“Your old house is up for sale,” Kate offered.
Martha shook her head. “That Victorian is beautiful. But it’s much too big for just me. It needs a young family to move in and fill the hallways with happy voices. I’m thinking about something much smaller for just me.”
“I’m sure we could find something suitable,” Kate said.
“And if you move back, you’ll have to rejoin the quilting group,” Aunt Penney urged.
Martha’s face lit up. “They’re still around?”
Aunt Penney nodded. “We’d love to have you back.”
Martha kept smiling. “You know you’re making this impossible for me to turn down, don’t you?”
“That’s what I’m hoping,” Aunt Penney said.
Kate sat quietly, listening to the women talk. It was as if they’d been best friends their entire lives. And part of her hoped that if Wes’s mother moved back to town, Kate would get to see him after the holidays. Because after all they’d shared, she just couldn’t imagine him dropping out of her life.
And then she noticed the time. Kate got to her feet and moved to the sink with her dishes. Once they were rinsed off and placed in the dishwasher, she turned to the two women. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have much time for a fitting. I have a meeting with the decorating committee at the community hall at nine.”
“So the idea about the town pitching in is working out?” Aunt Penney asked.
Kate nodded. “Everyone seemed eager to help.”
And then all three of them got busy taking measurements, comparing the online photo to Aunt Penney’s patterns, and deciding what fabrics would work best. The coffee flowed and conversation filled the room. Kate sighed with contentment. Things were working out.
“Look at the time,” Aunt Penney said. “Didn’t you say you had to leave at nine?”
“Is it that late already?” Kate glanced at the red apple-shaped clock hanging above the kitchen sink. “You’re right. I should go.”
“It’s okay,” Aunt Penney said. “Go. We’ve got this.”
“You’re sure?” She felt guilty leaving them with so much to do.
“Oh, yes,” Martha said. “Don’t worry. I’ll help your aunt.”
“Thank you.” Kate beamed at them. “If I can do anything else to help, let me know.”
“I will. But you’d better get going. You don’t want to be late.”
“And don’t worry about your dress,” Penney said. “We’ll come up with something special.”
“Yes, we will,” Martha said.
Kate thanked them profusely and hugged each of them, before walking out the door with her mind whirling. So much was changing, and all of it for the good. This momentum was just what they needed right now. Kate smiled. She had a feeling that everything was going to work out.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Monday morning started with a testy email from Mr. Summers.
This was not the way Wes liked his weeks to begin—especially the week before Christmas. This was the last week the candle company would be in operation before it shut down for the holidays. This was supposed to be the season of Christmas spirit, not of “Bah, humbug.
Wes sat at his desk and scowled at the demanding email from his irate boss. The city seemed so far away after a few weeks in Bayberry. The corporate rush and fuss that required a solid string of coffees from start to finish each day was not the way things got done in Bayberry. The constant pressure to hurry, hurry, hurry felt unfamiliar to him now.
Yesterday, after helping to decorate the community hall for the dance, Wes had spent the remainder of the day working in his makeshift office. This town and the candle company had become so important to him that he wanted to know where things stood as soon as possible.
And then there was Kate. Her whole world was Bayberry. She loved this place and the people who lived here. He couldn’t blame her. This was a very special town.
He’d revised his initial projections with the numbers from the new supplier quotes, but it hadn’t been enough to sway the overall conclusion. In fact, he’d spent Sunday evening trying different scenarios to make the conclusion anything other than what it was: the candle company would need to be sold to a larger entity with the resources to invest in the business.
Wes knew that if a big corporation took over, Bayberry Candles would never be the same. His shoulders drooped under the weight of this knowledge. A corporate parent would outsource jobs, slashing the workforce to a small percentage of what it was now.
Faces of the friendly Bayberry employees flashed in his mind. There weren’t many employment opportunities in this small town. They’d have to pack up their families and move. Their houses wouldn’t sell, because there wouldn’t be anyone to buy them. It would be devastating, like falling dominoes.
But maybe there was another answer. Maybe the buyer didn’t have to be a heartless corporation focused on nothing but the bottom line. What if there was a buyer who valued employees and traditions?
He picked up his phone and called Penney. It was time they went over his findings and discussed the future of the Bayberry Candle Company.
The new dress was amazing.
On Sunday afternoon, she’d been thrilled with what Penney and Martha had accomplished in just one week. Now Christmas Eve was just three days away. She smiled as she thought of the dazzling dress. While the two women had marked it for adjustments, Fred had snagged a sneak preview. He’d insisted that Wes would be knocked out when he saw her wearing it.
She hoped Fred was right. After waiting all these years for this date, Wes deserved something extra special. She had picked up new silver heels the other day in town. And that left her hair. She couldn’t decide if she should wear it up. Or did it look better down?
Her stomach quivered with nerves. Kate hadn’t been this nervous about a date since, well, ever. And she feared she was making too much of it. Or was she?
