The Christmas Cookie House: A Sweet Holiday Romance (Christmas House Romances)

by Jennifer Griffith

  “I have a feeling it’s extremely valuable. And if it is, I’ll sell it … so that I can stay.”

  Stay. The most beautiful syllable in the universe.

  Jay

  “Whoa, whoa. Be careful there.” Jay rushed down the front steps of the Layton Mansion to grab two of the three trays Leela balanced in her arms. Each was piled high with cellophane and ribbon in dangerous-looking tufts. “Did you bake all these?”

  Inside each transparent, crinkly bag lay a dozen perfectly round replicas of the cookies Leela had bewitched him with three weeks ago. Jay’s mouth watered.

  “They’re still warm,” she said. “Some are really warm. I hope they don’t melt the cellophane.”

  “You may have wrapped them up, but I can still smell the ginger and cloves through the bags.” The scent of the cookies infused all his senses.

  “Good. And yes, I baked them, but Emily helped me.”

  Jay hadn’t helped bake like he’d planned. Instead, he’d first been swamped with cutting ties with Foster & Cody. Then there were the final preparations inside the house and stringing ten thousand twinkle lights in the ballroom for the Holiday Ball. Add to that, his negotiation meetings with Overson and Harrison.

  The future-maker men.

  He couldn’t wait to spring the news on Leela. But first she needed to bask in the transformation they’d accomplished in the house for this event, to take in its full effect.

  “Emily will be here in a minute. Wow.” Leela stepped through the front entrance, and Jay kept an eye on her face. “The room looks even better with the fire lit and glowing.”

  Just like her eyes. Mission accomplished.

  Across the fireplace mantel were draped evergreen garlands and ribbons, each dripping with shiny vintage decorations that he and Leela had extracted from the loft in the shed. They’d also found candles, lanterns, old musical instruments, and a top hat that looked as if could have been worn by Charles Dickens himself.

  “No trace of Rudolph or Misfit Toys here.”

  Under the direction of Leela’s masterminding, stepping into the Layton Mansion was like stepping back to Victorian times.

  Except with a much wider variety of cookies.

  There were peanut butter blossoms with a chocolate kiss on top; lemon bars; chocolate crinkles with the powdered sugar coating; pumpkin drop cookies with chocolate chips and walnuts; pressed butter cookies in the shapes of holly leaves; scottish shortbread with decorative pinpricks; classic chocolate chip; and, for Jay, the crowning cookie: gingersnaps.

  “There’s no room for them all.” Leela looked around, a look of dismay in her brows. Cookies already covered every available surface. He and Leela and a small army of Ladies’ Auxiliary women had spent half the night placing everything just so. “I should have budgeted space for the gingersnaps.”

  “Check out this table I reserved just for your amazing cookies.” Jay pointed to a table nestled to the side of the Christmas tree. Its ornate legs and finely carved apron fit the décor of the day.

  “It’s gorgeous.” Leela ran a hand over the inlay surface, her tiny gasp sending a thrill up his spine.

  “I found it behind a stack of boxes this morning.” He slid it to a more prominent place in the room.

  “It looks just like the banister.”

  Sure enough, she was right. It did match. The table looked to have been fashioned by the same craftsman as the rest of the house. This house was the gift that just kept on giving.

  It gave me Leela.

  “This table will host the first wave of gingersnaps.” Jay held out the tray for her to offload her baked wares. “I know they’ll sell.”

  “If I tell them it’s my mom’s recipe, they will.” Leela unwound her scarf and took off her jacket. Jay took it to the coat closet. It looked natural hanging there, like it belonged.

  “So, you went back up in the attic this morning? Weren’t you tired after all the work I put you to?” Leela arranged her cellophane and ribbons just so.

  “I was looking to see if the Fabergé egg we found had any twins up there.” They’d had it appraised, and they learned that Jay was the owner of a true, imperial egg that had been missing from public knowledge for fifty years. “I heard a rumor of a second one.”

  “Was there?” Leela’s eyes grew wider than the egg’s circumference. “That’s too much to imagine.”

