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Noelle nodded.

“What’s with the deadly women? You’re not very scary, you know.”

Noelle shivered under her fingers. “They’re my protectors,” she explained. “When I got sober, I kept hearing that I needed a Higher Power, but when I prayed, I imagined these badass women who would kill to protect their own.” She ran her hand over her arm, where Miriam just had. She wanted to keep this woman in bed forever, she realized.

They looked up at the distant sound of the doorbell ringing downstairs.

“Are we expecting guests today?” Miriam asked.

“Nope,” Noelle said. “Ugh. I’ll go get it, I guess.”

“Bring me back coffee?” Miriam asked. Noelle kissed her on the nose.

She found Elijah in the kitchen, where Hannah was taking his coat.

“Aren’t you supposed to be eating breakfast with the twins? I thought they said something about Christmas pajamas, and your mother-in-law making pancakes?” Noelle asked, beginning to worry.

“Welcome to our happy chaos!” Hannah bussed his cheek before he could answer. She ushered him into the kitchen and set hot cocoa in front of him, including homemade marshmallows and a candy cane stir stick.

“We have such wonderful news, Elijah,” Hannah told him. “The livestream of the tree lighting got so many views, and people are clamoring to buy the ornaments Miri made for the tree. I think, with her here selling from the farm and the Rosensteins’ support, we have a really strong case for the bank.”

“I thought I heard your name, Elijah!” Miriam said, coming in from the dining room. “We’re glad to see you, but shouldn’t you be enjoying the break with Jason and the kids?”

“Miriam, I’m glad you’re here. Can someone find Ziva? I’m afraid I’m not here with good news.” He wrung his hands nervously. Noelle had been friends with Elijah since she moved here, and she’d never seen him this visibly worried.

“I’ll go get her,” Hannah said tightly.

“Why would you want my mom? What could she possibly have to do with—” Miriam cut herself off, cursing under her breath. “My dad. What did he do?”

“What could your dad possibly have to do with anything? I thought he washed his hands of Carrigan’s and you?” Noelle put a hand on the small of Miriam’s back. She wasn’t sure if she was reassuring Miriam or herself.

“Am I right?” Miriam asked Elijah.

He made a pained face. “You’re not wrong,” he said, “but let’s wait until everyone’s here.”

Once everyone was together—the Matthewses at the counter stools, Ziva pacing, and everyone else huddled into the big semicircular booth in the kitchen nook—Elijah began by apologizing.

“I know you’re still celebrating your wonderful success with the tree lighting, and I hate to bring terrible news.” He was fiddling with a pen, something Noelle had never seen him do. His movements were always spare, precise, and calm. Something had to be very wrong. “The plan you all have readied for the bank is incredible, especially given the timeframe in which you’ve put everything together. Normally, I think the bank would be very happy to go forward with it, in the interest of supporting the larger town economy.” He cleared his throat, and Noelle braced.

“Unfortunately, a buyer has offered to purchase Carrigan’s. He has investors interested in razing the farm to build luxury vacation cabins. The bank is seriously considering it because it’s a cash offer for the full amount. They are giving you an opportunity to present a counteroffer. But they need it by the first of the year.”

At this, everyone began speaking over each other.

Hannah was asking how they could possibly be expected to come up with that kind of capital. Cole, who had somehow ended up in the meeting despite not being invited, pulled out his phone, saying he would call and yell at the bank. Noelle wanted to know exactly how much money they were talking about and if they needed to come up with the full loan of half a million dollars in a week.

Ziva stopped them with a heavily jeweled hand in the air.

“This mysterious buyer is my husband, isn’t it?” she asked.

That had been Miriam’s first reaction, too, and it burned in Noelle’s stomach. Why were neither of them surprised?

Elijah nodded. “I’m afraid so, Mrs. Rosenstein-Blum.” Hannah made an involuntary sound. Mrs. Matthews growled from her perch, and Mr. Matthews looked as close to committing murder as Noelle had ever seen him.

Cole caught Miriam’s eyes. “There’s a lot of my art in the attic,” Miriam said, chewing on the side of her finger and tapping her foot. “Maybe a quarter million worth? That’s an estimate. Hard to tell, with these things. But we should sell it all. We can have an online auction. Fast.”

Noelle protested. “That’s every piece you ever gave to Cass. I love that art, and it belongs here.” She and Miriam wove their fingers together.

Miriam looked at her helplessly. “What are our other choices?”