The Christmas Wager, page 7
“Caroline mentioned you’re a family friend of Jesse and Clarence’s,” Shanti said. “You’re from Los Angeles?”
“Yes, but I’m thinking of moving,” I said. “I’m scouting out Maple Falls.”
“What do you do for work, Bella?” Nancy asked.
“Sales and marketing,” I replied, deliberately keeping things vague.
“Very nice,” Shanti said. “Are you enjoying our town so far?”
“I’m loving it,” I fibbed.
“Lucky for us you’re here,” Nancy said. “We officially have our fourth team member.”
“We’re so happy we can compete in the games,” Shanti said. “Jesse’s team has beaten us three years in a row. It has to end, or we’ll never live it down.”
“Her brother Naveen has teased us since the spring,” Nancy added.
Shanti laughed. “Goodness knows I adore my brother, but honestly, sometimes I want him to morph into a dead, dead snowman.”
While Nancy almost spit out a mouthful of coffee, Caroline, who I noticed had been observing me silently all this time, suddenly said, “How long have you known Jesse and Clarence?”
Thankfully, we’d come up with an answer to this question before I’d left Always Noelle. “Ever since we were kids, I guess. Our parents were friends—we met on holiday one year. Jesse and I connected on social media recently, and here I am, checking out Maple Falls.”
“Because you want to move here?” Caroline said, holding my gaze for a few beats, and I wondered what she was really thinking.
“Maybe,” I said. “I’m not sure yet. I’ve often thought about setting up my own business, perhaps I could do it here.” It was only half a lie. I’d never set one up in tiny town.
“I think it’s great you came to explore,” Nancy said. “Are you staying for Christmas?”
“Oh, I’m not sure about that.” I hadn’t expected any of the women to be so accepting and friendly, but I couldn’t afford for them to know the truth. They’d throw me off the team before I’d properly joined.
Caroline frowned a little harder. “Didn’t you say you only expected to be here for one night?”
“I didn’t want to overcommit,” I replied. “Jesse twisted my arm to stay longer.”
“Oh, did he?” she said.
I wasn’t sure if I detected a hint of disappointment in her voice, deftly hidden beneath a look of surprise and raised eyebrows. Had something happened between them? Jesse had been offhand when I’d mentioned Caroline. Had they dated? Did she want them to? Why did I care?
“Anyway,” I said. “Does the team have a name?”
“We were Donna’s Blitzens,” Caroline said. “She was our team captain.”
“Who’s the captain now?” I asked.
Nancy held up a hand and with a languid sigh said, “Me.”
“She got voluntold.” Shanti laughed and kissed Nancy’s cheek. “Thanks again, honey.”
“Apparently having three kids and being a teacher means I’m good at organizing.” Nancy groaned.
“You are,” Caroline said. “Not only with all your kids. You’re great at getting things done, too.”
“Getting things done and leading people aren’t the same,” Nancy said. “Besides, that’s not what I’m worried about. Bella, the team captains compete in the Ultimate Maple Run on Christmas Eve, and I wish Shanti could do it instead of me.”
“You know the strain on my Achilles tendon needs to heal another few weeks before I tackle a run like that,” Shanti said.
“I know, but I’ll probably pass out mid-obstacle,” Nancy said. “The Merryatrics really pushed it the last two years. Who knows what they’ve got in store for us.”
“I suppose I could—” Caroline started to say.
“I’ll do it,” I jumped in. It was the only way my plan would work. For me to have a shot at winning the wager, I had to be the one to do the Ultimate Maple Run. “I’ll be team captain.”
“Really?” Nancy gasped.
“Sure. I’ll lead and run, no problem. If you want me, of course.”
“Gosh, yes, but . . .” Shanti paused, bit her lip. “I hope I’m not making this sound like an interview or anything, but have you led a team or run an obstacle course before?”
“I’ve managed quite a few projects,” I said, swiftly moving on to my exploits at the gym, and how I’d thrown more than a few axes.
