Jingle All the Way Read online

  Jingle All the Way is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 by Debbie Macomber

  Excerpt from A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber copyright © 2019 by Debbie Macomber

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

  BALLANTINE and the HOUSE colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

  Names: Macomber, Debbie, author.

  Title: Jingle all the way: a novel / Debbie Macomber.

  Description: New York: Ballantine Books, [2020]

  Identifiers: LCCN 2020022039 (print) | LCCN 2020022040 (ebook) | ISBN 9781984818751 (hardcover: acid-free paper) | ISBN 9781984818768 (ebook)

  Subjects: LCSH: Christmas stories. | GSAFD: Love stories.

  Classification: LCC PS3563.A2364 J56 2020 (print) | LCC PS3563.A2364 (ebook) | DDC 813/.54—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/​2020022039

  LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/​2020022040

  Ebook ISBN 9781984818768

  randomhousebooks.com

  Title-page and chapter-opener art: © iStockphoto.com/​discan

  Book design by Sara Bereta, adapted for ebook

  Cover design: Belina Huey

  Cover illustration: Tom Hallman, based on images courtesy of the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles (sleigh), © Spiderplay/Getty Images (puppy), © iStock/Getty Images Plus (farm), © Depositphotos (presents)

  ep_prh_5.6.0_c0_r1

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Author's Note

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Epilogue

  Dedication

  Ballantine Books from Debbie Macomber

  About the Author

  Excerpt from A Mrs. Miracle Christmas

  Christmas 2020

  Dear Friends,

  In the spring of 2019 Wayne and I took an educational cruise up the Columbia River. This was not the luxury cruise I had expected. It was more like adult summer camp. No swim deck, no phones, no TV, no Internet, but lots of fun. Two great book ideas came from this experience. One of which you are holding in your hands.

  Wayne and I have traveled up the Amazon, and several of the experiences mentioned here are ones we participated in ourselves. We’ve also been to Antarctica. Wayne likes to take me to exotic locations that don’t take credit cards. We’re at the point in our lives when we want adventure before dementia.

  This book is dedicated to Nancy Jacuzzi (yes, that Jacuzzi!). We met on a tour bus on our cruise in South America, became instant friends, and have traveled together on two other tours. It was with Nancy that I went kayaking in Antarctica. And yes, there were whales. And penguins. And seals. She is a dear and treasured friend.

  I hope you enjoy the story of Everly and Asher. And may your holidays be merry and bright.

  As always, one of my greatest joys as an author is hearing from my readers. You can reach me through all the social media platforms, or by snail mail at P.O. Box 1458, Port Orchard, WA 98366.

  Holiday blessings,

  CHAPTER ONE

  Everly Lancaster was ready to explode. Her assistant, Annette, the very one Jack Campbell, her business partner and CEO, had highly recommended she hire, who also happened to be his niece, had made yet another crucial mistake. One in a long list of costly errors. This time, however, this Gen Z, spoiled, irresponsible, entitled young woman had gone too far.

  Annette Howington had mortified Everly in front of five hundred real estate brokers.

  “It’s really not that big a deal,” Annette insisted, smiling as if to suggest this had all been a small misunderstanding. “You did fine without your speech.”

  The awards banquet held in the posh Ritz-Carlton Hotel, half a block off Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, honored the top brokers for the online real estate company Easy Home. As Everly stepped onto the podium to deliver her carefully crafted speech, she discovered that her empty-headed assistant had downloaded the wrong talk and graphics. As a result, Everly had been forced to stumble through what she remembered of it. To her acute embarrassment, she’d sounded ill prepared, fumbling over words and names.

  Everly was always at the top of her game. She did not stand up before a crowded banquet room and make a fool of herself.

  “Not that big a deal?” Everly repeated, after the banquet. Annette had tried to escape without Everly noticing. No such luck. Everly had the assistant in her sights, and no way was she letting Annette sneak out.

  “This is the last straw,” Everly said, managing to keep her anger under control. “I’ve given you every opportunity. I’m afraid I’m going to have to let you go.”

  “You’re firing me?” Annette asked in utter disbelief. “But I’m doing the best I can.” For emphasis, she added a loud sniffle. “You’ve never liked me. From the day I started you’ve been demanding and critical.” Her eyes filled with tears as if that would be enough to convince Everly to change her mind. She sniffled again for extra measure, her shoulders making dramatic shudders.

  No way was Everly going to allow Annette to turn this on her. “Your best isn’t good enough. You don’t possess the skills I need in an assistant. The first thing Monday morning I’ll explain to your uncle that you will no longer be working with me or Easy Home.” Everly couldn’t think of a single position this ditzy girl could handle in the entire company. She’d even managed to mess up answering the phone on more than one occasion.

