Free Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber

mind, but Wynn might learn something, too. The incorrigible twins would be the true crucible for his ideas.
    K.O. held out her hand. “Are you ready for some Figgy Pudding?” she asked.
    He grinned, taking her mittened hand as they hurried toward the Figgy Pudding People’s Choice competition.

Chapter

7
     
    T he Figgy Pudding People’s Choice event was standing room only when Wynn and K.O. arrived. Vickie and her friends hadn’t performed yet and were just being introduced by a popular morning-radio host for an easy-listening station. K.O. and Vickie had been friends all through high school and college. Vickie had married three years ago, and K.O. had been in her wedding party. In fact, she’d been in any number of wedding parties. Her mother had pointedly asked whether K.O. was ever going to be a bride, instead of a bridesmaid.
    “That’s my friend over there,” K.O. explained, nodding in Vickie’s direction. “The one in the Santa hat.”
    Wynn squinted at the group of ladies huddled together in front of the assembly. “Aren’t they all wearing Santa hats?”
    “True. The young cute one,” she qualified.
    “They’re all young and cute, Katherine.” He smiled. “Young enough, anyway.”
    She looked at Wynn with new appreciation. “That is such a sweet thing to say.” Vickie worked for a local dentist as a hygienist and was the youngest member of the staff. The other women were all in their forties and fifties. “I could just kiss you,” K.O. said, snuggling close to him. She looped her arm through his.
    Wynn cleared his throat as though unaccustomed to such open displays of affection. “Any particular reason you suddenly find me so kissable?”
    “Well, yes, the women with Vickie are…a variety of ages.”
    “I see. I should probably tell you I’m not wearing my glasses.”
    K.O. laughed, elbowing him in the ribs. “And here I thought you were being so gallant.”
    He grinned boyishly and slid his arm around her shoulders.
    Never having attended a Figgy Pudding event before, K.O. didn’t know what to expect. To her delight, it was enchanting, as various groups competed, singing Christmas carols, to raise funds for the Senior Center and Food Bank. Vickie and her office mates took second place, and K.O. cheered loudly. Wynn shocked her by placing two fingers in his mouth and letting loose with a whistle that threatened to shatter glass. It seemed so unlike him.
    Somehow Vickie found her when the singing was over. “I wondered if you were going to show,” she said, shouting to be heard above the noise of the merry-go-round and the crowd. Musicians gathered on street corners, horns honked and the sights and sounds of Christmas were everywhere. Although the comment was directed at K.O., Vickie’s attention was unmistakably on Wynn.
    “Vickie, this is Wynn Jeffries.”
    Her friend’s gaze shot back to K.O. “Wynn Jeffries? Not the Wynn Jeffries?”
    “One and the same,” K.O. said, speaking out of the corner of her mouth.
    “You’ve got to be joking.” Vickie’s mouth fell open as she stared at Wynn.
    For the last two months, K.O. had been talking her friend’s ear off about the man and his book and how he was ruining her sister’s life. She’d even told Vickie about the incident at the bookstore, although she certainly hadn’t confided in anyone else; she wasn’t exactly proud of being kicked out for unruly behavior. Thinking it might be best to change the subject, K.O. asked, “Is John here?”
    “John?”
    “Your husband,” K.O. reminded her. She hadn’t seen Wynn wearing glasses before, but she hoped his comment about forgetting them was sincere, otherwise he might notice the close scrutiny Vickie was giving him.
    “Oh, John, ” her friend said, recovering quickly. “No, he’s meeting me later for dinner.” Then, as if inspiration had struck, she asked, “Would you two like to join us? John got a reservation at a new Chinese restaurant that’s supposed to have great