Knitted Hearts - Amber Kelly Page 0,3
a bow and note from Santa, explaining that he couldn’t fit both the horse and a dirt bike in his sleigh so one would have to wait until next year and that he hopes the new bedroom made it up to him this time.
“Sonia,” Dallas calls out, and she stops and walks over to us.
“Is your mom selling tree skirts this year?” she asks her.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Will you have her save me one of the white ones with the embroidered manger scene if she has any left? I’ll come straight there after our pictures with Santa,” Dallas says.
“I’m headed there now to help her. I’ll grab it for you.”
“Thank you!”
She looks up at me and smiles before she walks off in the direction of the market.
“I’ll be back in a second,” I tell Truett as I hand him my half-eaten sandwich.
I hurry to catch up to Sonia.
I make it just as she steps behind a booth filled with all sorts of Christmas decor. I come up to the front and start browsing the merchandise while she chats with her mother before spotting me.
“Hey, Foster. Are you looking for anything in particular?” she asks.
“Um, I’m looking for a gift for my mom. She’s hard to shop for.”
“We have a wreath-making station. You could make her one with your own two hands. Mothers are suckers for handmade gifts,” she whispers out of her own mom’s earshot.
“I’m afraid I’m not very crafty,” I confess.
“That’s why I’m here. To help make things beautiful.”
“Oh, I think you are doing a fine job at that,” I say out loud.
She blushes. “You want to give it a try?”
“Yeah, I do,” I agree.
“Follow me,” she says as she turns and walks over to a large table off to the side of the booth. It is covered with ribbons of all sizes and colors, small pinecones, berry sprigs, and shiny ornaments.
“Just pick your wreath size, and then we’ll get a design together for you.”
I do as she instructed, and then we stand side by side as she makes suggestions on what to include and where to place it. She leans in and rests her hand in the crook of my arm as she guides me while making me do it all myself. Her eyes sparkle in the lights around the table, distracting me.
“You’re going to burn yourself with that glue gun,” she shouts, and that brings me back to the task at hand.
“I told you I wasn’t good at this sort of thing.”
“You’re so great. Look how it’s shaping up. She’s going to love it.”
I look at the wreath, and she’s right. Mom will love it.
Once we finish, I pay her mom while Sonia wraps it carefully.
“Here you go. Let me know what she thinks when you give it to her,” she says as she hands me the package.
“Can I help you?” I have no idea why I said that.
“Huh?”
“I mean, do you guys need help breaking down after the festival?”
“Mom’s shop is right there.” She gestures to the consignment shop directly behind them.
“Oh,” I say awkwardly.
“We could still use help with carrying everything in,” her mother answers from behind her.
“We could?” she asks her mother.
“Yes, it’s a lot of stuff. The more hands, the faster we’ll be done.”
“Okay, I guess we do need help.”
“I’ll be back after the parade, then.”
“Sonia, dear, I got this. Why don’t you go watch the parade too?” her mother suggests.
“I thought you wanted me to run the craft station for you while you sold the premade items?”
“I’m almost out of skirts, and I think I can handle it now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, go enjoy yourself.” Her mother shoos her off.
“Make sure Dallas gets the skirt I put back,” she calls as she joins me.
We walk in silence for a few minutes when Elle spots us.
“Can I hide something in your apartment?” she asks Sonia.
“Hide what?”
“Hi, Foster,” she calls to me before she continues, “I had an axe-throwing target made for Walker for Christmas and a personalized axe handle that says Sexy Beast. I don’t want him to see it, and he’s meeting me here when he leaves the ranch.”
“You bought him what? Are you insane? He’s going to hurt someone,” Sonia scolds.
“Probably, but I know he wants one, and he is the hardest person to buy for. He’ll love it.”
“I guess. Remind me to wear protective gear when you invite me over for barbecues,” she says as she fishes her keys from her pocket.
“You two mind helping me get it up there? It’s kind of