Page 44 of Falling for the Grinchy Bad Boy

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JOY

Istood there watching our beautiful tree blaze against the night sky, and I couldn’t stop the tears from sliding down my cheeks. Happy tears, the kind I hadn’t cried in what felt like forever. The kind that came from pure, overwhelming joy instead of the frustrated, heartbroken variety I’d become too familiar with over the past few years.

This was actually happening. The tree lighting was perfect, the crowd was huge and enthusiastic, and people were genuinely happy. Kids were pointing and gasping at the dancing LED displays. Couples were taking selfies in front of the glowing branches, and elderly couples were holding hands and smiling like they were remembering their own first Christmases together.

I had done this. Me. Joy Murphy, former corporate nobody who had lost her job, her apartment, and her sense of purpose in the span of three devastating weeks. I had taken this boring old town square and turned it into something breathtaking.

I wasn’t bragging, but damn, it felt good to have a win after so many losses.

“Oh, honey.” Aunt Victoria said as she wrapped me in one of her signature bear hugs. “You did such a beautiful job. Look at all these happy faces!”

I buried my face against her shoulder for a moment, letting myself have this emotional release without worrying about my mascara or my professional composure. “I can’t believe it actually worked,” I whispered.

“I can,” she said firmly, pulling back to look at me. “I knew you’d be perfect for this job the moment I suggested you to the mayor. You’ve got your grandmother’s gift for bringing people together, and your grandfather’s stubborn determination to make things work no matter what.”

More tears threatened to spill over. After months of feeling like a complete failure, like I couldn’t do anything right, hearing those words from someone I loved and respected meant everything.

“Thank you.”

“And honestly,” she continued, shaking her head with amazement, “I can’t believe you figured out how to work those fancy LED lights. When the town council first presented them to me, I was absolutely lost.”

I laughed, wiping at my cheeks. “I was lost! I spent three hours on YouTube watching tutorials.”

“Well, it paid off. The way those lights dance and move, it’s like something you’d see in Times Square, not little old Calton Hill.”

“Thank you,” I said, squeezing her hands. “And thank you for pushing me into this job in the first place. I know I wasn’t exactly enthusiastic when you first suggested it.”

She smiled, that knowing look in her eyes again. “Sometimes we need a little push toward the things that are meant for us. Even when we’re too scared or stubborn to see it ourselves.”

Something in her tone made me think she wasn’t just talking about the job anymore, but before I could ask what she meant, the mayor appeared at my elbow with a huge grin and what looked like half the town council trailing behind her.

“This is spectacular,” she gushed. “I am impressed. Truly.”

“Thank you.”

“I cannot wait to see what else you have up your sleeve!”

No pressure.

The mayor’s eyes were practically sparkling as she gestured toward the tree. “And that article in the paper certainly helped draw people out tonight! Did you see the turnout? I haven’t seen this many people at a town event since the Fourth of July fireworks got rained out and everyone crowded into the community center.”

Heat crept up my neck. I wasn’t used to being praised in print. In New York, the only time my name appeared in anything official was usually followed by phrases like “budget constraints” or “position eliminated.”

“That’s… that’s really nice,” I managed.

“Mayor!”

She winked at me and rushed away, pulling Aunt Victoria with her.

“Joy!” Katrina’s voice cut through my emotional moment. I quickly wiped my eyes as she bounded over with her characteristic energy. “This is incredible! The turnout is huge. I think it’s the biggest we’ve had in years!”

“Really?” I asked, scanning the crowd with new eyes. The square was packed with people of all ages and more seemed to be arriving every few minutes.

“Absolutely! And the food situation is perfect. You brought in so many great options, the turkey legs, the roasted nuts, that amazing hot chocolate with the candy cane stirrers. People are already asking me when the full Christmas market opens.”

The pride in her voice made me happy. I wanted to impress people. Katrina had been one of my closest friends since middle school, and having her approval meant the world to me.