tri

But I was willing to do anything for her because not only was she a close friend of my aunt, but she had also come to feel like a grandma to me. And after her husband of fift

said as she wrapped her crocheted shawl around her shou

't want her to feel guilty for depending on me. It was only natural for a partner to feel a lit

rt calling her by her first name within the first month. Maybe it had something to

it was mid-November, so one might expect that, but it wasn't good for an

as also wearing a turtle neck with a sweater over it. I glanced down at her feet, which wer

seen her last, and I wondered if I didn't need t

s she led me through her small l

here somewhere. You wouldn't believe

classic amused and irritated expression she wore when she talked about Chester. He was an adopte

ed with a smirk. "Dig up your h

et rather a bit coldly–in my bed. Then this little bugger comes

ust the thermostat. It wouldn't take me long, but I took my time as she told me stories about Che

perature from Celsius to Fahrenheit, I gave Beth an

a big ol' goo

of people don't know how to operate these things when they first get

oubting smile. "Thanks f

yes, but a bashful look came across Mrs. Henso

a tinge of pink coming up between the wrinkles of her cheeks. "I promise I'll pay you. I'l

my first time going as a single man since I'd broken up with my girlfriend. This time I'd participate in the Mistletoe Mystery and potentially be matched with a date. It'd been a year since I'd dated anyone, but I

and pointed at the stove. She gave

that this one might take a bit too long to find out and fix, but I looked a

s it been ou

stove top didn't seem to be working. I hoped that it was just the top, so I went ahead and prepared to bake some Christmas cookies f

aring myself to get back in the work zone an

was an older stove, we'd either have to order a part to keep it running or Mrs. Hen

l fancy, and I won't know how they work either. Pretty soon I'll be living i

wasn't alone, no matter how lonely she might feel. Whether sh

Mrs. Henson insisted. She turned around and w

e. "Really, Beth. Don't even think about i

of her mouth, deepening h

ed. "I'm

u some of those Christmas cookies now that the stove

s perfect,"

living room. I followed slowly behind her, suddenly feeling sorry that I was a

are you doing ton

ace me. "Oh, I suppose I'll have some din

ing to the San

ead slightly. "I

odd

yway. I don't think that's the kind

ll, the whole county, really! And you're not th

wouldn't know who to talk to unless your aunt was there. And I'm not about to st

ping on my toes unless you decided to dance with me, and in that case, it's more li

t, tired smile

ot of events happening this season. I know it's hard with John gone and all, but I hope you don't keep yourself away. Ple

ow could I say no to that?" she said with feigned f

ight," I

get out of here now," she said. "I'll get st

'm looking f

to frequent any kind of community get-together so he could meet ladies. He was the suave type, a borderline playboy. But he a

rse, I was hesitant to get back into the dating scene, but he kept reminding me that to

in this case, required hiding behind a mask. It was only

f hair that tickled the tops of my ears. I slipped on the velvety red suit that Andrew had helped me pick out. It felt strange we

tugged on the beard and fixed the Santa hat securely to my head. I decided to save the glasses for o

t next to the auditorium. With the low rumble of my truck's engine coming to life, my nerves spiked. I was really doing this. I felt a li