Christmas With the Best Man Read Online Free PDF

so just meant they got wet faster. She kept her hood up, and his hat offered some slight protection as they walked through the town.
    “Look, the stores are open, at least the grocer is.” He motioned across the street. “Let’s grab something to drink. Maybe they have a deck of cards.”
    “Good idea.”
    They ducked inside, shaking as much water as they could on the mat at the door. Jasmine went straight to the magazines. Joey wandered the aisles looking for something to keep himself entertained. He wasn’t much for reading, and while the little store had a great variety of items, he doubted they had anything to help him pass the time.
    He collected an armful of chips and crackers and a couple of sodas. Jasmine met him at the register with several magazines, some chocolate and a large bottle of mineral water. After paying, they went back out in the rain.
    They passed a flower and gifts store where some lighted wreaths glowed in the window. “Let’s go in here,” he said.
    “Why? What’s the point of buying some flowers or something that we’ll have to throw away when we leave?”
    “I thought I’d buy some flowers to give Sue tomorrow. We can get something to make the room look more Christmassy, too. Maybe it’ll make this easier for you to deal with.”
    She gave him a sidelong glance as she walked past the door he held open.
    “If nothing else, it’s not raining in here.”
    “It smells wonderful. Evergreens, cinnamon. Something else I can’t name.”
    “Vanilla candles,” said the woman behind the counter. “I burn cinnamon and vanilla candles at the same time. The scents together make me think of cookies.”
    Jasmine laughed. “I’d be hungry all the time.”
    Joey wandered the aisle filled with decorations. A small wreath caught his eye, red and white ornaments nestled into the greenery. Not too fancy, but not a Charlie Brown style decoration. He picked up the wreath.
    Walking toward the cash register, he was distracted by a bright display. Hand knit items in a rainbow of colors. He quickly skimmed past the baby booties and sweaters and was about to walk away when he saw the socks. Neon colors, practically, pink, yellow orange and green.
    Something about the pink made him think of Jasmine. He hadn’t seen her wear such a bright color, but if she hated the pink she could wear them under boots and jeans where no one would see.
    She was in a back corner of the shop, so he quickly paid for the items. He stuffed the small bag with the socks into his coat pocket.
    ~*~
    When they arrived back at the flat, Mrs. Gilmore stuck her head out of the fish shop. “We turned on the water. I’m so sorry I didn’t think of it yesterday.”
    “No problem. We’re so grateful to have a place to stay. There aren’t enough words to express our appreciation,” Joey said.
    Jasmine spent the afternoon reading the gossip and beauty magazines she’d bought. Joey had picked up some takeaway fish and chips before the little café closed for the holiday. He sat beside her on the bed while they ate, both of them leaning back against the wall.
    “I’m sorry you won’t be with your family tomorrow.”
    She sighed. “Me, too. But what can we do?”
    The firelight flickered off the white and red glass bulbs on the wreath, reminding her of Christmas lights.
    “What would you be doing if you were with your family right now?”
    “Right now?” She looked out the window at the fading daylight. “What’s the time difference? We’d probably be asleep.”
    “We’re only eight hours ahead of California here. It would be midmorning, Christmas Eve.”
    “I’d be cleaning the house. Dad and my brothers would be at work. If I were keeping to plan, I’d have the pies in the fridge waiting to be put in the oven after the ham on Christmas Day.”
    “Hey, I’m sorry to make you miss such excitement.”
    She laughed. “Right? But we’d have dinner together. My oldest brother is married, and he and his wife come over. The