The Jinglebell War (Yuletide #3)

CHAPTER ONE

Blue

“The problem with romance books is they all end with the main characters trapped in these happily ever after fantasies that will never live up to the hype.” I’m fully aware I’m speaking out against the majority opinion, this is a romance book club meeting after all, but I just can’t be quiet any longer. “I want a romance that ends with freedom.”

“So you don’t want a romance book.” Alice sits cross-legged in the comfiest armchair in the room, a plate of Peach’s cookies on her lap. She’s the youngest of our group, my cousin Cherry’s sister-in-law. Like me, she seems firmly anti-romance in real life.

We’re in Cherry and Xavier’s small cabin in our chosen home of Yuletide, Colorado, and I’m covered up and snuggly in one of his grandmother’s heinously ugly crochet throw blankets.

“I do,” I say. “I want all those falling in love, serotonin, pheromone good feelings. Those are the best. But ending up with two people arguing over whose turn it is to take out the trash just ruins it all.”

“ Tangled up in Daisies ended with Marissa hopping on a plane with her fiancée to see the world,” my sister Peach says around a bite of snickerdoodle. She’s on the couch, her legs stretched out over Cherry’s lap. She’s wearing a pink, oversized sweater and leggings, her dark hair in a loose bun, her make-up on point as always. “That sounds like freedom.”

“And in Roses are Ruined , Jebediah and Capshaw sail off together to their own deserted island,” Murphy Mae says. Tonight, she’s in the rocking chair Xavier’s grandfather made, and she’s wearing a worn sweatshirt, with the name of the high school where she coaches girls’ soccer. She’s somehow more beautiful now that she’s five months pregnant. She truly does glow. “That gave me the best feelings.”

I roll my eyes. “Give Jebediah three hours and he’ll be complaining that Capshaw left her dirty clothes on the deck again, and Marissa’s need for routine will ruin her romantic getaway on the first day.”

“Love isn’t about it being fun all the time,” Cherry says. Her chestnut hair is silky and thick and looks adorable in two buns on either side of her head. I try not to be jealous, but I definitely have hair envy. My hair isn’t even half as thick as hers and it’s naturally a dishwater blonde, which is why I regularly dye it pink. “It’s about two people figuring out how to love each other through the dirty clothes on the floor and their need for routine.”

I shudder with a full-body cringe. “Ugh. No, thank you.” Books make romance sound so wonderful, but I’ve never seen it in real life. Sure, Cherry’s been happy with her husband Xavier for two years, but they’re still in their honeymoon phase. Peach and her fiancé Nick have been together for a year, but they’ve only been living together for a few months. I would never tell my sister or my cousin that I see doom in their futures, but I’m ready to pick them up off the floor when it happens. “I’ll take my casual flings over ‘romance’ every single time.” They don’t need to know how long it’s been since I’ve had a casual fling.

“So you’re not going to make a real-life romance happen like your sister and your cousin did?” Alice asks. Both Cherry and Peach had novel-worthy romances, though neither went the way they’d expected.

“Nope. My only goal is to have no romance at all. I’m good with the books. I don’t need it in real life.”

“How about you?” Cherry asks Alice. “Don’t you want to have a real-life book romance?”

Alice smiles. “I’m with Blue on this one. Flings with tourists are way more fun than getting serious.”

Cherry glances at me, but I shake my head. Cherry is rooting hard for Alice to realize our favorite barista slash artist Finch is head over heels smitten with her, but I’m firmly in the camp of leaving it alone. If Finch had a shot with Alice, she’d have noticed him already. People don’t suddenly develop an attraction for someone they’ve known all their life.

“Well, I have some news.” Peach smiles, her eyes lit with mischief. She slides a hand into the bag next to her and pulls it back out, presenting a stack of cards with SAVE THE DATE emblazoned on them. “I’m getting married.”

