Finding Christmas (Blue Harbor Book 7)

by Olivia Miles

  Brooke tidied her desk in the corner of the showroom. “We’re all just doing our part. I see it as a win-win for everyone in this town. Shops will see a big increase in sales and with a portion of the proceeds going to the library, we’re also helping a worthy cause.”

  Jenna nodded. “I should do my part and start shopping, then.”

  “You’re already doing your part,” Brooke said with a smile. “You have the choirs, and Candy mentioned you’re on the Winter Carnival planning committee with her. You seemed to be working pretty hard at the gingerbread event, although I heard that you and our new principal had to be separated.”

  Despite herself, Jenna burst out laughing. “You make it sound like we’re a pair of children.”

  “Two attractive adults of the right age is more like it.” Brooke gave a dramatic sigh as she finished tweaking the flower arrangement. “If only you could find a way to get along.”

  Jenna wasn’t about to take the bait. “Travis is…well, he’s not such a bad guy after all.”

  Brooke let her fingers drop from the vase. “Travis, is it? Here I thought it was Mr. Dunne. Or was it…Scrooge?”

  Jenna laughed and adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder. “He certainly doesn’t have much Christmas spirit.”

  Still, she supposed that there was a reason for it, even if it was perhaps a choice by now.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were starting to thaw toward him.” Brooke gave her a little smile.

  Thinking back on Travis’s comments about not getting too close to people, Jenna shook her head and moved toward the door. “Look outside. Even the snow isn’t thawing.” And neither, she gathered, was Travis’s frozen heart.

  Bella’s Books glowed from within the large bay window and paned glass door. In her planter, she’d placed a small Christmas tree, complete with lights and a star-shaped topper. Jenna pushed through the door and breathed in the scent of a pine candle and paper. The store was crowded, as it often was, but Isabella still made her way over to Jenna with a smile.

  “I was beginning to think I’d never recognize a face in here today!”

  “That many tourists?” Jenna looked around the store, not seeing anyone she knew. Except…

  Her heart sped up at the sight of Travis engrossed in the jacket copy of a new thriller. She looked away and wondered fleetingly if she should leave now, come back later, or say hello. Or wait to see if he said hello.

  Last night had been nice, but it also left her unsure of where they stood. Was she still mad at him? Were they friends?

  Friendly, she decided. Maybe, even friendly enough to make him have a talk with the board about the music department.

  “I’m expecting more locals here soon. Storytime is starting in thirty minutes and we have a special guest doing today’s reading.”

  Jenna was just about to ask who that might be when the question was answered for her. The door jangled as a gust of sharp cold air pulled her attention and there stood her Uncle Dennis and Aunt Candy. Or rather, Santa and Mrs. Clause.

  “I thought that the Davidsons were playing Santa again this year!” she stage whispered to Bella, in case any children were in earshot.

  Bella shook her head. “Mr. Davidson hurt his knee and can’t handle any kids jumping onto his lap. And of course, Candy was all too happy to volunteer!”

  Jenna wondered how her Uncle Dennis felt about being tucked into a red velvet suit and white beard, but his eyes shone as he let out a merry “Ho, ho, ho!” and slowly made his way to the children’s corner, nearly crashing into two display tables from his fake girth.

  Behind him, Candy handed out candy canes to each person she passed, stopping when she found Jenna and Bella. “What do you think?” She blinked rapidly. “Too much?”

  If by too much, Candy was referring to three-inch candy cane earrings that flashed red and white, or the matching necklace that circled her neck, Jenna could only laugh.

  “Can there ever be too much Christmas?” she asked.

  Candy beamed and ran a hand over the velvet dress, which, like most of Candy’s clothing, hugged her curves.

  Jenna supposed that if there was any intention of slipping out of the shop without Travis seeing her, that opportunity had closed. Between Candy’s flashing jewelry and large bouncy curls, she had caught the eye of nearly every person in the store.

