Finding Christmas (Blue Harbor Book 7)

by Olivia Miles

  “The orchard has been in my family for generations, and back when my father and his brother took things over, they started making wine and cider.” She smiled fondly. “Some of my happiest childhood memories are from harvest time. We even have a festival every year.”

  He looked impressed. “I’ll have to check it out if I’m still in town.”

  Right. That. Travis’s temporary status applied to his personal life, too, and Jenna would be wise to remember that. He was a storm, shaking things up at the moment, but eventually, he’d pass through town.

  “Your grandmother never brought you? She usually attends all the events we have at the orchard.”

  Travis’s smile slipped. “I didn’t visit much. My mom and I moved around a lot.”

  “Is that why you still move so much?” She had meant to be conversational, but the tightening of his jaw told her that she had hit a nerve. “Well, your grandmother loves the harvest fest. All the labels are named after one of the Conway women, and I think her personal favorite is the Brooke. Named after my sister.”

  His grin returned. “Well, then, perhaps I should let you do the honors.”

  She didn’t need to look at the menu to know what kind of wine they should order, or what she would be eating, either, but she suddenly wished for an excuse to hide behind the shield of the menu when Candy burst out of the kitchen, her arms laden with plates that went all the way to her elbows in a way that made Amelia’s gasp across the room audible to everyone.

  As if balancing six plates on her arms wasn’t enough for Candy, her eyes widened on Jenna and her unexpected dinner companion.

  Jenna stifled a laugh as Amelia rushed to carefully remove two of the plates from Candy’s arms, but Candy barely noticed. She deposited the remaining plates at a table near the faux fireplace she’d installed last year when she’d first started working at the café, her gaze flitting back to Jenna.

  “Is that the same woman from the gingerbread event?” Travis leaned in to ask.

  Jenna pulled in a breath to settle her nerves, unsure if it was the anticipation of Candy’s impending interrogation or the way that Travis sat close enough for her to smell the musk of his skin and feel the heat of his body.

  “It’s a small town. You see the same faces everywhere you go.”

  “So I’ve noticed.” His mouth curved into a grin, and Jenna knew then and there that he wasn’t talking about Candy anymore.

  “Well, don’t you two look cozy!”

  Jenna closed her eyes. She should have known. Should have taken the lone table in the corner rather than sitting here at the counter, or at least sat two stools down, so it wouldn’t like she and Travis were here together.

  But now they were here together, on the same schedule. And about to share a bottle of wine.

  “Is this a Winter Carnival business meeting or one of a more personal nature?” Candy asked brazenly, causing Jenna’s cheeks to flame.

  Beside her, Jenna thought she heard Travis smother a laugh, and he picked up the menu, lifting it higher. Considering that as part of the planning committee, Candy knew full well that most of the planning was being done via email, and the real work would come when it came to the actual event, Jenna knew she was caught.

  “Just two people who happen to be dining in the same restaurant,” Jenna managed. She gave Candy a hard stare. If her aunt took the hint, she didn’t show it.

  “Well, isn’t that a happy coincidence?” Candy waggled her eyebrows. “But then, I like to think there is no such thing as coincidences, especially at Christmastime.”

  “What would you call it then?” Travis asked, and Jenna had to resist elbowing him, knowing that doing so would only excite Candy further.

  Instead, she braced herself for it, knowing that Candy, a hopeless romantic, would claim fate was in action. But Candy just gave a knowing smile and said, “Magic!”

  Jenna said firmly, “I’ll have the bottle of Gabrielle.”

  She knew that Candy would understand since she was married to her Uncle Dennis. The “Gab Cab” as it was known in the family was a top seller.

  Candy gave her a pointed look. “An entire bottle! My, my. Rough day? Or…celebration?” This was unfortunately followed by a less than subtle wink.

  Jenna should have known that Candy wouldn’t let this go so easily. “It’s half-price today so we’ve decided to share it rather than order separate glasses...” And she was rambling.

