Kevin was deep in thought as he navigated the busy town square. Polly had definitely been impressed with what they’d done with Daisy’s. She should have seen it before. He wished now he’d thought to take pictures before they started.
There was no denying the amazing transformation. Even when Daisy was alive it had never looked this good.
As he passed by the Kringle Kitchen, Carol and Joe were handing out cookies to passersby.
“Here you go,” Carol said. “I saved a pretty golden-haired angel cookie for you.”
He snickered, but graciously thanked her. “I appreciate that.” He folded the sheet of wax paper around the cookie and tucked it into his pocket with a smile. There was only one golden-haired angel he was interested in at the moment. That cookie would have to wait.
Nearby, Ezra stood talking to Allie. Everyone was happy to have her back in town. Her outgoing nature and ever-present smile were Evergreen personified.
As Kevin got closer, Allie patted Ezra on the back. “Hang in there, Ezra. It’ll happen next time. It’s a great store.”
Next time?
Ezra slumped as he walked away.
Kevin intercepted Ezra by the pretzel stand around the corner. “Why the long face?”
He could barely talk. “The store. Polly isn’t interested.”
“What?” The statement didn’t even make sense to Kevin. “That’s impossible. I was there. She loved the place. She poured on the compliments.”
“Yeah. No denying that, but she said she had no intention of making an offer. She only came to make Lisa and Oliver job offers back in Boston in a new store.” He looked back at the store, then hung his head. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save it, Daisy.”
Pale and glossy-eyed, he met Kevin’s eyes again. “I shouldn’t have waited so long. I just let too much time slip by before I started to try to sell it.”
“Don’t do that, Ezra. It is what it is. You did your best, and a lot of people pitched in. It was a valiant effort.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound unappreciative.” He mustered a smile. “I’m so grateful and thankful for everything everyone has done. Especially you. There wouldn’t have been a store to stage if you hadn’t done the work to get it back in working order to begin with.” He sighed. “I gotta go. I need a minute to pull myself together. I’ve got a lot of happy, smiling, mayoral duties to take care of here shortly. Excuse me?”
“Of course. Yeah. Sure.”
Kevin stood there dumbfounded. They’d worked so hard to get the store ready to sell. Lisa had been so sure that Polly was interested. He was positive she was blown away by the switcheroo, too. Poor Ezra. Losing the store would be hard. He wished the mayor wasn’t going through this…but if not for Ezra’s awful predicament in the first place, Kevin would’ve never met Lisa.
But what was Lisa going to do now? A job offer in Boston. It rang awfully close to the conversation he’d overheard between her and Oliver that night.
He looked up just as Lisa, Oliver, and Polly came out of Daisy’s Country Store.
His breath caught.
Polly got in her car. As Lisa and Oliver stood there and she slid behind the wheel, Polly said, “The store is lovely. Think about that offer, you two.”
That offer. Ezra had said Polly had only come to offer Oliver and Lisa jobs. He stood there watching, unable to move away. They didn’t say no. Boston would change everything.
“Merry Christmas!” Lisa and Oliver sounded so enthusiastic.
Polly drove off and Oliver clapped his hands together. As soon as she cleared the block, Oliver said, “We’re going to get our own store. Lisa, how many times have we said we wanted that?”
“I know. It’s like a dream being handed to us.”
Kevin’s jaw clamped tight.
“And right there in Boston,” Oliver said.
Lisa grabbed Oliver’s hands. “We’d be idiots not to take it.”
“We would,” Oliver agreed.
Kevin’s heart sank. Boston. He’d heard enough. There was no sense lingering around to talk to her now.
“Merry Christmas, Kevin,” someone called from over toward the gazebo.
Kevin looked in that direction. Thomas stood there with Michelle and David. He lifted his chin. “Merry Christmas, guys.” He turned back toward Oliver and Lisa. They were hugging and celebrating. Oliver lifted Lisa right off the ground, and then they both ran back toward Daisy’s. The sight took his breath.
Through a forced smile, Kevin yelled over the choirs singing to Thomas. “Hey Thomas. I’ve made my decision.”
The choir sang “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” as Kevin gave Thomas the news, and Michelle and David looked on.
They walked down from the gazebo to talk a little easier away from the music.
