by Olivia Miles
“These must be yours,” she said to Maddie, who filled them each a glass of wine. There was no doubt that the coconut snowball cookies decorated to perfection to look like the top of a snowman were the work of the baker in the family.
“I’ll admit that I did use this year’s cookie swap as a way to test some new recipes. Promise you’ll give me your honest opinion?”
“Don’t I always?” Cora said, which received a little pinch of Maddie’s mouth.
Maddie was honest, always. Britt pretty much too. Amelia and Cora being sandwiched in the middle of the sibling order tended to be more inclined to go with the flow and keep the peace.
“Speaking of honesty,” Maddie said when Amelia joined them at the table carrying a bowl of what Cora recognized as her famous spinach dip. “How on earth did you pull this altogether? You’ve been at the café since the crack of dawn.”
“Candy closed up,” Amelia said humbly, even though they all knew just how much work it was to run your own business, plus host a group of women, even if most of them were family and therefore forgiving. “And I would have left earlier, if a certain handsome someone hadn’t stopped by.”
Assuming that her sister meant her boyfriend, Cora said, “Did Matt help set up, then?”
“I was referring to your handsome someone, Cora. This was my first proper look at Phil Keaton, and I have to say, he might just be the best Christmas present you’ve ever received.”
Cora felt her cheeks burn. “Please. He’s just a…” She didn’t know what he was. He wasn’t a friend. But he wasn’t more than that either. “He’s just passing through town. He’s just here for the holidays.”
But she hoped that wasn’t true at all.
So much for honesty.
“Well.” Natalie came into the kitchen with Gabby and poured herself a glass of wine. “If you don’t want him, you can send him my way.”
Cora felt her cheeks flame. She had the sense that Natalie was only half-joking, and her back was against a wall now. She’d have to come clean about her feelings, put her real hopes out there, even if she didn’t dare admit them even to herself.
It was Maddie who came to her defense, saying, “Well, I’m just happy that you’ve found a nice guy, Cora, and at Christmastime, too! It was meant to happen for you of all people at this time of year.”
“Of course, we always thought you and Bart would be sort of a cute couple,” Gabby said as she reached over and snatched a cookie.
Cora shook her head. “Bart only sees me as a friend.”
“You so sure about that?” Gabby raised an eyebrow as she munched on a chocolate-covered gingersnap.
Cora thought about her banter with Bart, the ease, the way he’d carried that tree all the way up to her living room. And never did tell her who sent it.
A thought took hold as her breath caught, and she hoped the other ladies wouldn’t notice the emotion in her face. Had it been Bart who sent the tree?
Was it possible that there was more there than she’d noticed over the years? She swallowed uneasily.
No, she didn’t think so. Bart was a great guy, sweet, and easy to talk to, and good looking, sure. But she’d never felt any of those warm and tingly feelings for him as she had for Phil.
“And does it matter if he works in Chicago?” Amelia pointed out. “His grandparents have two properties here. Sounds like a very good excuse to get back to town, especially if he’s already willing to spend so much time in Blue Harbor right now.”
Cora thought back to the visit he’d made to the real estate office, hoping that her sister was right. Amelia was sensible; she wouldn’t mislead her, or give her false hope.
And she was also voicing exactly what Cora wanted to be true, more than anything else on her Christmas list…or beyond.
11
The week had passed quickly, thanks to it being Cora’s busiest week of the year, even busier than next week would be, because usually by Christmas week, most people were only coming in for last minute gifts or in search of a centerpiece or other themed items for their holiday parties or Christmas dinner.
And, of course, there was the Winter Carnival to think about—usually something that she looked forward to with great anticipation, mostly because her kiosk was always something she spent her summer months planning and dreaming about. Each year she tried to keep it fresh, with new themes and decorations, and this year she had come up with the idea of highlighting various traditions from around the world. She’d special ordered ornaments from Germany to Finland to South America, but as she carefully unboxed the items on Friday afternoon, shivering in her down coat and knowing that thanks to the power strips running along the back of the kiosks, she could turn on her space heater, the anticipation she felt was not for the festivities of the day, but, of course, at the thought of seeing Phil and Georgie.
“Ho, ho, ho,” a deep voice rang out across the square, and Cora smiled to herself. Mr. Davidson would be sitting in the big red chair set up in the gazebo for the morning portion of the day, per tradition of course, and already families had lined up all the way to the street corner.
“You’re popular around here,” Cora told him, as he approached.
“That was a mighty sweet girl you were with last weekend,” he remarked.
Cora felt herself swell with pride, even though she could stake no claim in Georgie’s life. She was sweet girl, and a happy one, too. It was obvious that she loved Christmas every bit as much as Cora did.
“She’s a girl after my own heart,” Cora agreed.
“That she is,” Mr. Davidson said. “Single father, huh?”
Cora wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but she nodded all the same. “That’s right.” She knew best what it was like to grow up with one, after all. It hadn’t been easy for him, but he’d never complained or let on. She always knew that she and her sisters meant everything to Dennis Conway, and he wasn’t shy in making that known either. He encouraged them to each follow their dreams, even if those dreams might have led Britt away for more than a decade. He’d been patient, and kind, and always positive, no matter how difficult their circumstances.
