The guests devoured the pecan maple French toast casserole Hope had prepared for Saturday morning. Drew arrived as the guests were finishing their coffee and making noises about leaving for the day.
He loaded up on a huge square of the casserole, added several pieces of bacon, and some fruit to his plate, and joined Jake at the table. “How’s it going, big guy?”
Jake smiled with a milk mustache and said, “Good. I’m ready to go to town.”
Hope collected the dirty plates and said, “It’ll be a little while, Jake. I’ve got to get the rooms freshened upstairs before we leave.”
“How about you go check on Mom, and I’ll come and get you when I’m done? I need your help walking the dogs this morning.” Drew wiggled his brows at the boy.
Jake slid out of his seat and raced across the kitchen. Drew lowered his voice and said, “I talked to Mark this morning. He sent a sheet for you to fill out and wants you to forward the photos you kept. You can send them to me, and I’ll get them to him, so there’s no direct contact with you.” He finished his meal and plucked a piece of folded paper from his jacket pocket on the way to the sink.
Hope nodded as she finished loading the dishwasher. “Okay, I’ll do it today.”
“I’ll go rescue Mom and get Jake and the dogs out of your hair.”
Hope finished the rooms and had time for a cup of tea with Dottie while they waited for Drew to return. Dottie was wearing a bit of makeup and her favorite Christmas sweater in honor of the day’s festivities.
They heard the back door open, and Jake came running into the living room. “Are you ready, Mom?” His smile full and his cheeks rosy.
“We’re ready. Let’s go,” she said, jumping from her chair.
Drew loaded his mom and her walker into the SUV, while Hope and Jake got into the backseat. He slipped into a parking spot behind the bakery. He helped his mother navigate the alley and get to the bench Grant had reserved.
The sidewalks were filled with townspeople, busy visiting the shops and stores, collecting cookies. Dottie made sure Jake had a sturdy container with a lid from her stash in the kitchen. He gave her a quick hug and promised to bring her some cookies, as he tugged on Hope’s jacket, urging her to follow him.
Carolers dressed in Victorian costumes circled through the crowd singing the classics. Jake rushed to each shop and began filling his container. Everyone Hope passed greeted her with warm Christmas wishes and a smile. She made Jake slow down at a gift shop. A snow globe caught her eye, and she went to the shelf for a closer look.
Inside was a tiny replica of Silver Falls. She recognized the giant tree on Main Street and the decorated shops along the street, all with tiny lights that were illuminated. Mesmerized, she watched as glittery snow fell all around the perfect town. Nostalgia tugged at her heart, as she listened to the melody of songs she remembered from her childhood. She grimaced when she saw the price tag.
Jake was busy adding to his cookie collection, and charming the clerks in the shop. One of them approached, as Hope turned away from the collection of snow globes. “Those are one of our bestsellers. Aren’t they lovely?” she asked.
“They’re beautiful. Not in my budget at the moment, I’m afraid.”
The cheerful woman lowered her voice and said, “They go on sale the day after Christmas, so check back with us.”
Hope thanked her and steered Jake out of the store. By the time they set out for their return trip to the bakery, Jake’s container was crammed with treats. Hope carried a bag that one of the shops had given him, and it was bursting with cookies too. He skipped ahead of her, delighted with his bounty.
“Now, Jake, you are only allowed three cookies each day. We can put them in the freezer and save them, but you can’t just gobble them down. You’ll get sick.”
“I have to give some of them to Dottie. I promised. I need to share them with Drew, too. Grant already has all the cookies at the bakery, so he doesn’t need any more.”
His kindness warmed her heart. “That’s very nice of you to share. We’ll put the leftovers in a special spot in the freezer, and then you can pick out what you want each day.”
He turned and rushed to her, putting his arms around her. “I love you, Mommy. I love Christmas here.”
It was mid-afternoon when they returned, and Dottie was no longer on the bench outside the bakery. Hope ushered Jake through the door and checked the faces at the tables. No Drew. No Dottie. She held Jake’s hand, and they made their way to the side counter, where Grant was boxing pastries.
He looked up and said, “Hey, guys. How was the cookie run?”
With a huge grin, Jake held up his stash. “Quite lucrative,” Hope said with a laugh.
“Drew took Mom home but said to tell you to wait. He’ll be right back. He’s got a surprise for you two.” As he taped the box shut, he winked. He handed it off to one of his staff and said, “How about a couple of hot chocolates while you wait?”
Not waiting for an answer, he made two cups and set them in front of Hope. “We’ll sit in the corner and wait for Drew. Would you mind holding these?” She handed him the containers of cookies.
“Sure thing. I’ll keep them safe.”
They were still sipping their cocoa when Drew returned. “Is your mom okay?” asked Hope.
He nodded. “She’s fine. Just worn out from all the visiting and activity. She hasn’t been upright for that many hours since she took her fall. She’s going to take a nap, so she’s ready for pizza tonight.”
“Grant said you had a surprise for us.” Jake’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Drew checked his watch. “That I do. Let’s take a walk, and I’ll show you.” He led the way through the crowded bakery and into the crisp air.
