Small Town Christmas (Blue Harbor #4) - Olivia Miles Page 0,42

that had nothing to do with the wind. “And it’s true! I am the Christmas lady!” She hesitated, knowing that it was cold and that she should probably get back inside, but it was a slow day, and the winter weather didn’t bother her much, and not just because she was dressed in a warm coat and scarf, either. Seeing Phil again, well, it was pretty hard to think about anything else.

“What are you up to today?” she asked, wondering if Georgie had roped Phil into more festivities. Ice skating at the town square, perhaps? Or maybe picking up some more decorations for the house?

“Daddy has a meeting.” Georgie crossed her arms and pouted dramatically. “He always has meetings.”

Phil held up his hands. “Business doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas.”

Cora knew this much was true, but she had the sense that Phil rarely stopped working, and that Christmas wasn’t exactly high on his radar. Still, he was trying to give Georgie a good holiday, and she knew firsthand growing up how much her father struggled as a single parent at times.

“Just a short meeting this time,” he told Georgie. He drew a breath, raising his eyebrows at his daughter. “And even though it won’t take long, it apparently isn’t much fun for a nine-year-old to sit quietly for an hour.”

Cora recalled the conversation she’d just had with Bella and decided to take a chance. “They’re just about to do a holiday story time hour at the bookstore. I can take her if you want?”

Georgie’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Oh yes, Daddy, can I go?”

Phil frowned, and did his best to ignore Georgie’s excited pleas. “I don’t want to impose…”

Cora just brushed away his concerns. “I didn’t take a lunch break today, and my assistant can cover the counter for a bit. It’s a slow day anyway. The holiday rush is mostly over now, if you can believe it.”

“Please, Dad?” Georgie looked up at him hopefully.

“Only if you’re sure—”

“We’re sure!” Cora and Georgie said in unison.

“In fact, if we don’t hurry, we might just miss the Christmas cookies!” Cora took Georgie’s mitten-covered hand in her own, deciding to send a quick text to Natalie when she got to the bookstore.

“Okay, then. I’ll be quick. Behave,” he said to Georgie.

“And have fun!” Georgie finished for him.

Cora could only shake her head. Georgie was only nine and she was already giving her father a run for it. She could only imagine how things would be in a few years.

If he was anything like her father, left to raise not one, but four teenage daughters on his own…Phil didn’t stand a chance.

“I think this will be a lot more fun than sitting with your dad while he works,” Cora said.

“Did your dad work all the time too?” Georgie asked.

Cora thought about it. Her father and her Uncle Steve had inherited Conway Orchard long before she was born, and her dad was there seven days a week back when he still ran it. She’d never considered it work, though, because it had never taken him away from her. It was a family business. They were all included when it came to picking and harvesting, and each of her sisters and cousins had a wine blend named after them.

“Adults have a lot of responsibilities,” Cora told her. “I work a lot too.”

“Yes, but you have a fun job!” Georgie insisted. “That’s different.”

Cora laughed. It was true; she was lucky to do what she loved. And so far, she didn’t get the sense that Phil loved what he did, it was just something that was important to him. But was it the most important?

Maybe not, considering he had caved to Georgie’s request. He just might not know it yet.

They hurried back to the bookstore, joining a few other children and their parents who were coming in for today’s event, most of whom Cora knew, of course. There were very few new faces in town other than tourists or summer people, and she’d grown up with nearly everyone who still resided here. Some of her former classmates looked on with curiosity but said nothing. It would be just like the Christmas lady to bring a little girl over for a holiday story hour, after all.

Still, Cora wondered just what kind of business could be so pressing. Just before she stepped inside the bookstore, she looked down Main Street to see Phil walk into the real estate office. She bit her lip to hide her smile. So