little budding lawyer, that’s enough.” He held out his hands. “Give me Buttercup, and go have your Christmas, kid. You’ve caused enough problems, and we don’t need any more.”
Before she handed Buttercup to the manager, she gave a comforting stroke to the little dog’s head and playfully flipped her long ears. “I hope you’re going somewhere wonderful, little angel,” she whispered.
As she gave up the puppy, something moved in her peripheral vision, and she turned to see the reporter who’d been talking to the camera earlier.
“What do you mean you’ve been performing Random Acts of Christmas Kindness?” the woman asked, coming closer with her microphone in hand. “That’s intriguing.”
“It’s a county-wide contest,” Pru explained. “And we’re here representing Bitter Bark High School.”
“Really? Can you tell me more?”
“I will,” Pru promised. “But if you do a story, can you please include my friend and his dog? This isn’t about me. The manager of this store has unfairly judged him and blamed him for something he didn’t do. In fact, this puppy could be halfway to who knows where if not for those two.”
The woman frowned, glancing outside. “Is he the boy handing out the candy canes and cute little sayings with the handsome racing dog?”
“Yes, that’s them. Tor Tidings!”
She chuckled. “Okay, let’s go talk to both of you. Would you mind being on the six o’clock news?”
“Not at all,” Pru said, unable to resist throwing a take that look at David, who was, to his credit, giving Buttercup a treat. “Hey, David,” she called. When he looked up, she added a smile. “Merry Christmas!”
His response was slow and a little grudging, but even Scrooge had to nod. “Happy Holidays, young lady.” Then a smile grew. “You really should go to law school.”
She laughed as they walked out of the pet store, and she was a little surprised to see Gramma Finnie and Yiayia talking to Lucas.
“Is the Santa stalking all done?” she asked under her breath as she brought the reporter over.
“’Tis done, lass.” Gramma Finnie gave Yiayia a look Pru didn’t quite understand, but she was used to these two speaking in a secret, silent language. And she didn’t even want to ask about the plant Gramma Finnie was holding. “And I understand Tor saved the day.”
“He had some help from Pru,” Lucas added graciously.
“And this fine lad has agreed to have Christmas Eve dinner with us at Waterford Farm tonight.” Gramma Finnie beamed with the news that somehow didn’t surprise Pru at all. Thrill? Yes. Surprise? Not a bit.
“You okay with that?” he asked Pru quickly. “Because if you’ve had enough of me and Tor…”
“Oh, no. I mean, yes. Have dinner with the whole family. And if you think we’re crazy, wait until you see the Irish drink and the Greeks dance. And that’s before Midnight Mass, which of course, you can skip—”
“I’d love to go.”
She blinked at him, one hundred percent certain that the very last thing she could have dreamed would happen tonight would be Lucas Darling accompanying her whole family to Midnight Mass. “Really?”
He smiled and leaned closer, whispering in her ear, “I went every year with Drina.”
“You did? Well, then, this is perfect. You can go with us, and Tor will be well taken care of in the luxury kennels of Waterford Farm.”
Before he could answer, the reporter got right in front of him with her microphone. “Young man, could you tell us what this RACK IT UP program is all about?”
“Sure, but this girl here is the one who organized it.” He put his arm around Pru, and they faced the camera together.
“Is this your girlfriend?” the reporter asked.
“Um…” He looked down at her. “Not yet.” He added a secret wink, and all the butterflies went flat-out crazy.
Chapter Fourteen
Waterford Farm never looked merrier than it did when completely decked out for a family Christmas Eve. Agnes couldn’t help but admire the creative designs and festive decorations done by the woman who’d once been married to Agnes’s dearly departed son, Nico. No longer Katie Santorini, she was now Finnie’s daughter-in-law, married to Daniel Kilcannon.
“You having fun, Yiayia?” Katie asked, pausing on her way to the kitchen. “You look a little glum for Christmas Eve.”
Yiayia managed a smile. “I’m fine, Katie.” She reached out and put a hand on the other woman’s arm. “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”
Katie’s eyes flickered. No doubt she was taken aback by the endearment, what with the acrimonious relationship they’d had as mother-in-law and-daughter-in-law. “Merry Christmas, Yiayia.”
With another smile, Agnes glanced around, her