“This is great news, Kevin.” Thomas shook his hand. “I’ve been waiting so long for someone with your exact experience and qualifications to come along. We’re going to take this company to the next level.”
“Good deal. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Ezra stepped up to them, waiting for his time to get on stage and make his town announcements.
“Your decision does surprise me, though,” Thomas said to Kevin. “Are you sure you don’t want to stick around and work from here in Evergreen?”
“Positive. You can plan on me starting the Monday after the holiday.” He nodded to Ezra. “Everyone have a merry Christmas. I’m going to get a jump on finding a new place to live in Maine.”
“Oh?” Ezra looked confused.
All Kevin wanted to do was get out of there. “Take care,” Kevin said. He wandered through the festival with a heavy heart, and then got into his old tan work truck to head to Dad’s house to pack his stuff, get out of town and leave all of this behind him.
He cruised around the block one last time. He really didn’t care if he never came back to this town again.
As he turned the corner he saw Oliver and Lisa talking with Ezra at the end of the street. They were probably sharing their big news with him.
“Oh, Ezra, I never in a million years expected that to happen. I’m so sorry I got your hopes up,” Lisa said.
“It’s not your fault,” Ezra said. “Don’t give that another thought. I appreciate all you’ve done. That store has never looked so good. I’m going to ask the bank to come look at it and consider giving me some more time based on all the updates. It’s got to be less of a risk for them to carry on their books in the shape it’s in now.”
“That’s great, but there might be one other option.” Lisa looked over at Oliver. They both grinned.
“What?” Ezra pointed at the two of them. “What is going on?”
“Polly did offer us jobs, but we counter-offered. Oliver will be managing one of Polly’s stores in Boston,” Lisa said. “But he’ll be doing that as a contractor, still working under our company.”
“Oh,” Ezra said. “Okay?”
Oliver nodded. “Yes. We’re expanding quickly. A whole new service.”
“Yes we are. Which also means a pretty nice contract for our company,” Lisa said. “One that will give us more money to pursue some of the things that we really want.” She looked over at Oliver, then blurted out, “Which is why we would like to buy Daisy’s.” She raised her hands before he responded. “And we’ll run it just like Daisy did.”
“What?” Ezra paled. “You want to? Yes. Oh, I accept. Yes, that’s amazing.” His eyes teared up. “I didn’t expect this. Are you staying in town?”
“Yes. I will be,” Lisa said. Her whole life seemed to be aligning perfectly. Evergreen. Kevin. And now the store. “I mean, Oliver will be in Boston, of course. Running Polly’s store, but we’ll be helping each other, too. What do you think, Ezra? Do we have a deal?”
“Yes! It’s a deal.” Ezra extended his hand.
She shook it, nearly in tears herself. “Thank you.” She never would have imagined her trip to Evergreen would turn out like this.
Ezra shook on it with Oliver too. “Thank you. Thank you both.”
“Right on,” Oliver said.
Oliver patted Lisa on the back. “Okay. Go find Kevin and tell him.”
Ezra stopped her. “Wait. Kevin didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“He left.” Ezra’s eyes darted around the festival. “I think he’s already gone. He told Thomas he was taking the job in Maine.”
“What? When did he do that?” The sun was beginning to set.
“Just a little while ago,” Ezra said.
Lisa’s chest rose and fell. She looked to Oliver, who only shrugged.
Ezra’s phone sounded. “Oh, gosh. I have to go. Mayor duties call. This has been one crazy day. I couldn’t have been lower an hour ago. Thank you. Thank you, Lisa, for making this all work out. This is fabulous. You’ve made my Christmas.”
“Bye,” she said absentmindedly. “Oliver, why would Kevin have done that?” She’d thought they were in agreement, that they had a plan. She retraced their last discussion in her mind. And the kiss… It just didn’t make sense.
She had to find him. “Oliver. I’m going to go look for him.”
“Go.”
She rushed off. Everywhere she looked there were lights. The whole town was dressed in all its finery for Christmas Eve. Smiling faces, joyful song, twinkle lights and tradition were in full effect. She crossed the town square to Daisy’s, where Michelle and another woman were busy relocating Santa’s Mailbox to the counter where it originally sat for all those years—near the register. Now it could stay there forever. An important part of the fabric of Evergreen’s traditions.
