Holiday Wedding (19 page)

“What's up?” He reached for her hand and threaded it with his. His fingers were icy. She wanted nothing more to take him somewhere private and warm him up, but now was not the time so she pulled her hand away.

“I have an idea, a big one.”

Drew shoved his hands in his coat pocket. “To sell the dolls?”

“Yes.” Lauren nodded, still not believing the solution to their problem had been in front of them all this time. “Yes, and it was inspired by something Olivia said.”

“What did she say?” Drew opened the door for her and they headed toward their display.

Lauren wasn't about to share her earlier conversation with Olivia. As much as she wanted to let Drew know that Olivia had all but thrown in the towel, it wasn't her place. She moved behind the table and reached for a male doll, holding it up. “What does every girl need to help her get through life?”

Drew's forehead wrinkled. “Is this a trick question?”

She laughed. “No. Every girl needs a male best buddy.” She smiled down at the doll. “Someone who can be completely inappropriate but makes her laugh and helps her through the ups and downs of life.”

Drew nodded. “Someone to pick you up when you're feeling low.”

“Yes, to be there for you through thick and thin.”

“The one person you can always count on to dance with you.”

“Exactly.” She didn't quite get the dance reference, but she realized Drew knew where she was going with this. They'd always been on the same page in that regard. It was what made them a good team. “We're not going to sell these dolls to boys.”

“It's the girls we need to target.” His eyes widened. “That's genius!”

“We're going to sell the dolls with a two-for-one price. The girl dolls get a male best friend to play with while they wait to find their soul mate.”

Drew seemed to be further processing the idea. “I like it. We focus our attention on the consumer who has always been interested in the Happily Ever After dolls from the get-go…”

“The girls!” they said in unison, excitement sang through both of their voices.

“This is going to work.” Drew brought her in for a jubilant hug, and Lauren took the opportunity to wrap her arms around the man she loved, never wanting to let him go.

“What are we celebrating?”

Lauren didn't need to turn around to see whose voice that question belonged to. She stepped back from Drew's embrace and smoothed her hair. Standing in front of them were both Miles and Olivia in their elf attire. Lauren's shoes sparkled on Olivia's feet. “Olivia, I was just telling Drew how you inspired a fabulous idea to sell these dolls.”

“I did?”

“You sure did. Right, Drew?” Lauren looked over at Drew, who for some reason had lost his ability to talk. His head was down and his gaze appeared to be locked on Olivia's tights. “Drew?”

“Um … yeah.” He looked up. “We're going to focus on selling the boy dolls to the girls because … um … we were thinking …”

Lauren studied Drew. Something was wrong. She turned to Miles. “What does every girl need to get through life?”

“Chocolate and a vibrator?” He shrugged. “Not that I've seen Lauren's.”

Rolling her eyes, she gave him a playful swat. “I'll let that slide.”

“That's what you do with it.” Miles chuckled.

“Stop it. No.” She linked arms with his. “What every girl needs is a fun male best friend to experience life's highs and lows with. We're going to sell the dolls as a girl-and-boy package deal. Everyone should have a best friend close by to lean on while they're searching for their soul mate.”

“That's a fabulous idea,” Olivia said, clicking her heels. Lauren noticed that that act seemed to drain the color from Drew's face. What was going on with him? Yeah, he hated Christmas, but it was just a silly costume.

Lauren clapped her hands, directing her orders to Olivia and Miles. “Okay, what I need you two to do is ham it up with the kids. Obviously if a boy wants a doll, we're not going to turn the sale away, but focus hard on the girls. Let's try to see if we can sell at least half the dolls we have here.” She turned to Drew. “Does that sound good?”

“Yeah, it does.” He loosened his collar underneath his sweater and turned to the crowd. “Let's get this show on the road.”

Miles and Olivia took their places, instantly getting into character. In no time, kids swarmed all around them, playing with the dolls. Drew and Lauren spent the next hour talking to the parents while the kids enjoyed the merriment brought on by the elves.

