Happily This Christmas--A Novel by Susan Mallery

Author:Susan Mallery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2020-07-24T18:21:51+00:00

* * *

JOYLYN TOOK THE shoebox-size package from the mail carrier and thanked her. The familiar loopy writing on the mailing label made her smile. She had no idea what Holly was sending her, but knew it would be great. Holly was a good friend.

Joylyn put the rest of the mail on her dad’s desk, found a pair of scissors in the top drawer and quickly opened her box. Inside was a stuffed blue bunny—the kind you would win at a carnival or arcade game. The note tucked inside explained that Holly and Rex had won the bunny at the pier and wanted her to have it for her baby.

The ever-present tears appeared, but this time Joylyn didn’t care. Happy tears were never a problem. She put the box in the recycling, then set the blue bunny on her dresser.

“Look what Auntie Holly got you,” she told her baby as she rested a hand on her belly. “You’re going to love him.”

She picked up her phone and took a picture, then texted it and several heart emojis to her friend.

Seconds later her phone rang. Joylyn laughed when she saw Holly’s picture.

“I would have called, but I didn’t know when you were on break,” she said, stretching out on the bed. “Thank you so much for the cute bunny. I love it.”

“The second we saw it, Rex and I knew we had to win it for you.”

There was something in her friend’s voice—a level of excitement that seemed bigger than just an arcade bunny. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. You’ll never believe it. It’s so insane and yet, it’s happening. I’m floating.”

“Holly, what are you talking about?”

“Rex proposed! We’re getting married.”

“What?” Joylyn sat upright. “That’s so great. When did it happen? What did he say? Were you shocked? Have you set a date? Tell me everything!”

“He proposed last night. We had dinner and then walked on the beach and before I knew what was happening, he went down on one knee. It was so beautiful and I said yes and we both cried. I love him so much.”

“I know you do.” Joylyn thought about Chandler’s proposal and how happy she’d been. “You’re going to have a wonderful life together.”

“I know we are, but first we want to get married.” She hesitated. “And really fast. We’re both up for new assignments, and if we’re married, we can request something where we’re together.”

Joylyn’s mind started working through possibilities. “Then we have to put together a wedding as quickly as we can.”

“Oh, we don’t have time for a wedding. We need to be married before the end of the year. We’re just going to city hall or something.”

Joylyn knew that Holly didn’t have any family, so there was no dad to walk her down the aisle or siblings to help out. But she had friends.

“You have to want a wedding,” she said.

“Sure, but it’s not practical. I want to be married to Rex more than I want to wait and plan something fancy.”

“You need a wedding.

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