  Sure enough, as she moved toward the cookbook section, she caught Travis smiling at her from the display table. He set down the book and walked over to where she stood. “Here I thought maybe you were about to get into an elf costume and join them.”

  “Please don’t speak too loudly,” she teased. “We don’t need Candy getting any more ideas.”

  “You have to admit her ideas are good ones, though,” Travis said, and Jenna couldn’t argue. Candy had pioneered the library fundraiser; Jenna could only hope that a project this large would keep her aunt’s mind off her current love life.

  She glanced at Travis. Not that she had one, or needed one.

  Travis jutted his chin to the display of cookbooks. “Christmas cookies. That’s sort of a thing, right?”

  She choked down a laugh and looked at him strangely. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he said he never partook in Christmas traditions, however small. “You’re joking, right?”

  He picked up the book and flipped through some of the pages. The photographs were appealing enough to make Jenna consider buying the book for herself, especially knowing that it would benefit a worthy cause.

  “I’m here to buy a gift for my cousin Amelia,” she said, lifting the newest book from one of Amelia’s favorite chefs from a table. “But yes, I think I might buy this one, too.” She motioned to the book he was still holding. “I do happen to bake Christmas cookies. My sisters and cousins all do a swap each year.”

  “A swap?” He looked intrigued.

  “A cookie swap.” Boy, he really didn’t know much about Christmas, did he? “It’s an excuse for a holiday party. Everyone brings what they bake and then we can all bring a box home.”

  “Sounds delicious,” Travis said.

  Jenna looked at him as she took the book from his hands. “You’ve never baked Christmas cookies?”

  “My mom was a single parent and she worked long hours. But sometimes our Chinese take-out came with a fortune cookie.” He grinned, but there was a sadness in his eyes that told her maybe he had missed out on more than a traditional meal.

  “I’d love to know what you gleaned about your future,” she said diplomatically as they moved toward the counter. “Did the cookies ever tell you that you’d end up in this snowy little town for the best Christmas ever someday?”

  He held her gaze for a long moment. “I sort of wish it had.”

  Startled, Jenna frowned at him, then turned to face her cousin at the sound of a throat clearing. Bella stood behind the old-fashioned cash register, looking at Travis with open interest, and Jenna saw no way around an introduction. “Bella, this is Travis. Travis, my cousin Bella.”

  He gave her a funny look. “You certainly have a lot of cousins.”

  “Big family, and Bella’s on my mother’s side.” Jenna grinned at Bella, but Bella was too busy shaking Travis’s hand to notice. She paid for the books while dodging Bella’s curious glances, thankful that Candy had broken into song in the children’s room, which was making Bella twitch.

  “I thought she would save it for caroling,” Bella whispered with a pleading look.

  “I never thought it possible, but I do believe that she enjoys Christmas music even more than I do.” Jenna laughed as she took her shopping bag from her cousin and moved toward the door, Travis still beside her.

  She wondered if they would politely part on the snowy sidewalk, but instead, Travis looked at her and motioned to the kiosk parked at the end of the block. “Can I buy you a hot chocolate, or do you have a lot of shopping to do?”

  Jenna couldn’t fight her smile. “I do have a lot of shopping, but I won’t tu
rn down a hot chocolate.”

  He grinned. “Good, because I have a lot of shopping, too, and I’m sort of procrastinating.”

  “Oh?” She glanced at him as they moved toward a beverage stand that had been set up just for today, sponsored by one of the local restaurants.

  “I have a special lady in my life and it’s important that I don’t mess up the gift.”

  Oh. Jenna didn’t know why but she struggled to keep her smile and look him in the eye at the same time. Instead, she focused on the hot cocoa that was steaming from its warm pot, a sharp contrast to the cold air. When he’d said that he moved on account of a bad breakup, she hadn’t considered that he had moved on to someone else.

  Travis placed their orders and handed her a cup. “My grandmother can be a little…blunt.”

  Jenna laughed loudly, happy that she hadn’t yet taken a sip of the hot drink. No doubt she would have choked on that remark. His grandmother! Of course! Really, though, she wasn’t so sure why she was nearly giddy with relief.

