A Down Home Christmas by Liz Talley

Author:Liz Talley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Published: 2019-05-13T19:04:55+00:00

Tory paused on the porch as Bria ran toward her car, carrying a bag of cookies and singing the chorus to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The smile in Tory’s heart matched the one on the child’s face. Bria was going to perform as long as Valerie and Mac okayed it. And the directors of the center would. Bria singing with Kris held the potential for boosting the child’s self-worth, something she’d been needing so badly. So many of the other girls at the center didn’t respond well to Bria’s rather abrupt and too honest assessments. She didn’t have many friends, but Tory was helping her learn how to be a good friend.

“I’m so happy she decided to sing at Tinsel,” Kris said following her out onto the porch.

“Thanks to you,” she said, turning to him only after seeing Bria shove her earbuds in and slide into the front seat of her car. “Why did you do agree to stay in Charming and play for her?”

Kris shrugged, looking around at the porch. At some point, he must have hung the same big old-fashioned bulbs they’d dug out from the attic from the eaves. The festive lights swooped to form bright scallops from the freshly painted soffits. This little touch turned a simple country porch into something magical. Ah, the power of twinkling Christmas lights.

“I don’t know. I just wanted her to do it. She has such a gift but is too afraid to share it. If I can make it easier for her, then I should. Besides, Tansy wants me to stay. That’s why she’s pulling out all this stuff and making us turn Trabeau Farms into something that rivals the Potts Christmas tree farm. I think the train arrives tomorrow.”

Tory blinked. “Train? Seriously?”

“Nah, I’m joking, but she’s dragged some linens down that she’s been ironing at the table. They have poinsettias on them. I know because I received schooling in the origin of the poinsettia. Comes from Mexico, you know.”

“I do. I’m a science teacher who loves botany,” Tory said, admiring the way the lights glinted off his brown hair. He had auburn highlights that caught in the glow and his now clean-shaven face made him look younger and revealed the hardness of his jaw.

Danger. Danger. Masculinity alert.

“You are definitely a teacher.” He smiled at her and that fluttery wonderful feeling burgeoned inside her again. Dang it. “You know, I thought I needed solitude. I thought if I withdrew from the world, I could find what I needed. Yet, ironically, being back here, doing this Christmas thing, and working with my hands has put me closer to finding just where my muse went.”

“Muse?”

“You know, the pretend being who helps me find the words.”

“She’s been missing?”

Kris scratched his head. “For a while now. For some reason, living on the road, eating fast food and barely sleeping was attractive to the little devil. Ever since I’ve found success, my muse packed bags and left town. Can’t say I blame her. Turns out success is harder than it looks.

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