Savannah glanced at the clock on her computer, as four forty-five flashed a bright green. Her afternoon was busier than she’d expected, and before she knew it, she was pulling out her antique, silver compact, a birthday present from her son, and dabbing on Midnight Mauve, her favorite lipstick, which immediately pinked up her pale face. She spritzed on some perfume, grabbed her tote, and was on the elevator and out the building door walking towards the Yellow Pumpkin Cafe, located just around the block from her office. Savannah walked quickly in her wedges, as she didn’t change into her usual running shoes, which were pretty shabby-looking. Work shoes would make a much more favorable impression, although the tote she carried was a worn cotton bag she’d picked up in Hilton Head on a girls’ weekend many summers ago. The bag was sentimental and every time she carried it, which was most days, she could still smell the ocean salt and sand. She had intended on going back someday, but her budget was tight, especially with The Blue Spruce Inn vacation quickly approaching, but maybe in the next year or two. Savannah had a lot of maybe next year moments these past few years, and she was tired of it. No more maybe next years. Her new mantra was now or never, and her Blue Spruce Inn Christmas was definitely a now and would not be a never. She now applied this mantra to meeting this Mr. Buck and seeing what his ‘being part of Howardson’s Christmas tradition’ meant. No harm done in simply chatting. Savannah knew it was time to start to open up and to not shut life down anymore. She had done that for too long, and though Savannah couldn’t imagine what Mr. Buck had in mind—maybe some freelance administrative work, or perhaps playing a silly little elf—it was time to start taking chances again.
Well, I’m about to find out, she thought as she saw the handsome Matthew Buck give her a wave from his window seat. She waved back and headed into The Yellow Pumpkin and to a date with destiny.
“I hope you don’t mind that I’ve gone ahead and ordered, but The Yellow Pumpkin has the best hot chocolate in town,” said Matthew as a teenage girl arrived at the table just as Savannah took off her coat. The waitress put down two extra-large mugs of steaming cocoa along with a dish of freshly whipped cream, and small bowls of crushed peppermint candies, sprinkles, and maraschino cherries.
“Enjoy,” she smiled and walked away.
“Exactly what I was going to order,” Savannah said, taking a seat. The delectable chocolate aroma immediately put her at ease, and she spooned a dollop of pure white cream into her cup and took a sip.
“Best I’ve ever tasted, that’s for sure.”
Savannah watched as Matthew spooned two fluffy white dollops of whipped cream into his cup and topped his with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint.
“Very close to my mom’s,” he said, the whipped cream capping his nose. He took a napkin and brushed it from his face. ”Happens all the time,” he laughed.
Savannah smiled and took another sip, surveying the man sitting opposite her. He was attractive enough with immaculately groomed salt and pepper hair wavy strands just touching his shirt collar, and his blue-gray sea-glass eyes twinkled as he smiled. She felt the charm ooze from him as he heaped more whipped cream into his cup.
“So, what’s this opportunity you have for me, Mr. Buck? Extra seasonal help?”
Matthew smiled. ”You could say that,” he said, stirring the peppermint sprinkles into the hot chocolate.
The sparkling eyes now looked straight into her green ones.
“Well, when I saw you, Ms. Brady, I knew immediately you were the person I was looking for to complete The Enchanted Land of Claus, that’s the theme of this year’s Howardson’s Christmas display. All of my staff have been hired, but there was one very important piece missing. Until today. And when I saw you, I knew I had found it.”
Savannah shook her head, puzzled, not quite knowing at all where this was heading.
“First, please call me Savannah. Second, what in the world could I possibly be perfect for? I’m an insurance clerk. does this Enchanted Land of Claus need a policy—anyone under the age of sixteen driving a sleigh without a license?”
“Ah ha! A sense of humor. A bonus.” Matthew laughed, taking another draught from his oversized mug. Savannah felt his look turn more serious and she watched as he rubbed his hands together, as if he was about to make a fantastic proclamation.
“You, I believe, would make the perfect Mrs. Claus.”
Savannah felt her back turn rigid against the booth, sitting upright in astonishment, her head almost hitting the wooden top of the seat. She stared incredulously at the smiling man sitting across the table from her. She wasn’t sure if he was insulting her or complimenting her in some bizarre manner.
"Mrs. Claus? Are you serious? I know I’m a woman of a certain age, but I certainly do not look like the wife of Santa Claus.” Savannah pushed the cup of cocoa away from her and stood up with indignation. ”Thank you for asking, Mr. Buck, but the answer is no. I most certainly would not make the perfect Mrs. Claus.”
Matthew quickly rose from the booth, almost spilling the hot chocolate into his lap. He found himself face to face with Savannah Brady, and he felt her ire extraordinarily apparent. He instinctively searched for the reassuring comfort of his handkerchief.
“Ms. Br— Savannah, please don’t leave. I meant no insult, and I apologize if what I said came off the wrong way. I didn’t mean it to. I know it sounds way out there, but if you just give me a few moments to let me explain. That’s all I ask. And that I buy you another hot chocolate?”
Savannah grabbed her tote bag and looked at Matthew, not knowing if she should dump the remainder of her cocoa over his head and give him a few choice words of her own, but when he rose from the booth Savannah felt herself soften, and her anger slowly diminished. Maybe it was the way his shoulders stooped in defeat when he stood up, easing one hand into his pants pocket. Or that the tone of his voice was endearing and apologetic. Or that she noticed his cheeks turned a bright red when offering to buy her another hot chocolate. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something about his now sheepish demeanor that embarrassed Savannah about her own rude behavior. Savannah, by her own admission, knew she was becoming grumpy, especially during this past year. There had been so much she had to contend with, and hard as she tried to keep her emotions in check, sometimes she couldn’t, and the lid blew off her kettle. This was one of those times she knew she had to put the lid back on and simmer down. Mr. Buck meant no insult, and she knew she’d overreacted. After all she was a woman in her early 50’s, and comparing her to Mrs. Claus, who was no spring chicken either, bruised her already fragile ego.
“Well,” she said sitting down at the booth, ”I never pictured myself as the Mrs. Claus type, but what do you have in mind, Mr. Buck?”
“First another hot chocolate,” he said, waving the waitress back to their table.
“A hot chocolate bribery will get me every time. I’ll listen with a more open mind and a mugful of delicious hot chocolate. With extra whipped cream of course.”
Savannah smiled as the waitress took the order and quickly returned with two more piping hot mugs of cocoa. She spooned the cloud-like whipped cream into her cup and this time decided to help herself to crushed peppermint.
“Although I still cannot imagine me as Mrs. Claus.” She sipped the hot chocolate. ”Oh, the crushed peppermint really adds that…”
“Extra Christmasness?” Matthew laughed. ”It’s subtle, but definitely makes it extra special.” Savannah liked the sound of his laugh and settled in to hear Matthew Buck present his proposal on why he believed Savannah Brady was the perfect Mrs. Claus.