“You two must be exhausted,” Bebe sang out as they stumbled bleary-eyed into the kitchen. I need you to go down to that coffee shop for me. What was the name?”
“Sweet Caroline’s,” Frieda answered obediently, still getting pink in the cheeks every time anyone commented on the budding unnamed thing that was happening between her and Milo.
“We’re out of coffee and I know for sure you two will need it. Go on down and see if they’re open. I know it’s a long shot on Christmas Eve. Put a coat on too. It’s chilly this morning.”
“Yes mom,” Milo groaned sarcastically like a moody teenager.
“No sweets,” Bebe called behind them as they got ready to leave. “We still have all these pies to eat.”
“Just coffee,” Frieda promised with a smile.
“And do you have an ornament, Freida dear?” Bebe asked, tightening her robe as she stood in the doorway and caught a blast of chilly air.
“An ornament?”
“There is a tree lighting tonight in town tonight at five o’clock. We’re all going to head down and place an ornament on the tree. It’s a special town tradition. If you hang it during the lighting ceremony you make a wish and it’ll come true.” Bebe had a look of hope on her face that spoke volumes now that Frieda new the truth about her health.
“I’ll pick up an ornament in town,” Frieda assured her. “I wouldn’t want to miss out on a wish coming true.”
They took their time walking from the cottage, each seeming to want to savor the minutes alone together. He was the first to reach for her hand, but Frieda knew if he hadn’t she would have grabbed his.
“This is kind of silly,” she said, looking down at their hands. “Maybe it’s the holiday magic or how great it’s been here with your family, but what exactly are we doing? I’m going to be driving up to New York after Christmas.”
“New York isn’t all that tough to get to,” Milo said, squeezing her hand. “I’m going to be busy with mom, but I’m also going to need some breaks. Plus, if you think you’re going to get away without visiting now that she’s smitten with you, then you are sadly mistaken.”
“So you want to see each other again after all this?”
“When I put my ornament on the tree tonight, I’m going to wish for my mom’s health to be good. But I’m going to be looking over, hoping that you’re wishing for us to see each other again.”
“Hey!” a woman called from the doorway Sweet Caroline’s. “Hey, you cookie girl come here.”
“Cookie girl?” Frieda asked, looking over her shoulder and realizing the woman was talking to her.
“Yes, you. Come in here.”
They hurried their pace and entered Sweet Caroline’s leery of the woman who seemed to be vibrating with excitement.
“My name is Caroline,” said the woman. She looked to be in her early fifties with short brown hair and a kind smile, and now that she wasn’t yelling from the doorway of the restaurant, everything about her was warm and welcoming. “I’m the owner here and I bought a few of your cookies from the bake sale the other day. I’ve been asking all around if anyone knew you. I thought maybe I’d missed you and you’d left town.”
“I’m here through tomorrow,” Frieda explained tentatively.
“I need that recipe. Those cookies were exactly like my Gramm used to make. I have never been able to get anything even close. The whole town was buzzing about them. I want to sell them here at Sweet Caroline’s.”
“It’s my great-great-grandmother’s recipe and it’s been passed down in my family,” Frieda said apologetically. “I use very specific equipment and ingredients to make them. I sell small batches at farmer’s markets and a couple mom and pop shops where I was in Georgia. But I’m on my way to upstate New York now. I’m sorry but I just can’t share the recipe. It’s very special to me.”
“I completely understand,” Caroline said somberly. “Is there any way you could make me a couple of batches before you go? I’ll pay you plenty for them. What brings you up to New York?”
“She just broke up with her boyfriend and she’s moving back in with her folks,” Milo explained as though he were trying to make a point. “She could really end up anywhere if she knew she had a place to make and sell her cookies.”
Frieda opened her mouth to correct him but realized he was right.
“I would gladly keep you in business and point you in the direction of at least a dozen other places on the coast that would buy up every dozen you could make. What cottage are you staying in?”
“Mr. Niles Wishes’ cabin,” she explained nervously.
“This is just meant to be,” Caroline said, clapping her hands together with excitement. “I had Mr. Wishes in here this morning and he was asking me to keep my ear to the ground for a long-term tenant for him. He can’t do the week to week rentals anymore because he’s getting too old to keep track of it all. He said he actually double booked Christmas.”
“We know,” Frieda said, smiling up at Milo knowingly. “But I couldn’t afford to rent that whole cottage by myself. It’s so big.”
“He’s owned that thing outright for twenty-five years. He’ll gladly work with you if he knew it would save him from having to juggle all those weekly tenants. I can talk to him for you if you’d like.”
