Page 1 of Christmas Cove

CHAPTER1

A pieceof golden bread popped from the toaster. With a small white plate in one hand, America twirled through her kitchen. Plucking the warm toast from its cage, she placed it all on the counter. From the butter dish to the knife drawer, and to the fridge where she retrieved her favorite strawberry jam, dancing around her morning routine left her feeling prepared to take on the day.

Checking the time, she noticed that she was slightly behind schedule and was still wearing her red plaid pajamas. Nothing peeved America more than running behind.If you’re not early, you’re late, she told herself as her teeth crunched into her breakfast.

She swiped her finger across her phone’s home screen and opened the weather app.Another warm day, she thought. With Christmas two weeks away, she had yet to see a single flurry, and disappointment wrinkled her nose.

Of all the years to have a warm December!Her parents were going out of town this year, and she would miss enjoying her favorite winter activities with them. She loved skating in the snow at the outdoor rink with her father, and she would miss the annual Christmas Eve Santa Hunt that one of the local neighborhoods hosts each year. America supposed she could go alone, but cringed at the idea.

“Oh, drat!” America remembered that her parents were leaving...today.

She brushed the crumbs from her fingertips before swiping her phone to the video chat app. Her momentary panic at having missed saying goodbye to her parents before their flight dissipated when her mother answered after only one ring.

“I was wondering if you were going to give me a call,” her mother said.

“Is that America?” her father asked from somewhere off the screen.

America motioned with a flick of her hand. “Is Dad there? I can hear him, but I can’t see him.”

Her mother panned the phone around. Dozens of people hurried around in the background with their luggage and children in tow. Loud, overhead announcements screeched through the receiver. To one side, the bright morning sun streamed through a wall of windows and glared across her mother’s face.

“Mom,” America said. “Mom! You’re making me dizzy.”

“Oh. Sorry, dear. Here he is,” her mom said. “Can you see us both now?”

The video tornado stopped, and the announcements ended, allowing America room to speak. “I’m going to miss you both so much,” she said. “Even though your favorite daughter can’t go with you, I’m sure you’re going to have a wonderful adventure in Italy.”

Her parents hadn’t invited her, not that she could have gone anyway with all the work needed to wrap up the magazine’s end-of-year issue. But her parents beamed. They had waited a lifetime to take this trip, and America was glad that her mom and dad could experience it together.

“Don’t be glum,” her dad said. “We’ll be back in a couple of weeks. And just in time for Christmas.”

Her mom shifted the view onto her face alone. “You’ll have extra time while we’re away to work on your writing. Or maybe go on a date—”

“Mom!”

“Who’s that nice man you spoke about who works with you at the magazine? What about him?”

America felt her eyes roll and wished her father would interrupt again. “I don’t need to date anyone. And besides, I’m going to be super busy at work and I’m sure I won’t even notice the time flying by,” she lied. If there was anything shewouldnotice, it was time.

“Honey, you haven’t been out with anyone new since your breakup with Alan a few months ago.”

America knew her mother meant well. Alan had been a great boyfriend, until he wasn’t. It was during a short trip to the shore when she realized he was more interested in taking selfies and working on his tan than he was in spending time with her or even thinking about anyone other than himself. She had broken it off without delay, deciding that no amount of fun was worth staying with such a selfish person.

“I know you want me to be happy, and I love you for it. But I’m sure I’ll enjoy Christmas with or without a man in my life.” America giggled at her father in the background of the video pointing at himself. She would always have a wonderful man to look up to in her dad. “Plus, did you see the weather? It’s going to be warm for at least the next few days. What kind of Christmas is it with shorts, and tank tops, and flip-flops—”

“How do you think they celebrate in the southern hemisphere?” her dad interjected. “It’s summer in Australia right now. I bet they still put out trees and snowmen, even those cute lighted reindeer in their front yards. And do you know what? I doubt they whine about the weather.”

“So, you hung up your ties at the law firm and now you’re some kind of meteorologist?” America joked, even though he was probably right. “Be that as it may, it just doesn’t feel right without snow. Or even a coat and scarf, for that matter.”

“Or someone to kiss under the mistletoe.” Her mother’s eyebrows raised in rapid succession. “Please try to have a little fun. It’ll turn cold soon enough, just you wait. And perhaps you’ll have someone by then to help keep you warm,” her mom said and rubbed the tip of her nose against her dad’s. “We plan on enjoying ourselves, too.”

“Gross,” America said as an announcement squawked through the airport’s loudspeakers, causing her to check the time once more. “I’m going to be late for work. I have to get going,” she said. “I love you both.”

“Love you too,” her mom said. “Promise me you’ll at least try and have a good couple of weeks.”

America nodded and blew her mom a kiss through the screen. “Have a safe flight.”

The screen darkened, and America darted to the bedroom where her blush pink blouse and black cigarette pants waited for her at the end of the bed. She slipped on her clothes and ran a brush through the curls in her hair that she had set before breakfast. She grabbed her phone off the kitchen counter and dropped it in her purse. At the door, she flipped the light switch off and watched as the flocked Christmas tree in the corner dimmed. In her estimation, there was nothing sadder than an unlit Christmas tree.

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