“Josh,” I said sternly, as if I were a mother scolding my child. “We talked about this. Just friends, remember?”
Embarrassed, Josh nodded and turned to the street. “Would you want to check out some more stations?” he asked.
“Sure. Tammy, I’ll see you in a bit. Good luck!”
As soon as we were out of Tammy’s ear range, I let loose. “What the hell was that, Josh?”
“What? You looked cold. I was only trying to keep you warm. You’ve made it perfectly clear that we’re over,” he responded quietly.
“Bullshit,” I snapped but then calmed down when I saw the kids in the gazebo were staring. “But I appreciate the gesture.”
“Anytime, toots,” he teased and winked at me. “Why don’t you take me to another station so I can get a feel for this Grace Valley lifestyle you all rave about.”
I smiled and grabbed his arm. “Okay, but no more tricks.”
I took in a deep breath and smiled. My mother would have loved this. I wondered how much of this was her idea in the first place. I nodded to Josh and we made our way through the crowded sidewalk to the snowman building contest. I leaned down and swiftly grabbed a handful of snow and threw it in Josh’s face.
“Ah, what the—” he yelled, wiping the snow from his face. “Oh, you are so on!”
Josh grabbed as much snow as his hands could hold and made a beeline for me. He threw the snow at my head just as I ducked, and he thankfully missed me completely.
“Oh, Joshua, when will you learn not to mess with the master?” I gloated and bent down to collect more snow.
As soon as I turned to get up, a snowball hit me square in the back, causing me to pop up in shock. My eyes widened and I charged at him, knocking him to the ground and throwing snow all over his face. We laughed so hard until I couldn’t hold my weight anymore, and I collapsed into his arms. We laid there staring at each other. I was comfortable in his arms, but I felt nothing.
CALEB
I didn’t mean to stare but I couldn’t help it. It was heartbreaking to see her with another man, but there was nothing I could do about it. I saw Josh notice me out of the corner of his eye. He leaned closer to Leah and then planted a huge kiss right on her lips. I knew they were together, but it still caused my jaw to drop.
“What’s so interesting?” Brittany said, blocking my sightline.
She turned around and saw Josh kissing Leah in the snow and her face dropped, but not for the same reason as mine. She whipped back around and jabbed her finger in my face.
“Is this a joke?” she asked. “As if it’s not bad enough that you dragged me to this nothing town to go to your ex-girlfriend’s mom’s funeral, but now you’re watching her kiss her new boyfriend with your fiancée two feet away?”
Brittany’s nostrils flared and her lips pursed, and I snapped out of it and grabbed her hand.
“Come with me,” I demanded.
I walked down the sidewalk trying my best to be inconspicuous, but Brittany continued to wear her snotty, too-good-for-Grace-Valley expression, and it made it hard not to think that everyone had noticed. We stopped right on the other side of the gazebo and I turned to face her, grabbing both of her hands in mine.
“Britt, I haven’t seen her in over seven years. I’m sorry if it looked like anything other than me standing there noticing someone. Leah and I are over. We’ve been over for quite some time. You know this.”
“Well, it sure didn’t look that way to me,” she snapped back.
“I understand and I’m sorry,” I said, kissing her hands. “Can we please forget it and continue with the festival? We’ll be back in Tennessee before you know it.”
“Fine,” she agreed. “But I’m still not happy about this.”
Brittany and I followed the path going in the opposite direction of Leah and Josh. When Brittany was busy reapplying her lipstick, I snuck a glance back and saw Josh helping Leah up and wiping the snow off her jacket. They were laughing and looked so in love.
In that moment, I knew I was marrying the wrong girl. I looked down at my feet, not sure what to do.
“Ready,” Brittany told me, making a kissy face.
I took her hand and we headed down toward the ugly sweater contest booth.
LEAH
My eyes widened and I slapped Josh so hard it could have been heard across the state of Connecticut. I was seriously losing my patience with him.
