The Christmas Plan - Samantha Chase Page 0,17

know you’re ridiculous, right?”

“Just part of my charm,” she said and kissed him lightly on the cheek because…well…just because.

Neither brought up the tiny house over dinner and the more Aspen thought about it, the more she liked the idea. Yes, she still felt a little dejected, but the reality was that she knew she was going to enjoy having a space of her own for the next few weeks.

Because after that, she’d have more than her share of family togetherness with her own family.

And nowhere to escape to.

So over dinner she sat back and listened as Gabe’s mom and dad caught Gabe up on all the local gossip and what was going on at the tree lot so far this year.

“Josiah mentioned things have been extra busy this year,” Gabe commented.

“It’s true,” Paul said. “We did some social media advertising for the first time and apparently it was a big hit.”

“That’s great, Dad! I didn’t think you were into any of that stuff.”

“Oh, I’m not. But we’ve got some high school kids working for us after school and a few of them mentioned it, so I thought we’d give it a shot,” his father explained. “Actually, I was wondering if there was any way for you to shoot a video for us to use. I know you probably don’t have any of your cameras with you, but I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask.”

Gabe looked visibly surprised. Aspen knew for a fact that even though his family always encouraged him and supported him in his filmmaking, they’d never asked him to do anything like this before. She looked at him excitedly and hoped he’d find a way to make this happen.

“I don’t see why not,” Gabe replied, seeming pleased. “Like you said, I don’t have any of my cameras with me, but I always travel with some lenses I use on my phone that do a decent job. Plus, I have my laptop with me so…what did you have in mind?”

For the next few minutes everyone tossed out ideas about getting some footage of the farm and then the lot and then coming up with a catchy phrase for his father to say at the end. It was the kind of conversation she and Gabe had quite often. He always talked to her about his projects and how he planned all his shots. She loved the way his mind worked and then seeing how a film evolved from those early stages to completion.

And it hit her how this was possibly the last time she was going to be actively part of the planning process. Once she moved back to San Diego, there would be no more late-night talks on the living room floor over pizza.

Her appetite lost, Aspen gently pushed her dinner plate aside and tried to keep a smile on her face and be an active participant in the discussion.

But her heart wasn’t in it.

If anything, she longed to excuse herself and go out to the tiny house and just…cry. The enormity of how much her life was going to change hit her like a ton of bricks. For the last week, she’d thought she’d come to peace with the crappy direction of her life.

Apparently not.

Luckily, no one seemed to notice the change in her mood and as dinner moved to dessert and then to everyone cleaning up together, she almost convinced herself that she was okay.

Mrs. Andrews hugged her once the kitchen was clean. “Thank you so much for your help, sweetheart. You didn’t have to do that.”

Smiling, Aspen felt herself blush. “Nonsense. I’m happy to do it.”

“Well, tomorrow’s going to be a bit chaotic, but I am a bit militant when it comes to our Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Um…militant?”

With a nod, she explained. “I have a system. And after years of doing this, I really have it down to a science so…let Gabe take you on a tour of the town or just sit and relax. No one is allowed in my kitchen tomorrow. Even breakfast will be every man for himself.” She laughed and Aspen laughed with her.

“I’ve spent so many holidays working that it’s going to seem weird not being in a kitchen, but I think I’ll be okay.”

“I did stock the kitchen over in the tiny house for you–just the basics. You know, milk, juice, eggs, coffee. Gabe told me some of the things you liked to snack on so you should be good to go. However…” She turned and walked to the pantry before returning