“We will,” said Kristi.
“Yeah,” said Amy.
“And speaking of Christmas.” Sheila turned to Jesse. “You have to come and see the way I decorated the shop. It’s a big hit on social media. Someone even asked to take a selfie with me in front of it.” A proud smile painted her lips.
“Did they?” he said. “Congratulations. Can we stop by later? We’re in a hurry.”
“Please do. I’ll be waiting.” The anticipation colored Sheila’s expression. “And Mia, don’t forget about my offer to help you and Diane decorate your shop.” She glanced around at the bright yet simple décor. “I’m sure I’ll think of something.” Doubt covered her expression.
Mia forced a smile. “Okay.”
“So, anyway,” said Jesse. “We need to go.” He started toward the door.
Mia followed. “Have a safe trip to Denver.”
He turned and gazed at her.
Sheila stepped in between them. “I’ll walk out with you.”
They stopped at the door, and Jesse pulled it open.
Everyone’s goodbyes filled the air.
Jesse gave Mia a parting glance as he and the others exited the shop.
She stood at the window and watched them linger on the sidewalk.
“Can you believe what she said about our shop?” said Diane. “Who does she think she is?”
“Apparently, Martha Stewart,” said Mia.
Jesse and Sheila’s laughter rang out.
“And she isn’t the only one who does,” said Mia.
Sheila batted her eyelashes and then turned and crossed the street alone.
Jesse walked toward the diner with Kristi and Amy.
The teens peered at their cupcakes inside the Cupcakes on Main bag. Their light and bouncy steps tapped the sidewalk, and their excited voices filled the air.
Mia couldn’t help but smile. Her cupcakes might not have been as popular as Sheila’s chocolates, but at least they had brightened someone’s day. Yes, this was the reason she baked for a living.
But it was more than their joyful reactions that lifted her spirits. Seeing Jesse always made life sweeter. He was like the frosting on an otherwise ordinary day.
They disappeared from view, and Mia turned away.
“It’s a shame he doesn’t live in Colorado, huh?” said Diane.
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
The ringtone on Mia’s phone erupted. Saved by the bell. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. Her face tensed. “It’s Don’s office.”
Diane’s smile turned into a frown. “Don? What does he want?”
“I’m sure it’s about the meeting.” Mia sucked in a breath and answered. “Hi, this is Mia.”
Chapter 2
Mia’s pulse raced, and her heart pounded like it hadn’t in a long time. She stepped on the walkway in front of Green and Sons Law Firm and gazed up at the building. She turned and glanced at her car in the parking lot. Was it too late to run away?
No. She couldn’t run. This was too important. “God, please give me strength,” she whispered.
She took a deep breath and pushed the front door open. The familiar scent of the stale carpet and leather furniture flooded her.
“Good morning, Mia. It’s nice to see you again.”
“You too, Kelly.” Mia mustered a smile.
“Everyone’s waiting for you in the conference room.”
“Thanks.” Mia turned and faced the hallway. Her body froze. She knew the path. It was so ingrained in her mind that she could make it there with her eyes closed. The trouble was, walking across it would mean coming face-to-face with Don. And this time, neither of them could turn away and act as if they hadn’t seen each other.
Seriously, Lord, please give me strength.
Mia pushed her body to go until she entered the conference room.
Don’s gaze met hers from where he sat at the head of the table.
Mia’s heart leaped.
He watched her for a second, maybe two.
It felt like an eternity.
“I didn’t think you were coming,” he said. “We almost got started without you.”
“I’m sorry. There was a lot of traffic. I wasn’t expecting it.”
“Have a seat.” He glanced back down at a document on the table.
The iciness in his demeanor threw Mia off-balance. Her legs wobbled toward an empty chair. She dropped her body on it, scooted it closer to the table, and glanced around at everyone else in the room.
She smiled at Sara and Nate who she often saw around town.
Her eyes widened at the sight of Caro and Taye.
“Now that you’re all here,” said Don, “let’s begin.”
Mia set her shoulder bag on her lap and sat up taller.
“As my secretary told you over the phone,” said Don, “Charity Hart reached out to us before she passed away over two weeks ago. She asked us to hold this meeting. She said you all knew each other because you attended Snowflake High School together, and she wrote a letter that she wanted me to give you.”
Focus on what he’s saying, Mia. Don’t think about Don.
“First, I’ll read the letter aloud and then I’ll give you a copy.”
Mia glanced at the handwritten document in front of him. The memory flashed through her mind of Charity writing her homework assignments in their classes together. Back then, her handwriting was the prettiest of anyone she knew at Snowflake High School. Even with illness wreaking havoc on her body, she had made it look neat.
Don picked up the letter and held it with both hands.
Mia’s gaze rested on his left hand—the one that a wedding ring would have adorned if things hadn’t ended between them.
He cleared his throat and read aloud. “Dear Sara, Holly, Nate, Caro, Taye, and Mia, I’m sure you’re wondering why I wrote this letter. After all, some of us said everything we wanted to say the last time we spoke. I treasure those last words. But it seems my health has taken a turn for the worse, and so here I am, writing this message.”
