Page 12 of Christmas Promises

Nolan rolled his eyes. “Just make my coffee.”

They chatted about their family’s plans for the holidays while Max brewed a latte behind the counter. The store had many sections: wine, local produce, and crafts. You name it and Max stocked it. Everything Max sold couldn’t be beat anywhere in town or in the surrounding counties. He had the best produce, a lot of it grown in greenhouses right here in Sugarville Grove, including one a stone’s throw from the store. His coffee was divine. The wines he sourced were some of the best in the world. A bakery in town supplied most of his fresh treats, restocking daily. He only sold cheeses and meats that came from local farms. His customers knew they were getting quality products no matter what they were shopping for.

“You want anything else?” Max asked.

Nolan hesitated. Should he tell him about Laney and risk endless teasing? Although Max might already know she was helping out her Aunt Edna for the holidays. This was a small town, and Max had a lot of people in and out of his store all day long. Gossip abounded. Not to mention the old guys who played checkers in front of the store. Between them and Kris Olaffson, the town’s postman who also played Santa every year, there weren’t many secrets in Sugarville Grove.

“Yeah, so you won’t believe who I ran into yesterday,” Nolan said.

“Who’s that?” Max asked. “Wait, don’t tell me. Laney Gray, right? I heard she’s working at her aunt’s bookstore for the holidays. Is it true she called off a wedding at the last minute?”

“Something like that. How did you know?”

“Someone mentioned it yesterday. You know how it is around here. Anyway, how is she? Is she still as pretty as can be?”

Nolan sighed, the memory of her smile spreading warmth through his chest. She was the sun, that girl.

“Yeah, she’s beautiful. Sweet, too. Given her called-off wedding, she’s a little down, but she still has that optimistic, curious attitude. She’s here to figure out what she wants to do next.” He told Max what she’d told him about her fiancé and the best friend.

“Wow. That’s cruel, man.”

“I know. Similar to my story, right?”

“Sure is. Weird.” Max tilted his head, looking at him sympathetically. “How are you holding up? Did you go out to see Dylan the other day?”

His family knew he visited the grave site on the anniversary of Dylan’s death.

Nolan pinched the bridge of his nose as the familiar ache entered his chest. “I’m fine. I just thought that after all this time it might be a little easier. You know, hurt a little less. But it just never does.”

“You loved him. That doesn’t change just because you can’t see the physical version of him,” Max said.

“I should go. I’ve only got a few more classes to teach before break.”

Max reached under the counter to pull out a metal bin decorated with snowmen. “Here, take these cookies. Mom dropped them off yesterday. She had a car full, making her rounds.”

“Nah, she’ll bring some by for me.”

“Then take them in for your students. I’m trying to lose a few pounds.”

Nolan looked at him incredulously. “You? Why are you trying to lose a few pounds?”

“Oh, trust me, I need to. I’ve gained five in the last month. It started with Halloween—you know, all that candy—and then Thanksgiving, and now it’s Christmas, so it’s even worse. Plus, this place has been a zoo, so I stress-eat.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve never known you to stress about anything.”

“Well, maybe you don’t know everything about me, do you?” Max asked.

“Maybe I don’t.” They exchanged brotherly grins, born from years and years of teasing each other. “Seriously, though, what are you stressed about?”

Max lifted one shoulder. “This place might be killing me.”

“What do you mean?”

“It never ends. I can never have a day off. Or make any time for a social life.”

Ironic. Max had always been the playful, fun one, never taking anything too seriously. School had been easy for him, but he hadn’t really cared, either. Everything worked out for Max without him even trying.

Before Nolan could ask for any further details, a customer came in, so Nolan said his goodbyes and headed out to his car to head to work. As he drove the two-lane highway toward the university, he turned on Christmas music. Before Dylan’s murder, he’d been a sucker for anything Christmas, just like his mother. But after it happened, December represented the month Dylan died instead of Christmas. Maybe it was time he snapped out of his funk and embraced the season?

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