“This is excellent!” Shanti said, although from the look on Caroline’s face I didn’t think she felt the same. “That settles it. We don’t just want you, Bella, we need you.”
“I can lead, too,” Caroline said quietly.
“It’s okay.” Nancy reached over the table and squeezed her hand. “Remember you mentioned how busy things can get at the lodge over the holidays? Now you don’t need to worry.” It still didn’t look like Caroline agreed, although she didn’t protest again.
“Should we worry about the other teams?” I said. “Tim from Tipsy’s mentioned there are five in total.”
“They don’t stand a chance,” Caroline said, and from her voice I didn’t get the sense she was impressed with how fast the other two women had rallied around me. “Everyone knows it’s between us and the Jolly Saint Nicks.”
“We should come up with a new team name,” Shanti said, before snapping her fingers. “How about the Abominable Snow Girls?”
“Good one,” Nancy said. “I’ll throw in the Holiday Hooplas.”
“I like them both,” Caroline said. “There’s the Allspice Girls, too.”
Glancing around the room, I caught a glimpse of the twinkling red lights on the mantelpiece. I’m not sure if that was what triggered the old memory, but somehow, I remembered my dad munching his way through a bag of striped candies, sneaking a couple into my hands when Mom said it was time for me to get to bed. It had been ages since a recollection of a past moment with my dad, or of Christmas, didn’t cause me pain or sadness. I’d almost forgotten there were any left that could bring a smile to my face.
“Peppermint Twists,” I blurted.
“That’s cute,” Caroline said.
“I love it,” Shanti added. “Let them believe we’re all sweet ’n’ lovely.”
“The Jolly Saint Nicks are going down like old sacks of coal,” Nancy said, before turning to Caroline. “Whoops. Is it okay for us to trash Jesse, considering he’s your ex? Sorry if I overstepped.”
Aha, so they had been together. As I glanced at Caroline, I thought I saw a little regret, or was it resentment? The fact that she and Jesse had been a couple shouldn’t have sparked my curiosity, but I found myself interested in the details. When had they split up, and why? How long had they been together?
I shifted in my seat, not at all happy with the strange sensation developing in the depths of my belly. It felt like envy, which was completely ridiculous. Sure, Jesse was attractive, I’d already admitted it to myself—but there was no way I’d ever consider him anything other than an opponent. An obstacle. An adversary. He stood in the way of my future.
“Do we have any indication about the first game tomorrow?” I said, refocusing.
“None,” Nancy said. “The seniors keep their lips sealed tighter than Fort Knox.”
“Speaking of the seniors,” Shanti said. “Caroline, don’t we need approval about Bella joining the Peppermint Twists?”
“Clarence offered to handle it,” I said. “Do I have to meet them to plead my case?”
Shanti laughed. “Nope. Those kids have a Snapchat group and—”
“Speaking of, hold that thought.” Caroline pulled her phone from her pocket. “Oh, they said yes.”
“Brilliant.” Nancy patted my shoulder. “You’re one of us now.”
* * *
• • •
My next stop was Humptys on Main Street, a place easy enough to spot with its large yellow hiking boots logo. The store stood directly opposite a parkette that housed a white octagonal gazebo and a few wooden benches, on one of which someone had built a snowman reading a newspaper, complete with a blue fedora and a pipe. I’d always loved snowmen, and building them was one of the only things I missed about living in Bart’s Hollow.
I pulled Humptys’s front door open and stepped inside. Clarence hadn’t been joking when he’d said the place would have everything I’d need. I was immediately met by rows of jackets and thick pants, plus cross-country and downhill skiing, camping, and fishing gear. Snowshoes and ski poles hung on the back wall, but before I made it three steps farther to see the rest, a woman with long silver hair, pendant ski earrings, and a broad smile walked over.
“You must be Bella,” she said.