  Candy had already tuned her out as she slid her gaze to Travis and let it linger there. “And whose tab should I put that on?”

  Oh, for Pete’s sake!

  “Mine,” Travis was quick to say, and because Jenna didn’t want to drag out any more argument in front of Candy, she didn’t protest.

  Candy’s eyes widened on her and she hurried through the swing door, where a strange squeal seemed to come through the window pass.

  “She’s my aunt,” Jenna said by explanation.

  “Really?” Travis looked intrigued. “You certainly know a lot of people in town.”

  “She just married into the family this past year, but in many ways, it feels like she’s always been a part of it. She’s certainly made herself at home.”

  Travis’s brow knitted. Another nerve, perhaps?

  Jenna motioned to Amelia as she came through the swinging door, only carrying two plates. “And that’s my cousin Amelia. She’s an excellent cook, by the way. She even won a regional contest for one of her recipes.”

  “So a sister with a bridal salon—”

  “And another sister with a flower shop. You might have seen it on Main Street?”

  “The one who’s hosting the wreath-decorating event? My grandmother is looking forward to that.” He gave a little smile. “I always wondered what it would be like to grow up in a big family. My mother was an only child, and I was too.”

  “Any cousins on your father’s side of the family?”

  “My father bailed before I was old enough to remember him,” Travis said with a shrug, but there was a shadow of disappointment in his eyes. “I think that’s why my mother liked to keep moving. She called it moving forward, but I just called it moving.”

  “That must have been difficult,” she said quietly. “Saying goodbye to people you cared about all the time.”

  “I learned not to get too close.” Travis held her gaze for a moment and then looked away.

  Jenna was relieved to see that it was Amelia who was bringing them their bottle of wine and two glasses.

  She gave Travis a little smile as she uncorked it. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. Amelia Conway.”

  “Travis Dunne.” He shook her hand. While she poured them each a glass, he said, “I hear you’re quite the chef.”

  “If you like comfort food.” But Jenna could tell she was flattered.

  “Beats take-out pizza,” he said with a grin, prompting Amelia to flick a glance at Jenna. One that said, single, very likely single. Single and now sharing a bottle of wine with her. Jenna wasn’t so sure what that made this, but she’d almost say that they were becoming friends.

  “Well, I’d better get back before Candy adds too much cheddar to my mac and cheese.”

  “Is there such a thing as too much cheese in mac and cheese?” Travis joked.

  Amelia and Jenna exchanged a glance and then laughed. They both knew that Candy liked to take things a little too far, and believed there could never be too much of a good thing.

  “Are you ready to order or should I give you a few?”

  “I think I’ll take the house special,” Travis said, gesturing to the chalkboard in the corner.

  Jenna nodded the same, even though Amelia would already know that’s what she’d be having. It was one of her favorite dishes on the menu, a tried and true recipe, a winter tradition, so to speak.

  “I’m just about to take a batch of potpies out of the oven, so it won’t be but a minute.”

  “It wouldn’t be December in Blue Harbor without
Amelia’s potpie,” she said when her cousin walked away.

  Travis reached for his glass and held it up in a toast. “I think it’s only fair that we toast to the town library.”

  “Absolutely,” Jenna said firmly. She clinked his glass and took a long sip. “I hope that we’re able to pull together enough money to keep it open.”

  “It’s a shame to think of losing it,” he agreed.

  “Is that why you joined the planning committee?”

  He nodded, but after a pause. “Something like that. My grandmother likes to be involved, and what she can’t do I’d like to do in her place.”

  Amelia came through the door again with their plates, giving Jenna a wink before she disappeared again.

  “Doubt you’ve had a meal like this in Florida,” Jenna said.

  Travis looked at the potpie appreciatively. “You could say that again. This feels like a homemade dinner.”

  Jenna laughed. “Amelia makes everything fresh.”

