Page 37 of Her Christmas Wish

Is this an invitation?

And hit Send.

Sage was busy calling other Ocean Breeze residents, arranging salads and veggies and other goodies to complement the meats that she and Scott would be providing, when Gray’s text came back.

With a quick call to her brother, she had Scott take over the Gray-being-there portion of the impromptu gathering she’d talked Scott into hosting.

Under the guise of introducing Gray to everyone in the neighborhood. Canine and human.

Leaving it up to Gray to determine whether or not he wanted to make his profession known to them. He’d come to them as a haven from the mongrels who were trying to keep drama going by insisting that he had to have something to do with the drug dealing at his properties. He was the owner. The buck stopped with him.

In the smallest part of herself, she knew the truth. She’d suggested the gathering to get herself out of that past and into the present.

To heal herself.

Impromptu meeting attempts hadn’t worked.

Storming up the beach looking like a hundred bucks hadn’t worked.

She had to find a way to ensure that Gray would be present.

A party in his honor ought to do it.

As the morning and early afternoon had worn on, and acceptances poured in one after another, she’d begun to consider her idea inspired.

Gray deserved the enthusiastic welcome their neighbors were offering him.

And she could get the bridge gapped from past to present without ever having to speak with him one-on-one at all.

A party. With lots of people. All wanting to meet him. Say hello. Welcome him.

Most of them dog owners, which would give Gray a lot to talk about with them.

And she could be a fly perched...somewhere.

Watching Leigh—currently the only child on the beach of cottages owned by successful single professionals.

Other than arranging the food and time, getting the burgers out of her freezer to thaw, reminding Scott to take out the brats he had in the freezer—leftover from a Fourth of July gathering—she wasn’t doing much. Everyone knew to bring a chair.

They’d set up in the middle of the beach—which ended up being in front of Sage’s cottage—and Scott would wheel out her grill.

Needing to keep Leigh occupied, she put the little girl in the car and drove up to town for buns. And stopped at a store that sold discounted goods for a couple of new outdoor fun toys to occupy Leigh once they were down on the beach.

Knowing full well she wouldn’t need them.

Ocean Breeze residents, both canine and otherwise, adored Leigh. It was like they’d all adopted her—their vicarious child—and she moved among them with a confidence that filled Sage’s heart.

Still, just in case, she didn’t want her four-year-old to have an age-appropriate meltdown the first time Gray met her.

The closure would be more complete, and quick, if it was perfect the first time out.

She was just pulling back into her space on Ocean Breeze when her text sounded.

Scott says you’re organizing food. What can I bring?

She read it twice. Looked at Gray’s contact information twice and smiled. A not altogether wholesome expression.

Generally speaking, the guest of honor was told not to bring anything.