by Olivia Miles
Jenna didn’t protest. She warmed her hands over the crackling flames while she watched him walk away, toward the entrance, pausing to select a large wool blanket and then stopping again at the bar. He hadn’t asked her order, but she didn’t mind. Lately, she liked feeling surprised, and she knew that anything that the Yacht Club was serving was bound to be delicious.
He came back a few minutes later with two steaming mugs and the blanket tucked under his arm. She carefully took the mulled wine from him and then the blanket, stiffening only slightly as he helped it arrange it over her lap.
“You won’t be cold?”
“Nah. I have this super warm coat.” He patted the rather thin wool coat he wore and suppressed a shudder. “Between the hot drink and the fire, I’m set.”
She resisted a smile. “I guess the winters don’t get this cold down south.”
“Nope.” He laughed. “I thought I liked that, being able to slip into flip-flops on the weekends, not ever really worrying about grabbing a coat most days of the year, but being here, I’m reminded of how much I enjoy the change of seasons.”
“I’m not so ready for this one to change just yet.” Jenna sighed. All around them were other couples, families, gathered around the small fire pits, some roasting marshmallows, others watching the flames crackle and dance. Most of the trees of the property had been wrapped in twinkling lights, illuminating the nearby lake that caught the moonlight up above. Somewhere in the distance, she could make out a few lights on Evening Island, where she knew their snow-filled center of town also boasted a community tree, even if it wasn’t quite as grand and celebrated as the one here in Blue Harbor. “Fall is beautiful, especially on the orchard, and spring is special, especially when all the lilacs and cherry trees bloom. But Christmas is…magical.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in magic.”
She was surprised he remembered her saying that. Surprised by a lot of things. “I guess, I’m starting to change my mind…” She pulled in a breath as their eyes locked.
She caught herself, realized that she’d probably gone a little too far. Beside her, Travis was giving her a curious look, but at least he wasn’t laughing at her romantic notions.
Instead, he said, “I thought Christmases like this only existed in movies. I guess you could say I never really understood all the hype until now.”
She sat back to give him a proper look. “Why, Mr. Dunne, did you just admit that you have found your Christmas spirit?
He laughed, then shook his head. “I wouldn’t go that far, but I guess that if Christmas means more nights like this, then, yes. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to and…it’s something I don’t want to end.” His gaze lingered on hers for a beat longer than casual.
“Me either,” Jenna whispered, even though she wasn’t so sure they were even talking about the holiday anymore or if they were talking about something else, something more personal.
He leaned in ever so slightly, enough to make her heart speed up. Their chairs were arm to arm, and they were close enough for her to see the curl of his eyelashes as his gaze dropped from her eyes to her mouth, before he reached over to adjust the blanket on their laps.
“There you are, Jenna!”
Startled, Jenna looked up to see Candy staring down at her, alarm in her big blue eyes. “Oh, I am so sorry to interrupt what appeared to be a very close moment!”
Jenna didn’t dare to look at Travis, who had now pushed back against his chair, leaving a space where his body had just been.
“I waited, and I didn’t want to have to intrude…” Candy continued.
Jenna blinked at her. “You were watching us?”
“Just over there behind that boxwood,” Candy said. “I was waiting for a moment—”
And this had seemed like a good moment? Jenna closed her eyes and took one of the calming breaths that her sister Brooke had mastered while designing Candy’s wedding gown last spring…about two dozen times.
“What is it, Candy?” She made a silent plea that it wasn’t something about the choir. It was cold and flu season and the last thing she needed was to lose a few members the week before Christmas! “Is there a problem with the costumes?”
“Oh, nothing like that!” Candy assured her. “I told you, I have an in with the theatre. And Amelia is now giving the entire cast a closing night dinner on the house! All twenty-six actors, the director, the costume designer of course, not to mention the stage production hands…” She chewed her lip nervously; clearly, Amelia wasn’t thrilled by the scale of this. “No, it’s the carnival, dear. Gus pulled out his back and Cole is working on a big renovation in Pine Falls. I’m afraid we need all hands on deck if things are going to be set up in time.”
The carnival started tomorrow, and it was well past dusk.
“We are part of the committee,” Travis said.
She smiled at him. “And it is for a good cause.”
And even though the cause wasn’t directly solving her problem, the closer she got to Travis, the more she dared to think that her Christmas wish might just come true…and in more ways than one.
Chapter Thirteen
The Winter Carnival was an annual attraction for locals and tourists alike. Always hosted the weekend before Christmas, the entire town came out to participate in the games, eat the foods, and shop from the vendors who sold their seasonal items at the festively decorated kiosks.
Even a late night of hanging garland and counting out props for the children’s game couldn’t keep Jenna in bed much past daybreak. It wasn’t like she’d slept much anyway. Between the anticipation of the children’s choir performance and the memory of last night with Travis, her mind was too busy to rest.
She decided to stop off at the Buttercream Bakery for a coffee before heading over to the events, which would last through the weekend. As she walked past the town square, she saw that several vendors were already busy setting up their kiosks, and the decorations looked intact, even if many of them had been set up with only the glow from the Christmas lights and the moon to guide them last night.