Everyone cheers, but my heart sinks. I grin and congratulate my sister along with everyone else, guilt washing over me because I don’t feel as happy as I should. Nick is a kind and loving man and he treats Peach like a queen. I couldn’t wish for a better guy for her.

I am happy to see her so happy, but I’m so afraid her happiness isn’t going to last.

I’m so glad she has Nick, but I’m also terrified of what will happen when she loses him.

Setting an actual date is serious. It means lawyers and paperwork and pre-nups. And when it doesn’t work out, not through any fault of their own, but because romantic love never lasts in real life, I don’t want my sister to have to litigate the end of her love affair or to endure a stale and passionless marriage.

Peach is one of the nicest people in the world, she deserves every happiness, and I don’t think I can handle seeing her broken-hearted.

Selfishly, I also feel like I’m losing her. She’s always told me her big news first. She’s always talked to me about everything and now she’s announcing her wedding date to the whole group. I’m just one in the crowd.

First, she doesn’t tell me about the date for her wedding, next, I’m the last one she tells that she and Nick are adopting a dog. I’ll be on the outside.

I’ll be the sister who dog sits sometimes and shows up for holidays when my job, as mayor of Yuletide, allows.

But I hug my sister. I take a glass of champagne when Cherry pours it, and I toast to the happy couple. I discuss wedding plans and pretend I’m not hurt that they’ve already chosen a date for next summer without talking to me about my availability. Of course, I’ll cancel the spa retreat I had booked as a surprise getaway for me, Peach, and Cherry, but they could’ve asked.

Murphy Mae and Alice leave for home, Save the Date cards in hand, leaving us to the wedding talk.

“How far along are you in the planning?” I ask as we settle back into our seats.

Peach bites her bottom lip and fiddles with the hem of her sweater. “We already have it pretty much planned.”

“Okay.” It’s okay. This is her wedding. She can do whatever she wants. Of course she can. But what if she’s paying too much for the venue or didn’t make a contingency plan for bad weather? I push my smile wider and breathe through my nose until I feel some semblance of calm.

Everything’s great.

Peach is an adult now and fully capable of planning her own wedding.

She’s just too sweet for her own good and I’ve watched too many people take advantage of her kindness or talk down to her, and I should have been with her to make sure they didn’t—

“Blue?” Peach says. “Are you mad?”

Shit. I wasn’t paying attention, and I missed something. “I could never be mad at you, Peachy.”

“We don’t want to plan the wedding, anyway.” Cherry manages to sound enthusiastic and happy. Probably because she is. Cherry is a far better person than me. “The bachelorette party is the fun one to plan. We should go to Vegas.”

“You say that.” I’m grateful for the subject change. “But you eloped without a bachelorette party.”

Cherry waves a hand. “After that disaster of a party when I was engaged to RJ? No thank you. I wasn’t taking any chances for things to go wrong with Xavier.”

When Cherry was engaged a few years ago, she had a blowout of a bachelorette party in Vegas. It ended with all of us behind bars for the night and wasn’t even remotely fun. “I don’t blame you for that.”

“Don’t worry.” Cherry pats Peach’s legs, which are back on her lap as Peach stretches out on the couch. “Your party and your wedding will be perfect.”

Peach doesn’t look so sure. “It’s not that I didn’t want your help to plan the wedding, I just knew that as soon as Mom found out, she’d want to be involved and I’m getting better, but I’m still not great at saying no to her.” Peach presses her hands to her cheeks. “Not that I thought you’d tell Mom I’m engaged if I asked you not to, but—”

“We get it,” I say. “This is a small town and people around here are shit at keeping secrets.” Our mother, Natalie, lives with and dates Milo Hewitt, a man half her age who works for Nick. If either Nick or Peach told anyone about their engagement, especially once they started talking to vendors… “Wait. How did you plan the wedding and set up vendors without the whole town finding out?”

“They’re having the wedding in Sugar Valley this summer,” Cherry says without pointing out that I missed that when I was having my existential crisis about my sister being a grownup. “I’m guessing the vendors are there as well?”

