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“Mayor Voglmeyer wants to add more events to the Yulefest, and I’ve got this huge, televised double wedding I’m working on.” Carson winks in Evie and Georgia’s direction—he’s loved every minute of planning their wedding. “I don’t know when I’ll even have time to sleep, let alone practice for the ball.”
“Okay, I hate to admit this,” Georgia sighs. “But Darlene Voglmeyer’s idea to turn the Christmas Festival into a month-long Yulefest is genius.”
Carson gives her a gentle push. “Stop. You know I’m the one who planted the idea.”
Georgia smiles wide. “After I gave it to you.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to have tourists here during the winter too when we’re supposed to have a break from them.” Adam shoots both a glare.
Evie lays a hand on his arm. “More tourists, more time together. That’s our mantra, remember? Say it with me.”
Adam scowls and repeats her words. He’s rewarded with a kiss that puts a rare smile on his face.
If that weren’t enough to tangle my stomach into a jealous knot again, Evie takes a bite of her burger, and Adam reaches over to wipe away a spot of sauce at the corner of her mouth.
“Aannnnyway.” Carson drags out the word until he pulls Evie’s attention away from Adam. “Hope is doing great work from Kansas, but I could really use her here if I’m going to have the barn and everything else ready for your wedding. I’ve tried not to pressure her too much—I know she’s got her reasons. But I think it’s time for her to come back.”
Evie’s eyes dart to me, but it’s too late.
“Hope is still working for you? I thought it was just a summer thing,” I say to Carson.
“She never stopped. Thanks to Yulefest and a couple small things I got hired for,” he answers.
That’s a surprise, but also confirms my suspicion that I’m to blame for Hope up and leaving. Most of the reason she was in Paradise was to learn about event planning from Carson as he managed all the details for Evie and Georgia’s double wedding. He’d given her a huge opportunity to gain experience in the business from the ground up, which made it even more strange that she left so suddenly.
Carson narrows his eyes at me. “I didn’t know you knew Hope all that well.”
“We hung out a little while she was here.” I finger the napkin in front of me, not meeting Carson’s gaze.
Most people in town don’t know Hope and I had a thing this summer. We tried to keep it under wraps. I didn’t want anyone else warning her away from me the way Evie tried to.
Obviously, Evie knows about us. And, by default, Adam. And probably Zach and Georgia too. But that’s it.
Except for Britta and Bear.
And maybe Uncle Pete.
“Youhung out?” Carson wiggles his fingers in air quotes. “Is that why she left, and I can’t get her to come back? Because of you?”
“No! I swear I didn’t do anything!” Not that I know of anyway.
“Uh huh,” Carson says, unconvinced, before turning back to Evie. “I need help with more than spreadsheets and organization. I need her here, in person, dealing with the vendors and clients she’s been in contact with. Things are about to blow up, and that girl can narrow down details faster and easier than Bob Ross painting happy little trees.”
“I know. And you’ve been great with her, Carson. Her confidence has grown so much, and she loves working for you.” Evie picks up a fry but hesitates before putting it in her mouth. “But she’s still trying to work some things out.”
“All the wedding details she’s come up with? I need her here to make sure they come together,” Carson continues. “And Yulefest. I need a right-hand man—woman—to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
I stare at Evie, wondering why I didn’t ask my questions sooner. It’s not like I haven’t been close enough to see the wedding come together. Hope’s fingerprints are all over this wedding; I’ve just been too blind to see her.
Evie avoids my gaze and stares at Carson, but he’s too busy methodically forking all the vegetables in his salad to get a little of each one.
“I told her to bring Charly, and she didn’t respond to that either,” Carson says before placing his curated bite into his mouth.
Evie’s head swivels from Carson to me and back again. She shakes it in tiny, frantic motions that I’m not supposed to see, but Carson’s the one who misses the signal she’s trying to send him.
“What?” Now I’m glaring at Evie because there’s even more about Hope she’s been keeping from me. “Who’s Charlie guy? Hope's boyfriend? Is that why she took off without a word? She was just playing me?”
So much for keeping our relationship, or the feelings I still have for her, quiet. But I don’t care. I’ve been lied to, and I have a right to be mad about it.