Jenna was pleased to see that while it was busy as usual for this hour, Maddie was alone behind the counter, and there were at least four cranberry muffins left in the basket.
“Happy Carnival weekend!” Maddie grinned.
“What time are you closing up here?” Jenna asked, knowing that with so much of the activity centered around the carnival, most businesses that had stands closed up their shops for the weekend, leaving only the restaurants at the inns as dining options.
“My assistant already headed over to set up, but I wanted to oversee the morning rush. I heard from Candy that you were up pretty late last night setting things up—it was too bad Cole has that big job out in Pine Falls, because I know he would have loved to help.” She sighed happily as she often did when she spoke of her boyfriend and then suddenly frowned. “My dad didn’t climb any ladders, did he?”
Jenna laughed, even though it wasn’t entirely funny. Her Uncle Dennis had fallen off a ladder and injured himself enough a couple of years back to warrant round-the-clock care. Of course, the fact that the aide had been Candy who ended up becoming his wife gave the whole story a much more positive slant in their family’s memories.
“As if anyone would let him climb a ladder ever again!” Jenna gladly accepted the coffee that Maddie passed to her without being prompted, but her mind was back on last night, on the way her uncle and aunt and a few other townspeople had gotten the job done, working swiftly and efficiently. There hadn’t been nearly enough time for talking. “No, Candy assigned all the climbing tasks to Travis.”
“Oh.” Maddie gave her a suggestive look that Jenna couldn’t brush off if she tried.
Her cheeks flushed with heat when she said, “It wasn’t like that. You know Candy…”
“I do. And I know you, too. And you, my dear cousin, are redder than the velvet bow on my Christmas wreath.”
“Nothing happened,” J
enna assured her, even though that wasn’t true. Something had almost happened. She was sure of it. “We were all working on different things. I had to count out props and prizes for the children’s games over at the town hall for most of the night. And Travis had to leave early to give his grandmother a ride home.”
“Darn,” Maddie said with a mischievous grin.
Darn was right. That had been admittedly disappointing, even though she wasn’t sure what she’d expected. She lived in town, right in the center of Main Street. Did she want a snowy stroll down the quiet street with only the glow of the lampposts to guide their way?
With another flush, she realized that she had.
“Anyway, I’m just here for a cranberry muffin, and then I have to get to the carnival in case I’m needed.”
Maddie selected the largest muffin from the basket. “Will Travis be in attendance?”
“He’s part of the planning committee,” Jenna said, trying to temper her anticipation. “And of course he wouldn’t want his grandmother to miss it.”
“Of course.” Maddie handed her the paper bag with a knowing grin.
“And what can I look forward to tasting at your booth?” Jenna was desperate to get Maddie off the subject or idea of Travis. Her stepmother was wearing off on her, especially now that she was happily settled into her own relationship.
The question worked like a charm. Maddie’s eyes sparkled and she nearly rubbed her hands together. “Individual plum puddings, traditional Victorian Christmas cakes, only for practical purposes, they will be cupcakes, and a chestnut dessert that was a little more of an undertaking than I had planned, though why am I not surprised since Candy never does anything on a small scale!”
No, she didn’t, and in this instance, Jenna was grateful.
“Amelia is making mincemeat pies with modern ingredients, she keeps stressing. And Candy is making talmouse.” Sensing further explanation was needed, Maddie said, “They’re little pastries filled with cheese. You know how that woman loves cheese.”
The whole town knew, but it had been her delicious cheese biscuits that earned her a spot in Amelia’s kitchen where once only Maddie had been allowed to go.
“It all sounds so delicious that I’m not sure I should still eat this muffin!”
“You should and you will. Those are fresh from the oven ten minutes ago and the other three will be gone before you probably walk out the door.”
It was true, and it made Jenna proud of her cousin’s success. Most of her family members had found their way in this town, settled into careers they loved, and found someone special to share it all with, too.
“I should go and leave you to sell the rest, then.” Jenna handed over the bill and left the change in the tip jar. Her cousin Heidi was coming through the door as Jenna opened it.
“I was just going over to the carnival if you wanted to join me?” Suddenly the thought of walking in alone made her feel too nervous, too obvious.
“Let me grab a latte,” Heidi nodded.
Despite the cold, Jenna decided to wait outside rather than have two people teasing her about her personal life. She walked around the deck that ran the length of the building, facing the lake, which was partially iced over, the rocks that lined the shore were covered in a thick blanket of snow.
On days like this, she couldn’t imagine that she’d ever hoped to leave this town.
“Ready!” Heidi came out holding up a steaming cup. “I know that they’ll have plenty of treats at the carnival, but I thought I’d start with an adult beverage.”
Jenna grinned. Heidi was also the youngest in her family and she was forever cast in the role of the baby, even though she was in her late twenties.
“There will be plenty of adult beverages,” Jenna said as they walked. “Britt’s doing wassail in addition to the cider and mulled wine.”
“Wassail. Well, that sounds festive.” Heidi stopped and said, “I almost forgot. Does this look old-fashioned enough for the theme?”