“We haven’t called anyone yet,” Peach says. “The venue is booked and we’ve found vendor options that look promising. We just have to make the calls. I’d love you both to help me choose the dress and the cake.”

“Of course.” Cherry’s practically bouncing in her seat. “This is going to be the best party.”

I don’t point out, again, that Cherry eloped to Vegas to avoid the party. The truth is her immediate family were at the wedding. Knowing that crew, they had fun after the I dos.

“We’re here for whatever you need,” I say. “I can call vendors, too, if you want.”

I know it’s the wrong thing to say as soon as Peach narrows her eyes and leans away. Her sweet smile doesn’t change, but her eyes don’t lie. She’s shutting me out. “Thanks for the offer, Blue, but I got this.”

Damn it. Time to rein it back in. “I know you do. Let me know when you need me for the dress fitting and the cake tasting.”

“Do you know what kind of dress you want?” Cherry’s eyes light as she looks up at the ceiling in thought. “I can totally see you in a ball gown with a fitted bodice.”

“I don’t know,” Peach says. “I want to try on everything. Maybe we can go in January or February?”

“Of course,” I say.

“There is one more thing.” Peach folds her hands in her lap and smiles at both of us. “Blue, will you be my maid of honor?”

Damn it, my eyes are stinging. I swallow hard. “Yes. Absolutely.”

Peach’s smile glows as she turns to Cherry. “Cherry, will you be my matron of honor now that you’re a married woman?”

Cherry’s smile slips for only a millisecond as she glances at me before giving Peach her full attention and a megawatt smile. “If that’s what you want, Peach. I’m honored.”

I press my lips together hard to keep from saying something. I literally bite my tongue. I push my hands under my thighs.

“Peachy,” I say, because I just cannot keep quiet on this. “Isn’t there usually just one ‘of honor’? Like either a maid of honor or a matron of honor?”

“There is.” Peach lifts her chin, determination I’ve never seen from her shining in her eyes. The fact she’s not calling me out for assuming she doesn’t know something makes me extremely nervous. “But this is my wedding and you’re my very best friends in the world, and this is how I want to do it.”

I should get up and walk away before I say something I regret, but that’s never really been my style. I close my eyes so I don’t have to see Peach’s reaction. “But I am your sister, Peach. Your real sister. I should be the only ‘of honor.’”

It’s quiet so long, I open my eyes to see Peach and Cherry having some sort of silent conversation. Since when did my cousin and my sister learn to communicate telepathically? Only Peach and I should be able to do that.

“Blue, I think…” Cherry glances at Peach. “What Peach is doing is really lovely when you think about it. There doesn’t need to be just one ‘of honor.’ The more the merrier, right?”

“What the hell is this really about?” I ask, all my patience gone. “I’m your blood sister, Peach. And I throw amazing parties. Parties where no one gets arrested.”

Cherry gasps and slaps a hand against her chest. “You take that back, Blueberry Porter.”

“I won’t take back the truth.” I know I’ve gone too far, but I’m like a train that’s gone off the track and is hurtling toward the cliff. Only a miracle or a catastrophe will stop me now.

“Fine.” Peach swings her legs off Cherry’s lap and stands, hands on hips. “I want you and Cherry to share the ‘of honor’ title because I know Cherry will keep you in line if you try to take control of everything or if you keep me out of some loop because you’re trying to ‘protect me.’” She actually does air quotes around the word protect like I haven’t literally protected her for twenty-three of her twenty-four years of life. Well, except for that brief stint I did in boarding school, but that was out of my control.

“I don’t need Cherry to hold my hand, Peach. I’ve told you I’ll treat you like an adult and trust your decisions, and I mean it.”

Peach crosses her arms over her chest and glances at Cherry. Cherry gives her a little nod and my stomach twists. I hate that little nod. I hate that I’m on the outside of this. I’m the problem when I’ve only ever wanted to be Peach’s best friend, her sister, the person she looks to for help and safety.

