Hollyhock: Yuletide: Welcome To..., #1

By J. Haney and S.I. Hayes

Change can be sweet.

Just an hour  North East of Bar and Winter Harbours is the sleepy little town of Hollyhock, Maine. With its border on the Arcadian National Park, it is the perfect place to get away for a long weekend or, in the case of Seraphine Haven, maybe the rest of your life.
Jaded from a lost relationship, she has come to town to remake herself and serve up a few sweet concoctions. Little does she know the meddling that is about to fill her days and cold winter nights this Christmas.

Issac Skuyler has failed to land, as his father puts it. The son of a florist and longshore fisherman, it was the creative blooms that attracted him and kept him home. At thirty-five, he's single and running his own shop, but there's just one small hitch- he's still in his father's house- specifically his basement.

When the cold November air blows in a pretty stranger will it be enough to turn Issac's head or will his family push too hard leaving Issac to the flowers and wreaths for the rest of the Yuletide season?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deviant Darlings Publications
• Release date: Jul 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223022572

Book preview

Chapter 1

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"I

ssac—C’mon honey, we’re gonna be late." My mom calls from the front of the shop. I’m just shutting down the lights so we can go to this stupid grand opening.

Is this really something that requires me to shut down three days before Thanksgiving? I have orders to finish. I lament, watching as she rolls her eyes at me.

Issac Skuyler, you will stop your complaining right this instant—grab the cornucopia, and let’s go. The Haven’s have been good to us—you know that. Now that their grandbaby is in town, we have to be hospitable. It won’t kill you.

You sure? The nine-fifteen Greyhound is due any minute. I smirk and dodge her backhand. That Greyhound is about the most reliable thing in this one-horse town. See here in Hollyhock, Maine, we are about a stone's throw from nothing in all directions. Bar and Winter Harbor are southwest, and Acadia National park is our neighbor to the northeast with Lake Moorehead in between. If I didn’t live here, I wouldn’t live here. I own Beautiful Botanicals, a flower shop—the only flower shop—for about thirty miles in any given direction. It was my mom’s, but she sorta retired a few years back when dad got sick. He recovered but never got back on the boat.

Zac—don’t make me get the spoon. Mom threatens.

"Fine, let’s get this over with." I suppose there was no ignoring this. I was going to have to meet this Haven woman, eventually. I’d spied her a few times over the past week. Petite, brunette, a little hippy, but I hear she just had a baby, so that could account for it.

You don't have to sound so put out. I hear pray tell, she’s rather pleasing to look at.

Mom—don’t even—

She puts up her hands—I wouldn’t—I’m on my best behavior! I swear. She cups my face and kisses my cheek. My Zacey poo—You just be you and smile that dimple-filled smile.

Yes, Mom.

Chapter 2

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G

rand openings are always stressful. This one is no different. At the same time, it’s a breath of fresh air. This move was exactly what I needed. I can see forty approaching rather quickly, and other than my babies, there was nothing left for me in Dallas, Texas. So, I packed everything I owned and had a moving company drive the thirty hours to Hollyhock, Maine.

Mam and Pop have the kids in the stroller while talking to their friends. Me? I’m making sure everyone has champagne or grape juice depending on the age, of course, as well as making sure everything looks good. Already a few people have applied for the cashier’s position.

Everyone here is only here because—one small town and everybody is all up in your business. Don’t get me wrong, I knew I would make a fuss coming here. You know they’re all saying, look the Haven’s granddaughter is almost forty, never married, and has two kids. I can only imagine what they would say if they knew my kids had two different daddies.

And two, they’re all friends of Mam and Pop. So, let’s face it, they are here to show face, and when they walk away, I will be the talk of the town. Hell, they may just do it while they’re watching me. The only difference between them and me is that I can smile because I’m a southern gal and pretend what they have to say doesn’t bother me. I mean, why would it? These people may have heard of me, but they don’t actually know me.

Sera, darling. You must come over and see this lovely display and meet Lydia and her boy. Mam reaches for me just as Willow, my tiny toddler, calls out.

Mommy!

I spin one way and then the other I thought she was with Mam, but apparently, she’s run for—Oomph!

Thwack! Thud!

Down I—wait, nope, I’m pressed into a spicy smelling set of thick—strong arms.

Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry. I look up into blue eyes and try to smile at my clumsiness.

You alright? He smiles, and it lights up his face, but it’s the dimple on only the right side that seals it, making my thighs tighten.

Ye-yeah, I’m alright. Thank ya for catchin’ me. I’d hate to have fallen on my ass in front of everyone.

Eh, you might have bounced. He rights me, hands on my hips and ass. "You’re the Haven’s granddaughter if I had to guess. Names Issac, they call me Zac, ‘round here,