Page 32 of Unwrapped

“You’ll see,” she winks, shooing me upstairs.

7

Shiloh

HAPPINESS FLOOD THROUGH ME. Main Street in Springdale, Oregon is a dream. All the Christmas dreams I had while staring out my window at swaying palm trees. A fresh coat of snow blankets the ground while clinging to the limbs of trees. Evergreens wear it like a coat. The police closed the street and it’s a winter festival full of piping apple cider, hot chocolate stands, coffee, donuts…the smells swirl around me with the snow.

But the lights make me believe in the magic of it all. The late morning is gray and overcast but the thousands of twinkling lights make it shine. A bonfire is lit, and people stand around chatting and munching all while waiting for the big, fat man to show. A sleigh is set up behind velvet ropes. There’s even a small pen with reindeer munching on hay. Vendors are set up along the main street hunkered under pitched white tents and string lights; their outdoor winter’s market the perfect touch.

“What do you think?”

“It’s a surreal. The town really went all out. I mean reindeer?”

Sally chuckles. “No one stops Devon when she puts her mind to something. You’ll meet her soon. She’s married to the mayor and one of my good friends. My shop’s over there next to the art gallery.”

“You have a shop?”

“It’s seasonal. I’m closed for winter but yeah, I have a small coffee and bake shop.”

“It’s no wonder I’m going to gain twenty pounds by the time I leave.”

Sally smiles “If you ever leave. I thought I was just coming for a visit and I ended up staying.”

“I have students to get back to. I would never leave them.”

“You enjoy teaching?”

“I do. It’s fulfilling. Watching my students learn and grow, helping them figure it all out…I do my part and push them forward on their way.” I pause, letting my gloved hand pick up a crocheted scarf that has the same cream color yarn as the cream in my “fur” coat.

“How much?”

“Twenty, Ma’am.” The woman sitting behind the booth smiles.

“That’s a steal.” I hand over a crisp bill and put the handmade scarf around my neck, throwing the ends over my shoulder. A warm smile comes easy as many people make polite greetings. Everyone knows each other that much is clear.

“You’re getting quite the amount of attention.”

“It’s my coat. It’s warm but now I feel silly. I’m a fish out of water.”

“Nonsense. All the woman just wish they could look as good as you.”

My heads turns at the sound of revving engines. I gasp as about twenty men wearing leather cuts over plaid flannel, jeans and sturdy black boots ride through the barricade and park their huge chrome bikes.

“Wow.”

“That’s Creed, the local MC. The town’s mayor was an original member.”

“It’s just like TV.”

“Shhh. It’s our little secret.”

I look from one to the next while pretending to look over the bottles of homemade maple syrup the next vendor has on display. “They’re all so…huge. Who’s that one?” I motion over to a large man with caramel skin, closely shaven dark hair with a heavy five o’clock shadow covering his strong jaw.

“That’s Federico, the VP.”

“Wow.”

“I’ll introduce you. He’s single.”

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