Peach takes a deep breath and blinks. “You insisted on looking over the lease for my bakery building. When my phone died and you couldn’t reach me, you came to my house and, when you couldn’t find me there, you went to Nick’s house at four in the morning.”

“It had been two days, and you’d missed drag queen brunch, Peach. I—” Honestly, if she had any idea how close I’d come to going to the police to file a missing persons report...

“You called my landlord about my leaky sink after I told you I’d take care of it. You told Mom not to go to my bakery ever again after she made me cry at work that one time.”

“Well, someone needed to tell her.”

“I should have been the one to tell her.” Peach is yelling and she never yells. She throws her hands up and shakes her head. “Why are you staring at me like I’m the one who’s lost my mind?”

“Those are all normal things sisters do, Peach.” I look to Cherry. “Tell her. I’m sure Gen always looks over your contracts and—”

But Cherry shakes her head. “Gen only helps if I ask.”

Gen is Cherry’s older sister and lives in Vegas. She paid for Cherry and us to stay in Vegas for Cherry’s first, aborted wedding. Of course, she’d help Cherry as much as I help Peach if she could. “Well, if she lived in the same town, I’m sure—”

Peach runs her hands through her hair and grips it tight. “You’re missing the point. I don’t want your help anymore, Blue. I want to handle things myself and make my own mistakes if that’s what happens.”

“And I’ve let you do that. I knew blackberry rum cupcakes wouldn’t sell, but I didn’t say a word.” I could give her a list a mile long of all the times I’ve stepped back when I could have helped, but I don’t want to make her feel bad. “I’ve backed way off.”

“You need to back farther off. You’re going to share the ‘of honor’ role with Cherry, or you’re not coming to the wedding at all.”

If I weren’t trying so hard not to cry, I’d probably acknowledge how proud I am of Peach for sticking to her boundaries. I just wish she wasn’t doing it with me. “Fine. Okay. I’ll share the job with Cherry and I’ll stop trying to help you.”

Peach huffs. “Thank you.” She bites her lip, looking suddenly worried. “I hope I’m not hurting your feelings, I just—”

There’s no way in hell I’m admitting to hurt feelings when Peach is being so amazing at standing up for herself. Our mother has manipulated, used, and belittled Peach all our lives and Peach, ever the people pleaser, has only recently learned to set boundaries and be her own advocate. Even if I don’t like what she’s saying, I have to respect it’s what she wants or I’m no better than our mother. “Not at all. I completely understand.” I push to a stand, fake a yawn, and stretch. “Wow, I’m exhausted, and I have an early meeting tomorrow. I should go home and get to bed.”

Peach hurries over and hugs me. “I’m sorry, Blue. I love you and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I need to do this on my own.”

I hug her back, squeezing her tight until my eyes stop burning. “My feelings aren’t hurt, sweetie. I totally understand.” I understand that she needs to feel independent, but she’ll come around. She’ll figure out how much she needs me, eventually.

It’s not that I think she’s incapable, but she’s often so eager to make everyone else happy she gives up what she wants. I’m not going to let that happen.

Peach pulls away and studies my face, seemingly satisfied. She gives me a tentative smile. “We’re going to have so much fun.”

I’m not sure whether she’s talking about the wedding, the bachelorette party, or life in general. It doesn’t matter. We’re definitely going to have fun, even if I have to help her in ways no one can see or suspect. I always make sure we have fun. “We sure as hell are.”

She whoops and shimmies. “I’ll stay and help Cherry clean up. You go on home and get some sleep.”

I wave a goodbye to Cherry, who’s looking at me with sympathetic eyes and a faint frown. If I’m going to convince them I’m really on board with the whole staying out of the planning nonsense, I’m going to have to become a much better actor. “Send me all the details you’ve got so far about the wedding. I want to know everything we have to look forward to.”

Peach hesitates only a moment, her brow creasing, before she smiles and nods. “Of course. You’re going to love everything we’ve chosen.”

***