me.”
“But I do, Dad. And I like Vanessa. She’s nice. And smart. And I saw the way you look at her.”
“She’s going back to Chicago soon. I’m glad she came into our lives, but, Misty, everyone does not come into our life forever. Sometimes they just come through when we need an extra hand. I’m glad she was here for you tonight.”
“Me too, Daddy.” She put her hand on the handrail. “Good night.”
Scooter took Vanessa’s pause as a cue to spring for freedom, which he did right into the middle of the hall, leaving a wet skid across the wide-plank hardwood floor.
“Scooter,” she called, pretending to have been chasing him from down the hall. “I’m sorry. He’s slippery.”
“It’s okay. Let him run. I’m not putting him back out in the barn damp. He’ll find somewhere to snuggle down in here for the night.”
“I guess I’d better get going too. It’s late.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Long day. The drive to Greensboro. Canceled flight. Crash. Dog rescue.”
“Daughter rescue.”
“That part was my pleasure.”
“Thanks for coming.”
She started down the walkway.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Of course. Small town. Right?”
“Yeah. It is.”
She drove home with nothing on her mind except what it would be like to live in this town. To be a part of its fabric. She’d miss these people. She parked Buck’s truck and sat there for a moment in her thoughts.
From here, she could see Buck and Anna sitting across from each other in the chairs in front of the fireplace. Anna was laughing, and the tree twinkled through the front windows, giving off its own kind of joy.
“Joyful. That’s what I feel. Joy.”
She got out of the truck and walked to the house. She tried to slip in the front door quietly, hoping not to interrupt Anna and Buck’s evening.
“Vanessa? Is that you.”
She stopped in midstep. Busted. “Yes. Disaster averted. Misty looked beautiful in my Chanel. She had no idea how snazzy she looked. I think Mike almost had a heart attack she looked so pretty, but she came home happy.”
Buck nodded heartily. “I’m so glad you were there. Olivia is looking down here on this. I know she’s thankful for you tonight.”
Olivia?
“I’m glad I was able to help.”
“Come sit,” Anna called out.
“No. I smell like wet dog. The puppy almost got eaten by a coyote. I had to give him a bath. Long story. Anyway. I’m beat. It’s been one long day.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You didn’t hit your head in that crash, did you? I don’t think you’re supposed to sleep if you might have a concussion.”
“No, Anna. I’m fine. I had my seat belt on. All I hurt was my pride—and your car, which I will take care of pronto.”
“No worries about the car,” she said, placing a hand on Buck’s arm. “Buck said he has a car I can use while we’re here. It’ll all work out. Our time together is all that’s important. I’m so glad you ended up in Fraser Hills for Christmas this year.”
“Me too. It seems to have all worked out just as it should.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Monday morning Vanessa sat in her office at Porter’s.
The warehouse was ready and waiting on the new team to come and start unloading inventory from the trucks that had lined up behind the building over the weekend.
The new processes were shifting on schedule under Misty’s watch, and the whole team was getting acclimated to the new daily routines. Once she talked to Edward, she’d be done here, and that bonus was all hers.
Unfortunately, Kendra had sent her a message on Sunday letting her know that once again Edward had moved their meeting. This time he’d suggested Thursday, and instructed Vanessa to issue the status on the project via email.
She hit Enter on the final reports. It lacked the shock and awe she’d imagined when telling him face-to-face that not only had she done the near impossible early and on budget, but she’d also saved Porter’s and improved the following year’s forecast by a not-so-meager 19 percent.
A month ago, she’d have been spitting nails over Edward being so unavailable throughout this project when she was the one doing him a favor, but today … it didn’t even matter. Her priorities were to do some shopping for the special people she’d met here in Fraser Hills, and spend a merry Christmas with Anna.
This might be the merriest Christmas I’ve ever had as an adult.
Not getting the Paris project had been a blessing. She hadn’t even been here long enough to gather any personal