Page 36 of Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane

Nona entered, carrying two mugs of hot tea, and placed them down on the coffee table in front of us. “Decaf for you both, although with all that sugar…” She pointed to the heaping pile of cookies. “I guess you’ll be up late anyway.”

“Sleep is for the weak, Nona,” Jo said, lifting her cup. “But thank you for the tea.”

“Prego,” Nona replied, stealing a cookie. “Tell your fathers I am still waiting for them to call me back about my loan question.”

“Loan?” I asked, placing my Chromebook to the side so I could grab my cup of tea. “Why do you need a loan?”

“I don’t. Just had some questions about it.” She peered over Jo’s Chromebook. “Ah, helping Gianna plan for her big trip?”

“Of course.” Jo turned the device so she could see the screen better. “Focusing on the food first.”

“Buono, good, good,” Nona said before sitting on the arm of the couch. “Cara, we haven’t even celebrated yet with the family. When can we throw you a party? I’ll do all the cooking. You could use some more food. You’re so skinny…” She pinched my arm.

“I eat all time, Nona.” I rubbed the spot she pinched. “And I don’t need a party. It’s not a big deal—”

“Ridicola!” she shouted, standing. “It is a big deal. I will start planning.” She walked out of the room, mumbling under her breath while clasping the locket around her neck.

“She still talks to your Papa with that?” Jo asked, nodding after Nona.

“Yep.” I took a sip of my tea before grabbing another cookie.

About two months after Papa passed away, Nona began talking to her locket with his and my dad’s pictures as if Papa would respond. Sometimes, she’d hold it up to her ear and pretend that he did. It’d worried my mom and me for a little while, but it helped her cope.

Why get in the way of that?

Mom’s car rolled onto the gravel driveway, and the engine cut promptly. Not a minute went by before the front door slammed open.

“Mother!” Mom yelled into the house. “I need to speak with you now.”

Oh boy.

I know that tone.

Jo and I looked at each other for a beat before leaping off the couch and shuffling up next to the doorframe to eavesdrop.

“Is everything okay, Alice?” Nona asked calmly as she walked toward my mother from the kitchen.

“No, it’s not,” Mom snapped. “These were dropped off today from Albert.”

Ew.

Albert used his shirt collars to wipe his mouth.

I peeked around the corner. Mom held up a bouquet of white roses in front of Nona’s face.

“He said they were delivered to his shop by mistake and had my name on them,” Mom added, flustered.

Nona held up her hands, feigning innocence. “And what would I have to do with that?”

“They were dropped off to him by Nico, Mom.” My mom tapped her foot on the floor. “Nico has been delivering flowers for Bud and Bloom for years. He wouldn’t mess up.” She pointed at her mom. “Unless he was told to.”

Nona smelled the roses before turning around and walking back to the kitchen. “Put those in water. They’re already drying out.”

“Stop trying to set me up with single men in town!” Mom shouted at Nona’s back. “Albert isn’t even my type!”

Thank God.

Nona stopped and spoke over her shoulder. “You will never know what kind of ‘type’ you have until you start putting yourself out there, darling.”