Page 21 of Jam and Jingle Bells
“I noticed. It looks like Christmas blew up in here,” I said, grimacing. There was garland, ornaments, and twinkle lights on every available surface.
“The mitten tree?” Ellis asked, his voice questioning.
Ivy swiveled toward him to answer. “Oh, right, you’re new here,” she teased. She looped her arm through his and walked him to the corner where the tree stood. “Every year at Christmastime, we decorate the tree with mittens, scarves, and hats,” she explained. “You bring in one of the three, you get a free piece of pie. By the time the annual Christmas dinner comes around, the tree is full and we have mittens and hats for the kids to go with their new coats.”
I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms. “More like the tree is full three or four times over. You always have boxes of them by Christmas.”
Ivy laughed with abandon, and it made me feel better to know she was feeling good, at least for tonight. “True, true.”
“Heck, I’ll fill a box if it means free pie,” Ellis said, nodding.
Ivy opened her mouth and then closed it before opening it again. “You know it’s not actually free if you keep buying mittens and hats, right?”
He grinned and held out his hands, palms up. “I know, but it makes me feel better about eating the pie if I know I helped someone else out in the process.”
Ivy did a round of fake cheering. “And he wins the game!”
Ellis laughed at her antics while I took in the diner one last time before making an executive decision. “We thought we’d grab some pie to go,” I said as Ivy came back around the counter.
“Oh, you can eat it here. I’ll clean off a booth for you,” she promised. “We aren’t closed for another hour, but you know me when I get that Christmas spirit on.”
Shep laughed when he came through the swinging door with another round of bins. “She’s like Mrs. Claus at the North Pole around here,” he said, giving his wife a kiss on the way by to booth four.
I ran to him and hugged him tightly, my lips near his ear when I whispered congratulations. He hugged me and whispered back. “Can you believe it? I had an asthma attack when she told me.”
I burst out laughing, taking more than a minute to get myself under control, all while he stood hands on hip. I held up my hand and forced the giggles back. “Sorry, you know I’m laughing with you and not at you. That’s so Shep Lund. I’m glad you’re okay.” I winked and he blew me a kiss playfully before trucking back down the hallway to the storage room.
When I turned back, Ellis was giving me the same look Shep had been. I sidled up to him while Ivy was busy answering a question for the cook. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Now then, what booth would you like?” she asked, spinning back to us.
God love Ellis for answering. “We’ll take a couple of pieces of pie to go. I don’t want to leave the business unattended for too long,” he explained, checking his watch nervously, even if it was just for show.
“Oh, right, I didn’t think of that,” Ivy said quickly. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. I bet you’re nervous as a cat on a tin roof. What would you like? We have two pieces of the holiday pie left. Peppermint cream. It has a chocolate Oreo crust.”
“Sold,” I said instantly, “unless he doesn’t like peppermint.”
“I own a place called Rudolph Yoga Express. Of course, I like peppermint,” he answered without missing a beat.
We laughed and I leaned into his chest while Ivy scooped out the pie and put it in a box for us. “Now, don’t be putting jam on this pie, Addie.”
Ellis laughed as he accepted the box and reached for his wallet. “I’m not sure there’s even a jam out there that goes with peppermint. What do I owe you?”
She waved him away. “Nothing. It’s the least we can do considering what you dealt with the other night. Enjoy it and have a good rest of your night.”
He tucked his wallet back in his pocket and put an arm around me. “Thanks, Ivy. I appreciate it, though it certainly wasn’t your fault. I’m sure it was just a freak thing. Kids out messing around and they weren’t thinking. Officer Dennison figures they should catch them easy enough.”
“Trust me, the police will catch them and make an example of them. That’s what keeps the next set of kids from doing the same thing.” Shep came through the door with another two boxes and she shook her head. “I guess I better get started on this place. The next time you’re here, it will be a winter wonderland.” Her voice held excitement while she did jazz hands.
“So you mean tomorrow,” I joked. “Can’t wait to see it, Ives. Have fun!” I headed to the door immediately before we could get roped into staying to help.
Chapter Six
The brisk wind hit us in the face as soon as we stepped outside and we automatically pulled our coats up around our chins. As December neared, the temperature dropped more and more each day. It wouldn’t be long before we would have our first real snowfall of the season.
“That was, wow, something,” he said, half-laughing to himself as we walked back toward the salon. We’d left his truck there when we finished dinner so we could get a walk in before we ate pie. I was going to suggest we go to the park and check out the tree again, but I was afraid standing in the gazebo meant another kiss I wasn’t sure I was prepared for. I might yearn for it, but I wasn’t prepared for it.
“That’s Ivy for you,” I agreed, turning left again. A snowflake fell and landed on my nose. “I guess we’re closer to that first big snow than I thought.” We walked in silence for another block and I paused, my breath hitching in my throat.
