Blurb:
Evan
Edwards faces another lonely Christmas in the dorm. His mom is off on her
fourth, or maybe fifth honeymoon. A rain soaked ad promises free room and board
in exchange for holiday decorating. Evan jumps at the chance to spend Christmas
in a real home and heads for Candle, Tx. The owners won't be home until
Christmas Day, so he's free to practice their piano for his graduation recital.
Across the street Rise' Larkin is also home from college with some bad news for
her dad. As their friendship grows, Evan discovers he's been living in and
decorating the wrong house! Will this Mistletoe Mix-up ruin everything?
Excerpt:
"Oh,
and one more thing. The chef’s father will try to help you with the decorating.
Under no circumstances must you allow him. He has a heart condition,"
Cartier said.
"I
hear you. I’ll be sure and not let that happen."
"Well,
all right, then. We can be hard to reach sometimes, but as I said, the numbers
of my people the states are posted. The decorations are in the basement. You
won’t have any trouble finding the door in the kitchen that leads down."
"Fine,
thanks very much. Mr. Cartier, you wouldn’t happen to have a piano, would
you?" Evan asked.
"Oui.
A Steinway. Will that do?"
"Oh,
yes. I need to practice for my graduation recital." This just kept getting
better and better.
"Well,
you’re welcome to play it. Possibly you could play some Christmas carols at our
party that day?"
"Sure!
Perfect. Thanks again. Bye."
"Au
revoir." Mr. Cartier ended the call.
The
increasing rainstorm and Cartier’s thick accent made Candle sound like
something else, but Evan knew where it was. Just two hours down I-20 East toward
Dallas. Alone again, but at least it wouldn’t be in the freezing dorm where
they turned down the thermostat over the break. He’d be in a home, with decorations.
He
splashed through puddles to the dorm and scrounged his closet for a backpack.
Some jeans, a couple of sweaters—that should be enough. He scooped up his car
keys and made his way to the parking lot. Maybe he’d run by the dime store and grab
one of the giant candy canes his mom used to stick in his hot chocolate.
No matter how broke she was, she always got him hot chocolate and a big one
dollar candy cane.
His
mother texted him just as he started the car.
‘Bout
to board, Merry Christmas, sweetheart.'
He
returned with, 'OK Mom. Found a job in Candle, TX over the break.'
He’d
barely inserted the key into the ignition when she replied.
'Text
me the address so I can send you something.'
He
decided to call her. He wanted to hear her voice.
No
answer.
Onward
to Candle, Texas
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