Coming Home to Christmas Cove

nd started writing him. Before long, they had become pen pals. Over the years, their friendship had remained solid, even after he became a SEAL, and reen

get back to work. Inside, Kiki was helping a young couple and they were admiring The Christmas Ring. Jocelyn's heart sank, having fanaticized ab

acked her gum. "I was looki

ey had seen it all-from happy couples to gold diggers. This young woman appeared to be of t

mattered. What mattered most was that the ring go to a loving couple, for it was a ring to last the ages, the exact ring she would pick out for herself if she had e

er rings and Kiki let out

ll rang on the door, resonating throughout

ed by the door, her stil

ggest drama queen in town. As Jocelyn turned around, she wondered what was s

as night and day. Always had been. While Mallory wanted glitz and glamour, all Jocelyn wanted was the quiet life, and to possibly settle down with the right man. Mallory,

ly painted red acrylic nails on the gl

stew for a moment, but curiosit

!" Mallory clapped her hands

ed, but she quickly

le gave them a dirty

hint. "Mallory, c

ne here?" As Mallory knew well, Roxanne

t. "Kiki? I'll be right in

ooked over at Mallory an

e's not here, but don't touch anything." Although Mallory

eak room, containing a small, round table and four chairs. Luckily, Roxanne had the day off,

sat down in it. Jocelyn sighed and took the other

her, of

he

hristmas

ove, and it set right in the center of the town square. It took

d. If there was one thing she knew about her sister, it was that she was allergi

I went there to ge

her eyes. "We a

lory waved her manicu

celyn alone. Mallory was five years older than her, the same age as Caden. "Wh

ave thought possible, Mallory opened her small purse and whipped out a compact. She quickly checked her makeup. After ma

you want with him, Mall

uppies. "It's been eight years." She grinned. "He'

stood. "Mallory, you're unbelievable."

floor, alerting Jocelyn that she was indeed

Mallory almost ran into her.

her shoulders and lifted her

ory? The poor man isn't even here yet and you've

l take me o

go! Go to California and try to make it i

ully, no one else was in the store. The May-December couple w

him... or don't you remember?" Jocelyn bit her lower lip in an effort to c

is parents he's comi

ep breath. "Mallory,

door, pulling the faux fur coat around her as she walke

but Caden and I have been

u w

gged. "We we

ere tw

at if he was coming home, he would have written and told me

not as important to

sn't in the mood to argue. "Mallory, I have

e need

it on the

ip and released it. "I

r anger. "Mallory, you've been trying the modeling t

on her heels as if she had just been slapped

up her hands. "I have to go. I'll be home later." Jocely

ned wide. "Jocelyn, don't let Mallo

s the younger sister-twenty-one while Mallory was twenty-six-but somehow, she

smile. "Don't worry

y time I'm mad and want to stay

of life. Kiki wrapped her arms around her from the side and laid her head against

he brushed her away. "What woul

aving accomplished her mission. "I don

nter and prepared to get back to work. "C

ittle sister. She wondered what he would see when he saw her now. But she quickly pushed the thought aside. The

ng, and now Jocelyn suspected he would be drop-dead gorgeous. Men always got better with age. But d

nd wanted her to be happy. And if Mallory and Caden were happy together, the

tomer walked in. "I'll take this o

d the thought aside, knowing that it was probably a moot point. After all, she had