Page 49 of The Christmas Dash

“More like hopefully you don’t fall to your death while attempting to scale the shelves.”

“Don’t hate on my methods.” She sticks up her nose in defiance. “We aren’t all blessed with your height.”

“Ah, true. My height and my John Wayne good looks. My two best qualities.”

“Shut up,” she says, laughing before retrieving her planner. “We’ll need to recruit volunteers for each leg of the race. I should talk to Winnie.” She scratches out a note, adding to what I can tell is an already lengthy to-do list, and a frown creases her brow. “We also have to come up with the rest of our scavenger hunt stops. We only have three sorted.”

“But we have our theme,” I put in, the challenge in my tone hopefully reminding her that we’re making progress. “Which actually gave me an idea for another destination.”

“What is it?” Beth perks up.

“It’s better if I show you.”

“Cryptic, much?”

“Just keeping you on your toes. You always loved surprises.”

Her eyes soften, and the effect on her whole face is mesmerizing. Like whipped cream melting and swirling in a cup of cocoa.

“And you’ve always given me the best ones,” she says.

She’s referencing the surprise party I threw for her and Jack the summer before our senior year of college. We came to Dasher Valley to visit with our high school friends over their birthday weekend. Little did they know, I had managed to work with their grandparents to get all sorts of people to town from all the different places they’d lived over the years. People in the music industry and some of our friends from college. They couldn’t believe it when they walked into the field behind the high school expecting to just see me and there were over a hundred people there for their twenty-first birthday party.

Beth had burst into tears and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Thank you for being so thoughtful,” she’d whispered.

Now that I think about it, it was after that party the summer before our senior year of college that we started talking—more than just friend stuff.

But that was then. This is now.

I clear my throat. “When are you free for another field trip? I’m leaving tonight for my shows, but I’ll be back in town Monday.”

Beth blinks, coming out of whatever reverie she was in. “Let’s see. Monday I have to work in the morning, and then I have choir practice in the afternoon.”

“Choir practice?” I can’t help it; my ears perk up.

Beth nods. “The famous Dasher Valley Women’s Choir will be taking to the streets again for our annual caroling rounds on Tuesday.”

I grin. “Fun. Can’t wait to hear.”

Beth blushes. “Well, we’re not as good as what you’re used to listening to, obviously, but Patrice has been practicing. The woman’s got range, I’ve gotta say.”

I laugh outright at that.

“Anyway,” Beth says. “Wednesday I’m working a double shift and hosting a wreath-making event with the ladies of Bows and Boughs. Thursday, I’m helping Jack prep for the Christmas Market in the afternoon after school, but I could probably sneak away in the morning.”

“So Thursday morning, then?”

She agrees. “I’ll pick you up at eight . . . actually, let’s say ten. The wreath-making event might run long, and I’m going to sleep in.”

“You mean you’re going to tackle more of your to-do list in the morning.”

“That’s enough outta you.” She socks me in the arm, a smile playing on her lips, but then she turns serious. “We’re going to be cutting it close figuring out all these Dash stops. I’ll try to work on it while you’re gone. You think we’ll be okay?”

“Don’t do too much without me. You’ve got plenty of other things to work on, and we’re in this one together now.”

She worries her lip. “But, timing-wise, are we gonna be good?”