  Annette’s tears evaporated and a cocky expression came over her. “Uncle Jack won’t let you fire me. I’m his favorite niece.”

  Everly gritted her teeth. “We’ll see about that.”

  With a confident flair, Annette whirled around and stormed straight to her mother, who stood in the rear of the ballroom, waiting for her daughter. Everly watched as Annette burst into tears and pointed at Everly. A horrified look came over Louise Campbell as she started to weave her way around the tables toward Everly.

  Bring it on, sister, Everly thought, more than prepared to face this tiger mom. Before that happened, however, Everly was waylaid by one of the brokers with a question. When they finished speaking, both Annette and her mother were nowhere to be seen.

  Everly had a reputation to protect. She’d worked hard to make Easy Home the success that it was. What Annette said about Jack defending her was a worry, but nothing she couldn’t handle.

  The problem was Jack and his easygoing, everything-will-take-care-of-itself attitude. They’d met in college while getting their business degrees. Jack was the creative mastermind. Everly possessed the
business savvy and drive to take his idea of an online real estate company for Chicago and put it in motion. Six years ago they’d formed a partnership, and, working side by side, the concept had grown at a furious rate. With Everly at the helm, overseeing the everyday operations, Jack was content to rest on his laurels after handling the media-facing and investors. Basically, he left the running of the company to Everly. And she’d let him.

  * * *

  —

  First thing Monday morning, Everly approached Jack in his office. “We need to talk about Annette.”

  Jack barely glanced up from his in-office putting green, where he stood, gauging the distance between the golf ball and the hole.

  When he didn’t respond, Everly said, “I’ve given her every opportunity, Jack. I’m letting her go.”

  Jack, ever willing to overlook his niece’s complete lack of professionalism, sighed loudly. “I know. I know. And I appreciate the way you’ve taken her under your wing. This is my sister’s girl and it means the world to Annette to have the chance to learn from you. You realize she idolizes you.”

  Then God help her if the young woman intentionally had it out for her, Everly mused. “Jack, take your eye off that golf ball and look at me. Favorite niece or not, I’m done.”

  Jack looked up and his eyes widened. “Annette was named after my mother.”

  “I don’t care if she was named after the Statue of Liberty, I refuse to work with her a minute longer. The girl is incompetent.”

  His shoulders sagged. “Please reconsider.”

  That he would ask infuriated Everly. “No.”

  “No?” Jack looked both crestfallen and shocked.

  After mentally reciting the alphabet, she tried again. “I know you love Annette and want to please your sister, but I’m the one left to deal with this pampered, entitled, inept girl.”

  Jack pretended not to hear and did a couple of practice golf swings. “I’ll think on it,” he said, as if this was his decision.

  Which was so Jack. He had tunnel vision and refused to deal with unpleasantness, especially anything having to do with his family.

  “Great. You want to keep Annette working here, then I have an idea,” Everly said with an exaggeratedly cheerful note. “Make Annette your assistant.”

  “I can’t do that,” Jack insisted, leaning against his putter. “Maryann has worked with me from the beginning. Besides, Annette is family.” To his credit, Jack looked uncomfortable. When he glanced up, a pleading expression came over him. Everly knew that look. He was trying to figure out a way to change Everly’s mind. That wouldn’t work. Not this time.

  Jack smiled. “I know you’re upset, and you have a right to be. It was a silly mistake, but Annette apologized…”

  “Silly mistake? She apologized?” If he defended this nitwit one more time, Everly was going to walk out the door and leave the running of the company to him and see what he had to say then.

  “You’re not listening to me, Jack. I. Have. Reached. My. Limit.”

  Jack stared at her for a long moment. “I’m pleading with you, Everly. Give her one more chance, that’s all I’m asking. With a fresh start I believe Annette will prove her worth. Don’t make a hasty decision.”

  Hasty decision? Had Jack lost his ever-loving mind?

  He must have noticed the stubborn expression she wore, because he added, “Remember, this is her first job out of college. We all make mistakes. You did. I did. We were fortunate that people believed in us. Is it so much to ask that we give my sister’s daughter the same opportunity?”

  “Admit it, Jack, anyone else would have been out the door weeks ago.”

  “Come on, Everly,” Jack pleaded again.

  Everly shook her head. “What you fail to realize is that Annette not only let me down, but she’s failed you, and this entire organization. You aren’t going to be able to turn this around. I’m not changing my mind.”

  Having had her say, Everly left his office.

  * * *

  —

  Annette sat at her desk, wearing the same cocky look she had at the banquet. The twerp knew her uncle would never fire her, and she thought this made Everly powerless. Everly hadn’t built this company and earned the respect of this industry to let some kid win this war.

