Chapter 12
Diane grasped a pink faux cupcake that hung on the garland around the window inside Cupcakes on Main. “I can’t get over how adorable these ornaments are,” she said. “I wonder if Kristi would make some for me. I’m thinking of decorating my apartment for Christmas.”
“I’m sure she would jump at the chance,” said Mia, who sat at a table. She jotted a name on a sheet of lined paper. Potential Foster Parents was scribbled in bold letters at the top.
“Has she found out when she’s leaving Snowflake?” asked Diane.
“I asked her to text me as soon as she hears something.”
The click-clack of high-heeled shoes echoed.
“Look who’s coming this way,” said Diane.
Mia glanced through the glass door.
Sheila stopped on the sidewalk. Her gaze traveled around the decorations in the window. She pulled the door open and strolled inside the shop. “I see you’ve finally started decorating your window. I was beginning to think you would never get around to it.” She stopped beside the garland and reached for a replica cupcake. She grabbed hold of it with her glittery long acrylic fingernails. “Why do these ornaments have cupcake wrappers on them?”
Mia shot a confused glance at Diane. “Because they’re supposed to be cupcakes.”
“Huh?” Sheila wrinkled her forehead and then her eyes widened. “Oh, I get it! I see it now. I would never have known if you hadn’t told me.”
Diane rolled her eyes. She stepped away from the garland and placed her hands on her hips. “It might interest you to know that Jesse helped Mia and Kristi make those ornaments.”
Sheila gave her a funny look. She waved her hand. “I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. They had the time of their lives together. Right, Mia?”
“That’s right,” said Mia.
Sheila twisted her mouth. Her gaze radiated skepticism. She turned and stepped further inside the seating area. “How are you decorating the rest of the shop?”
The bells over the door chimed. Sheila turned. “Jesse! We were just talking about you.”
“Hello.” He stepped inside the shop and glanced at the three of them. “You were talking about me? Why? What did I do?”
Diane held her arm out toward the garland. “We were telling Sheila that you and Mia spent all night together making this window display.”
“Oh,” he said. “Yeah, we did.” He glanced up at it. “It looks amazing.”
Sheila pursed her lips.
“And Mia is going to help Jesse decorate his Christmas tree at his cabin tonight,” Diane said to Sheila.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Jesse.
Sheila gritted her teeth.
Diane waved her arm at Mia. “Why don’t you two hurry and go do that other thing you need to do together? I’ll be fine here by myself.”
Mia rose from her chair and grabbed her shoulder bag.
A group of customers stopped at the front door.
“I’ll take care of their order.” Diane ushered Mia and Jesse outside the shop. “Have a great time.”
Sheila watched through the window with a frown.
DURING MIA’S LUNCH break, Mia and Jesse visited three potential foster parents for Kristi: Bev from Sweet Nothings Bakery, Alice from Blue Spruce Market, and Pauline from Snowflake Public Library. The only thing they had to show for it was a bagful of pastries that Bev gave them before they left.
Mia bit off the head of a gingerbread man cookie and chomped on it. “I didn’t think it would be so hard to find someone,” she said. “I mean, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I thought someone would at least show interest by now.”
“When Karen died,” said Jesse, “I couldn’t find anyone to foster Kristi. That’s why she lives at the group home.”
Mia bit the gingerbread man’s arm. “What about your sister’s friend? The one in the pictures you’ve shown me.”
“Kira? She’s in jail.”
Mia jerked her head back. “What for?”
“Shoplifting.”
Mia swallowed hard. “You would never guess by looking at her.”
“You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
Mia bit a leg off the gingerbread man. “When is she getting out of jail? Shoplifting is a misdemeanor, isn’t it? Maybe the child welfare office wouldn’t care.”
“They’ll care,” said Jesse. “They run a background check on applicants. They ran one on me. They’ll do the same to her, and the rules say a foster parent can’t have a criminal record.”
