Chapter One
Bobbie Walker slid open the living room window and smiled at the
unseasonably mild afternoon breeze that drifted through. After last month’s deep
chill, the warmer air felt almost strange this close to Christmas. She took a deep
breath of the fresh air, then gulped when Bailey, her goldendoodle, abruptly jumped
up beside her and pressed his nose against the screen.
“I know, I know.” Bobbie laughed. “You’re ready for a walk.” She clipped his
leash on to his collar and led him to the door.
Bobbie had taken Bailey for his usual morning walk, but it had been a busy
day, and she hadn’t spent much time with him since. As a freelance journalist for the
local paper, the Newfield News, she’d been assigned by the owner and editor-in-
chief, Abigail Dale, to cover the town’s holiday charities and Christmas fundraising
efforts, and had spent most of the day interviewing some of the volunteers.
Abigail had said that it was important for Bobbie to get to know the local area
if she was going to take on more jobs.
Bobbie loved her job, and she was waiting to hear back from her book editor
about the detective novel she’d recently submitted, hoping it would be accepted for
publication.
She rented the small cottage where her late parents used to live, and she
hoped to one day save enough money to buy her own place. But she was still a long
way from that, and she really loved living in the cottage.
It was where she’d spent the first five years of her life before her parents were
killed, and she’d been brought up by Uncle Jimmy who wasn’t actually her uncle.
The cottage was quaint, with weathered blue siding and a steeply pitched roof. A
wide wooden porch stretched across the front, and the property backed onto a
beautiful lake.
As she stepped outside she found a familiar face and a huge smile waiting for
her.
“Rachael! Perfect timing. I was about to take Bailey for a walk.” Bobbie
grinned as her friend wiggled her fingers revealing that her nails had recently been
manicured and that tiny bells had been glued to the tips, giving off a faint tinkle as
she waved them.
“Bobbie, check it out! Isn’t it so festive?” Rachael laughed.
“The green and red are amazing, but I’m not so sure about those bells.”
Bobbie laughed as she shook her head. “Don’t you think you’re going to get annoyed
hearing that sound all the time?”
“They don’t really ring unless I want them to.” Rachael smiled. “It’s different,
yes, but I love them.”
“Then I love them, too.” Bobbie looked over her best friend. From her new
spiky blonde hair to her sparkling eyes, she had the kind of energy everyone wished
could be bottled, and the kindest heart to go with it. They couldn’t have been more
different in looks, with Bobbie’s long, wavy, dark hair and deep-green eyes. “You’re
really going all out for the season.”
“I love Christmas!” Rachael exclaimed as they began walking together.
“Speaking of which, what are you doing tonight?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“Golden Acres is holding their Christmas dinner.” Rachael grinned.
“Golden Acres?” Bobbie raised her eyebrows. “The retirement home?”
“Whoa, wait, stop right there.” Rachael turned to face her with wide eyes.
“First of all, it’s not a retirement home. It’s a senior living community, and it’s hopping.
Secondly, you’ll get to meet the great Daisy Mae Jean. Trust me, you’ll find it
interesting.”
“The great Daisy Mae Jean?” Bobbie grinned. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
Bobbie knew that Rachael’s grandmother had recently moved back to
Vermont after years living in Florida, and now lived at Golden Acres. Rachael had
invited Bobbie to visit with her a few times, but each time Bobbie had a work
commitment and couldn’t go.
“Perfect. It will be a blast. We were all invited, but my parents have a
conflicting commitment, so it was going to be just me and Kyle. Now that you’re
going, too, it will be a lot more fun.” Rachael smiled.
“Kyle’s going?” Bobbie stopped as Bailey began sniffing a neighbor’s mailbox
with exuberant interest, as if he hadn’t sniffed it just three hours ago. She thought of
her boyfriend, Kyle West. “He didn’t tell me.”
“That’s probably because he’s trying to find a way to get out of going.”
Rachael laughed. “My grandmother’s got enough energy for the whole town, and
Kyle never quite knows how to handle it. I can’t get enough of her hugs, but he
doesn’t really like the attention.”
“But isn’t she his grandmother, too?” Bobbie knew Kyle’s dad had passed
away when he was a teenager, and his mom, Liz, had moved to Florida while Kyle
was away. Daisy had gone with her to help get settled and ended up staying. Liz had
eventually met someone new, and Daisy had come back to Newfield. It was a
running joke in the family that both sisters had married men with the last name West
even though they weren’t related.
“She is, but Kyle didn’t get to know her as well as I did. He spent such a long
time away, and she was living in Florida when he came back, and you know how he
is. He’s gotten a lot more relaxed since you two started dating, but he’s still a little
reserved.”
“He can be,” Bobbie said as Bailey finally began walking again. “I’m looking
forward to meeting your grandmother.”
“She’s quite the firecracker.” Rachael crouched down to make kissy noises at
Bailey and let the dog give her cheeks a few licks. “And you’ll be seeing her at the
family Christmas dinner.”
“Family Christmas?” Bobbie raised her eyebrows. “I know I came for the
celebration last year, but you know I don’t usually do much for Christmas. I like a
quiet evening at home.”
“Oh, that’s cute.” Rachael grinned as she stood back up.
“What’s cute?” Confused, Bobbie fell into step beside her as they continued
their walk.
“That you think you have a choice. My mom expects you.” Rachael kicked a
pebble and laughed as Bailey chased after it.
“She does?” Bobbie’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? She hasn’t invited
me.”
“Family doesn’t get invited. You just have to be there. If I have to be there, you
have to be there.” Rachael hugged her. “We’re family, you know.”
Bobbie couldn’t help but smile at that sentiment. “Are you sure? She might not
be expecting me.”
“If you don’t show up, she’s going to send me out to hunt you down, so trust
me, it’s better just to come.” Rachael patted her arm. “Listen, I’d better go home and
change.” She hugged her coat tighter. “I’ve got jeans on under this, and that’s not
exactly formal dress.”
“Formal dress? As in, dresses and suits?” Bobbie winced. “Oh, maybe I
shouldn’t come.”
“I’ve seen your closet. Come to my place. We’ll get you fixed up in something
great, and we can ride over together.” Rachael winked at her. “Don’t worry, I’ll have
you ready for the ball in no time.”
“There’s no dancing, is there?” Bobbie led Bailey back into the house.
“I guess that depends on how much wine you drink.” Rachael laughed.
After a whirlwind tour through Rachael’s closet, Bobbie found herself in an
emerald off-shoulder gown, which, when paired with Rachael’s sparkling red cocktail
dress, made it clear they were celebrating the season.
“You’re sure this isn’t too fancy for a dinner?” Bobbie smoothed down the skirt
as she climbed into the car beside Rachael, secretly glad that she hadn’t taken the
pickup truck she’d inherited from her uncle, as she doubted she’d be able to climb
into it with how snug the dress was. Rachael was taller and thinner, but they’d
managed to make it work.
Kyle said he might be a bit late because of a martial arts class he was
teaching, so he’d arranged to meet them at the retirement community.
As Rachael drove toward Golden Acres, Bobbie checked it out online. The
sprawling fifty-five-plus community featured multiple lakes, a golf course, and tennis
courts. From the pictures it certainly did appear luxurious. But she guessed that was
the sales pitch, and what she would actually find might not be so rosy.
At least she knew if she was with Rachael and Kyle, she’d have a good time.
As Rachael turned into the driveway of the community, Bobbie’s mouth
dropped open. Not only did it look like the pictures, it looked even better.
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