  Jack followed Everly into her office. He paused long enough to close the door before facing her. After a moment, he leaned forward and braced both hands on the edge of her desk. “When was the last time you had a vacation?”

  Of all the responses she’d expected from him, this one was a surprise. “A vacation?” she repeated. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “You’re stressed out, and it’s showing.”

  “Ya think?” she said with a huff. “I can’t and won’t tolerate incompetence. If anything, Annette is responsible for upping my stress level.” She already had her hand on the phone to connect with HR. Whether Jack liked it or not, Annette was getting fired.

  “Letting go of Annette will devastate my sister.”

  “Your sister?” she repeated, shaking her head. Jack’s sister was the least of her worries.

  “And Annette, too, of course.”

  “Apparently you didn’t hear me. I gave Annette every opportunity. She doesn’t have the skills or the maturity for this position.”

  “Give her one more chance,” he urged, placing his hands in praying position.

  Everly adamantly shook her head. “I already have. I’ve said all I will on the subject.”

  “It’s nearly December.”

  What did that have to do with any of this? “It doesn’t matter, Jack. My mind is made up.”

  Jack straightened and pointed a finger at her. “I want you to take the entire month of December off.”

  “What? I can’t…” It sounded like Jack had lost his mind. No way could he deal with everything if she wasn’t around. The entire staff knew she was the problem-solver, not Jack. Then again, maybe this was exactly the lesson he needed.

  The idea of sending her away for a month seemed to be growing in his mind as he started to smile, looking pleased with himself. “You need a break and I’m going to see that you get one and that’s final.”

  Everly frowned, wondering what had come over him.

  “No buts, Everly. You’re too valuable to me and this company, but your drive is smothering your compassion. We’ll somehow muddle through without you. Now book a vacation.”

  Her mouth opened and closed several times before she swallowed. The entire month of December? It was November 30; she had no idea where she’d go or what she’d do. Within a matter of days, she’d be bored out of her mind. This position consumed her every waking minute. Then again, there was always email. The team could reach her if necessary. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all to let Jack take over the helm while she silently kept watch in the background.

  Before she could stop him, although she wasn’t sure she wanted to, he stepped out of the office and went directly over to Annette’s desk. “I want you to book a vacation for Everly,” he instructed. “Get her a cruise, somewhere tropical, with warm beaches where she can unwind.”

  Annette snapped to attention. “Right away,” she said, eager to please her uncle. She immediately turned to her computer, and her fingers started typing away.

  Everly put in a full day at the office. She rarely left before seven, long after everyone else had headed home. By the time she reached her Chicago condo, it was close to eight. For dinner, she generally picked up take-out on her way home. Her condo had an amazing view of Lake Michigan, although she seldom took time to gaze out the floor-to-ceiling windows. Seeing how little time she spent in her condo, it was more utilitarian than a real home. She had a few framed photos of her family here and there, but other than those, the space could have been a rental. And in fact, at o
ne time it had been, until she was able to pick it up at a bargain price, thanks to Easy Home.

  Once she ate her sushi with a glass of white wine, she settled on her white leather sectional and rested her bare feet on the matching ottoman, crossing her ankles. It’d been one hell of a day. She wasn’t entirely sure she should take Jack up on his offer. He seemed to feel she needed time away and he wasn’t far from wrong. She’d gone six years without a vacation worth mentioning. Oh, there’d been the occasional weekend here and there with her college roommate Lizzy, but those were rare now that Lizzy was married and had a toddler.

  Her phone rang and caller ID told her it was her mother. For an instant, Everly was tempted to let it go to voicemail. Then she decided if she didn’t answer now, her mother would simply try again later until Everly was forced to answer or be destined to listen to a litany of voicemail messages.

  “Hey, Mom,” she said.

  “Daisy.” Just the way her mother said her given name, which Everly hated, told her her mother wasn’t pleased.

  “Everything okay?” she asked, ignoring her mother’s tone.

  “You were missed at Thanksgiving.”

  Her mother tossed guilt with the expertise of a no-hit pitcher. “I’m sorry, I really am. I thought I could get away, and then at the last minute something came up. I was forced to stay in Chicago and deal with it.” She crossed her fingers, hoping her mother wouldn’t inquire about that vague something. “I did let you know I couldn’t make it.” Coward that she was, she’d sent a text message.

  “Was it the same something that prevented you from coming home for Christmas last year?” her mother asked pointedly.

  This was the problem. Everly was the middle child in a family of five siblings. Two older sisters named Rose and Lily and two younger brothers, identical twins named Jeff and John. Everly had felt squished in between her sisters and brothers. Rose had Lily and Jeff had John and she was trapped in the middle. Everly needed elbow room, a way to prove she was her own person. She’d set out to do exactly that from the time she was two years old and learned to say the word no.