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Tuesday dawned sunny and bright, and Jessica rose early. The Christmas Festival had already been in full swing for several days and more visitors than usual made their way into her shop. Melody was a welcome addition to Jessica’s staff. Not being tied to the shop the way she had been for the last five years proved to be a positive change in her life. Particularly needed now with the requirements of serving on the board.
Lots of folks had reached out to her about the building of the retirement center on the Green. Many understood her concern and appreciated Jeff Hudson’s company would institute extra precautions to make sure the building met or exceeded code. Others were mad at her for not supporting growth in the community, and still others were glad she worked to protect the Green. It seemed everyone acted like they had a piece of her.
She’d heard no more from John Crowell or Tim Worley, which suited her fine. Besides, now they wanted to celebrate the Christmas season and focus on the Tidbury Christmas Festival, the highlight of the celebration. Working this afternoon selling her apple fritters would be fun, even if exhausting. Jessica appreciated Lori’s offer to help, and after their shift, the whole family would troop over to the Christmas Tree Lighting.
Would Jeff come? He’d said he would, but he must be mad at her for voting against his project even when he went out of the way to hire an extra inspector. She’d wanted to trust him, but she couldn’t bring herself to make that compromise. She couldn’t let go of her five-year crusade. Maybe her family was correct, and the time had come to move past her distrust of Tim Worley and his company. But the slam of guilt that hit her whenever anyone told her to stop her fight suggested otherwise.
Two forks of the same river. Her personal relationship with Jeff. And her crusade against Worley Construction. Couldn’t she have them both? Were they mutually exclusive? The idea of giving up the fight made her want to throw up. Giving up any possibility with Jeff...that made her ill, too. Apparently a crack had appeared in her heart. Would that crack allow love in again?
♦♦♦
STANDING OVER THE FRY pans making apple fritters warmed Jessica’s face and the rest of her, too. Jessica and her daughter both worked two pans and still had trouble keeping up with the demand. The line outside their booth never got any shorter. No sooner than they seemed to catch up when more folks got in the line.
“How are you doing, Mom?” Lori glanced at her.
“Hanging in. Thankful my boots are warm and comfy. Otherwise, my feet would be causing me real grief.” She glanced down at the fuzzy-topped black boots as close to house shoes as possible. “What about this long line?”
“It’s your own fault. Since you skipped making them for the Fall Festival, it’s been a full year. Folks have missed your special apple fritters. “Lori slid a piping hot fritter into a paper napkin and handed it to a man and his daughter. “Be careful. You don’t want to burn your tongue.”
“Well, I’m probably up for doing it every year if I can sign up for a half day booth like this. Here you go, Millie. Enjoy.” She handed a fritter to Millie Melton, pleased the widow had decided to come to the celebration. When Jessica had last visited with her, Millie wasn’t sure she could come.
Kathy threw an around her mother’s shoulders. “That’s great news and will be a big draw for the community. I thought we’d freeze without a small heater in here, but I’m staying warm hanging over these pans.”
“It helps the wind is gentle.”
“Hey, Jessica. You’re doing a box-office business here.” Her friend Sue scooted through the back canvas. “Everyone is thrilled you agreed to make these again. Promise you’ll do them next year?”
Jessica shot her a quick glance flipping one after another of the fritters. “I can do the half day thing, Sue. We should offer this as an option. Maybe more folks would take part if they didn’t think they had to sign up for an entire week or two.”
“Like your idea. More involvement is always better. And a larger variety of crafts, activities, and foods will bring folks back day after day to discover what’s new. I don’t want to keep you from your work. We could have a small riot on our hands.”
Jessica laughed and shook her head.
“Don’t forget the Christmas Tree Lighting at seven.” Sue slipped out the way she’d come.
Finally the little hand spun toward six p.m. Jessica and Lori had cooked almost their last apple fritters, saving a dozen in reserve for the family breakfast.
“Hi there.”
Jessica didn’t have to look up to recognize Jeff’s deep voice. “Hi yourself. Wasn’t sure you’d make it tonight. It’s getting pretty late.” She glanced up, admitting how happy seeing him made her.