  “No, no second egg. But I do have good news.” This was the moment he’d been waiting for. He’d just solidified details of the deal this morning. He’d been waiting to see Leela in person to spring it on her—and watch how she’d take the announcement. “Dr. Harrison is willing to take the Fabergé egg in exchange for the buying price of his veterinary practice.”

  “Seriously?” Leela ran and threw herself into his arms, nearly knocking him backward. He lifted her up and swung her around, barely missing a cookie display. “He’s trading it to you? For the egg?”

  “More or less. We’re still ironing out his exit plan. He’s not ready to retire just yet.”

  Leela shook her head, her eyes bright and blinking. “That’s amazing. But wait a minute. Isn’t the business still worth much more than the egg?”

  He set her down, and they laced fingers together. “Probably. I don’t know.” So much depended on auctions. “The fact is, Dr. Harrison loves them with an obsession.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, apparently, he had a Russian ancestor, and now that he’s a veterinarian for farm animals—it makes the egg a perfect crossroads as a collectible. He gets what he values—and so do I.”

  Leela’s eyes shone. “What do you value, Jay?”

  Jay enfolded her again. Jay looked around the Layton Mansion. Its value had certainly risen in his own eyes since he’d first taken possession of it. Not only the value he’d added by remodeling it, but the value Leela added by loving it—and by showing him a vision of what it could be like.

  Also, the scent of cookies didn’t hurt.

  “Me? What do I value? The house. This place. And the people who love it as much as I do.”

  “Jay, this is just so—Oh, my goodness!” Leela looked at the pendulum clock on the mantel. “The Cookie House opens its doors in fewer than five minutes!”

  What had she been going to say? It didn’t matter. Jay had a feeling there would be ample time to explore this topic of conversation in days to come. Maybe even tonight when she was his date for the Holiday Ball.

  She was going to love what he’d done with the ballroom.

  “Five minutes? Good. I’m starved.” Jay tugged at the ribbon on a bag and began to reach inside. “I’ll pay for these cookies as soon as the cash box is here, but I can’t wait another second. The siren song of the molasses is luring me toward the rocks.”

  “Jay! Shouldn’t you wait?”

  “What for? I’ve been waiting.” For all of this. For too many years. He took his first sugar-crystal-coated bite. “Mmm. You are a goddess in the kitchen.” And in the attic, as well as on a loveseat in front of a fire.

  Leela’s sweetness had him addicted.

  A car’s engine sounded out front, and several Ladies’ Auxiliary members trouped up the walk, chattering. They gasped when they entered.

  “Oh, Leela Miller! It’s just as beautiful as when your mother first began this event.” Mrs. Imrich came and put an arm around Leela’s shoulders. “She would be so proud. I’m sure she’s with you here today.”

  Mrs. Philbert humphed. “Much classier than all those stupid cartoon reindeer we’ve had the last few years.” She pulled some money out of her purse. “Now, I’ll take three plates of Freesia’s gingersnaps.”

  Leela

  Within minutes of the ladies’ arrival, a string of cookie-hungry shoppers lined the stairways, the hallways, the kitchen, and all three floors. Some had brought shopping baskets and were already filling them to the brim.

  “I haven’t made neighbor gifts for years. I just use cookies from the Cookie House.” The first sh
opper handed Leela a wad of cash. “But I always save two bags of these for myself.” She held two bags of gingersnaps to her heart. “I miss your mother, Leela. It’s so good you could fill her shoes.”

  A pang went through Leela, and her eyes prickled. “No one could fill Mom’s shoes. But I can bake her cookies.”

  “She’s in your heart, honey.”

  The day went on, and tray after tray of cookies made their way out the door. The money in the till had to be taken to the bank twice, for safe-keeping, due to the staggering amount.

  “I swear, there are five times as many people buying cookies this year compared to last year.” Emily plopped two plates of lemon bars onto the sale table where Leela took a turn toward the end of the sale day. “I think it’s because they wanted to peek inside the Layton Mansion. Just like you. Remember when you broke the house that first night you met Jay?” She strung Jay’s name out to several syllables, batting her eyelashes. “I know you’re in love with Jay.” Again with the extra-long Jay.