Mia waved the cookie. “You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She bit the other arm off the gingerbread man and chewed. “I’m going to keep searching for someone. And I’ll keep praying for a miracle.” She swallowed. “We can’t give up. Kristi needs a home.”
MIA WATCHED JESSE STANDING beside the crackling fireplace in his cabin with a string of twinkling Christmas lights dangling from his hands.
The look of confusion on his handsome face brought a smile to her lips.
“How are we supposed to put these on the tree?” he asked.
Kristi pulled the lid off a container of glittery Christmas ornaments. “You have to start in the back and at the bottom so the cord won’t show.” She set the container on the coffee table and moved around to the back of the tree. “Right here,” she said. “And then you have to wind the lights around the tree until you reach the top.”
“Is that it?” said Jesse. “That sounds easy.” He leaned over and hung the Christmas lights on the ends of the branches.
“They should go further inside the tree,” said Kristi. “This way.” She pushed the lights closer to the trunk.
Jesse did the same.
“But you should space them farther apart,” she said. “We want the lights to shine evenly all around the tree.”
Jesse pulled the string of lights to remove it from the branch, but the lights got caught on each other. He pulled again, but they remained stuck together.
Mia covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Jesse tugged harder, and the tree began tipping over.
“The tree!” said Mia. “It’s falling!” She held her hands up to catch it.
Jesse reached for it too.
They pushed it back to the upright position.
“Maybe I should handle the ornaments,” said Jesse. “I don’t want to destroy anything.”
Mia laughed and took the lights from him.
He glanced at the containers of ornaments and scratched his head. “What do you need me to do?”
Kristi moved her arms to show him. “Just spread them out on the floor so that I can count each color. We need to alternate the colors when we hang them.”
Jesse kneeled and poured out the sparkly ornaments on the floor.
Watching him, a smile lifted the corners of Mia’s mouth. “Who wants hot chocolate after this? I brought the ingredients.”
“Me!” said Kristi.
Jesse glanced up at her. “I could really use a cup.”
A mariachi tune burst through the air.
Jesse and Kristi glanced around the room.
“What’s that?” asked Jesse.
“It’s my phone,” said Mia. “It’s the ringtone I have for when my mom calls.”
“I was wondering how your parents were doing,” he said. “I haven’t seen them in a while.”
Mia handed Kristi the string of lights, dug her phone out of her shoulder bag, and answered. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, mija. How are you?”
“I’m fine. I’m helping Jesse and Kristi decorate their Christmas tree.”
“You are?”
“Hi, Mrs. Rosa!” said Jesse.
“Hi, Mia’s mom!” said Kristi.
“Did you hear them?” asked Mia. “They said hi.”
“I did,” said Mia’s mom, Juana. “Tell them I said hi too.”
Mia turned. “She says hi too.”
Jesse grinned
from ear to ear.
“How’s Dad doing?” asked Mia.
“He’s okay,” said Juana. “He’s asleep right now. We had menudo for dinner and started watching our novela but he couldn’t keep his eyes open.”
“When he wakes up, tell him I said hi.”
“I will.”
“Anyway,” said Mia, “we need to finish here. Kristi has to hurry back home. Can I call you later?”
“Of course, mija. Call me when you can.”
Mia and Juana said a few parting words, and Mia hung up. “I should start making the hot chocolate before it gets late.” She slipped her phone in her bag and entered the kitchen which only a counter divided from the living room. “I’ll help you with the lights in a minute, Kristi.”
Kristi strung the lights around the tree. “Are you going to the tree lighting on Main Street tomorrow, Mia?”
“I have to work. Diane and I are keeping the shop open longer for the event, so I’ll be in the kitchen making extra cupcakes.” She washed her hands in the sink. “But we’ll probably close the shop to watch them light the tree.”
“You should call us when you do,” said Kristi, “so we can watch it together.”
Mia stopped. “I would like that.”
Jesse glanced up with two teal ornaments in his hands. “So, you’re making extra cupcakes at the shop tomorrow?”
