Mistletoe Memories (It's All About the Mistletoe Book 5) Read online

  “Mistletoe Memories”

  It’s All About the Mistletoe #5

  By Laura Ann

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  MISTLETOE MEMORIES

  First edition. October 8, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 Laura Ann.

  Written by Laura Ann.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  NEWSLETTER

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  Okay... I admit it.

  Tired of Christmas stories?

  CHAPTER 1

  DON’T FORGET!

  DEDICATION

  To Twin #2.

  Your desire to conquer the

  world is a magnificent thing

  to watch. Here’s to your success!

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  No author works alone. Thank you Victorine,

  You and your sister make it Christmas every time

  I get a new cover. And thank you to my Beta Team.

  Truly, your help with my stories is immeasurable.

  NEWSLETTER

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  PROLOGUE

  “Okay... everyone here?” Lane’s eyes darted around, counting all the little squares on her computer screen.

  “Lane and I make six!” Wren shouted from just behind Lane’s head.

  Esther laughed lightly when Lane put a hand over her offended ear. “Geez, Wren, we can hear you just fine.”

  Wren shrugged unapologetically. “Sorry. I’m a little overexcited.”

  “Ya think?” Lane mumbled.

  “It’s just that we haven’t seen each other in FOR-EV-VER!” Wren made a silly face at the screen, causing the other girls to erupt in laughter.

  Ah, Wren. Some things never change, Esther thought fondly.

  “It may have been years since we were all together, but Wren, I don’t think you’ve changed at all,” Faye said through a snicker. Her purple-tinted corkscrew curls brought a burst of color to the screen full of faces.

  “Wren might not have changed, but some of us have,” Britta frowned and looked down at her lap.

  “Yeah, well, you needed to put on a few pounds, Girlie.” Wren sniffed and held back an eye roll. “Now you actually look like an adult instead of a little girl.”

  Esther’s eyes widened. Aaaand sometimes change is a good thing. Sheesh. No one wants to be told they’ve gained weight.

  “Wren!” Lane scolded, elbowing Wren in the side. “Be nice.”

  “I am!” Wren frowned. “She looks great. I was just telling her that.”

  “Then just say she looks nice,” Lane huffed. “You don’t have to—” She shook her head. “Never mind.” She turned back to the computer and smiled. “How about we get to the point of this video call, huh?”

  Esther put her fist in the air and gave a little woop.

  A round of ‘here, here’s’ rang through the room and speakers.

  Lane cleared her throat and Wren gave her an encouraging shoulder squeeze. “As you all know, Evanwood’s Christmas Ball is coming up,” she started.

  Oh no... Esther immediately fell back into her seat. Please, please, please say we aren’t talking about going.

  “Can you believe it?” Grace said with a laugh. “I swear time goes faster each year. We all graduated ten years ago, people!”

  “No kidding,” Faye added. “That stupid ball is just a constant reminder of how swiftly it all goes.”

  “I don’t know,” Esther sighed. “It sure feels like ten years to me.” Ten years where everyone has grown up and moved on and I’m still here... too scared to do anything else.

  “That’s because you stayed in that podunk town,” Faye said with a shrug.

  Esther ducked her head to the side and jerked back. Ouch. Just tell it like it is, Faye.

  “Ladies!” Lane snapped. “We’re not here to pick on each other. I thought we were all friends?”

  “Sorry, sorry.” Faye put her hands up. “You’re right.” She looked pointedly at Esther. “Sorry, Esther. Just because you made different choices than me doesn’t mean they were wrong.”

  Esther kept her gaze on her lap, but nodded. She’s right though. There’s something wrong with me. Nobody else has stuck around this long.

  Lane rubbed her temples and Esther felt bad that she was unintentionally causing problems. Just as she opened her mouth to apologize, Wren jumped in.

  “Come on, Girlies,” Wren scolded. “Let’s get on with it. We called this meeting because of the upcoming ball... and the fact that every stinkin’ single one of us... is still single.” She pursed her lips.

  Niiice. So tonight is ‘bring all uncomfortable truths to light’ night, huh?

  “What exactly are you expecting us to do about it?” Britta narrowed her eyes. “So we’re single. Most of us aren’t coming home for the ball anyway.”

  Lane sat up straight, jumping back into the conversation. “That’s exactly what I was hoping to change.” She bit her lip before continuing. “I think we should all meet up. Like we said, it’s been years since we’ve been together and ten years since we graduated. Don’t you think we should all take advantage of the opportunity?”

  “Why?” Grace asked as she scrunched her nose. “It’s not like we have anyone to show off to the town, and we keep up with each other on social media. Why bother going to the ball?”

  Exactly, Esther complained mentally.

  Lane squished her lips to the side. “I just,” —she glanced at Wren, who nodded in encouragement,— “I just thought it might be nice to see each other and to show the town what we’re up to.”

  Faye frowned. “What exactly are you getting at?”

  Wren pushed her face back into the screen. “Haven’t you guys received your invitations yet?”

  “No,” Faye huffed. “What does it say?”

