| |
For the past twelve hours, Hope hadn’t let either of her children out of her sight. Last night, she’d listened as Melody cried about missing her father. She’d been attentive as Todd told her how Khloe had proven Santa was real. She’d fed them a light meal and then, after reading them a story, had nestled between them, one hand on Melody’s thigh and one on Todd’s. She’d awakened every hour or so to make sure they were sleeping. Every half hour she’d thought of Steve and his tender kiss and the dogged way he’d helped her find her daughter . . . and then she would picture his ex-fiancée showing up and the tender memories would vanish. He was taken. End of story.
Now, given that she had to work on Christmas Eve as many in town did, she’d brought the kids to the café and had seated them at the counter, not in the back. So customers wouldn’t be upset, she was using up all her employee food allowance to feed them nonstop. Gabe, bless his merry soul, was engaging Todd in conversation about basketball, and Melody was devouring her Lisa Leslie book, giving Hope way too much time to mindlessly replay that scene with Gloria. Dang.
“Hey, girlfriend.” Zerena sidled to her after serving a table of four. She rolled her eyes. “Is it the merry tinkle of ‘We Need a Little Christmas’ that’s irking you, or are you simply stressed beyond words?”
Hope grimaced. “I look that bad?”
“You’re wearing your shoulders for earrings.” Zerena hugged Hope with one arm. “Relax. Your babies are fine.”
Hope gave her a thankful look.
“Melody knows she scared you,” Zerena went on. “She scared herself. She won’t take off again.”
“Promise?”
“Been there, done that. I had Daddy issues, too.” Zerena’s parents had divorced when she was six. “By the way, Gabe told me how Steve Waldren helped you find Melody, and here I thought he was a selfish, albeit handsome man.”
“He’s not selfish.”
“He’s not?”
Hope shook her head. Over the course of the last twenty-four hours, she’d learned exactly how big Steve’s heart really was. The way he’d stayed by her side. Supported her. She could still feel his arms around her and his warm, reassuring breath in her ear. And their kiss? Every fiber in her had tingled.
“He and his family came in last night by the way,” Zerena said.
“Was Gloria Storm with them?”
“Yep. They looked pretty cozy.”
Hope deflated. If Steve had included Gloria on a family outing, that sealed the deal. He was officially off the market. Whatever feelings had sparked between her and him were a thing of the past. “Speaking of cozy, you and Roman look pretty hot-cha-cha lately,” she said, changing the subject. “I gather you had fun at the tree lighting.”
Zerena’s cheeks tinged pink. “Did I tell you he asked me to go on a picnic on our day off?”
“Does he know it’s winter?”
Zerena giggled. “He said he’ll bring an arctic oven tent.”
“Ooh.” Hope winked. “Sounds like something might be cooking.”
“I think so.” Zerena sashayed to her next table of customers.
Hope checked on her children and then followed up on an order at table ten. She offered more coffee and a free refill on the cocoa. The diners were ecstatic about their meals. They gushed about how adorable Hope Valley was. They’d never visited the town before, but having heard something about it while watching KPRL, they’d decided to drop in.
That something, Hope realized, must have been the mention of the family that had won the Disneyland vacation. Who would ultimately receive the prize? she wondered, and then realized she didn’t care. Not a whit. Her prize was her family, pure and simple.
Gabe slipped up beside Hope. “It’s almost time for you to end your shift. I smell gingerbread in your future.”
“I almost forgot. Bless you.” She blew him a kiss.
The gingerbread house event was just what the children needed. Something fun yet focused. Hope finalized all sales for her tables, cleared their dishes, and bid her customers and the staff good-bye. Then she gathered the kids and headed to the Christmas Attic.
An instrumental version of “Go Tell it on the Mountain” was playing as they entered, and the place was packed with people. In the center of the shop, there were two long tables covered with poinsettia tablecloths and topped with all the fixings to make gingerbread houses—precut sides of houses, roofs, chimneys and doors, as well as a wide variety of candies, candy canes, powdered sugar, piping tools, and the most important thing, royal icing, the mortar that would hold all the pieces in place. Smaller tables had been positioned at the outer perimeters of the store so if a group wanted to work in a less-crowded environment, they could pick up their tools and move away.
Ellery spotted Hope as she entered and rushed to her. “I’m so glad you made it.” She petted Melody’s and Todd’s heads. “Hello, children. Are you ready to have a good time?”
They nodded.
Ellery put her hands on her thighs so she could meet them at eye level. “By the way, Melody, a little birdie told me you might want sugar-free candies in case you have the urge to splurge. Here you go.” She pulled a sandwich-style bag from the pocket of her apron. “The sugar-free spice drops are my favorite. And that gingerbread house setup”—she pointed to an array of sides, roofs, and doors as well as a bowl of icing—“has a flag with your name on it because it’s all sugar-free, too.”
“Wow!” Melody’s face lit up. “Thank you so much.”
“Have fun today. May the best house win!”
Hope told the children to pick a spot but to stay where she could see them. She’d join them in a bit. They trotted away as if nothing untoward had happened the day before. Hope said, “Thank you, Ellery. That was so kind of you.”
“It’s the least I could do.”
“Um, where’s Steve?” Hope scanned the attendees.
“I’ve been wondering the same thing. He and Lincoln should have been here by now.” Ellery pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “Aha. He sent me a text message. He has something very important to do. He’ll be . . . Oh my.” Her eyelids fluttered. “He’ll be skipping the event.”
Hope put a hand on Ellery’s arm. “Are you okay?”
Ellery lifted her chin. “Of course. Right as rain. I’m sure there’s a good explanation. It’s just that this is one of Lincoln’s favorite things to do. Steve was supposed to bring him.”
“I could fetch him.”
“No. That’s not necessary. Steve says Lincoln is with him.”
And Gloria, Hope imagined. What were they doing that warranted blowing off his mother’s special event?
Something flickered in Ellery’s eyes. Regret? Peeve? She forced a smile and adjusted the strap of her apron.
Hope said, “Maybe he’ll surprise you and suddenly appear.” She prayed he would.
