Page 27 of The Clause in Christmas
“Cassie! Finally! I thought I’d never reach you.”
As the familiar baritone oozed through the speaker, Cassie nearly lost her balance. Her fingertips instinctively found their way beneath her scarf, curling around the cold metal of the silver heart charm. “Derek, I told you never to call me again.”
“But I have great news.” Derek’s chipper tone contrasted starkly with Cassie’s strangled breath.
“Stop calling me,” she hissed, stepping out of Ben’s earshot, grateful he seemed preoccupied trying to locate another branch. “I’m going to hang up now.”
“Wait, Cassie. Two seconds. That’s all I ask.”
Cassie hesitated, toying with the necklace.
Derek took her silence as an invitation. “I did it, Cass. I finally bought a coffee shop! Just like we always talked about.”
Drawing in a breath, Cassie closed her eyes against all the memories of late nights they’d spent dreaming about opening a coffee shop together. Derek utilizing his skills as a green coffee buyer, and Cassie lending her wealth of knowledge and experience. “That’s great, Derek. Good for you.” She didn’t care how bitter she sounded. It had beenherdream in the beginning. Not his.
Derek laughed, unperturbed by her tone. “I don’t think you understand what I’m trying to say. I want to hire you, Cass. I want this coffee shop to beours.”
* * *
As Luke idled the pickup in the driveway, waiting for the engine to heat up, he pulled out his cell and dialed his mom’s number.
“Hi, sweetheart.” His mother’s cheerful tone reverberated through the speaker after the first ring.
“Hey, Mom. Just calling to check in.” He wedged the phone between his chin and shoulder, checking the air vents for any sign of warmth.
Maggie chuckled softly. “You came by for dinner a few nights ago. And restocked my firewood. You don’t think I went through all those logs already, do you?”
“No.” Luke rubbed his hands against the bitter cold. “But it was a pretty bad storm yesterday. Just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, honey. Heading to the bakery in a few minutes. Will you be stopping by before work? I prepped a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls last night.”
Luke’s stomach rumbled. “I’d love to, but I’m going to check on Dolores. I think she left the phone off the hook again. I couldn’t get through.”
Maggie sighed. “I keep telling her to get a cell phone. But she insists they’re the scourge of humanity.”
Normally Luke would have shared in a laugh over Dolores’s idiosyncrasies, but his heart thrummed with nervous energy. “I gotta go, Mom. I’ll see you later, okay? Love you.” Ending the call, Luke tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and shifted into reverse. Something didn’t sit well in the pit of his stomach.
In less than twenty minutes, Luke pulled up to a butter-yellow farmhouse framed by a white picket fence and dormant rosebushes, all coated in a thick layer of snow like icing on a cake.
Bounding up the broad steps two at a time, Luke knocked on the front door, scanning the wraparound porch for any signs of damage while he waited for Dolores to answer. A few fallen branches littered the front yard, but none near the house. Luke breathed a little easier.
He raised his fist to knock again, but the door creaked, inching open.
Dolores leaned against a walking stick, her face creased in pain. “Luke! What a pleasant surprise.”
“What happened?” Luke rushed to her side, sliding an arm around her waist for support.
“Oh, it’s nothing. No need to fuss over me.” She tried to laugh and winced.
“Come on. Let’s get you off your feet.” Luke kicked the door closed with the heel of his boot and helped Dolores into the small sitting room just off the entrance.
“It’s silly, really,” Dolores insisted as Luke eased her into the armchair in front of the fireplace.
“Silly or not, I want to hear what happened.” Luke took the walking stick from her hand and propped it against the side table before glancing around the room for a footstool. He almost missed it buried beneath a pudgy orange fur ball.
“Sorry, Banjo.” Luke shooed the large tabby cat off the ottoman before scooting it closer to Dolores.
Banjo hissed and ruffled his tail, giving Luke the evil eye before sauntering toward his plush chenille bed in front of the hearth.
