told you not to run out there,” she said, shaking her head and laughing. “I’ve never seen a kid get so excited about biscuits and bacon.”
She ushered him back into the kitchen.
Julie and Tina both laughed.
“Listen, I’m not sure what you’re planning to do today, but I’m going with my daughters and some friends to do a little Christmas shopping at the mall if you’d like to join us.” Tina looked surprised. “Really? That would be amazing. I haven’t been to the mall in a long time. Of course, I don’t really have anyone to buy for this year.”
Julie cocked her head a bit. “I thought you said you were here to visit family?”
Tina cleared her throat. “Yes. Extended family, though. Not anyone I would buy Christmas presents for.”
“Oh. I see. Well, you’re still welcome to join us.”
“I’d love to. Maybe it will put me in the Christmas spirit.”
* * *
Tucker sat at the table, enjoying a sandwich. Colleen was with her mom and sister doing some Christmas shopping at the mall. A part of him was glad to have a bit of time alone to clear his head.
He was really excited and nervous about the new partnership with Jamison O’Malley. It had grown from one toy to possibly an entire line of toys that would come out during the next Christmas season. Never in his dreams did he think he would have an opportunity for something like that.
But, if he was honest, he was questioning himself. Was he really ready for this? Was he good enough? What would happen to his name in the toy invention business if everything he created flopped?
“Hello,” Christian said, standing in front of him. He was waving his hand in front of Tucker’s face.
“Oh, hey, man. Sorry. I didn’t see you standing there.”
Christian laughed. He towered above Tucker by what seemed like ten feet. Tall and lanky, and with his thick French accent, he stuck out like a sore thumb around Seagrove.
“You looked very lost in thought.”
“I was. Please, sit down.”
Christian sat down across from him, setting his briefcase on the ground. As a college professor, he always looked the part. Dress pants, a button up dress shirt and even a sweater vest today because it was cold.
“Can I get you anything?” The server said when she walked over to the table.
“Sure. I’ll have a Cobb salad and water with lemon.”
As the server walked away, Tucker laughed. “No sweet tea?”
“Don’t tell Meg, but I still can’t get a taste for the stuff. I’ve tried, believe me.”
“I’ll keep the secret,” Tucker said, laughing.
He enjoyed spending time with Christian. Since they were dating sisters, and would hopefully one day marry them, they might even end up being brothers. Christian was a good guy, and he adored Meg.
“So, I understand the ladies have gone Christmas shopping today.”
“Yes, and I shudder to think how many packages Meg is going to come back with. She doesn’t understand that Vivi is a year old and doesn’t need fifty presents on Christmas,” Christian said, chuckling.
“You two seem very happy.”
He nodded his head. “We are. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in my life. The only thing that would make it better is a wedding ring.”
Tucker took a sip of his tea. “Then give her one.”
“I don’t think she wants to get married.”
“Yes, she does. She told Colleen…”
Oh, no. What had he just done? In his effort to have an interesting conversation with Christian, he had somehow spilled the beans that Meg wanted him to propose.
“What were you about to say?”
“Nothing. I wasn’t about to say anything.”
Christian leaned forward, his hands clasped together in front of him. “Tucker, I know you were about to say something. Spill it.”
“It’s not my place.”
Christian stared at him. “Do you mean that Meg told Colleen she wants me to propose?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Christian squinted his eyes. “But you’re not saying that it’s not true?”
“I’m getting very lost in this conversation.”
Christian leaned back and crossed his arms. “So she wants me to propose?”
“Have you tried their tuna salad here? I hear that it’s the best in town.”
“Stop trying to change the subject. And, also, you’re a terrible liar.”
Tucker sighed. “Fine. I didn’t mean to say that out loud, but yes. Meg told Colleen that she would like to get married but she’s afraid you’ll never ask her again.”
There. He said it. There was no taking it back now.
“Oh, my goodness. All this time I thought she might never want to get married, and