''Really thank you, I haven't read a great book in ages, so I am looking forward to sinking my nose in a great story, ''tells Hazel.
'' It's an excellent book; Zoey read that's when she was part of a book club, at the time. I believe it kept her from feeling lonely, back when I worked a lot since I had just been promoted to sheriff ''tells Liam loving someone to talk to besides his family or friends about it. Seeing they already know everything about her, she is an open book to them.
''Interesting what you were before, you became the sheriff?'' asks Hazel curiously as she questions him, thinking that he became a sheriff right out of college, but maybe that's not the case after all? ''I was the police captain, and then our sheriff at the time was retiring; he was actually Zoey's grandfather, and I was selected over Caleb Zoey's older brother, who is currently the deputy, and back then as well' 'says Liam. He is open to her considering that he is envisioning a possible future with her, but does not want to jump into the deep end with her. Instead, he steps in the shallow end first and slowly makes his way to the deep end with Hazel in the relationship. With agreeing, it's for him to talk to a grief counselor or maybe even a grief group for widowers, before he can ever open that door on starting a new relationship. When he has not even dealt with what he has lost from his past. However, once Liam has dealt with it, he probably won't be able to see the shadow of his wife's ghost when he has talked about everything building up inside of him. Over the past year, seeing that there were eighteen years of memories, sometimes it is hard to think of great memories or moments, when there were no more after that once Zoey was gone.
''Oh wow, what was Caleb'sreaction? When he wasn't promoted to sheriff seeing that he was already deputy?'' asks Hazel curiously, finding out more information on Liam's family and past before she even stumbled into town due to the roads being closed?
Who knew that it could have led to a possible future? Might she have found the missing piece to the puzzle? Yes, it might be a risk, but it is a risk that Hazel is willing to take to find her a potential soulmate.'' That's a great question, and actually, I don't even know, guess I will have to ask Caleb that the next time I see him ''says Liam. Realizing if Hazel never mentioned it to him, then he might have never thought it to ask?
''Can I have a front-row seat when you do ask Caleb?'' says Hazel excited about spending the holidays with Liam and his family she does, however, wonder if they will find out the real reason why she is here and not back in San Francisco?
'' Be my guest, but you might find yourself distracted by the many Brown, Davis & Anderson family rituals & traditions, that you might find yourself more interested in than my talk with Caleb''says Liam.
''Oh really, I might just hold you to that, ''states Hazel, as she can't stop staring into his striking Brown eyes.
''I know you will; I do however know for a fact that you will love everything on Christmas Eve, as well as Christmas Day for sure, ''states Liam. Becoming more attracted to her every time that he sees Hazel, it feels almost like the universe is sending this beautiful woman his way after the tragedy of his two losses.''What festivities happen on Christmas Eve, by the way?'' asks Hazel with curiosity, wanting to know and very excited, she is however, hoping that her dad and older brother do not contact her though or try to come and find her? It will make Liam suspicious of why she lied to him and wasn't honest on the real reason Hazel isn't with her family for the holidays?
'' We do an Ugly Sweater Contest, Making Reindeer food, Family game night, the kids open up one gift on Christmas Eve, my mom has this hot cocoa bar set up which is Tom's favorite thing. We also go around my parent's neighborhood and sing Christmas Carols, Bake cookies, and then watch Christmas movies together while drinking hot cocoa while eating Christmas cookies. Finally, one of my dad's highlights of the night is when he reads a Classical Christmas story. Then there is writing the letters to Santa''tells Liam.
''You had me at a hot cocoa bar; I am not that good of a singer, though, so that should be interesting. Also, what's the Christmas Classical story?'' asks, Hazel curiously wondering if it is The Night Before Christmas.'The Night Before Christmas''tells Liam to Hazel excited about Christmas this year, compared to last year. Even though he is struggling over the loss of Zoey, but is hoping if he goes to Grief Group for Widows that he will overcome the struggles that he is going through.To where he is no longer seeing his wife's ghost.
'' I can't believe I was right; my dad also tells that story every year to my brother and me back when we were younger. However, after my mom died, he stopped telling it because it was too hard for him ''tells Hazel revealing and honest sharing more about her past.''I can honestly relate to that now that I have lost a spouse as well. I think that probably even though he wants to tell The Night Before Christmas, it probably is too hard for him to bear thinking about how your mom is no longer there with you all. To share these new memories with you, so the thought of her not there with him, It feels to where half of his life is gone ''tells Liam.
''I get that, but it's not as he is alone in this world, I mean he does have me & Mitch ''states Hazel.
''That might be true, but you and your brother have your own lives, and I am assuming that Mitch doesn't live in San Francisco''states Liam.
'' No he actually still lives in San Francisco, he decided to move back after college, I however wanted to explore new places''says Hazel.