  “Your grandmother is a wonderful lady,” Jenna said, even though she had to agree with his assessment. Once, while caroling, Mabel had cut them off during the first song and asked them to sing something else instead. Ever since, they’d stuck with her preferred playlist.

  “Wonderful, but picky. I don’t want to disappoint her.”

  “Think about what she likes to do, what her hobbies are. I know she loves to craft and knit. And if all else fails, buy her some nice Christmas decorations. I’m headed over to Harbor Holidays to get some things for my students.”

  “That’s a good idea,” he said, seeming buoyed by the idea.

  “But first…” Jenna grinned as she studied the toppings that had been set up for the hot chocolate. Crushed candy canes, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, and of course, whipped cream. She reached for the cream but then glanced at him sidelong. “Just so we’re clear, I’m going to put all of this on my hot chocolate and ask that you reserve judgment.”

  “Hey, it’s Christmas. The time to indulge, right?”

  She liked that answer. “It’s the time for many things, but yes, indulging is certainly one of them.” Their eyes locked for a brief second, and Jenna felt her cheeks heat despite the chill in the air.

  “So what do you do with the box of cookies that you take home from your swap party?” he asked as they approached the crosswalk. The walk sign was flashing and Jenna thought they could make a run for it, but Travis pulled her back just in time as a sedan pushed through a yellow light, spraying up an icy puddle onto the sidewalk.

  “Thanks,” she whispered, feeling her heart pound in her chest, even though she wasn’t quite sure if it was from that near brush or the fact that Travis was still holding her arm, even though her safety was no longer in question.

  “Some people can be real jerks,” he muttered, and she had to resist showing her smile because not so long ago, she had pegged him as one of them.

  “They can, but most people around here aren’t,” she said when they started across the street, clutching their steaming mugs. “And to answer your question, I share my cookies. Christmas is the time for giving, after all.”

  “Who do you share them with?” He had a funny look on his face as they walked toward the Christmas shop down on the corner.

  “My students,” she said matter-of-factly.

  Travis looked pleased with her response. “Well, that’s very nice of you.”

  “I’m a nice person,” she said with a shrug. “Which is why I’m going to help you pick out something for your grandmother. She’s a nice woman, too.”

  “She is,” Travis agreed. “Opinionated, but nice.” He grinned to show that he was half-joking. “And Christmas is her favorite holiday.”

  Jenna glanced at him. “Funny that it’s your least.”

  He didn’t argue with her. “We didn’t spend them the same way. I’m afraid her traditions never made their way down to me.”

  “Well, it’s never too late,” Jenna said. “Besides, this is Blue Harbor. In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s a little hard to ignore Christmas around here.”

  “Oh, I’ve noticed.” He opened the door to Harbor Holidays and the jingle bells chimed their entrance, underscoring her point.

  “Wow.” He stopped and took in the scene, which was definitely Christmas at its finest and largest. For years, everyone had been suggesting that Cora cut back on some of her purchasing decisions, at least until she sold more of her current inventory, but she couldn’t help herself. Each year she rearranged the store, creating new window displays and themes, adding to her collections of nutcrackers and Santas and villages and reindeer and elves and everything else one could possibly associate with the season.

  “Here, let’s start at the back. I bet your grandmother would love a new set of ornaments or a topper for her tree?”

  Travis nodded and followed her through the winding rooms of the store, each packed to the ceiling with decorations, all smelling of pine or cinnamon, and all filled with the wonderful sounds of holiday music.

  She handed him a basket and took one for herself. Little Keira was aching for a dog for Christmas, so she selected a sweet little puppy-shaped ornament for her. Georgie loved skating more than piano, which was fine, even if she didn’t exactly practice as often as she could, so Jenna added a pair of skate ornaments to her bag. By the time she accounted for all but three of her students, she looked over to see Travis staring blankly at a snowman-themed tree. His basket was empty.