  “No, I mean, it feels…like home, you know?”

  Jenna did. She just hadn’t stopped to think about it that way in a while.

  “Man, you weren’t wrong about this place,” Travis went back for a second bite.

  “It’s a winter tradition.” Jenna picked up her fork happily.

  “What is it with you and traditions?”

  “Me and this whole town, you could say.” Jenna chewed thoughtfully. “You really don’t have any Christmas traditions?”

  He didn’t need to think before answering. “Nope. Unless Chinese take-out classifies as tradition.”

  Jenna managed a smile. “If you did it every year, then sure.”

  “Can’t say I’ve kept it up in recent years,” Travis replied.

  “Well, I don’t think your grandmother will let you squirm out of any of her holiday traditions,” Jenna said.

  “Believe me, I know!” He laughed and took a long sip of wine. “I can’t complain much, though. It’s nice to be able to keep busy while I’m here with my grandmother and while I’m figuring out what comes next. I went through a breakup last year.”

  Jenna tried to picture him in a relationship and found that the image came all too easily. Still, she couldn’t help wondering why it had ended, and who had been the one to do it.

  “I understand the feeling of having all your plans pulled out from under you,” she sympathized, even though she didn’t have much experience when it came to romance. “It probably happens to everyone in some form.”

  “If we’re lucky, it only happens once,” he said with a grin.

  She wasn’t sure if he meant that he was no longer open to the idea of love, and decided that it didn’t matter. She was getting ahead of herself. The man was handsome, surprisingly good company, and as he was quick to point out, only here temporarily. Strange how that no longer thrilled her.

  “Well, I’m sure your grandmother is overjoyed to have you with her for Christmas,” Jenna said, knowing that Mabel usually relied on the company of her friends around the holidays.

  “Actually, I’m in a little trouble with her at the moment.” Travis gave her a knowing look and Jenna slapped a hand over her mouth.

  “Oh, because of what I said at the gingerbread event?” She couldn’t feel too bad, though. She’d just told the truth.

  “She’ll get over it,” Travis said with a shrug. “She sort of has to since I’m her only grandchild.”

  That was probably true. But did Jenna have to get over it?

  “Do you think that anything can be done to save the school arts program?” she asked carefully. She couldn’t let the opportunity to advocate for the program slip away, not when Travis seemed to be willing to hear her out.

  “If you have any ideas, I’m all ears,” he said. Then, setting down his fork, he said, “I meant it when I said that it wasn’t personal, Jenna. I hope you believe me.”

  She nodded, reflecting on his words, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. “I do now. Still, it’s hard not to take things personally when it comes to my music.”

  “You really love what you do.”

  She thought about this for a moment, knowing that she did, and she didn’t just mean in the sense that she enjoyed being able to play the piano every day, or lead the choir. “I enjoy teaching the next generation to appreciate the instrument. There’s nothing more exciting than a kid with potential. Watching their progress…I feel honored to play a role in it.”

  “I feel the same way. It’s why I went into education.” He was thoughtful for a moment. “My dad wasn’t in my life and my mom was working a lot. Some teachers really shaped me. School was a place where I felt safe, and challenged, and where I felt like people were looking out for me.”

  “That’s how I feel about Blue Harbor,” Jenna said. “Well, other than the challenging part. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if I took the easy path, staying in my hometown instead of moving on to a bigger city or trying something new.”

  “Nothing wrong with the tried and true.” Catching her look, he grimaced. “I apologize for calling the pageant stale. I have never even seen the school’s previous pageants.”

  “And yet you were eager to change it.” The sting had returned.

  “I was trying to make the best of a bad situation.” He looked at her frankly. “If there was a way to turn it around, I would. For what it’s worth, a lot of people are disappointed. I’ve had calls from a lot of upset parents.”

  Jenna couldn’t help but perk up a bit, but it was short-lived. “That doesn’t make me feel any better. I want everyone to be happy. This isn’t just about me. It’s about something the community values. I just hope the kids still have fun.”