All day yesterday, the citizens of Bayberry had put the finishing touches on the community hall. And by chance, a last-minute cancellation at a florist meant they could have fresh flowers for the dance instead of the usual silk flowers, which were starting to look their age.
The only catch was that Kate had to pick up the flowers in Burlington before the dance. Somehow, she’d fit it into her hectic schedule. It was the one time of year when she didn’t mind being so busy.
Speaking of busy, Wes had worked such long hours all week that she’d hardly seen him. And since she’d already distracted him so much during his stay, she decided to keep her distance and let him finish his report.
She had her own priority: completing the Christmas baskets. She had already distributed the food donations among them. Her special delivery had just arrived, so now it was time to finish things up.
Kate had wanted to personalize each gift, and she’d had the perfect idea. She just didn’t know if she had time to accomplish her goal, but she wouldn’t know unless she tried.
She’d just gathered all the supplies and settled at the table when there was a knock at her door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but maybe it was her aunt with a question about the dress.
Kate crossed to the door and swung it open to find Wes standing there. His hair was scattered, as though he’d been raking his fingers through it. And his brow was knit with worry.
Her initial elation dissolved. “Wes, is something wrong?”
He shook his head. “I just needed to get away from the office for a while.”
She opened the door wide. “Come in.”
He entered, stamping his boots on the doormat. “I hope I’m not bothering you.” He glanced toward the table and then back at her. “Maybe I should have called first.”
“Nonsense. Take your coat off.”
He took off his coat and slipped off his boots, then followed her to the table where she had a pile of craft supplies.<
br />
“Looks like you’re busy,” he said.
“I am. Do you want to help?”
He held up his hands and took a step back. “I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.”
She looked at him skeptically. “When was the last time you tried a craft?”
“Um, junior high?”
The image of the angel ornament came to her mind, and her heart glowed. “That’s right. I have evidence of your artistic ability. Have a seat.” She pulled out a chair for him. “You’re not getting away.”
He snapped his fingers in mock resignation as he gave her a smile that sent her heart tripping over itself. “You can’t blame me for trying.”
She scrunched up her face, trying to scowl, but she failed and instead ended up smiling. How could she not? He filled her with giddiness. “As long as you help, you’re off the hook.”
“Okay, just tell me what I’m supposed to do.”
“We’re going to make Christmas tree and reindeer bookmarks.” There was a slight tremble in her hands as she picked up a couple of bookmarks she’d just completed. She hoped he didn’t notice her reaction to his nearness.
“Bookmarks?”
She nodded. “It’s for the Christmas baskets.”
“That’s an interesting addition. I take it there are a lot of readers in Bayberry.”
“I hope so.” She waved for him to follow her down the steps to the garage. Then she pulled back a tarp that covered case after case of boxes. “The bookmarks go with these.”
He stared at the boxes. “May I ask what’s in them?”
“Books.” She had an extra book that hadn’t been wrapped. She picked it up and handed it to him.
Their fingers brushed. Neither moved for a moment. Did he feel it too—the electrical charge arcing between them?
And then he pulled away. That wasn’t what she’d been hoping for. But he was here with her, so that was a good sign.
Wes glanced at the colorful book cover. “What’s it about?”
She swallowed hard, hoping that when she spoke that her voice didn’t betray her. “It’s a Christmas story about a family finding their holiday spirit. It’s for readers of all ages. And I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.”
“But how did you get all these? I mean, they must have cost you a fortune.”
“Actually, when I talked to the publishers about purchasing them wholesale for our Christmas baskets, they offered to donate them.”
“You are amazing.” He looked truly impressed.
“That’s one of the things I love about this time of year. It brings out the very best in people. If only it could be Christmas all year long.”
He helped her place the tarp back over the boxes. “So how many bookmarks have you made so far?”
“Um…” She worried her bottom lip. “Well, um, none.”
“Kate, Christmas Eve is almost here. How are you going to get them all done in time?”
“With a little help.” Her eyes pleaded with him. In truth, she welcomed the excuse for him to stay longer. “Come on.”
Once upstairs, Wes volunteered to cut the paper and Kate started gluing the pieces together and adding small googly eyes to the reindeer and sequins to the Christmas trees. Luckily, the patterns she’d picked for the square bookmarks were not that complicated, and they moved through them quickly.
Somewhere along the way, they ordered pizza. She was pleased to learn he liked the same topping she did: pepperoni only. Though she was tempted to see it as a sign that they were destined to be more than friends, she had to laugh at herself. It was pizza. Nothing more.
It was growing close to midnight by the time they called it a night. The table, the kitchen counters and every other surface was covered with bookmarks. On the chairs and the floor were scattered bits of brown, red and green paper, as well as glittery sequins here and there.
As they moved toward the door, Wes yawned. “I hate to leave you with this mess.”