  “Here,” she said, motioning him over to a display of household gifts ranging from mugs and oven mitts to candlesticks and platters. She picked up a crimson red picture frame edged in gold leaf. “You could find a special photo and put it in here.”

  He looked thoughtfully at the frame, which Jenna could imagine his grandmother putting out year after year, perhaps on the mantle, or on a side table near the tree.

  “You don’t think it’s too simple?”

  “No, I think it’s sentimental. I think it would show how much you care.”

  He pulled in a deep breath. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t even know what kind of photo to put in here.”

  “Take it. You might surprise yourself. Besides, don’t you think it would mean more to her than this platter?” She motioned to an oval platter painted with Santa’s jolly face.

  He laughed. “Point taken.”

  Cora, who had snuck up on them, was not so amused. “I happen to like that platter, I’ll have you know.” She set her hands on her hips, but it was clear by the sheen in her eyes that she, too, had opinions on the piece.

  “Cora, this is Travis Dunne, the new principal at the school.” Jenna watched as Cora’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Temporary principal,” Travis corrected, extending his hand. “Is this your shop? It’s certainly festive.”

  “Christmas is my middle name,” Cora said. “Or, it should have been. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

  “Don’t let Candy hear you say that or it will become your new nickname,” Jenna warned.

  “Good point.” Cora eyed their baskets. “All set? We have cookies and hot chocolate in the back of the store, if they aren’t all gone by now. I’ve had more people come through today than any other year.”

  Jenna was pleased to hear this. It meant the fundraising efforts were working, that by pulling together they actually stood a chance at saving the library. She knew she should be thrilled by this, buoyed by the community spirit and her part in it. Instead, she couldn’t help but think how wonderful it would have been if the same people who supported the library could support the music program at the school. She considered asking Travis to name the board members but then decided against it. She was having a nice day, and she didn’t want to spoil it. After the holidays, there might still be time to work on the music department, even if it was too late for the pageant.

  “We just had hot chocolate, and I still have a lot of shopping ahead of me. Can’t afford a
sugar crash.”

  “I’m all set. I only had one person to buy for, but that’s more than in past years.” Travis didn’t look as disturbed by this as Jenna felt. No one else to buy for, meaning no one else in his life? Between her sisters, parents, cousins, and aunts and uncles, not to mention friends, students, parents, and choir members, her life was full, even if her evenings were often spent alone.

  But Travis…Wasn’t he lonely? Or alone by choice?

  “What’s this?” When they reached the counter, Travis picked up the snow globe that had been in Cora’s family for generations.

  “It’s a wishing ball,” Cora told him. “I gave it to my stepmother, Candy, last year for Christmas, but after her wish came true, she insisted that I keep it here.” She looked up in alarm at the sound of a crash. “Uh-oh. Nutcracker down.” Cora hurried around the counter and toward a display of Nutcrackers in every shape and size, the largest of which had now tipped into one of the nearest fully decorated trees.

  “You think it works?” Travis looked skeptical.

  Jenna shrugged. She didn’t believe in magic, but she did believe in Christmas miracles. “it’s nice to think that it does. It’s all part of the feeling of Christmas. It’s above all a time for hope, and if something special is going to happen, then it’s probably most likely to happen at Christmas.”

  “And what is your Christmas wish, Jenna?” he asked.

  She gave him a knowing look. If he didn’t already know, she wasn’t about to say it aloud and ruin what had, so far, been another nice day in his company.

  She might have her students, and the choir, and all the wonderful festivities that the town offered, but there was a part of her Christmas that was still missing. And she’d be best to remember who was responsible for that.

  Chapter Nine

  The Carriage House Inn was one of the most beloved buildings in town, located on Main Street, just a short walk to the lake, with one of the best regional pubs located at the back. It was also owned and operated by longtime family friends of the Conways; the Bradfords were ingrained in this community just as much as the Conways, and it was no surprise that they were showing their support by hosting the gift-wrapping fundraiser in their front lobby.