He guided them away from the activity and across a few blocks. The glow of colored lights on the gazebo beckoned them to the park. Horses circled the white structure in the middle of the park. Two beautiful steeds stood hooked to a red sleigh, waiting. Festive red ribbons and bells outfitted the shiny chestnut horses.
Jake began to run when they hit the edge of the park. They hurried to keep up with him. Drew shook hands with the man standing near the horses. After chatting for a few moments, Drew turned his attention to the horses. He spoke to them while he scratched them behind the ears. Each of them nudged him with their noses.
The driver approached the sleigh and said, “Hop on in there, young man.”
Drew lifted Jake and stepped inside. He placed the boy in the middle of the red velvet seat and turned to offer Hope his hand. She snuggled on one side of Jake and Drew took the other. The driver gave them a soft red blanket trimmed in a white furry material.
As Hope tucked the heavy blanket around Jake, he whispered, “This is the best day ever.”
The driver took his seat in front of them and prodded the horses to move. As the horses trotted along the cobblestone pathway, the clip-clop of their hooves and the jingle of their bells provided a relaxing rhythm. They followed a circuitous route as the driver meandered through the residential blocks with the most decorated homes.
Jake kept gasping as he pointed out his favorites, which changed each time he saw a new house. Dusk was settling over Silver Falls, and the view as they approached Main Street was breathtaking. The snowy mountain dotted with trees loomed above the picturesque town, decked out in holiday splendor.
Fat lazy flakes of snow began to fall, as the horses traveled down the street at a slow pace. Passersby waved and greeted them. Hope heard many of them call out “Hey, Doc,” as they made their way down the street. When they neared the giant tree in the middle of the street, the driver paused. Hope dug for her phone and took several photos. With the extra height of the sleigh, she captured the colorful tree against the backdrop of the mountain without any people.
“It looks just like that snow globe you liked in the store today, Mommy.”
Hope nodded as she finished taking the pictures. “It does. It’s perfect.”
Drew asked the driver to stop again when they went past the tree and offered to take Hope and Drew’s photo with the tree behind them. She handed him her phone, and he captured several of the two of them. When he sat down, Jake said, “Take one of all of us now.”
Drew obliged and took some with his phone and Hope’s, Jake grinning from ear to ear in all of them. The driver turned at the end of the street and took them around the corner to Silver Falls City Hall. Garland and lights were draped over the entrance. Thousands of lights decorated the bushes and trees surrounding the building and in the small square behind it where a fountain spouted.
“Wow, it’s beautiful,” said Hope. She took several more photos before the driver urged the horses down the road.
“It’s getting cold,” said Hope, snuggling closer to her son and pulling the blanket up to her chin.
Drew inched closer to Jake and reached his arm around the back of both of them, holding onto Hope’s shoulder. “We’ll be back soon. I don’t want you getting sick again.”
Hope rested her head against his arm, happier than she had felt in a long time. The snow was getting heavier. Jake squealed with excitement when Drew mentioned building a snowman tomorrow.
Hope shut her eyes and listened to the cadence of the horses’ hooves, the tinkle of the bells, and the fervor of her son’s chatter about snowmen, dogs, cookies, and pizza. As she listened, she realized Drew was just as excited as Jake. She hadn’t been this happy in a long time.
When they arrived with the pizzas, Grant was already home. He and Dottie were in the living room visiting, while the dogs rested in front of the fire. “We were getting worried about you with all this snow,” said Dottie.
“Not to worry. The pizza place was jammed tonight. Everybody in town had the same idea, I guess.” He carried the boxes to the kitchen.
Hope collected their boots and coats and put them in the mud room, before getting plates and napkins organized. As Jake was about to stuff another piece of pizza into his mouth, he drew a sharp breath. “My cookies,” he yelled.
Grant chuckled and held up his hands. “Don’t worry. I brought them home.” He pointed at the kitchen. “They’re on the counter by the sink.”
At the relief of a near catastrophe, Jake let out a long breath. “Oh, thank goodness. I just remembered them.”
The adults laughed at the boy’s intense reaction. Drew turned to him and said, “Tell Dottie about our visit to the park.”
With dramatic facial expressions and even a reenactment of the horses trotting, he gave her a detailed description of their sleigh ride. He was on the edge of hysteria when Hope dragged him to the bedroom to get his pajamas.
He was asleep in her bed before she closed the door. She joined the others in the kitchen. “Well, he dropped like a heavy rock in the lake. I think he wore himself out today.”
While Drew did the dishes, she put together the egg bake for tomorrow’s breakfast. Grant wished them a good night and left, promising to visit Sunday afternoon and bring dinner.
Dottie watched as Hope followed her recipe. “Your breakfast this morning was wonderful, Hope. You’re doing such a fine job. I can’t imagine what I would do without you.”
Hope wrapped the baking dish in foil and stuck it in the fridge. “I’m the one who couldn’t survive without you.” She glanced at Drew. “All of you. I don’t know what we would have done without your generosity.”
