my grandmother died…
until last night. So I definitely don’t think I’ve been giving my joy away. I just don’t have much to spare.”
He hated that he knew she was speaking the truth. But he vowed to find more ways to bring her love for Christmas back. “Do you ice skate?”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
“It could be fun to go see if we can skate with the snowmen. Or if that’s too adventurous for you, we could go up to the lodge at the ski resort and skate on their ice rink. The views are spectacular.”
“Don’t think I didn’t see what you did there,” she said. “If I agree to go, it’s not a date.”
“Of course not,” he agreed, having already realized she wouldn’t agree to that, even if he was going to treat it like one.
“And only after we’ve made significant progress on tracking down who’s behind this loan/lien situation,” she added.
“I wouldn’t suggest otherwise,” he said.
“Okay, good. As long as we’re clear.”
He loved it when Felicity got a little prickly. The challenge of coaxing her out of her comfort zone had proved to be more fun than he’d imagined. “We’re clear.”
“Well then. I should go,” she said.
“I’ll walk you out.” He placed a hand on the small of her back and reveled in the fact that she didn’t pull away.
Just as they were walking out of the sunroom, Eva appeared with a plate of cookies. “Oh, you’re leaving already? I brought you a snack.”
“Eva—” Jackson started, but Felicity cut him off.
“That was kind of you,” Felicity said, her voice sugar sweet. “But I’ve already gotten the sugar I came for.” She winked at Jackson. “See you later, honey. My place? Seven tonight?”
He could have kissed her right then and there. It was his night off at Sleighed and Felicity Hill had just given him an out for the evening. “Seven it is.”
“Don’t be late. You’re cooking,” she called over her shoulder.
All Jackson could do was laugh.
“What’s so funny, sweetheart?” Eva asked.
It was all he could do to keep from scowling at her.
How dare she call him sweetheart? That was far too familiar for a mother who’d barely been in his life for five minutes.
“Inside joke.” He glanced down at the cookies on the tray.
The edges were burned and the middles looked soft.
He couldn’t resist saying, “Your oven temperature is too high. Turn it down about fifty degrees next time and bake them a few minutes longer.”
“Oh. Okay.” Her hopeful expression had vanished and turned into one of defeat. “I’ll just go downstairs and clean up.”
He didn’t say anything else, knowing he was being a jerk, but he just couldn’t make himself pretend he was happy she was there. Especially when she was using up all his ingredients on burned, underbaked cookies.
When Eva was gone, Jackson grabbed Felicity’s paperwork and took a seat at his desk, ready to do some investigating.
Hours later, with his eyes crossing from his internet sleuthing, Jackson finally shut his laptop and hopped into the shower.
When he was clean, freshly shaved, and dressed, he went downstairs and looked for his mother.
He found her curled up in a chair near the fireplace, her head buried in her phone.
“You’re going out?” she asked, startled to see him.
“Yes. Do you have everything you need?” It was the first time his manners had kicked in since she’d arrived.
“I’m fine. When will you be back?”
Even though he knew he was being ridiculous, he felt like a teenager being grilled before heading out on a date. He just shrugged. “I’m not sure.” Then he turned and reached for the doorknob.
Before he could escape, his mother said, “Well, have fun. Don’t forget the condoms.”
He jerked his head, turning in her direction.
“You know what they say, ‘no glove, no love.’” Then she laughed.
“Right.” He gave her a nod and then left, feeling a huge weight lift off him the moment he stepped off his front porch.