  Lane sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Mostly the usual, but then it makes a remark about bringing a significant other, or not coming at all.”

  Gasps came through the tinny speakers, followed by silence.

  Lane leaned back in her seat, a weary look on her face.

  “Who the heck came up with this idea?” Faye snorted.

  “Camille,” Esther said softly. When the rest of the girls looked at her, she shrugged. “I already have my invite as well. I’m sure it reached me earlier since they know where I live. Anyway, Pastor Larsen needed help this year and Camille volunteered. She decided she wanted it to be more exclusive, so she’s only allowing you to come if you have a date.”

  “Should have known,” Britta muttered.

  “She probably married some hotshot lawyer and wanted a better chance to show off her diamonds,” Wren said with a smirk.

  “I don’t think she’s married, but she is dating a doctor. Plastic surgeon I think,” Esther supplied. And yes, she does love showing him off.

  “Then it’s not diamonds she’s showing off.” Wren snickered until Lane elbowed her again.

  Esther pinched her lips to keep from laughing. It would be just like Camille to use her boyfriend for some free... ‘upgrades’.

  “How do you know all this?” Faye asked.

  Esther shrugged. “The gossip mill around
here hasn’t slowed down one iota since you all left.”

  “Nothing was stopping Camille from bringing her date to the ball anyway, so why get all snooty about those who don’t have one?” Grace asked.

  All eyes turned to Esther, and she immediately flushed under the attention. “Uh... all I know is what the old ladies at church are saying.”

  “Do share,” Wren encouraged with a mischievous grin.

  Esther took a deep breath. “Well, I guess Camille has moved the ball from the church to the Evanwood’s ballroom and is really going all out.”

  “Meaning?”

  “She’s trying to make it all high-society and stuff, I guess.” Esther shrugged and picked at a frayed edge on her jeans. “But the date thing, I guess, was to weed out... undesirables.”

  “Undesirables? Are you serious?” Britta squeaked. “That’s ridiculous!”

  Esther scrunched up her nose. “All I know is the rumor. I haven’t spoken to Camille in person. She doesn’t actually live here anymore.”

  “Then how the heck did she come to be in charge?” Wren demanded with a scowl.

  Esther pulled back into her chair at the angry tone being directed at her, then was immediately disgusted with herself. I’m nearly thirty years old for heaven’s sake. Grow a little backbone! “Beats me. But she does visit a lot. Her parents and grandma are still here,” she finally added.

  “Who the heck is she to say we have to have a man? Can’t we all go stag? Buck the rules a bit?” Grace asked.

  “Oh sure, until she has her dad arrest us for going against her.” Faye rolled her eyes.

  “Only Camille would be able to get away with that,” Britta grouched, slouching in her seat. “Stupid sheriff’s daughter.”

  “Wait, wait, wait.” Grace leaned into the screen. “What I don’t understand is why Lane is so set on us all going.” All eyes turned to Grace and she pulled back from the screen a bit, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. “None of us are friends with Camille, never have been. So why are you set on us going to the ball? Can’t we just ignore it like we have for years?”

  When Lane didn’t answer right away, Wren jumped in. “Because Camille sent her a personal note along with the invitation,” she supplied.

  “Wren!” Lane screeched. She turned and glared. “You promised!” she hissed.

  Wren shrugged. “Desperate times, Girlie.”

  “What did the note say?” Faye interrupted and Esther nodded along with the other girls, wanting to know as well.

  Lane sighed. “She wrote me a nice little letter about how sad it was that I wouldn’t be able to come and that maybe I would have better luck next time.”

  “You can’t be serious!” Esther gasped.

  “Serious as a caffeine addiction,” Wren said glibly.

  Faye whistled and folded her arms over her chest. “We’ve been gone ten years and that girl still can’t leave you alone? What the heck is her problem?”

  Lane shrugged. “I’ve never done anything to her, so I don’t know why she hates me so much.”

  “It’s just because you’re prettier and nicer,” Britta piped in. “It’s a classic tale of jealousy.”

  Lane smiled and shook her head. “Don’t I wish. Anyway, I guess I... I don’t know. It’s dumb and I shouldn’t be intimidated by her petty bullying.”

  “Alright, everyone, listen up.” Wren pushed her way in front of Lane and got her face right into the webcam. “As much as we might not want to admit it, we were total losers in high school. Every. Single. One of us. Now, we have the opportunity to shake it up a little. One of our own is being taunted by a prissy know-it-all who needs to be taken down a peg or two. Are we all really going to say that after ten years we still can’t get a date to a dance? Are we willing to carry the banner of ‘Loser’ on our foreheads for the rest of our lives?” Wren clucked her tongue and shook her head. “I, for one, am not. For once, just once, I want to show up with the hottest guy in the room and make all those wimpy, cheerleading snobs envy me.” Wren put her hands in the air. “Call it pride, call it ego, call it whatever you want, but I’m sick and tired of coming in last and this is our one chance to come out on top. And! Best of all, in doing so, we are defending Lane’s pride.”

  Britta scrunched her nose. “You’re being dramatic, Wren.”