“Am I too late for one of those world-famous apple fritters?”
Jessica smiled and popped the last bit of batter in the pan. “I’ll have a fresh one for you in a couple of minutes.”
“Hello, Lori. Have you made many of these?”
Lori raised her eyebrows at her mother in question.
“I’ve lost count.” Jessica shrugged. “We each have two pans and fry three of the tasty morsels at a time, and it takes right at five minutes from the moment they hit the oil. My mind boggles at the math. Let’s say it’s been a bunch.” She focused on the people in line. “I’m sorry. We’re shutting down now. We only have enough for the next two in line. Thanks for stopping by. I think you can find frosted sugar cookies two booths over.”
All but the two people behind Jeff nodded and moved on. Quickly, Lori handed out her last fritters. “Enjoy.” She smiled and waved. “Whew. I’ll start cleaning up, Mom. We’re supposed to meet the rest of the family at six forty-five to find a good spot for the Christmas Tree Lighting.”
“Can I tag along?” Jeff shifted from one foot to the other and fiddled with the plaid scarf at his neck.
“Of course. Here you go.” She handed him the fritter in a napkin. “Remember you better blow on it, or you’ll burn your tongue.”
Jeff juggled the pastry in his hands. “Wow, it is hot, but it’s also light and fluffy and smells great.” He tore off a chunk and popped it in his mouth. His eyes rolled back in his head, and he let out a long sigh, reminding her of other times he’d sighed. Oh my.
“This is sinfully delicious. It’s a good thing you only had one left, or I’d scarf down more than would be good for me.”
“Well, we do have more. We’re saving them for breakfast with the family tomorrow morning.”
“Are you inviting me?” He polished off his apple fritter.
She ducked her head and stuffed supplies into boxes. “If you’d like to come.” She cut a glance at him, and then she went back to the work of packing up.
“Yes, I would. Thanks. Can I help you in there?”
“Wouldn’t hurt. You’d help to ensure we make it to the Christmas Tree Lighting on time.”
Jeff stepped in, and Jessica gave him succinct instructions. Between the three of them they’d boxed up everything in little time and carted it to Jessica’s shop for a temporary resting place before they returned the pans to the church.
“Mom, I’m heading on out to find the fam. I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
“Thanks, Lori.”
Jeff’s hands rested on her shoulders. “How thoughtful of her to scoot off that way.” He took her face in both his hands and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I’ve missed you.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d still be interested after I voted against your project.” Her fingers fiddled with the lapels of his coat.
“You didn’t vote against our project. You voted against Worley Construction.”
“Will it cost you a lot more to add the extra inspector?”
“Yes, it will run up our costs, but it will be worth every penny to prevent him from building a shoddy product. I want to convince people they have a safe, not only a pretty place to live.”
“Thank you, Jeff. That does help me a lot. Let’s go to the Christmas Tree Lighting. It’s quite spectacular.”
In moments, Jessica and Jeff found themselves surrounded by what looked like everyone in Tidbury, plus visitors who’d all gathered on the Green. The twenty-foot Douglas fir stood majestically to the left of the gazebo.
“Mom,” Lori hollered, and they made their way to the front next to the family. Introductions were hastily made during the singing of “Oh Christmas Tree” by the church choir. The twins seemed particularly interested in Jeff.
Jeff kept his arm around her waist and Jessica liked the feel. She only blushed a little at her daughters’ glances and raised eyebrows at each other and at her and Jeff.
Mayor Rudy Lopez used a microphone to ask for everyone’s attention. “Good evening. Is everyone having a wonderful time?” Cheers from the crowd answered his question. “I hope many of you got to eat one of Jessica Allen’s apple fritters. I consider myself lucky to have snagged one. You gotta keep that up every year, Jessica. We’ve missed them.”
Jessica laughed and waved in acknowledgment.
“You’re famous.” Jeff whispered in her ear sending lovely tingles down her side.
“Okay, let’s get this started.” Rudy’s deep voice bellowed through the mike.
“I can’t see, Dad.” Bonnie held up her arms asking to be lifted, and Bob did.