“What the fuck was that, Josh? We just got through talking about this. Why the hell would you do that?” I said, pushing off him and sitting in the snow.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I saw an opportunity in the moment and I took it. I thought maybe you’d changed your mind and you felt the same way,” he said. “Did you really have to slap me?”
“You’re lucky that’s all I did, Josh. I can’t believe you thought I would be okay with that. Maybe you should just go back to the city and I’ll see you around,” I said and walked away.
“Leah, wait. Stop,” Josh said. “I really am sorry. Full disclosure? I saw your ex standing across the way, and I wanted to make him jealous. I could see how hard it’s been for you being here and, I don't know, I wanted to make him feel that way, too.”
“Josh…” I said quietly. “That’s very sweet in a really twisted way, but you have to stop doing this. You keep telling me you’re trying to help me or it felt right in the moment. I keep telling you it’s over. You don’t have to leave, but please be honest with me. Why did you come here?”
Embarrassment swept across Josh’s face, and I knew the answer to my question before he even opened his mouth. Why else would a newly-broken-up-with man travel to a small, country town in Connecticut? Surely, not to attend the funeral of someone he hadn’t known.
“I promise you, I really did only have the purest of intentions when I decided to come here. I knew you were hurting based on the way we ended things, and I wanted to be able to be there for you,” he told me. “But, as soon as I got here and sat outside with your dad, I knew I wasn’t going to be okay with everything. I really just want to be with you.”
“I respect your honesty, Josh, but I told you I couldn’t do this and that I really needed this time for myself,” I responded. “This was also one of the main reasons I had to end things with you. You’re always only in it for yourself. I loved you so much, but I love myself more. I understand if you want to leave. I can have someone collect your things from the house if you want.”
“If you really want me to leave, then I will. But who is going to judge the hot cocoa contest?” he teased.
“Oh, gosh,” I said, swatting his arm. “You can stay, but for Pete’s sake, stop making moves on me. It’s never going to happen.”
We smiled at each other and continued our walk throughout the festival. The smell from the sugar cookie station wafted down the sidewalk, and I watched as every child and adult who walked by stopped to sneak a peek.
“Want to decorate some cookies?” I asked him. “They’re all homemade and donated by Mrs. Kratz. We don’t have to join the contest, but it’ll be fun to decorate.”
“I don’t have an artsy bone in my body, but I love me some sugar cookies,” he said. “I’m game. Let’s go.”
It was such a shame I didn’t have romantic feelings for him; he was quite the catch. But I hoped he’d find his forever one day.
“What are you thinking about?” Josh asked me.
“Oh, nothing,” I replied. “Just happy to be on the same page. And surrounded by cookies.”
Josh laughed and started to decorate his cookie. He chose a Christmas tree but it ended up looking more like it had gotten struck by lightning. I must have inherited some of my mother’s artistic genes because I ended up decorating my snowflake cookie so beautifully. I chose white icing and used a silver edible marker to create the dainty lines on each small corner of the flake. Then I dusted the top with shiny silver glitter and the cookie sparkled in the light.
“Well, excuse me,
Cake Boss!” Josh teased me. “Looks like someone might have a new career path.”
I giggled and looked at my cookie. I wanted to eat it and frame it all at the same time. “I haven’t done this in years. It felt good to decorate again. But this is just a hobby. I couldn’t do it for a living. Although, my mom used to tell me that once you turn your hobby into your work, it’s like not working at all because you’re doing what you love.”
“Your mom sounds like she was a wise and sweet woman. You must be a lot like her,” Josh said. “I’m sorry I never got the chance to meet her.”
I smiled and packaged up my cookie. I grabbed a few cookie kits to bring back to the city and paid the woman who was running the station. It was almost time for the hot cocoa contest.
“You ready to pick the best cocoa, Josh?” I asked. “This is Grace Valley so you’d better choose wisely.”