Looking back on things now, as an adult, she knew that her father must have been terribly lonely and overwhelmed after his wife died. But he’d never let on. Everything he had done had been for his children.
And now, the least Cora could do was to repay the favor, even if it meant tolerating Candy a little more, and her unfamiliar traditions.
Still, Cora couldn’t often shed the feeling that she had to take care of him, too. That without her, there might not be a Christmas at all—at least not a proper one.
She smiled to herself, thinking that maybe Phil was right. Without her, she wasn’t sure how Georgie’s Christmas would have turned out either.
“Just between us, do you happen to remember what Georgie asked for when she whispered in your ear?” Cora asked. “The one really special thing she wanted from her Christmas list?”
Mr. Davidson’s expression clouded, and for a moment, Cora wondered if he was going to get a little too far into his role and claim that Christmas wishes were top secret.
Instead he nodded slowly. “It wasn’t on the list. She said that she wants to spend more Christmases like this with her father.”
Cora fell silent as she processed the magnitude of such a simple request. She could tell that Mr. Davidson was thinking the same thing as her. That of all the things in the world the child could have asked for, she was asking for something that shouldn’t really have to be asked for at all.
“Thank you,” Cora said, not yet sure what she would do with the information, but knowing that she should find a way to tell Phil, even though she was still a little worried that he might not fully understand. Or worse, take offense. He was sensitive about his relationship with his daughter, even if it had bloomed right before Cora’s very eyes. “The father is a bit of a Scrooge, you might say.”
“Tourist?”
Cora sighe
d as she popped open the last box of her ornaments. They were lovely, hand painted, and representing Italy.
“Actually, he’s the Keatons’ grandson.”
Mr. Davidson squinted at her. “But the Keatons loved Christmas!”
Cora could only shrug. “Guess they didn’t pass on the traditions.”
Which was exactly why she felt it was so important to keep her own alive. It would break her heart not to keep her mother’s thoughtful plans and dreams going. Luckily, thanks to the store, she didn’t have to. So long as she could keep sharing the joy of the season, she wouldn’t have to worry about her sisters moving on with their lives and holiday plans.
Phil and Georgie were proof of that.
“Don’t worry. I’m working on him,” she assured Mr. Davidson, and he laughed, a jolly sound, straight from the belly. He was a natural.
“Oh, I never had any doubt.”
From across the square, the children had started to notice the plush, deep red, velvet suit, and the signature white curly beard, and a cry went up as they began calling out to him, their excitement growing when he pulled up his belt and then lifted a white-gloved hand in a dramatic wave.
Cora chuckled. “You’re good at this.”
“You are too,” he remarked.
Cora smiled to herself as he walked away. She was good at this. And really, Phil was too. He just had to believe in Christmas. And in himself.
Feeling warmer than she had earlier, even without the assistance of a heater, she waved to Natalie who joined her to finish setting up the stand.
“Be sure to take some time off to enjoy yourself,” she told Natalie. Even though they would be busy, this was a special event that she wanted to enjoy.
“Thanks,” Natalie replied. She gave Cora a funny look. “I was hoping to enter the skating contest with Zoe. My mom offered, but I don’t want her slipping and breaking something.”
Cora laughed, thinking of the result of her father’s recent fall. “Don’t want her ending up with a caregiver like Candy.”
“She’s not so bad, though, right?” Natalie asked.
Cora thought about it. “Not bad. Just different.”
“Different isn’t always worse,” Natalie said. “And I should know. When I got divorced, I thought my life was over, but Zoe and I have made it work. Being in Blue Harbor helps, even if there aren’t many eligible men.”
Cora grinned. Not long ago, she was lamenting over this too. Still, Natalie had a point. Different was just different. Not necessarily better or worse. She’d try to remember that next time Candy tried to change the way her family usually did things. It would be a struggle, she knew.
She swept her eyes over the green, which had been covered in a blanket of white snow for weeks now, looking for a glimpse of a red pom-pom hat. Phil wouldn’t miss this event! He couldn’t. Georgie wouldn’t let him.
It wasn’t until Natalie had left and returned from the skating contest, a third-place ribbon proudly in her hand, and they had restocked their bestseller, glistening tree toppers shaped as stars, that Cora finally spotted Phil approaching her stand.
Her heart sped up and her stomach flipped and the little jab that Natalie gave her was nearly enough to knock her off her feet, had the snow been any slicker.
“You came!”
“Daddy had to work,” Georgie explained. “I hope we didn’t miss anything.”
“Absolutely not,” Cora said, deciding not to the mention the skating contest. There would be plenty more activities to keep Georgie happy.
And her happy too, she thought, deciding now was actually a good time to break away. The surge of traffic when the carnival opened had waned in the last hour or so.
“You never stop,” Phil remarked. He hesitated before adding, “I was sort of hoping you’d have some free time today. So we could…talk.”
Talk? Her heart skipped a beat when she considered the implication. There was something he wanted to tell her.
Her mind wandered back to that visit he’d made to the real estate office. Had he seen the good that being here had done for Georgie? And for himself?