“I’m not sure,” Frieda admitted. “I’d have to give it some thought. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to moving back home. And I do want to keep baking and selling the cookies. Living on the water would be great.”
“And you’d only be an hour from the Tuckers,” Milo tossed in casually. “Not that it should be a factor or anything, but worth mentioning.”
“Right,” Frieda said, rolling her eyes. “Will you be at the tree lighting tonight?”
Caroline nodded. “Of course. I’ve got to get my ornament up and my wish in.”
“I’ll find you tonight and let you know,” Frieda promised. “Thank you for offering all the help.”
“Thank you for bringing those cookies. It made me feel like I was back in my grandmother’s kitchen again. You’ll have plenty of customers if you want them. Now, what can I get you guys this morning? We have some extra pie.”
“No pie,” they both said in unison as they waved her off and laughed. “Just coffee. Lots of coffee.”
Chapter Six
“That’s a darling little ornament,” Bebe said as she touched the sparkling green star that Frieda had picked out to put on the tree. “Mind if I walk with you?”
“Not at all,” Frieda said, looping her arm into Bebe’s to offer some support.
“Milo is a good boy,” Bebe began as they slowed their pace and let everyone else move a few lengths ahead and out of earshot. “He’s moving back home to help me out. You know what’s going on don’t you?”
“Milo told me.”
“Good, that means he trusts you. I know you two have hit it off pretty well. I tend to meddle and I try to play matchmaker but I’ve had very little to do with this one. The spark is there even if I didn’t try to fan the fire. You like him?”
“I do,” Frieda replied simply.
“He likes you too. Some people wonder if that’s enough. What about logistics? What about common interests? But that stuff isn’t nearly as important as the basic feeling of enjoying each other. You know what I mean?”
“I think I do.”
“I won’t bother telling you that life is short. I didn’t listen when I was young and I won’t blame you for not understanding how unbelievably fast time will go by. What I will tell you is that perfect circumstances don’t ever outweigh perfect feelings. Always follow the feelings.”
“Good advice,” Frieda said, catching Milo looking over his shoulder at them. “I have a chance to stay here, in the cottage, and sell my cookies locally. The woman at Sweet Caroline’s loved them. I might stay. It feels right.”
“Will you bring me a batch of cookies every now and then? Maybe check in on my boy, make sure he’s doing all right.”
“I’d be glad to. I’m not sure I’ve decided on staying yet, though.” Frieda drew in a deep breath as she continued to wrestle with herself.
“Well when you put that ornament up on the tree and make your wish, just close your eyes and see what comes to you.” Bebe squeezed her arm and giggled.
“I was afraid to interrupt,” Milo said as they all gathered around the tree and held their ornaments in anticipation.
“Just getting some sage advice from a lovely woman,” Frieda whispered as she took in the sights and sounds of Christmas in this beachside beauty of a town. A place she might be calling home soon. Her phone chirped with a text message and broke her from her thoughts.
Mom: It just isn’t the same without you. We’re missing your smile and your cookies. Hope you’ve found a way to make some special memories even without us.
Frieda: Love it so much here I’m thinking of staying. I know it’s crazy. I’ll fill you in later.
Mom: Crazy is sometimes the best thing to be! Call you in the morning. Love you bunches
As she tucked her phone away she embraced the idea of impulsive risks. She spun, wrapped her arms around Milo’s neck and planted a kiss on his lips. When she pulled away he held her tightly and below the twinkling lights of the tree he kissed her properly, with all the passion that had been brewing between them.
Letting her go, Milo kept his eyes fixed on her as he placed his ornament, an old faded red stocking, on a branch of the tree. Frieda pressed her eyes closed and made her wish as she placed her ornament next to his.
“You think your wish will come true?” Milo asked, wrapping a warm arm over her shoulder.
“I’d say the magic has a pretty good shot at working,” she sighed resting her head on his shoulder. “As a matter of fact, I think it’s working already.”
The End
More Stories in Indigo Bay
Everyone loves a world they can disappear into. Indigo Bay is your next escape. I've partnered with 5 other authors and we're each releasing a book set in this beach town full of love and humor. The books are all stand alone reads and can be enjoyed in any order.
Sweet Dreams - Stacy Claflin
Sweet Matchmaker - Jean Oram
Sweet Sunrise - Kay Correll
Sweet Illusions - Jeanette Lewis
Sweet Regrets - Jennifer Peel
Sweet Rendezvous - Danielle Stewart
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Sweet Holiday Traditions (Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series) Page 3