Read Online Christmas in Cupid Falls by Holly Jacobs - Free Book Online Page A

rock—two people mourning her loss. They’d talked about Val. And how talking led to comfort, and comfort led to that one nigh t . . .
    Her hand rested on the baby.
    She knew she was more practical than romantic. Maybe that’s why that one night felt surreal to her. For one night, she thought maybe there was more of a connection than there was.
    After he left, and days turned into weeks without word from him, she knew she’d been foolish to fall under the spell of the local legends and her teenage crush.
    And as weeks turned to months, she realized that she was pregnan t . . . and it only made her more practical. She couldn’t afford to be a lovelorn teen anymore. She couldn’t pine over the boy next door. She was a business owner, a mayor, and she was going to be a mother. It was time to put away foolish childhood dreams.
    As she stared at the falls, she reminded herself of her practicality. She couldn’t help but wonder why that practicality didn’t lead her to say yes to Malcolm’s proposal.
    After all, it would be practical to marry for the baby’s sake.
    The baby kicked and her hands rested on her stomach.
    How she felt about this baby had nothing to do with practicality. It had everything to do with love. Maybe there was something to the legends. She had found the love of her life here at the falls. But it wasn’t Malcol m . . . it was their child.
    That thought settled something in her that night. And it led to her resolve to get along with Malcolm even if it killed her—and it might kill her. She smiled despite herself at the thought.
    She’d offer to help Malcolm with the Center’s two biggest holiday events, the craft show and the Everything But a Dog events. With Pap, she’d have gone ahead and worked on them, but the Center was Malcolm’s, not hers, and not Pap’s. She’d offer but let him take the lead.

    Kennedy felt more settled the next day as she jumped right in at work. It was the beginning of her holiday season at the flower shop. She had a slew of Thanksgiving gift baskets and floral arrangements that were being picked up between now and Wednesday. Then a quiet day off, after which began an even crazier schedule until Christmas.
    She was tying a ribbon onto a poinsettia when the antique bell on the door jingled. She hurried out front to see who it was.
    “Morning, Mayor. Happy Monday.”
    “No barking today, Clarence?” she asked with a smile.
    The old man grinned back at her. “Nah. Joan said you were too pregnant for me to pick on, so I have to lay of f . . . but only until after the baby,” he warned her. “She was real fond of the frog.”
    “So you’re out of the froghouse?” Kennedy laughed again at the expression.
    He nodded. “For now. Probably not for long. You keep your eyes out for other stuff for her, okay? If you see it, it’s best to get it and stock up.”
    “I will. But if you’re not in the froghouse today, what can I do for you?”
    Clarence’s expression sobered. “It’s a mayor thing, not a floral thing.”
    “I’m listening.”
    “It’s about May Williams. She was at my door at six this morning, complaining that I hadn’t shoveled yet. Now, Mayor, I keep my sidewalk clear. I shoveled last night before I went to bed. But it was six a.m. I hadn’t even started the coffee yet. I told the old bat to go away. I told her that I’d get to it when I woke up, but she said she was going to report me to the police. Now, Jonny, he’s a nice boy, but I don’t know him well, so I came to you. I don’t want him arresting me. There was less than an inch on the ground, and I swear, I’d have cleaned it off as soon as I had some clothes on and a cup of coffee under my belt.”
    “Listen, Clarence, I’ll give Jon a call. I don’t think he’d really arrest you, but I’ll see to it.”
    “Thanks, Mayor. If May’s not careful, I’m going to press charges. She’s disturbing my peace.”
    The bell on the door rang and Kennedy barely resisted the