Wow, the scenery is so beautiful, she thought as Jake’s truck rolled out of town into the pristine countryside. The two-lane rural road took them past snow-laden farms, woods, and pastures. They rolled past a snaking rushing river with foaming waters. Ally imagined it had to be brutally cold. Jake was silent most of the ride, letting his gabby niece provide the entertainment. But Ally caught him glancing her way from time to time, and there was no way to keep his jean-covered knees from touching hers. She wondered if he enjoyed the proximity as much as she did.
“Okay,” Jake said at last. “This is us.”
He pulled his truck off the main road and down a snowy path that cut through a thin wintry forest. The ride was bumpy, and Ally felt her coffee jostling in the cup. She put her finger over the little slit in the lid so that the lukewarm liquid wouldn’t spill. The trail soon started arcing upward, pushing her back in the seat, the path rising higher and higher until, some two minutes into the ride, they arrived at a clearing at the top of a steep slope.
“Here we are!” Maddie shouted. As soon as the truck rolled to a stop, the eager girl was out the door, headed to the back to grab the sled. Jake put on the parking brake as Ally slid over into the spot Maddie had just vacated.
“It’s snow time,” he said.
Ally hesitated for a moment before getting out. She wondered about this hill. “Is this a special place?” she asked. “Did you come here with Kate?”
Jake looked at her. “No. Not with Kate. This is where I used to escape after she passed away. I’d come here to think, or, rather, try and not think. Just to get away. Find some solitude. You’re the first woman…” He stopped himself. Ally felt herself flush. First woman you ever brought here? she mentally completed his sentence. Happy to be your first. She pushed open the door and climbed out so he wouldn’t see her pink cheeks. Jake followed her, and they walked to the edge of the hill, looked down at the valley below.
“It’s beautiful,” Ally said.
“Yeah,” Jake said. “It sure is.”
Maddie came trudging over, dragging the sled by the rope. “Can I do a run by myself first?”
“Sure, go for it,” Jake said. Maddie jumped down stomach-first on the sled.
“Ready!” she said. Her uncle Jake planted his foot on the back of the sled and gave it a big push. “Banzai!” Maddie shouted as the sled eased off the top of the run, then arced downward, careening faster and faster down the steep grade. Ally watched as the little girl gathered speed, her joyful squeals fading as she sped down the run.
“Okay,” Jake said. “One last run? Tandem?”
“Sure,” Ally said. “But this time you get in front and I steer.”
They’d been there nearly an hour, and Ally was wet and cold and tired and deliriously happy. She had totally forgotten just how amazingly fun sledding could be. She had managed to impress Jake and Maddie with her ability to ride down surfer-style, standing up and making it all the way down the run without tumbling off.
“Let’s all three go,” Maddie said. “I’ll go in front, Uncle Jake can be in the middle, and Ally can steer.” Ally looked at Jake.
“Sounds good to me,” she said.
“All right,” Jake said. “Let’s do it.”
Maddie aimed the sled and then hopped on the front, while Jake awkwardly positioned himself in the middle. Finally, Ally stood at the back, her hands on Jake’s shoulders. “Okay,” she said. “I’m going to push off and then jump on. Hopefully, anyway. One…two…three!” Ally struggled and strained and finally got the old Flexible Flyer moving downhill.
With the added weight, the sled rocketed down the steep snowy grade and veered into a snowbank, flipping on its side and sending the three passengers tumbling, laughing into a heap.
“Yes!” Ally said. “Now, that’s what I call a ride!”
Maddie sprang to her feet right away. “Can we go again? Please? One more time?”
Ally and Jake exchanged a look. He was leaning back against her, and she didn’t think he seemed in any hurry to move. She wasn’t exactly squirming to move away from him, either. The stiff and guarded Jake had seemed to vanish into the brisk winter air.
She liked this new version.
…
By the time they loaded the sled back into Jake’s truck some ninety minutes after arriving, Ally had snow and ice in her hair and down her back. Her jeans were wet, her cheeks frosted, and her lips chapped. She hadn’t been sledding since visiting her grandparents in Vermont when she was twelve, and it was the best time she’d had in a long while. Another great stress reliever, she thought. If only Tim could see me now. For some reason, for the first time since she’d found out, she didn’t immediately try to push thoughts of Tim from her head. Could it be she was already on the way to recovery? Ally thought how time felt different in Bethlehem—a day seemed like a week or even longer. It was as if the clock played by different rules in northwest Colorado. You should be miserable, she thought. Why aren’t you?