  Of course, Jay walked up at that second. “Do I hear my name?”

  Impeccable timing. “Emily just reminded me I never repaired the wood slat from the window frame I broke the night we met. I still plan to pay for that.”

  “I already took payment.” He wiped a few dark brown crumbs off the front of the dark red Henley shirt that emphasized his build. “In cookies.”

  Emily grinned. “She only started making good cookies once she met you, you know.” Her snicker echoed off the high ceiling. “I’m excited to see you two at the Holiday Ball in a few hours. Leela, you’re going to love my dress, and I can’t wait to see yours! With you in Jay’s arms.” She took her lemon bars and sashayed, as if already dancing at the Holiday Ball. “At least I’ll try to notice you two, even though I’ll be swooning over Aiden Ryerson. Don’t forget you’re going to do my hair, Leela.” She spun once before leaving the room.

  The next woman in line winked. “Forgive me for eavesdropping, but I must say, you two will be the prettiest couple at the prettiest Holiday Ball this town has ever seen. I peeked into the ballroom—and it’s heaven. You’ve outdone even your mother’s highest aspirations, Leela. We’re all so impressed with what you’ve done. And she would be, too. And I can tell this young man is impressed as well. He’s got smitten written all over his face.”

  Leela glanced up at him, and he didn’t look the least bit shy about the accusation. He responded with that dangerously handsome grin, and then he melted into the crowd while Leela helped the customers in the line.

  It was nice just knowing he was around supporting her.

  When the traffic at her cash box let up, he reappeared. “I’ve been over at your house.”

  “My house?”

  “I thought your dad would like to see your work.”

  “Dad!” Leela shut her cash box. “He’s coming? Here?” She stood up. She had to help him. The snow, the ice—he could slip, and—

  “He’s sitting near the fire in the parlor, acting a hundred percent at home. I took him around to see the remodeling I’d done.”

  “He was okay walking in the snow?”

  “He needed a little help.”

  Which probably meant a lot of help. “Oh, Jay. Thank you for bringing him.” What an incredibly thoughtful gesture. “I’m sure he loves what you’ve done with the place.”

  “In his own way, he let me know.”

  Dad could definitely do that. “Thank you.” Leela went up on tiptoe and kissed Jay’s cheek. A smattering of stubble pricked against her upper lip. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  “Ah! I saw that!” Emily came up, sniggering. “Save it for after the Holiday Ball, guys. Kiss under the mistletoe at midnight like you’re supposed to.” She made kissing sounds and mashed her hand against her mouth. “At least that’s what I’m going to do with Aiden Ryerson.”

  Burt Basingstoke roared up. “Oh, no, you’re not.” He took Emily’s elbow and guided her out the front door.

  Time would prove whether father or daughter was correct.

  More cookie sales followed, and Jay helped Dad get home after Leela sat with him a few minutes by the fire. He seemed so at ease. It was comforting.

  Too bad Jay’s mom hadn’t come to see today’s beautiful event. Maybe someday.

  The final plate of cookies sold, and the clock struck four. Jay shut the front door. “Cookie sales for the Christmas Cookie House are officially completed.”

  “Everyone gather in the kitchen,” Leela called up the stairs and down the hallways to the remaining volunteers. A scant half-dozen plates of cookies remained—rice crispy bars, coffee-flavored cookies, peanut butter blossoms, and a couple of chocolate chip plates. “I have napkins, cups, and milk.”

  “In all our years, we’ve never once come this close to selling out all the cookies.” Mrs. Imrich of the Ladies’ Auxiliary carried a load of empty trays down the stairs from the second floor. “I am amazed, since we had even more bakers than usual. Although I shouldn’t be amazed. The Layton Mansion brought them in. You were right, Leela. This was the perfect place. And thank you, Dr. Wilson. You made our whole year’s work possible, and then some! People loved your house.”

  “You’re welcome.” He pulled Leela to his side, pressing her hip against his own. His warmth soaked through her on this cold third-Tuesday-in-December. “I did it for Leela.”

  The room disappeared, and so did the cookie crumbs and the ladies. It was just Leela and her beating heart and Jay’s admission for a moment.