She glanced over her shoulder. It was nothing she couldn’t deal with herself. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this. And you need some rest.”
“What about you? Don’t tell me you’re going to stay up all night cleaning this up.”
“Okay. I won’t tell you.” She grinned up at him.
“Kate.” The deep timbre of his voice caused warm sensations in her chest.
She swallowed. “It won’t take me long. The vacuum will pick up most of it. Stop worrying.”
After his boots and coat were on, he turned to her. “I had a really marvelous time with you tonight.”
Was it her imagination or were they drawing closer together? Because right about now, if she were to lean a little closer and rise up on her tiptoes, their lips would meet. It took everything she had to resist the temptation.
And then, realizing that she was staring at him without saying a word, she blurted, “You never did say why you stopped over this evening.”
“I didn’t?” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had such a wonderful Christmas. And that’s all thanks to you. If I were in New York right now, my apartment wouldn’t be decorated and all I’d be thinking about is work. But you’ve got me thinking about reindeer and Christmas trees.” His gaze dropped to her lips, causing her heart to pound. “And most of all, you’ve got me thinking that I so desperately want to do this…”
Was it really going to happen? Anticipation caused Kate’s breath to catch. She willed him to her—willed his lips to meet hers.
He stepped forward and lowered his head. He really was going to kiss her. And she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more. But she also knew what it was like to put your heart out there and have it broken.
No matter how much she cared about Wes, he was leaving. Soon. He had never let her believe anything else. She would be foolish to kiss him—to fall for him even more than she already had.
Kate jumped back.
When his eyes met hers and she saw the confusion there, she said, “I’m sorry. I…I just can’t. I want to. I really want to. But with you leaving…”
A moment of silence lingered between them. And then Wes looked at her as if he wanted to say something important. What was it? Would it change things?
He looked away, breaking their connection. “I understand. I should go. Thanks for a fun evening.” He turned, opened the door and walked out.
Her lips pressed together in a firm line. Kate’s stomach clenched in frustration. This wasn’t how she wanted the night to end.
Why had she chickened out of letting him kiss her? It was just a kiss, after all—not a commitment. A kiss she could remember for the rest of her life. A moment to treasure.
She drew in a deep breath. She could do this. She could put herself out there, because Wes was worth it.
“Wes! Wait.” She rushed out the door without a coat. “Wes!”
In that moment, she barely noticed the cold or the fresh snowflakes at the top of the steps leading down to the driveway. Her whole being was focused on this wonderful man, who had stopped on the first step and turned to her.
She flew to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Even on the step above him, she had to rise up on her toes.
For a moment, his eyes flashed with surprise. In the next heartbeat, his hands clasped her waist. He lowered his head.
And they met in the middle.
In that moment, time stood still. His lips caressed hers and her heart pounded with a very distinct thump-thump, thump-thump. Everything in the world faded away but the two of them.
His kiss was gentle but firm. He tasted sweet, with a bit of spice, like the gingerbread cookie she’d shared with him. Her heart pounded so loudly, it echoed in her ears. Could he hear it? Did h
e have any idea how special he made her feel?
As his lips moved over hers, it was though her feet were floating above the ground. Nothing had ever felt so right. And she never wanted this moment to end. Not ever.
And then…the sound of a door opening and closing down the block brought Kate back to reality. With great reluctance, she pulled back. She wasn’t sure what to say, and so she settled for, “Goodnight.”
Wes smiled. “Goodnight.”
Kate stood rooted in place until he was down the steps and around the corner. Once he was out of sight, she realized she was cold—very cold. She ran back inside and danced around trying to warm up.
All the while, she couldn’t stop smiling. She refused to let the unknown future steal away her giddy happiness right now.
This night had been perfect. And the dance was coming up very soon. She imagined how amazing that night would be, whirling around the dance floor in Wes’s arms.
Maybe she couldn’t have forever with him, but they had the here and now. That had to be enough. Didn’t it?
Chapter Twenty-Three
He couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.
The stirring, life-altering kiss.
The next morning, Wes was at the work early. The office was quiet and empty. The company had fulfilled all of its last-minute holiday orders and was now closed until after the New Year.
After speaking with Penney the day before, Wes had to hurry to implement their plan. His gut was tied up in knots. Would it all work out?
If the candle company went under, there wouldn’t be a town for his mother to move to. Without work, people would move away. Businesses would close. And Kate would be forced to leave her beloved Bayberry.
He had to do something to give Kate the most special Christmas present ever—her home. This place was more than a town—it was a home, with heart—a place that welcomed strays like him—a place where neighbors helped neighbors.
He didn’t know how it had become his responsibility to save Bayberry, but he couldn’t just turn his back and walk away. He didn’t believe in Santa, but someone—or something—had had a hand in bringing him back here. He had the know-how to develop a plan to save this community. And that’s exactly what he was working on—
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