“Merry Christmas Eve, Lisa.” Michelle shifted the mailbox into its place.
“Merry Christmas.”
“Wait. You’re Lisa? I’m Allie,” the smiling brunette said. “Apparently we went to kindergarten together.”
“Yes.” Lisa pointed to Allie. “You wore overalls, and you always talked about puppies.”
“Yes!” Allie pointed to Lisa. “And you. Very good with glue. Always kept a clean work space?”
“That was me.” Lisa laughed. She hadn’t changed much. “That was definitely me. Oh, by the way, I love your truck.”
Allie put another small ribbon on the tabletop Christmas tree near the door. “Everyone loves my truck,” Allie murmured to Michelle with pride. “How are you finding Evergreen, Lisa?”
“Evergreen is…” She let out a breath. “You know, I thought I’d come here for the holiday, and feel this rush of nostalgia, and get it all out of my system. Then I’d just go back to my own little world.”
Allie cocked her head. “But instead?”
Lisa loved this town. That was no exaggeration. “Instead it’s like home all over again.”
“You’re not the first person that’s happened to.” Allie smiled gently. “Believe me.”
Lisa took Kevin’s letter from her pocket.
“Mailing a letter to Santa?” Allie asked.
“Ah, no. Actually, this is not my letter. It’s Kevin’s. Or it was. It was written like twenty-five years ago.”
Lisa handed the letter to Michelle.
Michelle took it and tried to explain its significance to Allie. “We found it when we moved the mailbox. This little letter has given us a whole lot to work with this Christmas.”
“Yeah. Yeah it has,” Lisa said. “It’s kind of been like a guide to selling Daisy’s.”
“Can I read it?” Allie asked.
“Sure.” Michelle handed Allie the letter and she stood there reading it as Michelle and Lisa continued to chat.
“Let’s just hope everything we’re doing works and convinces the buyer to take this place.” Michelle looked worried.
“No. Michelle. Polly already left town. She didn’t stay for the festival. She didn’t make an offer on this place either.” Lisa shook her head. “Do you not know?” She’d only just told Ezra, but somehow, she still wouldn’t have been surprised if the news had already reached them. “Oliver and I bought Daisy’s.”
“Wait. What?” Michelle gave a little scream. “You bought this place?”
“Yes!”
“No way! You did. Oh, my goodness.” She ran all the way to Lisa and hugged her, both of them jumping up and down. “I was so hoping you would buy it!”
“And I did,” Lisa said. “Oliver is going to work for Polly in Boston, but Oliver and I bought this store. Our very first store, and I’m going to stay here and run it.”
“I’m so happy about this,” Michelle said. “And you’re going to stay in Evergreen. This is great.”
“Yeah.”
“I would have really missed you. I’m so glad you’re staying,” she said. “Wait a minute.” Michelle looked confused. “Kevin told Thomas you bought a store in Boston.”
“No.” She clenched her fists. He jumped to conclusions again! “No. Kevin’s got it all wrong. Where is he, anyway? I see his truck out there, and I just… Oh, wait, no.” She pointed to Allie. “That’s your truck.”
“Yep.” Allie looked up from reading the letter. “Can I just butt in to say I don’t think this is Kevin’s letter?”
“What? Why would you say that? It’s dated. And the initials are K and M,” Lisa said.
“Yeah, but all the H’s are missing,” Allie said. “And Henry always went by his middle name. His first name is Kevin, too.”
“What?”
Allie nodded. “I think maybe you guys might be looking at the wrong Miller.”
“That makes perfect sense.” Kevin had never actually told her he’d written the letter. And he hadn’t wanted to talk to his father about it.
“Oliver has my car,” she told Allie. “Could you give me a ride? I’ve got to find Kevin.”
Allie leapt into action. “I’ll do you one better.” She tossed her keys in the air and Lisa caught them. “Take my truck.”
Lisa smiled, pleased to get the chance to drive it. “Thank you.” She didn’t waste another second, racing out to the red truck parked in front of the store.
She hurdled the curb and jumped into the front seat. “Please start.” She turned the key and it fired right up. She patted the steering wheel. “Thank goodness.” She hoped she remembered the way to Henry’s Tree Lot.