“Ally, you’re an awesome sledder,” Maddie said on the drive back.
Ally could tell she’d impressed Jake, too. Her surfer-style runs had been a big hit. Maddie couldn’t believe that Ally could make it all the way down the hill without falling off. Ally loved the feel of the breeze through her hair on her standup runs down the snowy grade. But mostly she loved the feel and fun of the three of them bunched up together on the sled, Jake’s body pressed against her, his strong hands on her narrow hips. His touch warmed her and, she had to admit, made her blush a little.
“That was fun,” Ally said as they drew near to town. Maddie slumped down in the seat, lost in her earbuds.
“It was,” Jake said. “Even the falls are fun.”
Ally laughed. “Yeah. That’s true.” She suddenly felt so connected to this man that she wanted to put her hand on his knee or reach out and caress his sun-struck face with the back of her hand. She wanted to lean over and kiss his unshaven grizzled cheek. Get ahold of yourself, Henderson, Ally told herself. You’re acting like a lovestruck schoolgirl.
Ally found Noel in the kitchen with Peggy when she got back to the house. She filled Ally in on the latest news. The eastern seaboard was still shut down, and they had decided to throw out the cookies from the day before and bake a fresh batch for that evening’s contest. Ally admitted she’d tried to get Jake to offer up any hints as to what he’d baked, but he’d been close-lipped.
“I taught Jake everything he knows about baking,” Peggy said. “So, naturally, he’s quite good. He will not be an easy opponent.”
“I feel confident,” Noel said. “Our cranberrilicious cookies rock!”
By the time Ally, Noel, and Peggy finished re-baking and packaging the cookies, it was nearly time to head off to the Great Christmas Cookie Bake-off.
Standing in the foyer with Peggy and Noel, putting on coats and hats and scarves, Ally thought about how incredibly Christmassy she felt. Not only did Peggy’s house look and smell of Christmas from every nook and cranny, but it also had that feeling, as well.
“And we’re off,” Peggy said. “Cookies?”
“Check,” Noel said, holding up the cookie tin.
“Christmas spirit?”
“Check,” Ally said.
“Confidence?” Peggy asked.
“Check!” Ally and Noel said in unison.
Peggy smiled at her houseguests. “All right. Now, let’s go kick some cookie butt.”
Chapter Fourteen
The lighted marquee outside the community center read Welcome to the 27th Annual Great Christmas Cookie Bake-off. Check your diets at the door.
As she moved into the packed hall with Noel and Peggy, Ally could see the tables set up, covered with plastic Christmas red-and-green tablecloths and marked with numbers. Some were already occupied with contestants and their baked entries. They were wearing name badges, chatting one another up; some looked relaxed, others nervous. Ally noticed the stage was set up with a stand microphone and a row of five cha
irs behind it. She noticed a number of airline passengers, some there to watch and others sitting at tables, readying their entries for the judges. She wondered if their hosts had roped them into entering as well.
“Wow,” Noel said. “It smells amazing. I’m going to gain five pounds through my nostrils.”
“All right,” Peggy said. “Let’s get you checked in.” She led them over to a check-in table, again manned by Amelia and Lanie. While Lanie filled out Noel’s tag and Amelia again did Ally’s, the yogi’s curiosity got the best of her.
“So, Amelia and Lanie. How’d you two get stuck doing check-in two nights in a row?”
“Our moms,” the girls said in perfect synchronicity. “They’re on the town social committee.” Instinctively, Ally looked around for Robbie. He was nowhere in sight. “I wrote your table and entry number on the bottom of your nametag,” Amelia said. Her airplane beau Justin walked over, bringing her a cup of red punch.
“Thanks,” Amelia said sweetly, and Ally figured that Robbie’s chances had all but dried up. This guy was doting on her, but, then again, he might be overplaying his hand. After all, Ally knew women. Justin could be making the mistake of pouring it on a smidge too thick with his waiting-on-her-hand-and-foot shtick.
