Magic in Massachusetts

By JA Lafrance

Rilee James moved to Methuen, Massachusetts, to help her best friend after the loss of her husband. As she participates in her second year of The Festival of Trees the town holds yearly, her life takes an unexpected turn. One she wasn't prepared for or wanted.

Dr. Jenkins Williams was dealing with an ex-wife who not only treated his daughters poorly but was also catty to the women of the town.
Couple that with being the town's only pediatrician, leaves little to no time for anything else—definitely not an attraction to a woman who turns him inside out.

Will the magic of the season help Jenkins win Rilee's heart? Or will it pass leaving both cold and alone?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JA Lafrance
• Release date: Jul 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393639411

JA Lafrance

JA resides in Northern Ontario Canada but is originally from the Capital of Ontario.She is married to her loving husband and has three beautiful children.When she is not locked in her writing cave she works with the board of education as a supply Educational Assistant.She loves watching hockey and Soccer and enjoys talking to the many people she has made friends with.She enjoys a good joke and can usually be seen with a smile on her face and a joke on her lips.

Book preview

Chapter One

Rilee

––––––––

"Your wreath must be presented to the judges no later than the fifth of November. If we are going to use your design as the top prize in the Wreath giveaway then you must make it stand out." This is the third meeting of the Festival of trees committee. The chairwoman is a little anal retentive when it comes to the festival, and she has every right to be. The festival wouldn’t be as successful if she weren’t.

Is there a theme this year? A woman with gigantic poofy hair asked and dropped her eyes to the paper she was writing on.

This year's theme is Christmas around the world. You can choose one country and design your tree, mini tree or wreath around it. I smile, I may have lived in Methuen, Massachusetts for almost two years, but I was born and raised in a small Northern Ontario town in Canada.

Hey, you're doing the wreath right? My best friend whispers beside me, I nod and smile already having the design ready.

I had moved to Methuen when my best friend lost her husband in a drive by shooting. I help her to raise her two boys and to keep her from falling further into the depression hole. It's been a rough go, but the months are becoming better, and she goes days when she doesn't need the constant reassurance that things will get better in time.

Okay, this meeting has come to an end. The next meeting will take place in a week’s time; we will be discussing the judging committee. I look forward to seeing all of your magic.

With that the community center starts to empty as chatty women file out.

You know Rilee, I wouldn't bother pushing the crap you did last year, it was simply a pathetic attempt at art. Gloria Hernandez speaks at me. This woman never speaks to you; she always speaks as though she is high and mighty.

Mrs. Hernandez, you do not have to worry about me Eh. I'm just a polite Canadian helping out her amiee. You go on and giver. I empathize with the typical Canadian accent that they all assume I have. I don’t know how many times I have been asked to say the word about.

She is such a nasty old bat. My best friend grumbles and leaves the meeting ahead of me.

I turn to look at this year's theme and smile when my image comes to life. I have a feeling this year is going to be the year that my artistic talents finally get noticed.

Mrs. Hernandez, you flatter me, but I do not believe that your husband would appreciate what you just said. A male voice speaks above the loud muttering that is spreading around the room.

I turn my head in the direction of the voice and stand as still as possible.

Dr. Jenkins Willims, pediatrician to the elite children in Methuen. A gorgeous man with chocolate brown hair gelled into a faux hawk that makes my body want to test the strength of the gel with multiple attempts at messing it up. A chiseled jaw and the body of a Greek statue, Oh yeah, this man would be on ever females spank bank list.

One fine specimen, Clara says as she grabs my hand and drags me out of the building.

Why do you always do that to me? I giggle as we stand beside her car.

Ever since you moved here to help me, you've had the hots for Dr. Jenkins Willims. I need to protect your reputation, because drooling airhead isn't becoming of you. She laughs and climbs into the driver’s side.

Gee thanks, I moan and watch Jenkins come out of the building and head towards his car.

Get in this car, your drooling again. Clara giggles, making me roll my eyes before getting in. I laugh my ass off when she hands me a kleenex and tells me to whip my drool.

Just for that, you need to treat me and my princes to pizza and wings from our favorite haunt. I smirk as Clara rolls her eyes and starts the car.

We had already agreed to buy dinner after this meeting so my comment only makes her shake her head.

Do you have any idea what we are going to do for the wreath this year? She asks, every year she decorates the tree in our yard and I do the wreath, we always coordinate our efforts so that the judges see how seamless we are.

The theme is Christmas around the world right? Joyeux Noel, I was thinking of doing Canada. I look at her and smile.

I think that's a perfect idea, red and white are my favorite colors at Christmas. I smile and my excitement doubles. We had plan to make this Christmas amazing for the kids, and I think starting it off with a win in both categories will help give us the boost we need.

Chapter Two

Jenkins

––––––––

"Yes Mrs. Hernandez, I will be in next week. Your daughter is old enough to see a regular family practitioner though." I mumble to the insane woman in front of me. This woman always dresses to the nines whenever she is out, I mean why does one woman have so many little black dresses.

I see the new woman in town out of the corner of my eye. Her beauty has captivated me since she first got here, and the odd chance that I have gotten to listen to her speak is like Adele is singing to me with her gorgeous husky voice.

Dr. Willims, you know I don't trust other doctors with my precious girl. Jenkins, sweetie you are the one I... I cut her sentence of when I raise my hand. Listen, I know you have a family doctor, remember him and I have talked about your daughter, please stop what you are thinking and move on. I am just getting out of a ten-year marriage and I want nothing, and Gloria, I truly mean nothing to do with you. Especially since you are a kept woman, by Dominic, I lean in closer so only she will hear me, and the head lifeguard at the recreation center. Don't push me. This woman makes me blood boil.

I spin on my heels just as I get a text from my ex-wife.

Lanny: come get your kids!

I roll my eyes; this is why I am fighting for full custody of my girls. She has literally had Mara and Mindy, my precious twin five year old girls,