Lauren snapped a picture of a young girl holding up her new boy and girl dolls. “Your dolls are going to be best friends.” She turned to Drew who'd come up beside her. “It's working.”

“This is wonderful,” he agreed. “I can't thank you enough.”

“Just doing my job.” She shrugged.

“Right.” He looked away.

What was still bothering him? “Everything okay?” she asked.

“Yeah. Just a lot going on.” He smiled, showing a dimple. “Listen, I need to step out for a minute.”

“Do you want my car?” She reached for her purse, but he stopped her.

“No, I just need some fresh air.” He sighed. “There's too much Christmas cheer in here. You understand.”

“Okay.” She wasn't quite buying his excuse. Something had happened earlier to put him in this mood.

He put on his coat and buttoned it up. “Thank you again for today.”

“I didn't do anything.” She smiled up at him.

“You believe in this toy.”

“I believe in
you
. When we get back to the cabin, I'm going to call a meeting with our team first thing Monday morning to create a new marketing strategy. Christmas might be too late, but there's always Valentine's Day.”

“I think that's a great idea.”

“That's why your brother pays me the big bucks.” She laughed and nodded toward Olivia's direction. She and Miles were now reenacting a scene from
Romeo and Juliet
with the dolls. “I think there is someone else who deserves some credit.”

“She really did come through.” He laughed sarcastically. “I can't believe Miles was your muse for this idea. He's never going to let me forget it, is he?”

“Probably not.” She reached for his hand. “Go get some air and then we'll turn this around together.”

“Together,” he repeated, but she wasn't convinced he agreed. Without another word, he maneuvered through the crowd toward the exit.

Lauren bit her bottom lip. Something was troubling Drew. They were in this incredibly happy place, selling the dolls. He should be elated, not sprinting for the door.

Just once she wanted him to feel again honest-to-goodness Christmas cheer. The kind that made you want to sing old-time carols at the top of your lungs and believe that anything was possible.

She reached in her purse and pulled out her snowflake. Turning it over, she finally knew in her heart the wish she wanted to make. “I wish Drew could experience the magic of Christmas.”

Drew took a seat on the empty bench and gazed up at the beautiful Christmas tree. He'd walked the three blocks not planning on ending up at this spot, but as soon as he turned the street corner, he had this weird sense he wasn't in control anymore of his destination.

Seeing Olivia in that elf costume had nearly knocked the wind out of him.
It was a stupid coloring book
. That's what he'd repeated over and over on his walk. Olivia was not his soul mate. She couldn't be.

He raked his hands through his hair remembering the red and white tights and sparkly shoes. Candy Cane Sparkly Toes existed and she was now helping to sell his toy.

He cared for Olivia, but she wasn't the one.

“Mind if I join you, Drew?”

Drew looked up and his mouth dropped at the sight in front of him. “
Santa?
” It was the man who worked at JDL Toys in New York.

The old man chuckled and took a seat. He propped up his cane next to him. “It's good to see you again, Drew.”

“What are you doing here?” He raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Did my brother send you?”

“Someone in your family did, but it wasn't Luke.”

“My dad?”

The old man smiled and nodded to the tree. “It's magnificent, isn't it?”

“Yeah. It's a beauty. Why doesn't anyone decorate it?”

“They do. Just before you got here the town held its annual Wishing Tree Festival. The tree is decorated with thousands of ornaments. Visitors can take one and make a wish.”

Drew chuckled. “They sure throw a lot of festivals in this town.”

“Yes, they do.” He pushed his glasses up. “It appears there might be one more wish on that tree.” He pointed to a sparkly silver snowflake ornament straight in front of them.

Where did that come from? It hadn't been there a second ago, had it?
“Oh, I don't know. I've never been into Christmas. I probably don't deserve it.”

“Nonsense. Everyone deserves to make a Christmas wish.”

Drew stood, completely skeptical but not wanting to disrespect the old man. He reached up, slid the snowflake off the branch, and turned it over in his palm.

“I know for a fact that a wonderful young woman with a broken heart has the match.”

“Really? What happened?” Drew asked, and sat back down.

