Page 183 of Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal
“Oh, is this the Betty that is dating our Atlas?” one of the ladies asks.
“That would be me,” I say with a smile.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Martha, and this is Mae, my sister. We live across from Cole and Storee, next to the Dankworths.”
“It’s so nice to meet you. Storee has been such a good friend and has welcomed me into this town with open arms.”
“She’s really lovely. A great addition to the town,” Martha says while Tanya starts making the drinks. “So glad that you changed your mind about the business.”
“Oh yeah, well... just thought we might need something different here in town,” I say, unaware that other people knew about the change of plans.
“Yes, it was difficult looking through the archives to see if there was anything we could do to prevent it from happening,” Mae says.
Huh?
Martha nudges her sister with her elbow. “I don’t think she knows about that.”
“Knows about what?” I ask, looking between the two of them.
“Oh nothing, dear. No need to worry. All is good.” Martha smiles nervously. “Well, we best be off. Don’t want to be late for a meeting with Bob Krampus.” She waves. “Nice meeting you.”
“Yeah, nice meeting you,” I say, confused. When they take off, I turn to Tanya, who is finishing the drinks, and I say, “What was that about?”
“Didn’t hear what you ladies were talking about.” She keeps her eyes down as she fidgets with the drink lids. “I’m going to put these on Max’s tab. No reason for you to have to pay for a drink he wants.” She sets the drinks down in front of me. “Hope you have a good evening.”
“Thank you,” I say, studying her. “Hey, Tanya?”
She finally looks up, her lips pressed together. “Hmm?”
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“No, dear. Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. You’re acting weird, and then what Martha and Mae said. Just seems like they almost let something slip, and you’re trying to avoid talking about it.”
“Oh please.” She picks up a rag and starts cleaning the counter. “If you hear anything from those two, it’s mainly gossip. They don’t know what they’re saying most of the time.”
“Okay, because if there was something I should know, you would tell me, right?”
“Of course.” She waves her hand at me and then looks out the window. “Oh, it seems like Max is here.”
I glance out the window as well and see his truck pull up. Drinks in hand, I thank Tanya, still feeling uneasy, and carry them outside, where Atlas is getting out of the car and walking up to me.
Wearing a pair of green pants, a red sweater, and an orange shirt underneath, he looks adorable in his reindeer hat, but when he approaches me, he’s missing something. The spark in his eye. The smile that stretches from ear to ear.
Something is off.
“Hey,” he says as he wraps me in a hug and kisses the top of my head. “How was your day?”
“It was good,” I answer as he pulls away. “What about you?”
“Oh, you know, Christmas things at the farm,” he answers as I tilt my head to the side, studying him.
“Is everything okay? You seem a little off.”
“Do I?” he says, scratching the back of his neck. “Just, uh, just a busy day is all.”
I hand him his hot chocolate and ask, “Are you sure? Because if there’s something that’s bothering you, you know you can talk to me.”
