“Is that right? It’s nice to meet you, Romy.” His eyes are full of playfulness and mirth. “You should come to the annual Ugly Sweater Party. My wife, Finley, and I go all out.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” People around here are too kind.
He waves his hand dismissively. “The more the merrier. We have a good time trying to top ourselves every year.” He laughs, a full-bellied, joyful sound that’s infectious and makes me believe his attitude.
“It’d be a good way to meet more people, and Caleb will be there, so you’ll know at least one person,” Nona says.
“We can exchange numbers, and I’ll shoot you the invite.”
I appreciate Ollie’s diplomacy.
“Perfect. Oh.” I hand Nona the pie dish. “This is for you and your family. It’s a small thank you for everything.”
“Oh, honey. You didn’t have to do that. You are too sweet.” She pats my cheek.
“It’s my deep-dish apple pie.”
“Apple pie is Caleb’s favorite, you know?”
Ollie coughs to hide his laughter.
“The thank you was for him, too. So that’s great,” I say, spinning it deftly.
“I should get back to the house, Nona. We have more decorating and baking to do. Let me give you my number now, Romy. R-O-M-Y?”
“You got it.”
He rattles off a series of numbers, and I enter it into the keypad and call.
“Got it. I hope you can make it. It’s always a good time. I do have to warn you, people take the sweater competition very seriously.”
“So, I should bring my Ugly A-Game.”
He beams. “Exactly. I like this one, Nona.”
“She’s a good egg.” Nona smiles.
“If she’s got your stamp of approval, I believe it.” Ollie’s fingers fly over the keys. My phone vibrates. I open an invitation with ornaments that spell out ugly. The fabric-covered deer dancing around the phrase ‘Let’s Get Ugly’ makes me laugh. Saluting me with two fingers, he struts out of the store. He has confidence that borders on cocky but comes off charming instead. It makes me want to meet his wife.
“You have to come over tonight for dinner. We’ll serve your pie for dessert.” Nona claps her hands together. “It’ll be lovely. I wanted you to meet my daughter, Leigh, and my son-in-law, Erik. I have another son, Paul, but his daughter is involved in Christmas activities this year, so we’ve missed their company the past few weeks.”
Ready or not, here I come, Caleb.
Chapter Five
Caleb
“Sorry, we’re late, Nona,” I call out as I enter the house with Laurene on my heels.
“We?” she calls. I’m stunned Uncle Paul didn’t rat me out after I showed up with Laurene, who did not enjoy the production, the cold, or anything else.
“Yes, I had an unexpected visitor last night.”
Laurene elbows me. I grunt. Hanging up our coats, we step out of our boots and walk into the kitchen dining area. The sight of Romy sitting across from Nona shocks me into stillness. Nona’s lips tighten.
“It must be in the air. We had a surprise visitor for you, too. She baked us a pie as a thank you, and I figured it was only right she be here to partake in it for dessert with us.”
“O-Of course,” I agree. Romy is looking anywhere but at me. Son of a bitch.