26
The walk to the hot cocoa station was short but we took our time. The kids who weren’t doing their final rehearsal for the concert were busy seeing who could find Rudolph’s nose first. Marina Palmer set up a scavenger hunt and the children had to make it through fifteen clues. Once they made it to the second to last clue, they had to close their eyes and pin the nose on the reindeer to reveal the final clue. Judging by the ever-present excitement in their eyes, they were only about halfway through the hunt. Most of the kids were over it by the time they neared the end. They just wanted to win and head home at that point.
Josh looked over to me and nudged my arm. “Hey, I know it’s over and done with, but I really am so sorry about before. I don’t know what got into me.”
“I know,” I replied, sliding my arm through his. “It’s an adjustment. We were together for a while. I get it.”
“You’re the best,” he said.
“Yeah, I know,” I teased and rested my head on his shoulder.
We reached the contest just in time for the judging to begin. Ironically, the winner of the contest would receive a two-hundred-dollar gift certificate to Tammy’s Diner. I wondered what she would do with it if she won. Josh took his place next to the other four judges and rubbed his hands together.
“Now, this is what I call hometown fun,” he exclaimed, and the crowd erupted in laughter.
I stood with the crowd and watched as all the judges tasted the hot cocoa. It reminded me of the time in high school when I decided to judge the chili cook off. What a mess that was! Mr. Kratz entered and he put habanero peppers instead of jalapeño peppers. My mouth had been on fire for days! I’d die if someone up there made Mexican hot chocolate. Josh would wet himself. He couldn’t even chew cinnamon gum, let alone drink spicy hot chocolate.
I watched to see if I could tell which entry was Tammy’s. Tammy was so giddy that I honestly thought every batch was hers. I was about to try to find a seat when I felt a rough tap on my shoulder.
“Oh, hello,” I said when I turned around.
“Listen, I know this is your town and all,” Brittany spat, emphasizing town while rolling her eyes, “but I’m going to need you to leave Caleb alone.”
“Excuse me, what?” I asked, laughing. “I’ve barely spoken to him since I arrived. I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”
“I’ve seen the way he’s been looking at you, and I’ve noticed you always seem to be around.”
“This is a small town and there aren’t many places to go. You’re bound to bump into everyone at some point during the day,” I replied, trying not to laugh at her.
“You need to leave him alone or else,” Brittany warned.
I smirked and nodded. “Or else what, Brittany? You’re going to kick my ass? Please. We all know Caleb and I are long over. Before my mother’s passing, we hadn’t spoken in over seven years. Now run along and go back to your fiancé and leave me be.”
I watched as Brittany scoffed and quickly found her way back over to Caleb who had witnessed the entire altercation. She muttered something to herself and kissed him on the cheek as soon as she reached him. Then she nuzzled up next to him. I was glad I was close enough to hear everything.
“Thanks for bringing me here. It really is magical,” she said, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “I can’t wait to create more magic with you when we finally get back home to Tennessee.”
“Brittany, what did you just say to Leah?” Caleb asked, brushing her off him.
“Nothing. I was just saying hello and that I was sorry to hear about her mother, that’s all,” Brittany lied.
“I don’t buy it. I’ve known Leah my entire life and I’ve known you for well over four years. I know the both of you like the backs of my hands,” he said, his face showing every annoyance of his mood. “Neither one of you would have acted that way if the conversation you just explained had actually happened. So, what did you say?”
“Ugh, fine. I just told her she’d better stay away from you,” Brittany admitted.
“Are you kidding me?” he asked, his anger rising with every word he uttered. “Why would you say something like that to her? Her mother just died and that’s what you thought would be a good conversation starter?”
“I don’t like the way you look at her, Caleb. And I don’t like the fact that she has the ability to take you away from me.”
“Brittany! No one is taking anyone away from anyone else. You have to stop this. Jealousy doesn’t look good on anyone.”
“I’m sorry. I won’t talk to her again,” she agreed, reaching for his hand.
