The Snuggle is Real (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Mason

“Mason, we’ve got another last-minute request,” Rebecca called, the office phone receiver tucked between her head and shoulder as she jotted down details.

“Another one?” I surveyed the chaos raging around me as we organized frozen turkeys, bags of potatoes, gravy mixes, and cans of cranberry sauce for our annual Sleigh Your Holiday meal program. It was similar to the classic Meals on Wheels program for seniors, only it was holiday meals delivered by sleigh, and anyone in need could qualify.

“Real nice lady by the name of Dottie,” Rebecca said. “She’s cooking for her and her neighbor. He was going to buy the groceries, but he had a major last-minute expense.”

“Oh?” I pulled up our list of drop sites on my laptop, only half listening. Rebecca had a knack for getting folks’ whole life stories out of them, and even if she didn’t, she probably had some town gossip she’d picked up somewhere.

None of that mattered to me. If someone said they needed help, that was good enough. They didn’t have to justify it.

“Yep, her neighbor Ford just got landed with his ex-wife’s little girl for the holidays. Out of the blue! No warning! Can you believe that?”

I glanced at her in surprise. “Ford?”

“Ford Donnelly. You know him?”

“Not really,” I said quickly. “I, uh, might have met him? At the treelighting. Unless it’s some other Ford…”

Rebecca’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, no, judging by the look on your face, you met the same Ford. Big sexy mountain of a man? A little rough around the edges but sweet?”

“I don’t remember him being sweet ,” I mumbled.

She chuckled. “Oh yeah, he’s one of those hard outer shell, gooey insides kind of guys.” She fanned herself. “So hot.”

Well, there was no arguing Ford was easy on the eyes. But that was beside the point.

I forced myself to refocus on the work. “So, he’s taking care of his daughter unexpectedly?”

“Oh, she’s not his. His ex’s kid. But he always loved her like his own.”

I nodded. “That would certainly add to the strain of the holidays…” And judging by Ford’s words at the treelighting, he was already out of work. “Put them down. We can’t fit in another delivery until Thanksgiving, so we may have to find a pre-cooked turkey or something else that can be thawed and cooked the same day. But we’ll figure out a way to make it work.”

Rebecca beamed. “I knew you’d make it happen, Mase. This town is lucky to have you.”

I huffed a laugh and shook my head. “I’m just doing my job.”

“It’s not a job everyone wants,” she said. “Lonnie did his best. Don’t get me wrong. But the foundation was sorta limping along under his leadership, helping here and there. Not like the professional operation you’ve turned it into in the past six months.”

“I can’t really take credit for that. We got a huge endowment from Jem Knight. You know, the former NFL star?”

Rebecca chuckled. “Yeah, we all know Jem, the big ole softy. He’s totally gone for Murphy.”

“I don’t know all about his personal life, but he’s the reason we got this building,” I said. “And contributions from ex-NHL stars Rudy Snow and Mik Gilmore helped expand our operations to include a full-time staffer. Otherwise I wouldn’t even be here.”

“But you are here, and you’re doing a great job.”

I shot her a grateful smile. “I sure hope so. There’s a lot riding on this holiday season. We’re growing fast, and it’s my job to make sure we don’t bite off more than we can chew.”

Those one-time gifts had helped us expand, but they wouldn’t sustain our day-to-day mission to serve the community. That would be up to me. No pressure, right?

“Speaking of chewing,” Rebecca said. “We need another turkey.”

“Right.” I pulled out my business credit card. “Better make it two. I have a feeling we’ll need it this year.”

“You might be right about that.”

“Throw some pumpkin pies in too.”

She looked surprised. “I didn’t think we were including dessert.”

“No little girl should go without pie on Thanksgiving, and if I do it for her…”

“You’ve got to do it for everyone,” she finished. “You really are the sweetest, Mason West!”

I really was the worst at stretching our resources. I probably should have said no to that late request. They’d missed our cut-off deadline by three days. But I was terrible at saying no to someone in need.

And unfortunately, it was part of my job.

But I’d face that difficult reality another day. Today, we still had the funds to say yes, and I’d just have to work extra hard to keep raising new donations.

My personal cell rang and I looked down to see Mom on the caller ID.

“Hey, Troy! Can you handle the phones for me if they ring?”

The volunteer shot me a thumbs-up. “You got it!”

I picked up my cell and ducked into my private office. “Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, honey. Are you busy?”

I dropped into my desk chair with a sigh. “Um…”

“What am I saying? Of course you’re busy. It’s right before Thanksgiving. This is kind of your Super Bowl, huh? I’m sorry for calling?—”

My brother Sawyer’s voice came onto the line. “Stop apologizing, Mom, and tell him the good news.”

“Good news?” I asked.

“Switch it to video,” Sawyer said.

I clicked the camera to turn on video with the call, and my family’s faces came into view. They were both grinning. Sawyer looked so freaking happy that I almost didn’t recognize him.

