Page 6 of The Christmas Cookie Crush

There are too many questions and no answers right now, and I need to focus on getting through Christmas before I worry about that.

“You did good today, sweetie,” Mom says, rubbing my back after we say goodbye to the last kiddo of the day.

I stretch, then take the hug she offers wordlessly. “Thanks.” I didn’t do anything more than normal, but even if my parents are as worried about my future as I am, at least they don’t think I’m a complete flake. They know I’m a good worker, and we all know that they’ll make sure I have a job here if I can’t find anything else.

I should be grateful for that. It’s more than most people can say. I know that. But I’m ready to move on. I don’t want to cosplay as an elf every Christmas for the rest of my life, even if Mom did task me with the job of managing the elves this year. It’s more responsibility than I’ve ever had—more than any of us kids besides Sarah have had as an elf. Sarah has more responsibility now, obviously, since she runs the Christmas Emporium.

Even though I sat in on some of the interviews, Mom conducted the ones when I was away at school and did most of the hiring. But I’m the one who manages the schedule.

“Did you figure out who’s going to do the special event next weekend?” she asks after we break apart from our hug and I start putting the camera equipment away for the night and doing the end-of-day cleanup.

“Yeah. I was planning on doing it, but Sandra and Marcus both asked for extra hours.”

Mom opens her mouth to say something, but before she gets the words out, a throat clears behind us. Mom and I turn in unison to see Austin Stanton, the guy I’d managed to forget about for a little while, standing just outside of the area cordoned off by velvet ropes.

My hands immediately go to my hips. “What?” I snap, unable to stop myself.

I feel Mom looking at me with surprise, but Austin doesn’t seem phased. Of course he wouldn’t be, though. He never cared about irritating me. The opposite, in fact. Heenjoyedriling me up.

As if I needed confirmation, a ghost of a smile flits across his lips as he proffers a white pastry bag. “I think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday.”

My eyebrows climb my forehead. “Yesterday?”

The smile is gone now, replaced by mild confusion. “Yeah. When you came by the stand? For a pastry?”

It was a cookie. I always get sugar cookies. But I don’t bother pointing that out. Why ruin the thing I love even more by tellingAustin Stantonmy secret. He’d probably just find a way to make me hate sugar cookies forever. The same way he ruined licorice for me when we were kids.

I suppress a shudder at the memory.

I’d thought he was being nice for once, letting me have some of his licorice. But when I ate so much I puked, he laughed like it was the most hilarious thing ever. I felt so betrayed. He’d seemed nice, I’d believed him, and it was all a ruse to make me miserable. I can’t stand the taste of licorice now, and I haven’t eaten any since that day.

Crossing my arms, I tilt my head so I’m looking down my nose at him. “I’m not sure there’s a right foot for us to get started on,” I say, proud of my crisp tone, but aware that my mother’s looking at me with obvious surprise on her face.

“I’m sure it was all a misunderstanding,” she says in a valiant attempt to smooth things over. “Are you helping Dale and Diane while he’s recovering from his surgery?”

Austin seems reluctant to look away from me, but after a beat gives his attention to my mom, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I am. They’re my grandparents.” His smile goes lopsided. “I guess I’ve changed a lot since the last time you saw me, Mrs. Daniels. It’s me. Austin.”

Mom claps a hand over her mouth. “Of course! Austin! Now I recognize you. I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn’t place you. And we see so many people here …” She waves a hand, dismissing the rest of that thought. “When did you get back in town? How long are you here for?”

His eyes dart to me, where I’m still standing with my arms crossed and my hip cocked, watching this exchange. I’m not sure why, though. I should take the chance to finish up and escape while Mom’s holding his attention.

Forcing myself to move, I go to the computer and make sure it’s shut down, still listening to the conversation despite my attempt to ignore it.

“I got back in town a little before Thanksgiving, right after Grampy’s surgery. I wanted to make sure that everything got up and running in time for ChristmasFest. It’s been challenging, but we’ve managed to make it work. It’s not the same without Grampy, though.”

I snort, because he has no idea how right he is.

Both of them stare at me for a beat, and I glance back, doing my best to keep my expression mild, the nonverbal version of, “What? I didn’t do anything.”

“I’m so glad you were able to come back and help,” Mom says after a moment. “Give and Cake is a staple, both in town and at the ChristmasFest. I couldn’t imagine it without them.” Even though I’m now straightening books and toys and making sure there are plenty of candy canes for tomorrow, I glance up long enough to catch Mom giving Austin an appraising look. “Does that mean you’re likely to stay and take over the business? I know Dale doesn’t know how to retire, but …” The remainder of the sentence goes unspoken but hangs in the air anyway. Dale and Diane aren’t getting any younger. Eventually someone will have to take over the place.

My heart squeezes at the thought of Give and Cake closing. Or being sold to some random person who changes the soul of the place.

But Austin coming back and taking over?

My nose wrinkles involuntarily at the thought. I won’t be able to go there if that happens, either.

Of course, I’m hoping it won’t be a real issue. After I graduate, I’mgoingto find a job. Moving home isn’t an option I want to consider.

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