On My Way - Eve Langlais Page 0,78

lips. “I guess with Martin gone, it’s safe.”

I didn’t mention the fact that Martin had died many days ago. Well before most of the incidents. What possessed the idiot to hide in the forest with no supplies? According to Murphy, he had no real outdoor gear at all. No wonder he froze to death. Wasn’t it just my luck that, in the end, Martin screwed me again. His rictus of discomfort would probably haunt me for the rest of my life. Just like guilt would be my constant companion because the first thing I felt upon realizing he was truly dead? Relief.

I was going to hell. But not before I ensured my Winnie got a Christmas.

She might not have liked her dad, but she was feeling guilty about it. I needed to remind her of the good people in her life. The positive.

The love.

It was crazy in the stores. Only idiots, and me, shopped on Christmas Eve, braving the shoving, frantic-eyed people, the harried cashiers.

I couldn’t be too choosy, not with the leftovers. By the time I had everything, it was late afternoon. Rather than wrapping paper, I’d hit the dollar store and gotten gift bags. Before heading home, I swung by the restaurant to give Orville his present—an apron that said, “King of the Grill.” The ruddy hue in his cheeks was the only present I needed, but he had a gift for me as well. Low-carb chocolates with creamy fillings.

“Delicious,” I said with a possibly inappropriate moan.

“I made them myself.” Which earned him a hug and brought even more bluster and red to his face.

Leaving the diner, I hit my shop quick and grabbed my grandma’s books, taking a peek around, satisfied everything was in its place. No more vandalism. Maybe my troubles were finally over. A woman could hope.

Approaching my house, I smiled to see it lit up with multicolored lights in the window. It took some juggling to grab everything in the car. I should have done two trips, but I figured the book I missed on the back seat could wait until the morning. I wanted to stay inside where it was warm and Bing Crosby crooned about a “White Christmas.” Winnie sat at the counter stringing popcorn. Marjorie was pulling cookies out of the oven, and Trish was patting her butt when she bent over.

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” I declared, holding up my treasures, which caused me to drop Grandma’s books. Oops.

“Mom!” Winnie’s face lit up at the sight of me.

“You’ve been busy,” I declared.

“So have you. Put your stuff with the others.” She waved to the table where gifts were piled around a small fake tree, about two feet high and gaudy with its blinking lights.

I smiled. “Love it!”

“I found it tucked in the cellar.”

Cellar? When did the house acquire one? Did that explain the new door in the kitchen where there used to be a small pantry?

“I hope it’s okay I invited Trish and Jojo to spend the night.”

“Of course, it’s all right.” Anything that brought a smile to my girl’s face was okay by me. My bed could handle the two of us for the night.

I was glad to see she’d begun to heal already. Martin had already caused enough strife in her life. She didn’t need any more.

“What’s for dinner?” I asked.

Before I could get a reply, there was a knock at the door. My heart stopped. Was it the police? Perhaps they’d changed their minds.

Winnie flew to the door. “I invited one more person.”

Darryl tipped us all a salute. “Ladies. Hope you don’t mind I brought a few things.”

One of those things peered around his hips with big brown eyes.

“What is that?” Winnie squeaked. “Is that a dog?”

The excitement in her face had me saying, “That’s Herbie. Come on in, big guy.”

I’d swear the dog understood because he came barreling for me, past Winnie and her round eyes, knocking me on my ass and licking me to the point I squirmed and giggled.

Darryl bellowed, “Herbie, you big dumb doofus, get off Naomi. Right now.”

Herbie did but only because Wendy called him. “Herbie. You’re so cute.”

The dog had just made a new best friend.

Darryl hauled me to my feet. “Sorry about that. You okay?”

I nodded. “How can I get mad when he’s just excited to see me?”

“I’m excited, too, but I’m controlling myself.” His eyes twinkled, and I blushed.

“Are you staying for supper?” I asked.

“Yes, ma’am. But first, I brought you something.”

He went back out, and I followed to see him