“How did you—”
“Clarence said you’d stop by. I’m Gladys. I probably shouldn’t say this, as I’m supposed to be impartial and all, but I’m excited you’re joining the games. It’s time the women of Maple Falls get their revenge.” She looked me up and down, a frown crinkling her forehead when she spotted my heels. “You are sporty, yes?”
“Sure am.”
“Winter sporty? You’re from L.A.”
“One doesn’t exclude the other,” I said with a wink.
“Right, right, forgive me. Okay, let’s get you what you need.”
A short while later I was in the changing room with a stack of snow pants, moisture-wicking shirts, and a couple of puffer jackets. Gladys insisted on pushing three packs of thermal underwear into my hands, too. Slipping into the clothes she’d given me, I glanced in the mirror. I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing this red-and-black-plaid shirt anywhere in L.A., but when in Maple Falls . . . I tied a knot at my waist. Pulling out my phone, I snapped a photo and sent it to Luisa.
A minute later as I tried on a pair of gray pants, my cell buzzed with an incoming call, and I grinned when I saw my best friend’s picture on the screen. It had only been a day, but I missed her. Longed to be in our little apartment, stretched out on our squishy burgundy microfiber sofa for a long chat about everything and nothing.
“Hey, Luisa,” I whispered.
“What’s with the picture you sent?” she said with a squeal. “Why are you in lumberjack plaid? Did you finalize the deal? Are you at the airport?” She paused. “Why are you so quiet?”
“Um . . .”
“Isabella Birdie Ross,” she said in her sternest voice, the one that always made me smile because she sounded exactly like her mom, with whom she had a standing phone call every Thursday night no matter what. “Tell me what’s going on this instant.”
“Everything to your liking in there, dear?” Gladys called over.
“Yes, thank you,” I replied.
“Who are you talking to?” Luisa said.
I waited until I heard Gladys move away from the door. “Are you sitting down?” I whispered, before quickly explaining why I needed to stay in Maple Falls for the week. “Whatever you do, don’t tell anyone about this wager.”
“But . . . but . . . OMG, Bella. This is huge. No, wait, it’s way bigger than huge. It’s humongous. Nope. What’s bigger than that? I don’t know. I’m officially lost for words.”
“First time for everything.”
“Very funny. Listen, are you absolutely sure you know what you’re doing? Valerie expects you to be in the office on Monday. She’ll be furious.”
“No, she won’t,” I said, crossing my fingers.
“She will. You’re being impulsive again.”
“I can handle it.”
“Are you sure?”
“A hundred percent. Everything’s going to work out. Listen, I’d better go.”
“Oh no you don’t. I’m not letting you off that easily. Not before you tell me more about Jesse. He sounds hot. What’s his Insta? More importantly, does he have a girlfriend?”
“I, uh, don’t know. None of my business. His ex runs the lodge I’m staying at though.”
“What’s she like?”
“Quiet, nice. Lived here all her life. Has the most gorgeous red hair.”
“And how cute is Jesse?” When I paused a moment too long, she added, “That cute, huh? Go on, you can tell me.”
“He’s not my type.”
“Uh-huh.” Luisa wasn’t convinced.
“He isn’t. Actually, I can’t wait to see his face when I win the wager.” As I forced extra conviction into my words, I silently vowed I’d keep my head on straight, not get sucked into any kind of small-town drama between Jesse and Caroline or anyone else. My eye would remain on the proverbial prize. By the end of next week, I’d return triumphant to L.A. and the promotion would definitely be mine.
Sunday,
December 19
Chapter 8
Jesse
I’d managed to get home at a decent hour last night, despite Elijah trying to convince me to crash in his spare room. If I’d agreed, we’d have ended up sitting on his sofa with a couple of beers as he tried twisting my arm about starting another company. Whenever we met, typically every few weeks, the conversation always shifted to him trying to coax me into moving back to Denver on a permanent basis, which he’d attempted again yesterday.
