His mother stared at him. “You can’t be serious.”

“I hate to remind you that I’m thirty-six years old, and I certainly know the difference between something special and something not worth taking a chance on. This, with Emma and Simone, is something special.”

“And you already know that for sure.”

“I do.”

She shook her head. “I thought you were smarter than that.”

“It’s not fair for you to project your disappointments onto me or anyone else, for that matter. Just because it didn’t work out for you doesn’t mean anyone who takes a chance on love is a fool.”

“Wow. How long have you wanted to say that to me?”

“Only since you inferred that I’m a fool for knowing something special and different when I encounter it.”

“It’s your life. I can’t and won’t tell you how to live it.”

“That’s good to know, but I’d like to think I’d have your support in whatever I choose to do with my life.”

“You always have.” She got up to refill her coffee cup. “I’m sorry if you feel that I’m not being supportive. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

“I know that, but I refuse to live my life in fear of what might happen.”

“Fair enough.”

“Emma thinks you don’t like her.”

His mother turned to face him. “I don’t dislike her. I barely know her.”

“Give her a chance. For my sake. Please make her feel welcome in our family.”

“Of course I will, if she’s what you want.”

“I think she might be.”

“Just be careful not to risk more than you can afford to lose. I wouldn’t wish that kind of heartbreak on anyone, especially you.”

“I hear you. Do you have Lucas’s phone number handy?”

“Yeah, it’s in the book by the phone.”

“Great, thanks.”

“By the way, Noah called earlier, looking for you. He said he needs to talk to you about something.”

“He didn’t say what?”

“Not to me.”

“Okay, I’ll run by his house when I leave here.” Grayson placed the call to his cousin Lucas, asking for his help in securing the surprise for Simone.

“You’ve come to the right place,” Lucas said. “Meet me at the Christmas tree farm in an hour. I’ll set you up.”

“You’re the best. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Grayson went upstairs to shower and shave. In the bottom drawer of the dresser that’d been his until he left for college, he uncovered an old set of thermal underwear and put that on under his clothes.

In the downstairs closet, he found a wool blanket and the parka he kept at his mother’s for skiing and other winter activities in Vermont.

“I made muffins earlier if you want to take some,” his mother said when he returned to the kitchen.

“Chocolate chip?”