  He did it for me.

  “Yes, Leela. Of course, we will love to induct Leela into the society at our next meeting. She’s more than proven herself worthy of skipping the one-year probationary period. But be careful, if you continue to succeed on this level, you’ll end up being the president in no time.”

  And supplant Una Mae? “I don’t know. There are some people who really like, you know, being in charge.”

  As if reading Leela’s mind, Mrs. Imrich lowered her voice and said, “Maybe so, but sometimes they charge the rest of us too much with their personalities. I’m supporting you for the new officer election. I hope you’ll accept the nomination.”

  New officer! Even Mom hadn’t aspired to leadership positions in the Ladies’ Auxiliary. She’d quietly served, not put herself in front of everyone, just being the workhorse instead of the show pony, coming up with great fundraising ideas, and making them a reality. “I’ll think about it.”

  Jay stepped up beside Leela. “She may have other commitments.”

  Leela’s head snapped up, and she looked at him. “Oh?”

  “We can discuss them at the Holiday Ball.” Seeing his grin produced that bone-melting quality in Leela again. “Now, don’t we have some rearranging to do here in the Layton Mansion so that the orchestra can fit in this room before the Holiday Ball can begin?”

  Jay

  Strains of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” wafted through the air of Jay’s house. The orchestra played from the nether reaches of the ballroom, but the song filled all of the first floor with the holiday love song. Guests of all ages streamed in through the front doors in wool wraps and their best party gowns and suits. Members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary directed them to the refreshments and the dance floor.

  Other than the decorations, which were complete, Leela wasn’t in charge of this portion of the day, thank goodness. Jay could have her attention all to himself, first on the ballroom floor with the beautiful girl in his arms, and then he intended to just sit quietly with her in front of the fire—with no cookies.

  For now, Jay couldn’t tear his eyes away from the stairway. The banister he’d so diligently sanded, stained, and varnished in the summer finally had a sight worthy of gracing it because the incredible Leela Miller descended the stairs in a long, green velvet gown.

  Her light brown hair flowed around her shoulders in soft curls, and a ruby sparkled on a black ribbon choker at her throat.

  “Jay, you look like a Vi
ctorian gentleman.” Leela glided down like a swan in flight and took his arm. “I think your forebears would be impressed.”

  Jay knew he was impressed. Every inch of Leela was making a serious impression on him right now. “You did it. All of it.”

  “Now, wait a minute. Who helped me unearth the candlesticks in the attic? Who climbed into the rafters of the shed to get down the Victorian Christmas ornaments? Who stood on the ladder and draped garlands from chandelier to chandelier? And those twinkle lights as numerous as the stars in the sky?”

  “That guy wouldn’t have done it but for you.” Jay took her hand, lacing her fingers between his. He took her to the front room where the Christmas tree stood tall and straight, its star on top grazing the plaster of the ceiling. “Is it close to what you envisioned when you were Emily’s age?”

  “It’s much, much better.”

  “Shall we make our entrance into the ballroom?”

  “It’s a little cold.” She shivered as guests streamed in through the front entrance, each bringing in some of the winter night with them. “Can we stand beside the fire? Maybe by the fire in the parlor?”

  Yes, his thoughts were her thoughts, it would seem. He led her through the hallway to the parlor of the back bedroom. “Your dad looked pretty cozy here earlier.”

  “Quite. I talked to him a little while ago at home. He said something like fireplace, and smiled.” They entered the warm room. “A fireplace is something our house definitely lacks. He’d benefit from one, I believe.”

  Well, he could have one here, if things went the way Jay hoped.

  The flame beckoned, warm and glowing orange, the only light in the dim but inviting room. He led her to a loveseat which was placed near the hearth, and sat down beside her.

  “This is nice,” she said. “Can we stay here a bit? We have all night to dance.”

  They had all their lives to dance, if things kept going the way he felt them heading tonight. The Layton Mansion could host their own family Christmas gatherings—for years to come. Leela had first given him a glimpse of that vision on this very loveseat, and since then, it had expanded to a grander, multi-generational saga of happiness, laughter, and beauty.