“I have lots of contacts now so I can introduce you,” Elijah said. “You wouldn’t get taken advantage of by another general contractor, we’d make sure of it. Plus, we’d have a blast working on builds together, and you can have my spare room until you find a place of your own.”
“Thanks, but I’m staying where I am,” I said. “I’m happy in Maple Falls.”
Elijah stopped short of rolling his eyes. “Come on, man. You run Kirk’s business for him, you know you do. Meanwhile, he spends winters in Costa Rica while you’re lining his pockets.”
“He’s a good boss. Lets me get on with stuff, make my own schedule.”
“Exactly what I’m saying. There’s an abundance of electrical work here, particularly for people as skilled as you. What happened last time won’t happen again.”
“It’s still a gracious no,” I said, unable to admit that even if I’d wanted to return to Denver, I couldn’t afford it because of the loan I’d taken out to help Pops. Elijah relented, and after he asked for my input on his kitchen project, we ate a late dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant he’d discovered, which made melt-in-your-mouth tibs, doro wat, and injera. As we finished what had to be one of the best meals I’d ever had, Elijah suggested we join his friends at a club a few blocks away.
“No way.”
“Dude,” he said. “Live it up a little.”
“Oh, yeah, I’ll be living it up all right.” I pointed at my shirt and jeans. Stuck a dusty, boot-clad foot out from under the table. “Especially dressed like this.”
“You won’t fit into any of my shoes, you big tree,” he teased. “I’ll give you a shirt.”
I declined again, reminded him I had to pick up Buddy from my neighbor. Thinking Elijah might decide he’d given me enough of a hard time for one day, I slipped on my jacket. However, it seemed he couldn’t let me go without one final good-natured jab.
“Don’t go easy on Bella Ross at the first game tomorrow,” he said. “More importantly, don’t let her distract you.”
I’d laughed, said there was no chance of either happening, except here I was, barely after six on a Sunday morning, wide awake with Buddy snoring next to me.
When the annoying and incessant voice in my brain whispered I’d see Bella in a few hours, I told myself it was nerves getting to me. We needed to win the games, and I’d make sure we did. Given our experience and previous successes, surely the odds were stacked in our favor.
The members of the Jolly Saint Nicks consisted of myself as team captain, Freddy, our local baker, an absolute beast when it came to anything involving decorating, Naveen, the extreme sports enthusiast, and Wyatt the IT guy, another of my childhood friends, who’d replaced Elijah last year and who could split a hair with an axe from twenty yards away.
Until Donna had been forced to drop out, some people in town were wondering if the Jolly Saint Nicks could beat them this year because her team had trained harder than any other. Now they were back in the game, and once everyone found out about Bella scaling mountains and jumping from helicopters, rumors would swirl.
In fairness, I’d been a little surprised when Caroline messaged last night, saying my old family friend had not only charmed the group, but also successfully nominated herself captain and changed their name to the Peppermint Twists.
Of course Bella would try to take over, I told myself. That’s exactly the type of person she was. I couldn’t see my ex being happy about being steamrollered. Actually, I couldn’t see them getting along at all. Bella seemed adventurous, outgoing, and like she always spoke her mind. Caroline was more reserved, and as protective of our town as I was. Although she had a determined streak, too, something I greatly admired. Still, friction could bode well for the Jolly Saint Nicks. If the Peppermint Twists were fighting before the games even began, it could impact their chances of winning.
When Buddy stretched and got up, letting out a yawn, I followed suit and headed for the shower. A while later as I stood in the kitchen resting against the counter, a cup of scalding coffee in one hand, a piece of peanut-buttered toast in the other, my phone lit up.
Get ready, Holiday Gamer! Be at Town Square at 10:00 a.m. SHARP!
I waited for follow-up instructions, at least an indication of whether this would be an outdoor or indoor game. Nothing. I grinned. This was typical. No doubt Gladys was behind the decision as she always made things as twisty and surprising as possible for the competitors.