My brother had been easygoing and adventurous until our family hit some tough times. Then he grew so serious I worried he’d lost all joy in life.

Falling in love looked good on him.

“Where’s Ash?” I asked.

“Working over at the resort kitchen,” Sawyer said. “You can take the chef off the boat, but you can’t make him stop cooking.”

Ash had run a food boat over the summer, but apparently he’d joined my mother’s kitchen staff at the Swallow’s Nest resort for the offseason.

“As if you’d want him to,” Mom said with a snort. “He feeds you better than I did.”

“Aw, Mom, you miss me begging for leftovers? I’ll ask more often.”

“Heck no.” She chuckled. “I’m happy to let Ash take over responsibility for your stomach.”

Sawyer patted his abs. “They’re fattening me up for slaughter.”

I scoffed. “That’s why you’re in such good shape, huh?”

Sawyer shrugged. He’d always been modest, but my brother was the athletic one of the two of us. And ever since he’d turned his watersports hobby into a job, he’d only gotten fitter.

I was a tiny matchstick of a man in comparison. My job didn’t exactly build muscle. Not that anything would on this rail-thin body.

“So, was there good news for me?” I prompted. “Or is the good news just that Sawyer is someone else’s problem now?”

Mom laughed. “Both!”

“We’re coming for Christmas,” Sawyer said. “Although now I’m wondering if we should bother, asshole.”

“Language,” Mom scolded.

My heart skipped. “You’re really going to come all the way here? What about work?”

“It’s slow over the winter,” Mom said. “My sous chef can hold down the fort.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Sawyer sighed. “Yeah, and Ash would love to check out the restaurants up there to see if there’s anything new he can incorporate into his menu. He never stops trying new things.”

“He’s got a lot of passion,” Mom said.

“Kinda like my little brother, the adventure tour guide,” I said with a grin.

It had taken a lot for Sawyer to take a risk and really pursue his dream. I was damn proud of him.

“I guess we’re a good match,” Sawyer said.

“You’re lucky,” I said, fighting the envy that wanted to creep into my voice. “And I’m so glad you’re all coming up for Christmas. I thought I’d be spending it alone, and I…” My voice nearly gave out and I took a breath. “I’ve missed you guys.”

Mom’s eyes softened. “We’ve missed you too, sweetie. But if your job won’t let you come home, then we’ll just bring home to you.”

“I’ll have to get my house ready. It’s a DIY mess.” I laughed. “This is awesome, though. I might have to work while you’re here, but?—”

“That’s cool,” Sawyer said. “We can play tourist over there and annoy all the locals while you’re busy. It’ll be a nice change of pace.”

I laughed. “Wait until you see this place. It’s wild. It’s like a ceramic holiday village came to life and exploded with Christmas kitsch every-damn-where.”

“You sound like you love it,” Mom said, reading me as perfectly as she always had.

“I guess it’s growing on me,” I said with a grin. “It’ll be more fun to share it with all of you.”

There was a sharp bark, and then the sound of Elias’s voice. “Whoa, pup. Slow down.”

“What was that?” Sawyer asked.

My eyes widened. “Oh, shoot. I forgot…”

Elias barged through my door, holding onto the leash as a border collie strained into view.

“Uh, Mom, Sawyer, I’ve got one other guest for the holidays…”

“That handsome man?” Mom asked, her tone full of hope.

I flushed. “Uh no. Elias is just a friend. I meant the dog I’m fostering. Uh…”

“Peppermint Bark,” Elias said. “We give all the pets holiday-themed names. Goes with the town tradition.”

“Seriously? I can’t run around calling out a candy name. People will think I’m bonkers.”

“They haven’t figured it out yet?” Sawyer called from the phone.

“Oh, ha-ha.”

The border collie was mostly white with a black patch around one eye, over both ears, and a few polka-dots along his neck and legs.

“You’re free to rename him when you decide to adopt,” Elias said.

“If I adopt,” I said.

“When,” he repeated with a wink. Elias dipped down to look into the camera, “You raised a good man here. He’s got a big heart.”

“The biggest,” Mom agreed.

“Which is how I know this guy”—he ruffled the top of Peppermint Bark’s head— “has just landed himself the best home he could hope for.”

“Oh, he’s adorable!” Mom crooned. “Can’t wait to meet him and spoil him rotten this Christmas.”

“It’s temporary,” I warned.

“Famous last words,” Sawyer said with a grin.

“Thanks for the call, guys. I can’t wait to see you, but I should go.” I waved to the antsy dog who was already shoving his nose into a box in the corner.

“Sure, honey. Go make your new fur baby welcome! We’ll see you soon.”

“It’s temp?—”

They disconnected and Elias laughed.

“Just fill out the paperwork, so I can get out of your hair.”

I glanced at the chaos out front, then at the chaos dressed in fur in here. I was going to have my hands full this holiday.