Dottie strained to get up from the chair. “I’m a firm believer in all things happening for a reason. People come into our lives for a purpose.” She set off with her walker. “I’m tired and heading to bed. Good night you two.”
Drew offered to help her, but she waved him back into the kitchen. “I’ll shout if I need help.”
As she finished the dishes from her breakfast prep, Hope wished Dottie a good night. She spied Jake’s cookies and separated them into smaller groups for the freezer. As she packaged them, she popped a snowball cookie between her teeth.
Drew walked by and saw it hanging out of her mouth. “Jake told me you don’t like him to eat cookies like an animal.”
She hadn’t seen him and startled at his voice. She shoved the powdered sugar ball into her mouth. “Cookie? What cookie?” Her voice muffled, she began to laugh.
Drew brushed his fingers over her lips. He showed her the white dust on the tips. “Evidence, my friend.”
She laughed and said, “Can you be bribed not to tell him?”
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Depends. What’s the offer?”
She shrugged. “A cookie?”
He chuckled. “I’m afraid Grant keeps me well supplied with cookies.”
“How about a cup of tea?”
“Deal. Your secret is safe with me.”
She made two cups of tea and brought them to the living room, where Drew was on the floor petting all three dogs. She set his tea on the table nearest him before folding herself into the corner of the couch.
“Thank you for today, Drew.” She watched as the dogs vied for his attention. “The sleigh ride was unforgettable. Jake will cherish the memory of it forever.”
“It was a fun day for me, too. I haven’t done that in years. Milt, he’s the driver and owner, always invites me each year. I take care of his horses and other animals. I just never felt like doing it until this year.”
“It was a perfect day.”
Sunday morning, Hope crept out of bed early, praying Jake would stay asleep. As she made a cup of tea, she peered out the windows and saw mounds of beautiful snow on the ground and bushes. Jake would be thrilled.
After turning the Christmas tree lights on, she snuggled into the leather chair with her tablet. The morning hours, when it was still dark, and the house was asleep, were her favorite times. Always had been.
She opened her tablet and found Tina’s social media account. She scrolled through the posts. Selfies of her daughter alone and with friends dominated the feed. Tina was having fun and enjoying college. No mention of her family or the drama surrounding it.
Hope hated the idea of her daughter’s posts being so public. At the same time, she was thankful her daughter was too naïve or couldn’t be bothered to lock down her account and keep things private. It was her only window into her daughter’s existence.
The desire to send Tina a note or a message was overwhelming, but she resisted. She couldn’t risk the chance of Brian finding her and knew Tina’s loyalties didn’t lie with her.
After reading the news and touching her finger to her daughter’s face one more time, she began prepping for breakfast. Once she got the egg dish baking, she hurried back to the bedroom for a quick shower and changed into warm clothes. Jake was still asleep when she tiptoed down the hallway.
The first guests began milling around in search of coffee before eight o’clock. While she chatted with the guests, she made waffles to go with the egg bake. The delicious aroma coming from the kitchen enticed the rest of the guests to the dining room.
Jake, trailed by Scout, wandered into the kitchen as the others were eating. He got his first glimpse of snow at the backdoor. “Mommy, Mommy. Look, look. Lots of snow. We have to call Drew.”
She fixed Jake a plate and hoisted him into a chair at the counter. “He’ll be here soon. I’m sure he noticed the snow at his house.”
Jake shoveled in his breakfast and took off to get changed. While he was getting ready, Drew and his dogs arrived. He confined them, along with Scout, to the mudroom and came into the kitchen.
“I see my timing is impeccable.” He grinned and took the warm waffle Hope offered, adding a generous helping of the egg and sausage casserole. Noticing the remnants of Jake’s breakfast, he added, “I’m sure Jake is stoked about the snow.”
Hope smiled. “Yes, he’s getting ready right now. He wanted to call you.”
The sound of Dottie’s walker clicking on the hardwood announced her entrance to the kitchen. Hope fixed her a plate and Drew helped her into Jake’s abandoned chair. “The snow is beautiful this morning,” she said, wrapping her hands around the warm cup of coffee Drew had fetched.
“I promised Jake we could build snowmen today.” He asked for a second waffle. “I’m going to need extra energy to keep up with that guy today.” Dottie reminded him to retrieve the bin of accessories for the snowmen from her stash of decorations in the closet.
The guests were slow to leave, lingering over coffee and visiting with Dottie. Hope took advantage of the lull in her cleaning activities and watched the snowmen making from the porch.
A sliver of sunlight peeked through the clouded sky, causing the snow in the yard and trees to sparkle like glitter. She laughed at the dogs who romped across the yard, their noses building tunnels and creating soft piles of snow. Drew showed Jake how to roll balls of snow across the lawn to make the huge bodies of the snowmen.
Amid the building, Jake and Drew got in a few snowball fights. Listening to the unabandoned laughter of her son and watching the bond between the two strengthen, Hope wondered how she would ever be able to leave Silver Falls.