Never mind, she thought, biting her lip.
Natalie raised her eyebrows. All but mouthed, “Go!”
Cora hesitated. In years past, she only ever took a break from the stand to make the rounds, support the other kiosks, and of course grab some cider or hot chocolate to stay warm. But this year, she had too good of an excuse to leave.
“Time for you and Georgie? Of course.” She stage-whispered to Georgie, “There’s a snowman contest later on and I happen to be an expert snowman maker.”
“Why doesn’t this surprise me?” Phil laughed again.
The first stop was a warm beverage, complements of Buttercream Bakery, of course. As much as Cora enjoyed chatting with her sisters, she was happy to see that Maddie’s assistant was covering things while Maddie picked up the last of her supplies from the storefront. She didn’t need any more suggestive glances just now, even though she was sure there would be more to come.
“Do you like to sled?” Cora asked Georgie, as they all sipped steaming cups of thick hot chocolate. They were seated near one of the warming stations, and as reluctant as Cora was to leave behind the cozy feeling she had, seated with Phil and his daughter on a bench, sharing a thick, wool, plaid blanket that they used to cover their legs, she couldn’t imagine a better reason than to enter the sledding contest.
“We don’t have sledding in California,” Georgie said. “And when I visit Daddy, he lives in a big building in the city, and there are only other buildings all around it.”
“Well,” Cora said, with a knowing smile. “Just a couple blocks behind this town square there happens to be a really big, huge, giant hill.”
“Really?” Phil looked at her in confusion, and Cora had to burst out laughing. The tension had officially dissipated and she was thankful for it. She liked this, spending time with Phil and Georgie, showing them her town, and seeing Georgie get nearly as excited as she was as a child.
And she was starting to get the impression that Phil liked it too.
“Oh, that hill!” Phil winked at her, catching on. Really, it was hardly a mountain, but it was steep, and the walk up and down it used to make Cora and her sisters break a sweat through layers of thermal shirts, sweaters, snowsuits, scarves, and hats. The wind in the face as they whisked down to the bottom again made the hike worth it, though.
“There’s a sledding competition,” Cora said. She checked her phone. “We still have time if we hurry.”
“Can we, Dad?” Georgie turned to him excitedly.
“Sounds like fun!” Phil said, standing, and Cora had the impression that he wasn’t just saying that for his daughter’s behalf.
They trekked through the snow to the back of the festival, and through the wooded path where signs led everyone to the hill. Already, Cora could see a crowd gathering at the top, and she realized with a little laugh that the hill looked even smaller now as an adult.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve done this,” she admitted to Phil, who was just shaking his head.
“It’s the Midwest,” he said. “Not Colorado. Still, look.” He jutted his chin to Georgie, whose eyes were wide circles now as she gasped at the sledding hill before her.
He bent down and whispered, “Think you’re brave enough?”
She swatted him, the smile never leaving her face. “Let’s hurry!”
Cora and Phil stood in line for the sleds while she dashed away. “She reminds me so much of myself when I was that age,” Cora said.
“How so?” Phil asked.
“Oh, you know, just a zest for life.”
Phil thought about it for a moment. “She doesn’t get it from me. I…I never was that way, you know? Guess I’m still not.”
“Oh, now,” Cora said, not willing to let him off the hook that easily. “You are about to enter Blue Harbor’s annual sledding competition. Winner gets a gift certificate to the Carr
iage House Inn. The pub there can’t be beat.”
“And the loser?”
“A trip to the hospital for a broken leg?” Cora was only half joking. There was the year where Mickey Scott greased the bottom of his sled and barely missed hitting a tree.
Phil laughed. “Well, if we win, then it’s a date.”
Cora felt her cheeks flush, heating her all the way through her chilled hands, and she hid her smile as they reached the front of the line and Phil selected one sled.
“We should all fit on this, eh?”
Cora hadn’t known what the logistics would be, but sharing a sled with Phil and Georgie hadn’t entered her mind.
“Back when I was a kid, my sisters and cousins and I would all go against each other,” she admitted as they moved back toward the hill. Georgie was already at the top, waving with both hands to them.
Phil arched an eyebrow. “Competitive?”
“Only when it comes to sledding,” Cora said ruefully.
“Then we’d better win!” Phil grinned, and Cora’s stomach did a little swooping movement that made her take a breath.
If a win meant that Phil would stand by his word and take her to dinner at the pub, then yes, they had better win.
“For Georgie,” she said, meeting his eye.
“Of course,” he said. “For Georgie.”
By the time they reached the top of the hill, Cora was panting and out of breath. Her lungs burned and she had a cramp in her side. She caught Phil giving her a strange look, and she laughed. Or rather, wheezed.
“I told you that I haven’t done this in a while,” she said.
Phil’s breath escaped in white clouds. There was a gleam in his eye, and she noticed that he didn’t seem remotely winded.
“My daddy has a gym in his building and he likes to do the stairs,” Georgie said matter-of-factly.
“I guess I’m spending too much time holed up in my shop,” Cora said.
“You ever think of changing it up, scaling back?” Phil posed the question in a serious enough tone that Cora had to look at him properly for a moment.