Yuletide Bride by Danielle Lee Zwissler Read Free Book Online Page A

feeling confident with his choice. He looked at Mary. He could tell that she wanted to say yes and that was more than enough for him.
    “I…”
    Give me your answer by Friday. I have a few things that can’t wait—workwise—so I won’t be able to see you the next few nights. But, I’ll try to call. You can tell me Friday before the last committee meeting.”
    Mary smiled and nodded. James pulled her to him once more and grasped her tightly. “I love you, Mary.”
    Mary closed her eyes and smiled, but no words came out.

    The next day was hectic. Mary had her interview with the mayor and his wife later that afternoon, a slew of paperwork to prepare and the rest of the article to finish. She also needed to finish her speech for the committee meeting and then meet James afterwards. And she couldn’t stop thinking about James’s proposal. She’d ever wanted to say yes so badly in her life, but she also worried that he would bully her into changing her mind about the article. She didn’t want that, either. So, she gathered up her notes and headed to the Jameson’s for her meeting and last interview.
    “So, Mrs. Jameson, why did you put your name in the jar?” Mary asked as she watched the woman smile and look over to her husband. Mary always thought the relationship between the two was more friends than lovers, but seeing them both in the room tonight was clearly an eye-opener.
    “Well, I’d always put my name in, you see. I was always a big dreamer, and If I say so myself, very romantic.”
    Roy laughed and grabbed his wife’s hand. Roy Jameson had been the mayor of Noel for more than eighteen years. He was the longest running mayor there since the late nineties when Mayor Ronald Perrish resigned. “She’s not lying, either. My Layla has always been romantic.”
    Mary smiled, maybe because of her romance with James, but she felt the love in the air as well. She thought of James and smiled dreamily.
    “You look like a woman in love,” Layla said to her.
    Mary started then focused on her paper once more.
    “I thought we were talking about how romantic you were, Mrs. Jameson?”
    “There is nothing more romantic than a love story, Miss Simms. And I do love one. I have read romance my entire adult life and when I met my own personal hero, I didn’t want to let him go. I never intended on letting him go,” she said, meaningfully.
    Mary looked up.
    “Can I ask you something?”
    “You just did,” Layla smiled.
    “You see, I don’t want to offend you at all, Mrs. Jameson, but I have to ask. You two are my very last interview, you see? I need to know how long you’ve known that the “Magic of Christmas Festival” is a sham?”
    The mayor actually gasped and Layla looked over at him and then back at Mary calmly. “For years.”
    It was the first honest answer Mary had gotten out of any of the couples. The mayor looked fit to be tied. “How long have you known, Miss. Simms?”
    “I, uh…”
    “Stuttering doesn’t become you, dear. Besides, I had a feeling one day someone would figure it out. Now, it’s what you do with the information that concerns me.”
    “Well, I…”
    “Please, Miss Simms, are you shocked that I could be so forthright about it? I already had an inclination that you knew. You see, I talked to Christine.”
    Mary looked up and felt the light bulb go on. “Christine said something?”
    “Well, you do know so much already, why not let you in on something. We have a planning committee every year. Only one half of the couple comes to the meeting, seeing as the other half has no idea.”
    “I knew it!” Mary said excitedly, smiling. “But why claim it’s magic?”
            “Why not? You have no idea what this time-honored festival means to our town, and besides, it is great revenue for the businesses and the districts. Also, it brings new faces to Noel.”
    “So, this is all about money?”
    “No, you misunderstand me, Miss Simms. This festival, as you know has