  Wren pointed at the screen. “Maybe so, but you have to admit I have a point.”

  Britta reluctantly nodded.

  Maybe so, but why does it have to be all in your face? I hate confrontation.

  Faye folded her arms over her chest. “So, what are you proposing?”

  Wren scooted to the side and Lane got back on the screen. “All we’re trying to do is help each other out. I thought between the six of us, we could help each other find a date and maybe save some face on the dance floor.”

  “So we’re looking for fake boyfriends?” Grace asked with wide eyes. “Really? That sounds so... naughty.”

  Fake boyfriends? Esther forced in some oxygen when she realized she had frozen to the point that she wasn’t breathing. I don’t know if I can do that.

  Lane winced but nodded. “Yeah. Kinda, I guess. I mean... no one has to know but us, and the guys of course. But I think that’s better than trying to find a real boyfriend on a short timeline. Talk about awkward.”

  The ladies were quiet for a moment while they all contemplated the plan and Esther felt herself panicking more and more with each second.

  Faye slapped her hand on the table she was sitting at. “I’m tired of Camille coming out on top too. I’m in.”

  Lane smiled. “Great!”

  “Me too.” Grace shrugged. “I mean, why not? Unless the guy’s a total weirdo, it should make for a pretty fun night.”

  Britta nodded. “Yeah, it will. I’m in as well.” She smiled. “Plus, I don’t want Lane to have to take all of Camille’s nastiness.”

  Esther was chewing her lip into a pulpy mess when all eyes turned to her. This is as bad as the dream where you show up naked at school. I haven’t dated anyone since Elijah left. How am I going to do this? But... maybe this is my chance to be different. Maybe something like this will finally help me to move on and be a step toward gaining a bit of courage. “I guess so,” Esther finally agreed, forcing a bit of nonchalance into her tone. “It’s not like I have anything better to do.” And, if I’m lucky, it might just prove to be a starting point toward better things.

  “Woo hoo!” Wren put her hands in the air and hollered, once again making Lane jerk back and glare.

  “That’s great, guys. I think we’ll do much better with us all planning together.” Lane smiled at the computer screen. “We have one month until the ball, so that should give us plenty of time to come up with potential candidates.”

  Faye chuckled and Wren snorted at Lane’s description.

  “So, for our first assignment, everyone needs to make a list of men they know, who might be willing to help us out. You can even pair them with a specific partner if you think a certain person would get along with them the best.”

  “On it!” Grace said with a smile.

  “Sounds good!” Faye added.

  All the other women nodded and after a few more minutes, they logged off.

  Esther blew out a long breath and slumped in her seat. That meeting had been mentally exhausting for her. It was times like these that she was reminded just how much of a mouse she was... and the heartbreak that had brought to her life.

  Closing her eyes, she pictured the handsome face of Elijah. Four years. Four years she had spent with the love of her life, knowing he was the only man who would ever hold her heart. A small smile played on her lips as she thought of them meeting as awkward, little freshmen, but the moment had been just as beautiful as it had been cliché.

  It was within the first week of school and Elijah’s tall, lanky form had caught her eyes from across the hall and Esther had come to a standstill, ignoring the bumping shoulders and curses of her classmates. He had bee
n so good-looking, he was almost beautiful. Dark hair that curled at the ends, tanned skin and a grace to his movements that was odd amongst a building full of growing teens.

  Then he had turned and Esther had completely lost her breath. His eyes were light blue, almost grey, and they were just as stuck on her as hers were on him. It wasn’t until the heated flush running through her body turned her cheeks into flames that Esther was finally able to blink. Ducking her head in embarrassment at being caught ogling, she darted down the hall to her next class, praying the gorgeous boy wasn’t in it.

  It had taken two more days for them to actually meet. One morning, Esther came around the corner to her locker and nearly swooned when she saw the beautiful boy leaning against the cold metal. His eyes caught hers and a brilliant smile slowly spread across his face.

  Slowly and with jerky movements, Esther approached until she stood just in front of him.

  “Hi,” the boy had squeaked out. Clearing his throat, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry. Uh... hi. I’m Elijah,” he had tried again.

  “Esther,” she said softly, gripping the straps of her backpack so tightly she was sure she would tear the fabric. She wanted to be embarrassed that her heart was beating so loud or her skin was probably bright red, but she couldn’t find the emotion within herself. He was just so... perfect, and he made her feel different than anyone else.

  “Well, Esther, I think it’s time we got to know each other, don’t you?”

  And just like that, their love story had begun. For the rest of their high school days they had been joined at the hip, like peanut butter and jelly, both knowing this was no mere case of puppy love.

  Esther’s smile faded into the usual shattering heartbreak that memory always brought. “And then you lost him,” she murmured thickly, blinking to hold back tears. “All because you were too afraid. All because you were a mouse.” She pinched her lips and stood up. “Well, no more. Next month you’re going to prove that you can step outside yourself and be more. That you can be an adult and finally move past all this.” She headed to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. “Now all you need is a date.” She rolled her eyes. “Easy peasy lemon squeasy... I think.”