Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
One thing Cat didn’t want was coal in her stocking.
That would just be terrible!
The first smack of his hand landed and she cried out. “That hurts, Papi!”
“Poor Pequeña, this is going to be very hard on your bottom if that little spank hurt.”
It wasn’t little!
But then he began spanking her in earnest and she understood what he meant. Because by the time he picked up the paddle, her bottom was throbbing, and tears were drifting down her face.
Smack!
Fire burned on the skin of her butt cheek and she let out a cry.
Smack! Smack!
Oh, this was the worst!
Cat lay there sobbing and kicking her legs until the paddling was finished and Papi turned her over to hug her tight.
Sniffling, she wiped at her eyes.
Hopefully Santa was too busy to pay attention to how naughty Cat had been.
4
MAEVE AND GRAY
22nd December
Maeve was practically buzzing with excitement as she walked down the steps of the private plane onto the tarmac in New York City.
Waiting at the bottom of the stairs was a handsome man with his arm wrapped around a gorgeous woman who had dark ringlets and a shy smile.
“Faith!” Maeve said. She’d met the other woman a few times while video calling with Cat.
The man with Faith had to be Reuben Jones. He watched them steadily. Didn’t seem like he would miss much.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you in person,” Faith said as Maeve reached her.
Faith was wearing a long, yellow coat with daisies on the pockets. Her hat matched but had white fake fur around the edge rather than daisies. She looked absolutely adorable. Maeve needed a matching jacket and hat but in purple.
“You too! Are you coming with us to Southampton?” Maeve asked.
Worry filled her. Cat hadn’t said anything about Faith and Reuben coming, and she didn’t have any gifts for them.
She’d have to do some last-minute shopping.
“Oh no, we’re on our way to Wishingbone,” Faith said.
Gray wrapped an arm around Maeve.
By some miracle, she hadn’t felt ill this morning. Which meant it had likely been something she’d eaten.
Although she had had a quick nap on the plane because she’d felt really tired.
Which was a bit odd. But she had been working a lot lately, so that was probably why. When she’d woken up, Gray had grumbled that she needed to rest more.
“Reuben’s sister lives in Wishingbone,” Faith said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing her, but I don’t want to fly in this weather.” She stared at the plane worriedly.
“You don’t like to fly?” Maeve asked her.
Faith shook her head and then sucked her thumb into her mouth. Suddenly, her cheeks went red and she drew her thumb from her mouth.
Reuben whispered something into her ear and she nodded, giving Maeve and Gray another shy look. “Sorry, I’m nervous. I’ve gotten better about flying, but I was reading the weather reports and it mentioned the possibility of a storm and now I’m scared again. Reuben had to ban me from watching the weather.”
Sympathy filled Maeve and then she remembered something. “Oh! I have something that might help!” She dug around in her handbag and drew out a Courageous Camel. She’d made an animal for each of her friends, but this was one of her own ones.
But it seemed like Faith needed it more.
She held the small felt toy to Faith. “This is Courageous Camel. When I’m scared or nervous, I give him a hug and he makes me feel better.”
“Oh, he’s so cute.” Faith reached out and took hold of him. “But I can’t take your toy.”
“Sure you can! I can make another one. He’s a little preloved but that just means that he’s used to helping and he really knows what to do. So when you’re nervous while flying you can hold him tight and he’ll help.”
Faith suddenly wrapped her arms around Maeve. She might have fallen backward if Gray hadn’t had a hold of her.
“Thank you so much,” Faith told her.
“You’re welcome.” She rubbed Faith’s back.
The other woman stepped away, hugging Courageous Camel to her chest. He wasn’t that big, but he was mighty.
“Did you make this?” Reuben asked her.
Yikes.
He was a bit scary. Very . . . intense.
“Um, yes,” she replied quietly. “I know it’s not very good—”
“I think it is very cute,” he interrupted her. “You shouldn’t put yourself down like that.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” Gray said.
She glanced up to find him frowning down at her.
Oops.
Hopefully, she didn’t get into trouble for that.
“Also, I was asking because I would like you to make me one that I will purchase from you,” Reuben stated.
He would?
He wanted to buy a Courageous Camel?
“You would? Really?” Maeve asked.
“Yes, I would.”
“He means it,” Faith told her. “He doesn’t know how to joke. It’s something we’re getting looked at.”
“Is that so, Little Blossom?” Reuben practically purred.
Yikes.
Maeve would not want to get on his bad side. But Faith was made of tougher stuff than her, because she just smiled up at Reuben.