Caleb pulled his hand away from Brittany. Immediately, we made eye contact and my heart began to race. It was one thing to eavesdrop; it was another to stare. I pulled my eyes from his and looked at Josh who was happily sipping away at the hot cocoa. I had never been more confused about anything in my entire life. I had a great guy who loved me that I didn’t want, and the one guy that I had never stopped loving was engaged to be married to the worst woman in the history of women. And there had been a lot of questionable women in this world.
Bill Palmer broke me out of my unnecessary trance. “Ladies and gentlemen, our judges have chosen a winner!”
A round of applause and cheering interrupted his speech. He smiled and motioned for the crowd to quiet down. Josh stood up and handed him the envelope with the winner’s name, and he shook it in the air for all to see.
“And the winner of this year’s Grace Valley hot cocoa contest is,” he started, drumming on the podium, “first time entrant, Tammy Patterson! Congratulations, Tammy! You have won a two-hundred-dollar gift certificate to…your own restaurant!”
Get out! You couldn’t even make this stuff up.
“Oh my word! I won?” Tammy asked, tearing up as Bill handed her the gift certificate.
“Yes, ma’am, you sure did,” Bill replied. “The judges were unanimous. Would you like to say anything?”
“Thank you, judges! This was so much fun! I would like to donate my winning certificate to the children’s hospital, as well as add three hundred dollars to that total. I know times can be tough, and sometimes, you just can’t eat any more of that hospital food,” she told the crowd.
“Tammy, you are one heck of a gal,” Bill said. “Round of applause for Tammy Patterson.”
Tammy did a little curtsy and handed Bill back her gift certificate. He smiled and put it in his pocket and headed off to another station. I waved to Josh and he came over to where I was standing.
“Now that was a lot of fun,” he said. “But I don’t know if I can drink hot chocolate again for a while.”
He put his arm around me and we walked to the gazebo to wait for the concert to start. I didn’t want to admit it, but it was nice having a friend to share this with.
CALEB
“Congratulations, Mom. I’m so proud of you,” I said, helping my mom gather up her things. “I know Dad would have been, too.”
“Sweetheart. Thank you,” she replied, kissing me on the cheek. “It was his recipe that I used. I just added a touch of my own thing.”
/> “I miss him,” I said solemnly. “I wonder what life would be like if he were still here. During Lucia’s services, all I kept thinking about was how Leah must be feeling. When I lost Dad as a little boy, I thought my life was over. But I was able to consume my time with all sorts of activities and, of course, spending a lot of it with her. She’s got to go back to the city knowing she’ll never get to see her mother again. I can’t even imagine.”
“My sweet boy. You have always had the heart of an angel. Your father is so proud of you. I just know he is,” she said.
“Mom, I want to talk to you. Will you let me help you bring this back to the diner?”
“Of course, sweetheart. Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Yeah, I just need to get your take on some things. Let me go tell Brittany and I’ll be right back to help you pack up the rest of this.”
“Sure thing,” Tammy replied.
I smiled at my mother and turned around to find Brittany glaring at Leah as she talked to Josh. She wasn’t hiding the fact that she felt threatened. She also wasn’t doing what she promised, which was to back off and leave Leah alone. I took a deep breath and walked over to her.
Anticipating Brittany’s reaction, I said, “Britt, I’m gonna help my mom bring the rest of this stuff back to the diner so she doesn’t have to carry it all herself. Do you want to come or do you want to stay out here a bit longer?”
“Ugh, really, Caleb? Now you’re going to leave me here all alone for who knows how long?” she answered in a snotty tone. “No, of course I don’t want to walk all the way to the diner, so I guess I’ll just hang out over by the gazebo with the kids until the concert starts. Are you at least going to be back by then?”
“I’m sorry, I know this isn’t fair to you. I’ll be back in twenty minutes tops,” I said and then kissed her on the forehead before going back to my mom.
Return to Grace Page 17