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Talia grinned. “You know what I meant.”

“Yes, but that’s not what you asked. I answered your question as spoken.”

Talia laughed. “Toby, we so need to get Finian a pet. Something he can’t predict or control. Something with a little attitude.”

“I like control.”

Toby held in a smile. The familiar banter told him all was well with the team.

“I’ll review the data later,” he said. “This is the three-month test?”

“Yes.” Finian consulted his notes. “Three months and four days. The next taste test is at six months.” He looked into his computer camera. “Boss, I think people are going to like the frozen pies.”

Toby looked at his sales manager. “Nate, you’ve convinced Finian. I’m not sure I approve of that. You’re starting to gang up on me.”

Nate laughed. “We’re just doing what’s best for the company. The frozen food market is big and getting bigger.”

Talia leaned forward. “I’ve been holding off on a marketing plan. Should I get started on that?”

Toby knew it would take her and her team time to develop a strategy. “Yes, go ahead. Kelly, get going on what it would take to get a supply chain up and running. I want real numbers.”

Kelly shook her head. “When have I not given you real numbers?”

“You’re right. I meant that comment for myself rather than you. I want to make this decision based on data.”

Because he was the most reluctant member of the team. The idea of selling frozen pies still bothered him, and he was going to have to figure out why. So far all the information pointed to incredible profitability while maintaining the excellent quality of the product.

They went through the rest of the meeting agenda. When they were done, Toby thanked everyone for their work.

“If you think you can handle things there on your own, I’ll hold off my next visit until right after the first of the year,” he said.

“We’ll be fine,” Nate told him. “You enjoy whatever you do over there in Wishing Tree.”

Nate’s tone indicated he couldn’t begin to understand why anyone would want to live in a place like that, but then, Nate was a city boy down to his bones. While most of the executive team had bought houses in the suburbs, Nate had a downtown condo with great views. Nate always said he liked nature . . . from a distance.

“You’re all missing a great day here,” Toby told them. “At four o’clock, people will gather in The Wreath for the start of the Advent calendar. Then there’s a big celebration. The first day is always a fun activity, but later days will be everything from a community-based giving project to caroling or sledding.”

“What kind of community-based project?” Kelly asked.

“Last year one of the suggestions was a random act of kindness, paying someone’s grocery or gas bill.”

“That’s nice.” She smiled. “I like Wishing Tree.” She paused. “Not that I don’t love Seattle, because I do.”

Toby grinned. “Don’t worry. I’m not forcing anyone to move here. Everyone have a good week.”

“You, too, Boss.”

He disconnected from the video conference and closed the program. He probably should make his way to Seattle for a few days, but he didn’t want to be gone during the holidays. Not with everything going on. Plus, now there was the Advent calendar.

He smiled, thinking he had a very good life. He and Harrison might have had a rough start together, but they were doing fine now.

He turned his chair so he could look out his office window. A huge Christmas tree and two smaller trees were already in place at the north end of The Wreath—the trees of Christmas past, present and future. The Advent calendar had been set up at the south end. The calendar was actually boxes stacked in the shape of a tree, each box about four feet square. Harrison had been surprised at how big it was and how everyone participated in at least one of the activities. He’d gotten very excited about collecting coats for a coat drive on the day that box had been opened last year.

Toby remembered when he’d been a teenager. He’d considered himself too sophisticated to care about the Advent calendar, even though he’d secretly been interested to see what was going on. Once he’d started dating Reggie, refusing to participate hadn’t been an option. She’d insisted they be there, right at four on the first day, to enjoy every second of the celebration.

That night they’d returned to The Wreath for an outdoor sing-along. Even though her voice was average at best, she’d been an enthusiastic participant. Reggie had never been afraid to simply jump in and get started on anything.

Thinking about her made him recall the second day of knitting at the community center. Each of the kids had finished their first hat and had eagerly started a second. Reggie had been right there, cheering them on, with Belle offering a headbutt of support.