Mia listened with bated breath.
“When I look back at my life,” read Don, “one of my favorite memories is the time when we were all in the Bible club in high school together and we decided to become secret angels during our winter break. For me, it was during my senior year. We each bought a gift for someone else and secretly gave it to them for Christmas.”
Smiles painted a few faces. Heads nodded.
Don continued, “We had so much fun trying to figure out who to give our gift to and what the gift would be. And when we gave it to the person we had chosen, they never knew who it was from. That was the best part of all.”
“I do remember that,” said Taye. “I had the best time.”
“Me too,” said Caro.
The others agreed.
Don glanced back at the letter and continued. “You probably don’t know this, but I was a secret angel every year after that because I enjoyed it so much.”
Surprise flashed across a few faces. Voices murmured.
“This year,” continued Don, “I set aside the money to do it again, but it seems I might not get the chance. If you’re reading this letter, it means that I didn’t.”
Mia let out a faint exhale. The image of Charity’s funeral from two weeks ago filled her mind. Her mother’s anguished cries echoed. The sadness that plagued Mia for days welled inside again.
Don read on, “So, I’m asking each one of you to take the money that I saved and be my secret angels for me. I’ve chosen you because I know you would understand how much it means. I’m giving each of you a check for $1,500. Please use it to grant a wish for someone else in time for Christmas. Make it special.
P.S. If you’re unable to do this, I understand. Refuse the check, and my lawyer will donate it to a worthy cause. Love Always, Charity”
Not a single person in the room moved, except for Don. Was everyone still breathing
?
Mia glanced around at them.
“Wow.” Sara’s voice cut through the silence.
“Yeah,” said Caro. “Wow.”
Don scooted his chair back, reached for his briefcase from the floor, and stood and laid it on the table.
It pulled Mia’s gaze. It wasn’t the briefcase she bought for him on his birthday earlier that year—the one he had used every day after that. Had he gotten rid of it when he got rid of her?
He flipped it open and gathered a stack of envelopes. “You’ll find a copy of the letter in the envelope. You’ll also find a cashier’s check.” He glanced at the names on the front and passed them out. “You can deposit the check in your bank account or cash it, but the whole amount should be spent the way Charity requested.”
His footsteps stopped. “Mia?”
She raised her head, and her gaze met his.
He handed her an envelope with her name on it.
“Thank you,” she said.
He gave her a nod and returned to his chair.
His frosty attitude made Mia’s stomach drop. She pulled at the flap on the envelope, reached inside, and took out the contents. She glanced over the cashier’s check. One thousand five hundred dollars. Was this real?
She laid the check on the table and unfolded the copy of the letter.
Don sat in his chair and waited. “Are there any questions?”
“I have a question,” said Sara. “What kind of wish did Charity want us to grant?”
“I was wondering the same thing,” said Caro. “Did she want us to buy a gift—like a computer or a bike? Did she mean something else?”
Don paused for a second to consider the answer. “I think she wanted you to decide.”
“I have a question,” said Nate. “Does it have to be just one gift that’s worth the full $1,500? Can it be several gifts equaling that amount?”
“That’s my question too,” said Taye. “What if the gift we want to buy costs less than $1,500? Should we buy more gifts for the same person until we spend all the money?”
“Again,” said Don, “I think she wanted you to decide.”
The confusion still hung on faces.
The questions raced through Mia’s mind.
“What did she mean by secret?” asked Sara. “Do we have to hide it forever from the person who receives the wish?”
“And can we tell others besides the person we’re granting the wish for?” asked Taye.
“Can we ask someone to help us?” asked Caro.
Don picked up the letter and glanced at it. “My advice is to do what you did in high school. As she said here in the letter, that’s why she chose you.”
Silence filled the room. A myriad of expressions covered faces.
Don waited. The seconds passed. He raised his arm and glanced at his watch.
It seized Mia’s attention. The watch, too, wasn’t the one she gave him—the one he had worn every day since then.
“Are there any more questions?” he asked.
“Yeah,” said Nate. “How long can we take to decide if we can do this?”
“Until Christmas,” said Don. “Charity hoped you would make the wish happen by Christmas day.”
The rustling of paper filled the air.
Don waited a few more seconds. “If no one has more questions, I need to go. I was called to an emergency meeting at the courthouse.” He stood and reached for the briefcase.
Mia watched his every move.
“If you have more questions later,” he said, “you can call the office here, and my secretary will relay them to me.” His gaze met Mia’s for a second. He pulled it away.
“All right,” he said. “I appreciate everyone coming today.”
“Thanks, Don,” said Nate.
The others thanked him too.
Mia mumbled her thanks.
“Have a good day, everyone.” Don moved toward the door. “Oh.” He stopped and turned. “If you decide not to go through with Charity’s request, you can come back and leave the check with my secretary any time during our business hours.” He turned and disappeared through the door.
A sick feeling hit the pit of Mia’s stomach. The memory flashed through her mind of the moment he walked away when they broke up. The pain threatened to knock her to the floor.