Robbie, on the other hand, while he’d made a series of disastrous moves, at least had an air of mystery about him. His weird behavior could be seen as intriguing. Wishful thinking, Ally thought. She wasn’t sure why she was invested in this shy busboy winning the college girl’s hand. Maybe she was just a sucker for happy endings. Maybe she needed one.
“Look, Ally,” Noel said. “Peggy.”
Ally looked at the stage and saw Peggy conferring with a cluster of what Ally assumed to be judges. She seemed to be giving them their marching orders, getting them ready to make the rounds. Then, Peggy shifted a little, and she could see Doc Baker’s “Judge” badge hanging around his neck. Amelia seemed to read Ally’s mind.
“Mrs. Nelson’s the emcee. She does it every year.”
“Oh, really?” Ally said. “She’s so humble, she never even mentioned it.”
Ally scanned the room. No Jake. His absence was conspicuous, and her roommate was obviously thinking the same thing. “I don’t see Jake,” Noel said. “Think maybe he chickened out?”
Ally laughed. “If he knows what’s good for him.”
“Good evening, everyone,” Peggy said. “And welcome to the 27th Annual Great Christmas Cookie Bake-off.” Peggy paused for a ripple of applause to roll around the room. “I’d like to offer a special welcome to our airplane guests, some of whom have chosen to enter this year’s competition. If one of them is fortunate enough to win, it will be the first time in the history of the bake-off that a non-Bethlehem resident has taken the top prize.”
Ally did another look around the room. She saw Tina and Maddie but still no Jake.
“I think our table’s over here,” Noel said. “C’mon. Let’s go set up.”
Ally and Noel were assigned table number fourteen, with table thirteen occupied by mayor and postal carrier Frank Farmer. His Honor was welcoming and friendly, but not ready to reveal his cookie creation when Noel asked for a sneak peek. Noel laid out a few small table decorations to spice things up, including a homemade sign she’d done on cardboard that read Ally and Noel’s Crazy Cranberrilicious Chocolate Christmas Chunks! Ally noticed that fifteen was the only table yet to be occupied. She had a feeling she knew what that meant.
“Hey, you guys. Looks like I’m in just under the wire.” Jake sauntered up with the cocksure confidence of a back-to-back contest winner. He was carrying a small round Tupperware container. Ally noted that he’d also cleaned up a bit. He had on a dark blue dress jacket over a white Oxford shirt. His hair was slicked back, and he smelled of Polo. Not too shabby, she thought. Not too shabby at all. While Ally and Noel’s table was cutely decorated with a mini-tree, pine cones, and sprigs of holly, Jake’s was bare. He just had his cookie tin and a handwritten sign on a yellow sticky note. “Jake’s Famous Christmas Cookies.”
“Wow,” Ally said with a smirking glance at Noel. “You really went all out, table fifteen.”
“Yeah,” Noel said. “And such a creative cookie name.”
Jake smiled. “I’ve found that what judges are really looking for is taste. So, I don’t waste my time trying to distract them.”
“Hmmm,” Ally said. “It seems somebody’s now gone from overconfident to seriously cocky.”
“Yep,” Noel said. “My grandmother used to say ‘overconfidence will drown you in a sea of reality.’”
“Well, I guess we’ll soon see,” Jake said. “Maybe I should have brought a life preserver.”
“Or at least a floaty,” Ally said.
A burst of shrill microphone feedback brought their attention back to the stage, where Peggy waited for silence. “Before our judges fan out to taste the wonderful cookies you’ve created this year, I’d like to introduce them.” The judges assembled in a straight line as Peggy asked them to step forward one by one when she announced their names.
Dr. Tom Baker, the first one in line, was dressed in an outrageous green sweater with a Santa head on the front. The beloved Doc Baker got a huge ovation when he stepped forward to take his bow. Libby, of Charlie’s Diner fame, was the second judge to step forward, followed by her cohort, the lovestruck busboy Robbie. Then came George, the widowed school teacher who’d taken a shine to temporary waitress Ally. Peggy finished with, “and, our special guest judge this year, Captain Karen Kendall, pilot of Flight 1225!” Ally clapped as her pilot took a bow. She’d heard Captain Kendall was staying with the editor of The Bethlehem Bugle and his wife.