Jenna had already noticed that Heidi’s usual hooded parka was replaced with a knee-length wool coat and a cashmere hat and gloves, all in what she knew Brooke would call “winter white.”
“You look lovely,” she said to Heidi, knowing that her cousin sometimes needed a little extra reassurance.
We all do, Jenna thought, thinking of her music.
“Lovely enough to catch the eye of a handsome gentleman?” Heidi laughed and sipped her latte. “I suppose it’s probably too late to find romance this Christmas.”
“Christmas is still a few days away,” Jenna said, knowing that she was really holding out hope for herself, not just her cousin.
She finished her breakfast by the time they made it to the square, which was even busier than it had been when she’d first passed by it. As a child, Jenna loved the snowman decorating and sledding contests, but as an adult, she most loved walking the perimeter, sampling sweets from Amelia’s and Maddie’s booths, and feeling the Christmas spirit in the air.
This year, of course, would be extra special, and hopefully even more special for Mr. Pritchard.
“I’m not sure why I never thought of having the children perform before,” she told Heidi.
“Probably because you were too focused on the school pageant to even consider a reason for doing something else. Sometimes you have to miss out on something to make room for something else. Of course, sometimes that often leaves room for someone else,” Heidi said suggestively.
Jenna shook her head, but she couldn’t deny that Heidi spoke the truth. Jenna had been forced to branch out, to try things she wouldn’t have otherwise, much like all those years ago when her grand plan failed. She’d been left lost, uncertain of the path ahead, and somehow, she’d found another course. One that hadn’t brought her fame or fortune, but had kept her right here in Blue Harbor.
Now, as children ran by her giggling, and couples walked hand in hand through the snowy festival, she couldn’t imagine a year when she would miss this.
From a distance the church bells rang, prompting Heidi to glance at her watch. “Time slipped away. I’m supposed to be helping to set up the skating races. I’d better get going. See you later?”
Jenna nodded and watched as Heidi headed quickly toward the pond before deciding what she wanted to do next. The usual craft stands were a personal favorite of hers, and she often bought one of Mabel Gibney’s knitted stockings or mitten sets as a gift, but this year she decided to wait on that and check on her family members first.
Cora’s stand was always a favorite for locals and tourists alike, and she made sure to keep each year fresh, with ornaments that were unique and special. This year, Jenna couldn’t help but smile at how perfectly she’d kept with the theme.
“It’s straight out of the pages of a Dickens’ novel,” she said, admiring the old-fashioned ornaments that she almost didn’t dare touch.
“It’s an old-fashioned Christmas!” Natalie, who helped out in Cora’s shop each winter when the big hotel on Evening Island closed for the season, lifted a particularly pretty glass ornament that was hand-painted with a snowy scene.
“It is,” Jenna said wistfully. She looked around at the town square, which had been converted into a feeling of an old Christmas market. The games and sledding races and snowman building contest were well underway, but there were also roasted chestnuts, classic carols being played from the speakers, and even some people in costume, while others did the best they could with long wool coats and matching hats, forgoing the usual puffer coats that were admittedly more practical in northern Michigan.
“I should go find my carolers. This year we’re taking shifts strolling the carnival.”
“Be sure to come our way!” Cora was radiant as she finished setting up her stand, and Jenna promised she would as she turned to hurry to the town hall, where the Dickens-era costumes were waiting in their usual rehearsal space.
Travis was just coming into the park when Jenna hurried to leave it. At the sight
of him, she felt a flush to her cheeks and her stomach rolled over, remembering the last time they’d seen each other and how they’d left things off.
Today, he was wearing a charcoal coat and a plaid scarf that had probably once belonged to his grandfather.
“I’m a little surprised to see you dressed for the theme,” she admitted. She hadn’t thought he’d go through with it.
“I’m full of surprises,” he said, giving her a devilish grin.
She took a steadying breath and glanced away from those eyes, finding that despite the lake effect breeze, she was rather warm at the moment.
“Besides,” he said. “My grandmother had a lot of fun with the idea. She had me rummaging through the attic for some of her old things. This included.” He fingered the scarf. “I also came across a photo for that frame I bought her.”
“Oh?”
“It’s one of her and my grandfather, dated their first Christmas together. I’m guessing she either thought it was lost or forgot about it. It was mixed in with some old decorations that she said she hadn’t put out in years. I’m hoping it will be a special gift.”
Jenna shook her head, unable to fight her smile. “Why, Travis Dunne, I do believe you have a little Christmas spirit tucked away in there.”
“I’m not a complete Scrooge,” he said, his tone teasing.
“No,” she said, letting her gaze linger on his handsome face, the trace of laugh lines around his eyes. “You’re not.”
He patted the scarf tied at his neck. “Well, it’s an honor to wear something that was passed down through the generations. Made me stop and think what I would ever have to pass down.” He frowned.
“I wish I’d thought to do the same at my parents’ house,” Jenna admitted. “However, Candy was able to talk a local theatre into donating their costumes to us for the next week, and I don’t think anything I would have found could live up to that.”
“I think you look fine just as you are.” Travis's gaze trailed over her coat and back to her face, resting there. “Wonderful, really.”