The old man leaned back and tapped his cane. “She lost the man she loves.”

“That sucks.”

“Oh, I don't think anything happened that can't be fixed with a little time. So what's your wish?”

Drew touched the snowflake. He knew what he wanted to wish for, but even if he could disregard the Candy Cane Sparkly Toes prophecy, he couldn't ignore that Lauren had been acting weird today when he said he'd needed time to fix things. Not marrying her was the biggest mistake of his life. Would she ever forgive him and take him back?

Somehow he doubted making a wish was going to turn things around. He knew what he needed to do. First, he needed to be honest with Olivia. Then he'd put his heart on the line to Lauren. If she didn't see a future with him, he'd have to accept it.

“I wish to give the owner of this snowflake's match her wish.” He shrugged. “It's Christmas after all.”

Santa stood. “Your mother and I will see what we can do.”

His mother.
How long had this old man been employed by the company?
“You didn't know my mom, did you?”

“Of course I did. Wonderful lady who wanted only the best for her boys. You know she loved the holidays.”

“I know,” Drew said softly. He didn't really think this Santa-act knew his mother. He was probably still in character. What mom didn't love the holidays?

“She'd want you to enjoy them, too.” He pointed to the tree with his cane. “Start here. Take as long as you need.”

“I think I'll do that.” Drew wasn't in a hurry to get back to the Frost Festival, and for some reason, he was drawn to this spot.

The old man bent over and rummaged through a red bag, pulling out a small container. “Here's a snack if you get hungry. I get a lot of these this time of year.”

Drew eyed the container. “Thanks,” he said.

Santa looked up toward the sky. “We're getting a big storm this evening, so I've got to go check on my transportation for the weekend. Make sure everything is in tip-top shape. I'll see you at the wedding.”

“See you.” Drew stared after the old man in complete confusion, watching him disappear down the street. Why would he be at the wedding? He knew some of the executive team would be making the trip up to Snow Frost Mountain, but a seasonal employee? Why would Luke invite him?

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he stared back up at the tree. Santa, or whatever his name was, was right. His mom certainly had loved the holidays.

He picked up the container and opened it.
Pinwheel cookies
. Just like the ones Sara had made for him. Pulling one out, he flipped it over. Was the universe trying to tell him something?

It's just a cookie.
Taking a deep breath, he took a bite and then another.

The tears immediately rolled down his face. He continued to eat his cookie, while memories of his mother at Christmas washed over him. The woman who loved Christmas and would have done anything for him and Luke.

As he reached for another cookie, a warm, familiar feeling rushed through him. Right then and there all he wanted to do was sing Christmas carols, the way his mother had taught him. Standing up, that was exactly what he did.

• • •

Lauren unlocked the car, and Olivia got into the passenger seat while Miles jumped into the back. “Thanks again for the costume.” Olivia held up the tights and shoes.

“Just shove them in the glove compartment,” Lauren said, starting the car. It was five p.m. and no sign of Drew. Olivia had sent him a text earlier, and he'd replied that he was in the town's square.

But that was two hours ago. Was he still there? And what exactly was he doing? It had broken her heart to see Drew walk out of the festival. She hoped wherever he was and whatever he was doing, he was feeling better.

“Thank you both for today.” Lauren played with the heat vents. They'd managed to sell more than half of the dolls and she really owed it to both Olivia for having the idea, and Miles for inspiring it. The two had also made quite the pair, hamming it up as Santa's elves. All that was missing was Santa, but apparently he'd been with Drew—at least, according to his text back to Olivia.

Lauren wasn't mad that he'd left like he did. Something drove him away, and she suspected he just needed some alone time. She understood, but where did it leave them? Would they ever be back on track for their second chance?

She glanced at Olivia who was turned in conversation with Miles. Who would have thought that this woman would have played a huge role in selling the dolls and saving all of their butts? Probably Jack. He'd always praised his former assistant's skills and creativity. Lauren was starting to see the decent side to Olivia that Jack, Drew, and Miles saw. Maybe she had changed.