Mia nodded. “Diane placed a few ads to promote our new holiday flavors and there might be a crowd for the Main Street event. We want to be ready.”
He sat back. “Do you need help? I’ve never made cupcakes before, but I’ve made plenty of other things.” He shrugged. “Maybe I can lighten your workload.”
Mia set the box of cocoa on the counter. “We really could use the extra hands,” she said. “You’re hired.”
His face brightened.
“Hey, it’s snowing,” said Kristi.
The white flakes flickered in the corner of Mia’s eye. She turned and glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window. Her mouth fell open.
Snow flurries danced through the sky.
Mia glanced at the twinkling lights on the tree and then at Kristi and Jesse. It may have been freezing outside but being here with them warmed Mia more than she thought possible.
Chapter 13
Standing near the front window of Cupcakes on Main, Mia held a Christmas-themed flyer and read it to herself. The Flavors of Christmas. Introducing Gingerbread Cookie, Eggnog Spice, White Chocolate Candy Cane. “You did a great job on this sign,” she said to Diane.
“And you did a great job on creating the cupcake recipes.” Diane swiped the new Christmas treats from a tray and arranged them in the display case.
“Thanks,” said Mia. “It was fun.” She tore a piece of clear tape off a roll and stuck the flyer to the glass door facing Main Street.
Sheila exited her chocolate shop and waved her hand at a man standing on a ladder behind the window.
“It looks like Sheila is putting up a sign at her shop too,” said Mia.
“Whoa,” said Diane. “Look at the size of it. I’ll bet it’s visible from outer space. What does it say?”
Mia squinted. “I think it’s announcing a new chocolate flavor.”
“I wonder what she added this time. Mulch?”
Mia grinned and shook her head. She tore another piece of tape off the roll. “Speaking of new flavors, I thought of another one for a cupcake.”
“You did?”
“Hot chocolate. The frosting is marshmallow cream.” Mia pressed the tape over the edge of the flyer. “I made hot chocolate last night for me, Jesse, and Kristi, and we were sitting by the fireplace enjoying a cup, and that’s when I got the idea.”
“Hot chocolate by the fireplace? How romantic,” said Diane.
Mia turned and raised her finger to her lips.
Diane covered her mouth. “Hot chocolate cupcakes sound delicious. You should make them.” She grabbed two empty trays from the counter and strolled to the kitchen. She stopped in the doorway.
Mia joined her.
They both gazed at Jesse who worked at the table.
The apron that hung around his masculine body looked so much better on him than on Mia or Diane. And his muscular arms as he poured the ingredients in the electric mixer looked so much more impressive.
Diane leaned over to Mia. “I could get used to this.”
Mia smiled. I could get used to it too.
Jesse hit the off switch on the mixer.
Silence filled the room.
Diane sauntered past him and set the trays on a rack. “So, Jesse,” she said, “I hear you’re looking for a job in Snowflake. Mia mentioned it the other day.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve been looking for a while now.”
“I was telling Mia that we should start offering deliveries. We’ve gotten several calls from people who want us to deliver the Christmas flavors and we haven’t even started selling them yet.” Diane stopped in front of the white chocolate candy cane cupcakes. “Deliveries might help our floundering business.”
Jesse raised his eyebrows. “Floundering?”
“Haven’t you noticed the shop is empty most of the time?” asked Diane. “Cupcakes aren’t that popular anymore. Not the way they once were.”
“No, I guess I haven’t.” Worry filled his eyes. He glanced at Mia.
Mia approached a tray of eggnog spice cupcakes on the table and arranged them closer to the center.
“If we offer delivery,” said Diane, “we’ll need extra arms—I mean hands—to help us.” She gazed at Jesse’s biceps.
Mia smirked.
“What kind of job do you need?” asked Diane.
