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    12 Dates of Christmas
    12 Dates of Christmas
    12 Dates of Christmas
    Ebook78 pages59 minutes

    12 Dates of Christmas

    By Jo Carey

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    About this ebook

    A Christmas tree farm can be a madhouse during the holidays. When Merry Green travels home from her job in the city to help out in the family business, she expects to lend a hand and enjoy a small-town holiday celebration. What she doesn't expect is her family's plan to convince her that her future lies in Emerald Valley. Will 12 dates lead her to her happily-ever-after or just leave her exhausted and confused?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJo Carey
    Release dateNov 24, 2018
    ISBN9781386042808
    12 Dates of Christmas
    Author

    Jo Carey

    Jo Carey grew up in the Midwest but her curiosity and gypsy-spirit has kept her on the move. She's lived in eight US states and spent three years living in Ireland. She has always loved creature movies, so creatures and bugs often show up in her books. Jo, a former information security compliance guru, writes fast-paced, character-driven stories in a variety of genres from medical thrillers to space operas and cozy mysteries. Her novels are filled with humor, romance, and sometimes creatures or aliens, or maybe even all of the above. She often builds her stories around a strong female lead character surrounded by plenty of hunky male heroes. Jo's been under fire on a golf course and climbed out the roof of an elevator in the Netherlands. Life hasn't been boring. Now residing in Texas, setting often plays a huge role in her stories. Jo was intrigued by the League of Planetary Systems, a world her husband, Frank, created for his science fiction books, and she now writes mysteries and other types of tales sets in that world. Jo was bitten by a cat, a fire ant, and a snake, before succumbing to the bite of the writing bug.

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      Book preview

      12 Dates of Christmas - Jo Carey

      CHAPTER ONE

      Holiday Project

      I just want to say how happy I am to have all the family together again, Mom said.

      We'd already eaten our Thanksgiving meal, cleaned up, and watched some football. Now we were gathered around the table again with pie and coffee. This was another Green family holiday tradition—the announcement of the Green family holiday project.

      Since we have no new adults with us this year, you all know what comes next, Mom said. It's time to announce the Green family holiday project. In the past we've helped the homeless, orphans, and veterans. Those are all worthy causes, and we'll help anyone we can this year as always, but this year's project is something more personal.

      The way she was drawing this out was making me nervous. I looked to the faces of my siblings seated around the table, but none of them looked concerned.

      Your dad and I have had some health issues this year. I'm glad they fixed my hip, but it's slowing me down. All of this has started us thinking about the future of the family and the farm. We're so grateful you're all here to help us this year.

      Stop stalling, Mom, my brother said. We all agreed.

      This year's project is...The 12 dates of Christmas.

      Everyone turned to look at me. I wasn't sure why. I was thinking maybe we were going to give a portion of our sales for each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas to a different charity. That would be pretty easy compared to our past projects—some signs, a few emails, and a few extra accounting entries. I could handle all of that.

      They were still all looking at me. Do you have the details of what you want to do for each of the 12 days? I asked.

      Not DAYS, dear. DATES, Mom said. In the next four weeks you're going on 12 dates.

      I looked around, and they were all still staring at me. "Even if I wanted to date while I was here, 12 dates in four weeks is a lot. Plus, I'm not sure I know even one eligible bachelor here in Emerald Valley.

      We know, but we do, Noel said.

      Your three sibs and I have each chosen someone for you, Mom said. The twelfth date will be the Green family Christmas dinner.

      Even if I agreed to play along with your crazy scheme and you're successful—and that's a really big if, what's the point in finding a great guy locally? I don't live here.

      That's my part, Dad said. While you're here helping us out, I'm going to convince you we need you to come home and work in the family business.

      I took a deep breath and put on my most conciliatory face. Look guys, I appreciate your concern. I do, but I'm here to help out. I don't have time to date. All of us need to be focused on the business this year and welcoming our newest family member, I said with a nod to my pregnant sister Holly and her husband, John.

      To make it more fun for all of us, Mom said. Whoever sets you up with the date you bring to Christmas dinner gets to choose next year’s holiday project.

      While threads of conversations swirled around me, I sipped my coffee and wondered how and when they would let me know what the real holiday project was this year. The Friday after Thanksgiving is busy at the farm so everyone headed home to get a good night's rest. No one mentioned my dates again. Surely that was another sign that they'd been teasing me—but why not announce the real project?

      I worried that maybe there really wasn't going to be a Green family holiday project this year because my folks weren't up to it. Thinking of them being unable to do what they've always done was a little scary.

      XXX

      On Friday morning, I was up early. I dressed in comfy jeans, boots, and my Tannenbaum Farm's chambray shirt. I grabbed a cinnamon roll from the pan on the counter. Are you coming to the farm today, Mom?

      I'll be there after I pack up some food and drinks to keep everyone going.

      I kissed her cheek and took the go-cup of coffee she thrust into my hand. Today at the farm would be crazy. Lots of families come the day after Thanksgiving to pick out their Christmas tree. My brother and his wife Sarah would be running the Christmas tree lot we have in downtown Emerald Valley, while the rest of us were at the farm. We offered cut trees in both locations, but what drew most people to the farm was the chance to cut down their own tree from one of our lots.

      Holly, John, and Mom would stay at the barn where we ring up sales and customers wait for the hay wagon to take them out to the tree lots that are ready for cutting. When I walked into the barn the smell of pine and cedar felt almost visible it was so strong. The barn hadn't changed much since I was a kid—one large open room with the back sectioned off into a kitchen, bathrooms, and offices.

      Dad called everyone together and made assignments for the day. I'd be

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