  Travis nodded. “Me too.”

  And she could see by the look in his eyes that he meant it.

  “I should probably go,” Jenna said, pushing her empty plate away. “I have an early lesson tomorrow, before school.”

  “Well, this was nice, Jenna. Maybe I’ll see you around again sometime.”

  She gave a little smile as she wrapped her scarf around her neck. This was Blue Harbor. And it was Christmastime, meaning everyone was out and about.

  He could count on it.

  Chapter Eight

  Jenna had to hand it to Candy. By ten o’clock the next morning, Main Street was alive with shoppers eager to partake in the first annual Christmas Stroll. Jenna watched from her living room window as families and couples and friends walked slowly down the snowy sidewalk, most holding red shopping bags, all in good spirits.

  She pulled her gift list from the coffee table and skimmed it once more, making sure that she hadn’t missed anyone. Her family was growing with each passing month, it seemed, and she liked to give something small to each of her students, too. This year, she would get them each a small ornament unique to their personalities. But first, she wanted to stop by the bookstore and get a new cookbook for Amelia, who was always looking for inspiration from her favorite celebrity chefs.

  Just thinking of Amelia made her think of the Firefly Café. Last night had been strange, unexpected, and surprisingly fun. She’d smiled for the entire walk home, which she’d taken alone, even though Travis had offered to drive her. She’d passed on that—she had to draw the line somewhere, otherwise, she risked making the whole night feel like more than it was or should be. Travis had been surprisingly easy company, once the sensitive topics were shelved.

  Sometimes, she supposed, it took having dinner with a stranger to make you realize how much nicer it was to share a meal.

  Brooke was in her shop when Jenna came downstairs, armed with her list, her credit card, and careful layering so that she could withstand a long day. Usually, she would have waited to go shopping with her sisters, but as they each ran a shop in town, they were eager to participate in today’s fundraising efforts, and Jenna was just as excited to support it. If she could manage to fit all of her Christmas shopping into this single day, she’d end up donating a considerable sum to the library,
not to mention be exhausted enough to warrant a hot bath followed by flannel pajamas, and a quiet evening with her favorite Christmas movie.

  Normally this type of thing would be something she’d look forward to, even if her sisters would chide her about it, claiming she needed to get out more. Now, after last night, it felt a little less exciting than it would have just a week ago…and a little lonelier too.

  “You look ready for the day.” Brooke was changing out the floral arrangements, swapping the red roses with soft greenery, winter berries, and creamy roses. “You just missed Gabby, though. She dropped these off. Aren’t they lovely?”

  “Pretty enough to make me certain that if I ever get married, it will be at Christmastime,” Jenna remarked, admiring the oversized bouquet on the center table.

  “If you ever get married?” Brooke tsked her disapproval. “You’re young and pretty. You can’t stay holed up in that apartment playing the piano or listening to classical music for the rest of your life.” She stopped fluffing the greenery to give Jenna a pointed look. “You forget that when my shop closes, I often stay late in the backroom sewing. I know your routine. I know that you spend way too much time at home, alone.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being a homebody,” Jenna said defensively.

  “There’s nothing wrong with getting out once in a while, either.”

  “Well, I’m on my way out, now, and if you keep this up much longer you might end up with a lump of coal from me instead of what I originally had in mind.”

  Brooke grinned. “Point taken.”

  “Do you think you’ll get many customers stopping in today?” Jenna asked, wondering if most people would be sticking to Christmas gifts instead of wedding gowns or accessories.

  “I put out a notice on all my social media accounts,” Brooke said, nodding. “If someone’s in the market for an off-the-rack wedding dress or accessories, today is the day to stop by! Ten percent discount, which is a fair amount considering the price tag.”

  “That’s very generous of you.” Jenna knew just how expensive a wedding gown could be, even if she’d had no personal experience.