Taye rose from her chair. “Mia, how are you?”
“Hi, Taye.” Mia stood and hugged her. “It’s so good to see you. You look the same.”
“So do you.”
Caro joined them. “Hey, Mia.”
“Caro.” Mia hugged her too. “It’s been so long.” She stepped back and gazed at them. “Where’s Holly?” She glanced around the room. “I saw her name in the letter.”
“Don didn’t say,” said Caro. “I guess she couldn’t be here.”
Sara approached. “What does everyone plan to do about the letter?”
Mia shook her head. “I don’t know. I need to read it again.”
Taye glanced at the check. “One thousand five hundred dollars? Now I understand why Charity wanted us to attend this meeting. This is a lot of money.”
“I’m not surprised by it,” said Nate. “Charity was the kind of person who would do something like this.”
The friends agreed.
“It’s so sad that she’s gone,” said Mia. “I still can’t believe it.”
Kelly’s footsteps resounded from the hall. She appeared in the doorway. “All right, everyone. Are you ready to get going?”
“Yeah,” said Sara. “I need to rush back to the shop.”
“Me too,” said Mia. “I left Diane alone.” She reached for her shoulder bag from the chair and hung it around her shoulder. “It was great seeing everyone. I’ll call you. We’ll talk more about this later.”
They exchanged a few parting words.
Mia hurried through the hallway. Don’s image assaulted her mind.
She jumped outside and rushed across the walkway.
And then she finally breathed.
Chapter 3
Mia dropped her shoulder bag on the desk in the office inside Cupcakes on Main. She pulled her gloves off, tossed them aside, hung her coat on the coat rack, and sat on the chair. Resting her elbows on the desktop, she buried her face in her hands.
“Have a nice day.” Diane’s muffled voice echoed from the storefront. “Enjoy your cupcakes.” Her footsteps thumped across the floor.
Mia sat up tall.
“I got your message,” said Diane entering the office, “but I couldn’t call you back because a few customers were here. So, you survived the meeting with Don. I can’t believe the way he treated you.”
“Me neither.” Mia sat back in the chair.
“So, what does the letter say? I’m anxious to know. Can I read it?”
“It’s in my bag.” Mia reached for it, pulled out the envelope, and handed it to her.
Diane scrambled to open it like a child tearing open a gift on Christmas morning. She held up the cashier’s check. Her eyes widened. “One thousand five hundred dollars?”
“I reacted the same way. Charity had a good paying job, but I never imagined she spent her money this way.”
Diane straightened the copy of the letter and read it to herself.
Mia stood and entered the kitchen and washed and dried her hands.
Diane exited the office still reading the letter. Her knees buckled. “This letter is amazing! I’ve never read anything like it before.”
“Me neither.” Mia strolled to the storefront and straightened the chairs.
Diane followed. “You know, I could use a thousand dollars myself.”
Mia laughed. “Me too. But I don’t think we count.”
Diane gazed at the check. “So, she wants you to grant a secret wish for someone, huh? How exciting. If you need my help, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks,” said Mia, “but I’m not sure if I’ll do it.”
Diane did a double take. “Why not?”
&nbs
p; “I wouldn’t know where to begin looking for someone to grant a wish for. And Christmas is only a few weeks away.”
“What would happen to the money? What worthy cause would it go to?”
“Don didn’t say but I’m sure he’ll find something that’s good.” Mia stopped and glanced inside the cupcake display case. “It looks like we only sold a few cupcakes while I was gone.”
“Yeah.” Diane stuffed the letter, along with the check, back in the envelope. “I saw some people stop at the window but they crossed the street and went into Sheila’s shop. Can you believe that?”
Mia shook her head.
“I guess the ads we placed didn’t work.” She handed Mia the envelope.
“We spent so much money on those ads,” said Mia. “Did you see if they ran on the days that they were scheduled?”
“Each and every one of them. No one even brought in the coupon I created.”
Mia’s face fell.
“You were right about us needing to try something different. I looked online for new ways to promote the shop. And maybe we should come up with new cupcake flavors. We could introduce them like we did with the pumpkin spice.”
Mia sighed. “I don’t know, Diane. Maybe it wouldn’t be worth it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been thinking.” Mia fumbled with the envelope. “Maybe we should close the shop.”
Diane jerked her head back. “What?”
“This might sound crazy, but I don’t think I want to be here anymore.”
“Here?”
“I mean in Snowflake.”
“Oh.”
Mia gazed out the window at the lovely little street. “You know that I only moved here because of Don. Because we wanted to raise a family here. Staying here has been harder than you can imagine. And after today, I just, I can’t be here anymore.” Her voice wavered.
Diane’s tone softened. “It was that bad, huh?”
“It was worse than bad. He acted like he never knew me at all.”
“I’m sorry.”
Mia exhaled. “We both know we’ll have to close the shop eventually. Closing the shop now would be better than going bankrupt.”
“But Mia,” said Diane, “this shop was your dream. You can’t just give up. Not without a fight.”
Mia's Gift (Small-Town Christmas Wishes Series Book 1) Page 2