Jesse picked up the bowl and carried it to the cupcake tins on the table. “At this point, I’ll take whatever’s available as long as it’s full-time.” He set the bowl beside the tins and grabbed a serving spoon.
“Full-time, huh? We could only offer minimum wage and part-time hours. That’s if we ever decide to do this.”
“Unfortunately,” said Jesse, “that wouldn’t help me get custody of Kristi.” He scooped the batter in the spoon and poured it in a cupcake liner in the tin. “Although,” he said, “the idea of working here is tempting. I’m enjoying this.”
Mia watched him with a smile.
He lifted a spoonful of batter and let it flow into a different cupcake liner. “I mean, look at this. I find it amazing the way a few separate ingredients can come together and make something that’s so perfect. It’s like liquid silk.” He spooned the batter into another cupcake liner with quick and precise moves like someone with plenty of practice behind him. “And what’s even more amazing,” he said, “is that it will become cake in a few minutes. How does that happen?”
Mia grinned. “You really do love being in the kitchen.” She picked up the tray of eggnog spice cupcakes. “Just wait until you see the look on the customers’ faces after they taste the ones you made. I love that part the most.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said Diane. “It makes all the hard work so worthwhile.” She picked up the tray of white chocolate candy cane cupcakes and carried it to the storefront.
Mia followed.
Diane’s steps slowed. “What’s going on out there?”
Mia stopped.
A large group of people waited outside the shop.
“Who are they?” asked Mia.
“I think they’re customers.” Diane set the tray on the counter, hurried to the door, and unlocked it. “Good morning.”
“Are you open?” asked a woman wearing a heavy coat.
“Not yet,” said Diane. “Not for another few minutes.”
“I saw an ad online about your new holiday flavors,” said the woman. “I came early before you sell out of them.”
“So did we,” said a woman who stood with two children.
The others in the group nodded and agreed.
Diane turned and exchanged a stunned glance with Mia.
“
HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT,” said Mia to a customer. “And Merry Christmas.” She shut the door of Cupcakes on Main, turned the lock, and flipped the Open sign to Closed.
She stopped and gazed at the display case. Every cupcake that she, Diane, and Jesse baked that day was gone. Every single one of them. She blinked hard. Was it a dream? “I can’t believe we sold out.”
“I can’t either,” said Diane. “I never thought this would happen. I have to take a picture of this moment.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and aimed the camera lens at the empty display case.
“What time is it?” Mia glanced up at the clock. “We need to hurry, or we’ll miss the tree lighting.”
They clamored to the office, swiped their coats and handbags, and slipped into them while they bounded back to the storefront.
Mia yanked the door open and hit the light switch on her way out. Diane locked the shop, and they both maneuvered through the crowd. It was so thick they couldn’t see too far ahead of them.
“Where did Jesse say they would meet us?” asked Diane.
“Over by the tree.” Mia stretched her neck and glanced around the street.
“Mia!” Kristi’s voice rang out. “Over here!”
Someone in the crowd moved out of the way, and Jesse’s handsome face came into view. He stood with Kristi and Amy on the sidewalk.
Joy sprang up inside Mia. She floated toward them, greeted the teens, and turned to Jesse. “Hello, again.”
“Hello to you,” he said. “Mmm. You smell delicious. Have you been baking?”
“I have,” she said. “And so has Diane, and an amazing assistant helped us.”
“Amazing?” he said. “I have to meet this person.”
Mia laughed.
Kristi stood on the tips of her toes. “Can we move closer to the tree? I see a space over there.”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Jesse tore his gaze away from Mia, and they all strolled toward the town Christmas tree that towered in the near distance.
Caro Price, one of Mia’s high school friends who received Charity’s letter, crossed the street in front of them with Simon Novak, who went to Snowflake High with them.
Even from that distance, Mia could see he was as good-looking as he was back then—maybe even more. Caro liked him, and it was no wonder. “Do you mind if I say hello to some friends?”
Mia's Gift (Small-Town Christmas Wishes Series Book 1) Page 8