Stumbling Into the Holidays (Stumbling Through Life #3) - Molly O'Hare Page 0,27

you both next year unless something pops up. And Rupert keep looking your best self.”

Rupert nodded at him, agreeing while Abbie put him back in his carrier. “Thanks, doc. See ya next year. Happy holidays.”

“Same to you, Abbie.”

“Thanks.”

Ben gave them both a quick wave as he left the room.

“Buster finally went,” Ben’s vet tech announced, as she held up the bag. “I’m getting everything ready to ship out to the lab right now.”

“Thank God. I did not want to do an extraction today.” Ben glanced over at the cages, catching Buster’s eyes. “It was better for both of us this way. You did great.”

Buster plopped onto his side in a dramatic show causing Ben to flick his eyes to the ceiling. It’s definitely me that attracts them. Forget it.

Just as Ben took a step toward exam room two, he felt his phone vibrate. As he rolled his eyes Ben took it out of his pocket.

Don’t forget the cranberry sauce. You know, the one that’s shaped like the can. We have to have that one.

Ben shook his head as he quickly sent back a text with a smile on his face. I was thinking of trying my hand at making my own this year.

Instantly he got a reply.

No, it has to be shaped like a can!

Of course, he was going to get the right cranberry sauce. Ben smirked as he sent back his reply. Might as well have some fun with it.

That is no way to talk to the Head Elf. You keep racking up those points there, Grace. By the way, if you’re so concerned about something shaped like a can…. I’ll show you that tonight.

Ben chuckled as his smile went from ear-to-ear as he headed toward the next room. When he felt his phone going off in his pocket, he knew he’d won.

Chapter Nine

Before Holly knew it, the week had flown by. Emma was at the house watching Jimmy and the baby while she and Ben were browsing through the store getting last-minute gifts for everyone.

So far, everyone was pretty much taken care of. However, Holly couldn’t help taking one last gander through the toy aisle to see if anything would catch her eye for Jimmy.

You couldn’t go wrong with getting extra gifts, right?

Plus, Jimmy deserved them.

Holly studied her notepad one more time, double and triple-checking that everyone had at least one checkmark by their name. “Okay, I think we’ve got everything we need.”

“That’s great, Grace,” Ben purred, pulling her to his side for a quick kiss before letting her go.

“At least I think so.” Holly’s face scrunched as she squinted at him. “You got all the food stuff we need, right? And the cranberry sauce, the canned one?”

Ben gave her an all-knowing look. “Holly…” he warned.

“What? I’m being serious here.”

Ben cocked his brow. “So am I. You know damn well I got everything. And if you recall, we took care of the canned cranberry sauce saga already.” He sent her a wink.

“I’m just checking, gosh.”

“And I’m just telling you.”

“Ben…”

“Don’t Ben me.” Ben stopped pushing the cart. “Don’t go stressing out again, Grace. You’re gonna end up running into a wall.”

Holly decided to ignore him as she looked at her pad again and kept walking. “No, I won’t.”

Just as Holly was about to run into a Christmas display, Ben grabbed her arm yanking her away from the disaster. “You were saying?”

A small growl escaped her before Holly turned her glare on the display like it was its fault. When she thought she’d gotten her point across she turned back to her husband. “I was saying you’re a jerk. Now, you’re positive you’ve got everything right?”

Ben let out a heavy sigh. “Yes, baby, I got everything we need to cook Christmas dinner.”

As Holly watched her husband stroll through the aisle, she bit her bottom lip.

Now or never, Hol. Do it. He already agreed.

She took a deep breath as she gave him the best puppy dog expression she could muster, and spoke, “What do I get to help with?”

Both of Ben’s brows shot to the ceiling as she stopped moving. “Nothing.”

Holly crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you mean nothing? I thought we agreed I get to help. Remember when we were at my dad’s for dinner? You both agreed I could help. I heard you with my own two ears.”

“We weren’t talking about you cooking, Grace.”

“Well, I was.” Her lips thinned. Damn it! I want to help.

“And we were talking about you entertaining everyone not being in the