“Lift me, too.” Bobby added.
Jeff removed his hand from around her waist and faced Kathy and Bob. “I can boost him up if you don’t mind.”
“Thanks, Jeff.” Bob nodded at him.
“Here you go, pal.” Jeff boosted Bobby up so the boy sat on his shoulders.
“Yay! This is great.”
Jessica put a hand on Jeff’s arm and squeezed her thanks.
“Join me.” Rudy blared through the mic. “Five, four, three, two, one.” The crowd’s voices got louder with each number. Rudy pushed the lever, and the tree burst into glorious colored lights twinkling red, green, yellow, blue, and white to the cheers and claps of the crowd.
“Thanks to the church youth groups for handling the decorations this year. There’s another hour left tonight, and we still have over a week until Christmas. Enjoy the festival which runs through New Year’s. Be safe, stay warm, and buy a lot.” The audience laughed and clapped more. Maybe to help keep their hands warm.
The church choirs separated into two groups and wandered through the crowd singing carols.
Bob and Jeff lowered the twins. “Hold onto someone so you don’t get lost out here,” Kathy cautioned them.
As the crowd thinned out, Jessica’s family focused their attention on her and Jeff. “Would you like to come over to the house for hot chocolate?” Kathy smiled her most welcoming smile. She probably planned to give Jeff the third degree. If they were to have any kind of a longer-term relationship, they had to face this official meet and greet with the family.
Jessica glanced at Jeff, and he smiled at her and spoke for them. “Thanks, Kathy. We’d love to drink a cup of hot chocolate with you.”
At the end of the evening with her family, who all seemed to hit it off with Jeff and he with them, Jessica carried their mugs to the kitchen where she found her older daughter.
“A fun evening, Kathy. Thanks for having us over.”
“Mom.” Kathy stood with her arms crossed over her chest.
“What is it?” Jessica had thought the evening went great. What had she missed?”
“Mom, I like him. He’s a good guy. If you love him, we’re all okay with that. We want you to be happy.”
Jessica wiped at pools of moisture in her eyes, stopping them from trickling down her face. She swallowed several times to speak around the lump in her throat. “Thank you. That means a lot. I’m not sure how he feels.”
Kathy huffed a short chuckle. “Well, I am. All you have to notice is how he looks at you and how he listens to you. We’d hate for you to move to Concord full time, but bottom line, Mom, we want you to be happy.”
Jessica hugged her older daughter. “Thank you. We’ll see.”
Jeff appeared in the kitchen. “I’ve got your coat.” He helped her into it. “Kathy, your home is beautiful. Thanks for letting me crash the family tradition.”
“You’re more than welcome, Jeff. Come any time.”
After good nights to everyone, Jessica followed Jeff out into the cold night. With the roads cleared, they made the trip in no time, and Jeff parked in front of her store. He helped her out of the car and walked her to the door. After unlocking it and entering, she turned off the security system. She faced him. “Well, uh, did you make a reservation at the inn?”
“Nope. I was kind of hoping I could bunk with you.” His hand eased away from her face a few strands of hair that had come out of her hat. She leaned her face into his palm and kissed it.
“Come upstairs with me. I have plenty of room.” Jessica took him by the hand to go up the stairs, unlocked her door, took off the extra alarm, and reset it and the downstairs one. “Do you want something to drink?”
“I only want you.” He drew her to him and drank from her lips until she had not a breath left in her, and her knees grew weak. Jeff removed his coat and hers, and then he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom where he laid her on the bed. Sitting down beside her, Jeff took her hand and drew it to his lips, kissing each finger and the palm. “In case you can’t tell, I love you, Jessica Allen. I hope you love me, too. But I’m a patient man, and I can wait until you love me.”
Jessica sat up and rested her palms on Jeff’s cheeks. “My kids have urged me not to keep fighting with Worley and to move on with my life. Maybe I’m at a place where I can do that.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I love you, Jeff. I’m not sure what this means for us, but I wanted to tell you what’s in my heart.”
“Let me show you what’s in mine.”