A December Bride Page #4

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Okay.

Well, that looks

suspiciously

traditional to me.

I'm making

a Christmas quilt.

To use in the house

you're doing

for the Tour of Homes?

Don't bother denying it.

I saw your name

on the list.

I was going to tell you.

You know, because

I'm doing the Fletcher house,

this puts us

in direct competition.

No, I don't see it that way.

I mean, there are

a lot of homes,

lovely homes

for people to look at.

People like

Stanley Malcolm?

Every decorator in town

wants a job with Malcolm Realty,

including me.

How did you get

the Murphy house?

Seth is an old friend,

and we started dating, and...

now we're sort of engaged.

Oh.

I guess congratulations

are in order.

Thank you.

It pains me

to say this, Layla,

but obviously

we can't work together.

Wait, are you firing me?

You've given me

no choice.

I need those back.

Well, I love what you've done

with the place.

[sighs]

Well, now I really need

Stanley to give me this job

because Darcy just fired me.

What?

This is my fault.

No, I'm just as much

to blame.

On the bright side,

I don't have

to deal with her ego,

or fetch her mocha lattes,

sugar-free.

Well, maybe

it's for the best.

I really gotta

get back to work.

The Tour is less than

two weeks away,

and as you can see,

I still have a lot to do.

I like what you've done

with the fireplace.

[chuckles] Thanks.

You should

use it sometime.

Mm-hm.

What?

You've got some...

you've got some

dirt on your face.

Uh... there.

Oh.

My dad called.

He invited us

to dinner tonight.

Okay.

No, actually, it's not okay,

because he thinks

we're engaged,

and my brother

is already suspicious.

And what about your mother?

She actually passed away

when I was a little girl.

I'm sorry.

I didn't know that.

She always used to

make the holidays so special,

and she would turn

our entire house

into this virtual

winter wonderland.

She'd make her own decorations,

and the whole place

smelled like cinnamon

and hot cider...

What was your favorite

part of Christmas?

Everything.

The whole spirit of Christmas.

My mom always said

it was the time of year

that everyone cared

just a little bit more.

What, and you

still feel that way

after all these years?

Of course.

Tell me about

your family.

My family...

Well, let's just say

that my dad,

he didn't care too much

for the holidays.

What does he do?

He's a retired

investment banker.

He worked most of his life.

Not a lot of

father-and-son time

when I was growing up.

But I looked up to him,

so I followed

in his footsteps.

Well, this year,

brace yourself

for all the Christmas

you can handle.

[laughs]

The O'Reillys still go

way over the top

when it comes to the holidays.

I think I'd like that.

[]

I'm not much

of a cook,

but I enjoy it,

especially

this time of year.

Well, everything

was delicious, sir.

So, when did

you and Layla meet?

We met three years ago,

doing community theater.

I kept going, hoping

to see more of her.

I remember you singing

at the top of your lungs,

and you were the worst singer

of all time.

[laughs]

He's the only person I know

who can turn "Les Mis"

into a comedy.

[laughter]

Thanks for that.

Then what

happened?

I went out of town

on business.

By the time I got back,

Layla met Jack,

and I lost my shot.

Well, why didn't you

ever ask me out?

I'd just come out

of a relationship.

I needed a little time.

I assumed

you weren't interested.

No, I was

very interested.

I just couldn't

undercut Jack.

I was born in a suit and tie.

But you got me to loosen up

and have a little fun,

albeit off-key.

But that was my favorite

summer I can remember.

I wish you would have

told me that back then.

So do I.

Yeah, so do I.

So, you two

are about to get hitched,

and this stuff

just never came up?

Oh-- yes.

Of course it did.

We just, um,

we don't like to

dwell on the past.

We like to focus

on the future.

The future.

The future.

Speaking of which,

when's the wedding?

Yeah.

Uh...well...

Um, well, we've...

we've, uh...

we've talked about it a lot.

Uh, we were thinking...

June? June, right?

June?

Is that what we said?

June. Mm-hm.

Yeah. June wedding.

So not in December?

December?

No, December's

a little too soon.

Is it?

But Layla always wanted

to be a December bride.

Yeah, I mean...

you knew that.

Yeah, sure he did.

Obviously.

I told him how much

I love Christmas,

and Mom was

a December bride,

and with all the love

and joy in the air,

what better time

to get married?

December.

Remember?

Uh-huh.

And every year,

how we watched

"White Christmas" on TV,

and with all

the singing

and the dancing,

and everyone falls

in love in the end.

I mean, you don't have

to tell him. He knows.

You've seen it.

It's Gene Kelly.

Bing Crosby.

Bing Crosby.

It's no big deal,

it's just your fiance's

favorite movie of all time,

for her entire life--

Who's ready for dessert?

I am.

Here, let me give you

a hand with that.

Okay.

What's going on?

What?

What do you mean?

Your dentist knows you

better than that guy.

I'm not buying

a word of this.

I'm not.

Okay...

so it's a fake

engagement.

Promise me--

Hey, look at me--

promise me

you won't tell anyone.

Tell them what?

That my sister's had

a little too much eggnog

with her fake fianc,

who also broke up

her real engagement?

Very funny.

He's not so bad.

Yeah, unless

you like honesty.

You know what,

people could say the

same thing about me.

Good point.

I don't know, it's...

He's a really nice guy.

[scoffs]

I know that look.

What look?

Are you starting to have

feelings for this guy?

What?

No.

Maybe you're not

being honest with yourself.

Maybe.

I tend to do that, a lot.

I mean, with Jack, I knew...

I knew all along.

We were drifting apart,

and I just kept

hanging on

to this fantasy of being

a December bride.

And what about Seth?

I don't know how I feel.

I know that

I don't want to get hurt.

That I believe.

[chuckles]

Can you pass me the cookie tin,

please?

The Tour is only

one week away,

and I haven't even finished

a single room yet.

What do you think?

It's a big change,

but a very merry one.

I'm not sure

I'm man enough for this.

I should be older and wiser.

Are you kidding?

It's perfect for you.

Try it out.

[sighing]

And what exactly

am I supposed to do

in this chair?

You're supposed

to think great thoughts.

Huh.

Well, I'm thinking

great thoughts.

About what?

About my growing affection

for all things Christmas.

It's hard to resist.

[derisively] Nice wreath.

Nice wreath!

Thanks!

I made it myself.

It looks very authentic.

Yours is... shiny.

[chuckles mirthlessly]

[]

Whoa.

Hi.

More donations.

Jessica asked me

to drop them off.

Oh.

But I'm glad I ran into you.

Why?

Because I'd like a...

a chance for us to talk.

Yeah, I don't think I'm ready

for that just yet,

but I'll take the boxes.

Whoop...

I got it.

oh, you two were so close

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