Page 57 of A Bright Winter Season

They gave each other a quick hug and then Jacob headed toward the checkout while Hazel answered the call from Alexis.

“Hey!”

“Hey, Hazel! Where are you?”

“Oh no, am I late? I ran into Jacob at the general store, and?—”

Alexis laughed, sounding thrilled that Hazel had been talking to Jacob. “You’re all good. You’re not late. Actually, it’s perfect that you’re at the general store, because I was hoping you could pick something up for me.”

“Yeah?” Hazel’s tone was gleeful. “Is it peanut butter?”

There was a long pause, and then Alexis cleared her throat.

“Could you get three jars? One chunky and two smooth?”

Hazel covered her mouth with her hand, laughing. “You got it, kiddo. Is the chunky one for Grayson?”

“Um, no, they’re all for me.”

Laughing even harder, Hazel grabbed a package of peanut butter cookies on her way to the aisle where the peanut butter was.

She arrived at Alexis’s house fifteen minutes later, her cheeks flushed from the cold and her spirits dancing like snowflakes. Running into Jacob had made her day even brighter. She loved that they lived in the same town together, and she could see him unexpectedly like that. She loved it even more that she was no longer acting awkward around him. It was like their easygoing friendship had merged with her heart-thumping crush, and now she got to enjoy both.

Alexis opened the front door of her beautiful colonial house, wearing a comfy-looking green sweater and pressing her hand against her heart. “You’re a life safer! You got all three jars?”

“And peanut butter cookies. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate snack to eat while we’re planning your baby shower.”

Alexis groaned. “I’m going to be known far and wide as the peanut butter lady.”

Hazel shook her head gravely. “No, you won’t be, Alexis. You already are!” She scampered inside her sister’s house and Alexis squealed with protest and shut the door behind her.

Vivian and Julia were already seated in the living room, both looking excited and energetic about planning the shower. Julia had her laptop, a notebook, several colored pens, and a large posterboard spread out on the coffee table. Hazel smiled when she saw all of the items. Between the Christmas event and now the baby shower for Alexis, her family had never done somuch planning at once before, but it was clear that it was only serving to solidify their bond. It certainly helped that so many of them loved organizing things and planning things in detail. What might have felt like work to some people was for them a fun opportunity to brainstorm together and put their energies toward something.

“So,” Julia said, taking a bite out of one of the peanut butter cookies as their meeting started, “what are your hopes and dreams for this baby shower, Alexis?”

Alexis lay back against the couch cushions and smiled dreamily. “I mean, ultimately, I just want it to be a gathering of all the people that Grayson and I love. I want us to be able to come together and celebrate the baby.”

“I was thinking more in terms of a color scheme.” Julia grinned. “Or maybe thoughts on the kinds of food we should serve.”

“Everything should have peanut butter in it,” Hazel said, and Alexis threw a pillow at her.

The four Owens women continued to plan the shower, munching on the cookies that Hazel had brought and exclaiming in excitement over each other’s good ideas.

Hazel felt filled with contentment as she listened to her mother and sisters talk. She felt proud of how good they were at creating fun, meaningful events. She couldn’t wait to celebrate her sister’s new bundle of joy, surrounded by their family and friends.

Finally, it was well past dinnertime, and even though Alexis had served them all snacks of incredible guacamole and tortilla chips along with Crab Rangoon, they agreed that it was time for them all to head home and eat full meals.

“We got a lot planned,” Julia said, sighing with satisfaction and clicking the pink pen she’d been using shut. “I can’t wait to decorate.”

“I can’t wait to bake.” Hazel rubbed her hands together. “I’m going to make the best peanut butter and chocolate pie you ever tasted.”

Calling out affectionate goodbyes, Vivian, Julia, and Hazel stepped back out into the cold. Hazel climbed into her car, glad that her coat and gloves were so warm. Colorful Christmas lights glowed on the street around her as she started to drive toward home.

It’s going to be a wonderful Christmas, she thought.We all have so much to look forward to.

She hummed along to Christmas carols on the radio as she drove back to her cozy little house. When she arrived, she froze, staring at her home for a moment in alarm. In the faint glow from the streetlights, she could see a man fiddling with one of her downstairs windows.

Her heart in her throat, she hopped out of her car, ready to shout at him or call the police. But in the next moment, relief filled her and she started laughing. The man had turned toward her with a sweet grin that she would have recognized from a mile away.

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