Her Yuletide Angel by Avery Taylor Adams

Author:Avery Taylor Adams [Adams, Avery Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-17T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Holly’s playful yips echoed through the woods as I drove up the driveway returning from my trip into town.

Please don’t let me walk into an eyeshadow explosion or a lipstick mural on the wall.

Even as I take a deep breath to steady myself for what awaits me on the other side of the door I imagine Holly’s white muzzle covered in crimson and pink lipstick and her back a rainbow of wintery holiday colors from rolling through eyeshadow palettes.

Holly yipped again, and the wind carried Eva’s laughter to my car.

If my house isn’t covered in six months of makeup made from hard work, that will be a Yuletide miracle.

I’m white-knuckled from gripping the steering wheel by the time I kill the engine.

No good deed goes unpunished. I take in an angel and she helps my dog destroy my hard work. Heck, maybe it’s my punishment for being a scrooge.

“Shh… your mommy’s home,” Eva laughed from the other side of the door.

Holly yipped again and Eva laughed.

“Shh…. It’s a surprise for your mommy! You have to be quiet or she’ll guess we’re up to something.”

Please, please, don’t let me regret opening this door. Please, don’t let my cabin and all my hard work be destroyed.

I slid the key into the lock and Holly yipped. She dashed to the door her nails click-clacking against the hardwood floor. Usually, I loved when she greeted me upon arrival. Today, dread coiled my stomach into knots.

“Welcome home!” Eva cheered as I opened the door.

Holly looked up at me with a wagging tail. A red holiday bow sat atop her head and a green bow was tied lopsidedly around either of her ears. Another red bow was tied around her tail and nearly shimmied off from wagging.

“She’s wrapped up like a present,” Eva grinned from the sofa.

Red and blue bows were haphazardly tied and wound up in her long blonde hair. I scanned the floor, walls, and furniture for signs of destruction. All the empty boxes were stacked nicely against the far wall. A smaller stack of boxes addressed to their future recipients line the wall by the door left open for my inspection and final approval. For good measure, I looked up at the ceiling. Relief washed over me. My house nor my products were destroyed. My bottom line would survive a few lost bows and ribbons.

“We had so much time left after I sorted the things into the boxes. So, then I labeled the boxes, but you still weren’t back. Holly wanted to go outside, but I wouldn’t let her. You didn’t tell me whether or not she could go out and I didn’t want to make you mad. So, instead, we dressed up for your homecoming.”

“Aren’t you adorable?” I dropped the grocery bags by the door and scooped Holly into my arms. Holly sniffed my nose and then licked it. “You got them all packed away quicker than I thought you would.”

“I’ve always wanted to box up and wrap presents. We don’t give presents where I come from.

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