“All right,” Peggy said once the panel had been properly introduced, “judges are now free to circulate. Happy tasting!” An excited hum rolled through the crowd as the five judges left the stage and spread out among the entries. Ally noticed they each had a checkboard with a pen attached by a string.
“They score you on originality and, of course, taste,” Jake said.
“Well, you’d better hope your cookie tastes really good,” Noel said to Jake. “’Cause ours are awesome. Best I’ve ever tasted.” Ally winked at Jake and crossed her arms as if to say “take that.”
“Well, if there was a ribbon for confidence,” Jake said with a smile, “you’d definitely take home the blue.” A low, mellow version of “The Christmas Song” played over the speakers as the judges roamed, tasted toothpick cookie samples, and then marked their boards while they chewed.
Judge Robbie made a beeline for his boss’s table. “Hey Jake.”
“How are you, Robbie?”
Robbie stepped in close for a whisper as Ally eavesdropped. “Amelia’s here with whatshisname.”
“Saw that,” Jake said. “You’re mighty brave to show up.”
“I tried to skip out,” Robbie said, “but your mother wouldn’t let me off the hook.” Robbie took a toothpick from a paper cup on Jake’s table and poked a cookie sample. Ally and Noel exchanged a look as Robbie popped Jake’s cookie in his mouth. The young judge closed his eyes and savored it as if he were tasting a vintage fine wine. Ally, Jake, and Noel eagerly awaited his verdict. “Boss, I have a dentist’s appointment tomorrow,” Robbie said. “Mind if I come in late?”
“No problem at all,” Jake said. “Take as long as you need. Take the whole day, if you like.”
“Thanks, Jake.”
“Hey, wait a second,” Ally said. “Now, that doesn’t seem very fair. Does it, Noel?”
“Not at all fair,” Noel echoed.
Jake looked over at Ally and Noel as Robbie marked his checkboard. “What do you mean?” Ally could see the sparkle in his blue eyes.
“Your employee’s a judge,” Ally said. “Seems like a conflict of interest to me.”
“Yeah,” Noel echoed again, “a conflict of interest.”
“What are you suggesting?” Jake asked.
“You know exactly what we’re suggesti
ng,” Ally said.
“Don’t worry,” Jake said with a grin, “you’ll get a fair shake.”
“Well, I guess that remains to be seen,” Ally said.
“Yeah, remains to be seen,” Noel said.
Robbie finished marking his judge’s checkboard and stepped over to Ally and Noel’s booth. “Hello judge,” Noel said. “Would you like to sample our Crazy Cranberrilicious Chocolate Christmas Chunks?”
Robbie shrugged. “That’s why I’m here.”
“Here,” Ally said, “you need to cleanse your palate first. Get that inferior cookie taste out of your mouth.” She shot a look at Jake. He smiled and shook his head.
Ally handed judge Robbie one of their tiny sample cups of milk. Robbie downed it, crumpled the cup, and tossed it in the trash bin. He took one of Ally and Noel’s Christmas green toothpicks and speared a Cranberrilicious cookie sample. Ally felt Noel lean into her, and, just before Robbie put the cookie in his mouth, cooed “Ooo!” Robbie stopped and looked at her. “My baby girl just kicked. Here, feel.” Noel took Robbie’s free hand and placed it on her pregnant belly. “Don’t be shy.” Ally shot a “take that” look at Jake as the teenager felt a baby kick for the first time.
“That’s so cool!” he said. Instinctively, Ally glanced over toward the check-in table. Justin was standing beside Amelia, talking her ear off, but the pretty college girl didn’t seem to be paying him any attention. Her eyes were locked on Robbie, whose hand was still pressed against Noel’s pregnant belly as if he was afraid to take it away. Ally turned to point it out to Jake, but she could tell he’d seen it, too. They shared a furtive smile.
…
It took nearly an hour for the five judges to cycle through the twenty-plus entrants. Ally thought it was wise that they only took small bites, or they might all end up at Doc Baker’s—Doc Baker included. Ally thought it was so much fun teasing Jake and watching Noel turn on her charm and demonstrate master sales skills Ally had no idea she possessed. Noel went back to the well judge after judge, trying out her baby-feeling scheme, much to Jake’s amusement. Peggy stopped by at one point to see how things were going. She leaned in and whispered, “Your cookie is the talk of the bake-off.”
The Christmas Layover Page 14