What I Stumbled Across.

Welcome to November. I can’t believe we’re in Thanksgiving month already. I’m going to have an exceptionally robust holiday this year – I’ll have three first cousins and their families joining us for dinner! I’m already figuring out how to make room for sixteen adults and seven children in my dining room, and I can’t wait! Big leap for us. Until a few years ago it had always been holidays for just our little family of four! Having extended family continue to move into our state is a ton of fun!

Once I have the house organized and ready for Thanksgiving, then I speaking at local luncheon group in December. In preparation I was searching for cut scenes from the upcoming new Christmas release Picture Perfect, and stumbled across this cut snippet. It’s from Iris in the Hart Land Lakeside Inn Series. No idea where it came from or why I cut it – but here it is – just for you guys!

          “I uh,” Eric stuttered, either gathering his thoughts or debating how much he wanted to say in front of a room of witnesses.

          “Is something wrong?” Concern dripped from Iris’ words.

          “No. It’s just that. Well. We had a surprise for you.”

          This time her brows rose high on her forehead. “A surprise?”

          “You know the old house across the road?”

          Iris hesitated. This part of the country was full of old houses.

          “The one by the creek,” Eric elaborated.

          “The old Watson place?”

          He nodded.

          A cute gingerbread Victorian at one time, that old house had been abandoned since the old man had died a good ten years or so ago.

          “It’s in remarkably good shape considering how long it’s been since someone
lived in it.”

          Iris’ gaze narrowed. “And you know this how?”

          “I’ve had contractors over there all week inspecting and repairing.”

          Her eyebrows shot up high again. “Why?”

          “Because according to my lawyer, the two siblings who inherited the house are tired of paying property taxes.”

          The entire room grew very quiet.

          “Do you still think it would be a fun house to fix up?”

          Iris slowly bobbed her head.

          “I put a deposit down and pending your approval—”

          “My approval?”

          He nodded. “The contractors are ready to start work on Wednesday. All they need is a little direction.”

I’m guessing this is why they all live up the hill in Hart Land LOL. I really need to do better about keeping little things like these that I don’t use for some reason or other.

Do y’all like this sort of thing? Would you like me to share more?

Okay, I need to go clean and sort and work on the first book in the new series that still doesn’t have a name! LOL. Feel free to share any of your holiday family stories!