Twelve Graves of Christmas by Showalter Gena & Monroe Jill

Author:Showalter, Gena & Monroe, Jill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Author Talk Media LLC
Published: 2022-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

Jane couldn’t sleep that night. Conrad was ready to go all in. With the next woman he dated.

Conrad.

All in.

With someone besides Jane. Maybe even someone she picked for him.

Curses sucked! Needing a distraction, she turned her attention to Benjamin’s journal. Mainly, the seven names and a map of the cemetery. The print out of the map she often passed out to visitors. Something about the two items together prodded at her mind, but what? She even marked the seven gravesites on the map, but no pattern emerged. And yet…

Yeah. That something never faded. Again and again, just before she could grasp the answer, her thoughts returned to Conrad. She pictured him with the ladies of Aurelian Hills and did not like it. In desperation to fully occupy her mind, she scrolled through Instagram to find a new date for Beau. As late night scrolling often did, it took her down unusual paths. This time, to a page for the vet’s former “roommate” Sora Kahtri.

Tons of pictures of the dark-haired beauty’s travels populated the feed, though none were recent. And not a single one of her family. Or of any kind of holiday. Sadness tugged at Jane’s heart. It was a longshot, but she sent the other woman a direct message, inviting her to Thanksgiving lunch/dinner. Dinch? Lunner?

Despite her lack of sleep, Jane popped up before her alarm sounded, eager to begin her morning of chopping, braising and stuffing the turkey. But not before texting Fiona a holiday meme–Keep your Thanksgiving food from going bad by eating it all in one day. Also not before she discovered another shredded hat, courtesy of Rolex. The little scamp! He did love to play.

After a quick wake-up shower, Jane donned a fit-and-flare covered in tiny pancake stacks. A garment reserved for special occasions. Rolex followed her to the kitchen and perched in his centerpiece bowl as she tottered about, stirring and chopping and heating. As the scents of caramelized onion and melting butter scented the air, Conrad came downstairs, looking more rumpled and adorable than ever as he led Cheddar outside. She prepared him a mug of coffee.

“Smells amazing in here,” he told her upon his return. “Like my favorite memories.”

For once, no sadness tinged his voice when he spoke of the time before he’d lost his family in a tragic accident. Delight puffed up her chest. Maybe, just maybe, she’d helped him think of the past in a new way. Not in all he’d lost, but what he’d once enjoyed.

“And your dress.” A grin bloomed as he looked her over. “The pancake is wearing pancakes. There’s nothing more perfect.”

What a wonderful compliment. She heard an odd cracking sound—inside herself. “Th-thank you.” Trembling, she passed him the coffee.

“No, thank you.” He sipped the brew and washed dishes while the corgi sat at his feet, gazing up at him with adoration. “Anything I can do to help?” he asked as soon as those dishes were done.

Behind him, Rolex stalked across the kitchen table, closing in, his glare laser focused on the father and his fur-son.

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