The Present Predicament: A Jericho Falls Holiday Novella (Jericho Falls Cozy Mysteries) by Peterson Brook

Author:Peterson, Brook [Peterson, Brook]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: GS Publishing
Published: 2020-12-21T06:00:00+00:00

9

Holly Jolly

What little bit of Christmas spirit I had started to feel was GONE. This was the part of the holidays that made me feel crazy. The errands, the chaos, the last minute mess-ups that made everything so hectic.

I stuffed the lid back on the box. Now, I had to sneak this darn thing out of Jericho House too. But after the work it took to get it inside, there had to be a better way. Think, Chloe, think. Then it came to me.

I spread out the roll of green paper and did a thirty-second wrap job. It was decidedly not up to par with the gifts Grandma had already arranged under the tree. But since it was a decoy, I didn’t care. I’d try harder when her size sixes were in-hand.

“What do you think, Jed?” He tilted his head to one side. “It’ll work. You’ll see,” I reassured him.

We trotted downstairs. Me, with the “gift” under my arm and Jed with his big tongue lolling to one side. He looked like he was smiling, as if he understood and was amused by the ruse. We ran into Grandma when we got to the kitchen. She was soaping up the used teapot and cups while humming a little tune.

“Bree left?” I asked.

“Yes, the poor dear. I said she shouldn’t tell another soul that her hair color was an accident. Let people think whatever they want.”

I smiled. “You always know what to say, Grandma. But do you think Bree can hold herself back?”

“Probably not…chatty little thing.” Grandma spied the package in my hands. Her eyes glowed like a Christmas bulb. “Oh, goody, you got him a gift.”

“Him? What? Who?” I said in bewilderment.

She came closer and took the box from me, earnestly inspecting it. “Goodness dear, I think Chief Garner deserves a better presentation than this. Here, let me take it upstairs and fix it.”

I jerked the poorly wrapped gift from her grasp. “No, it’s fine. This isn’t for Garner, anyway.”

Grandma frowned, “Who, then?”

“Uh... Bree,” I fibbed.

“How nice, dear, but I still think it needs—“

I didn’t let Grandma finish. Instead, I nabbed the package back from her and hurried to the back door. I slipped into a coat and hat along the way and told her I’d see her later.

I couldn’t stand the idea of going back to Lakeview again that day. There was time, right? I could wait a day or two before returning to the land of holly jolly Christmas. As long as the red shoes didn’t sell out. Ugh. I have to do it tomorrow, first thing.

For now, Jed and I were going for a walk to clear our heads. On second thought, Jed’s head was as clear as usual, but mine needed some fresh air.

I clipped his red leash to his worn leather collar as we made our way down the drive. When we reached my truck, I stowed the wrapped package inside. We kept walking down the hill towards Main Street.

My breath puffed out in front of me, making tiny white clouds.

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