Page 33 of The Clause in Christmas
Before Luke could talk himself out of it, he brushed his hand against Cassie’s. Their pinkies grazed, sending shivers up his arm. He held his breath, waiting for her to pull away, but she didn’t stir. Heart pounding, Luke let his touch linger, relishing the intimacy of such a simple gesture.
As the band performed a poignant rendition of “O Christmas Tree,” while those around him sang along, Luke allowed his heart to hope.
If only for one night.
Chapter 12
Few things could distract Cassie from the scintillating memory of Luke’s hand brushing against her own the night before. Few thingsexcepta trip to the basement of Maggie’s Place. Although, as the ancient staircase leading below the bakery creaked beneath their weight, Maggie explained it wasn’t really a basement at all. Rather an old mining tunnel dating back to the 1800s when gold miners settled in the area in search of the next mother lode.
Steadying herself in the darkness, Cassie placed a hand on the wall, withdrawing quickly when her palm met the sharp edges of cold stone. Instead, she stuck close behind Maggie, following in her slow, practiced footsteps.
Once at the bottom, Cassie heard a faint click, and florescent light flooded the cave.
Maggie released her grip on the metal pull cord, wiping the dust on her houndstooth apron. “I used to love coming down here.” A youthful glow lit her hazel eyes as she glanced around the tiny pocket of history. “I would imagine what it must have been like for the forty-niners in search of gold. In a way, I suppose I could relate. Starting this bakery was my own quest for a new life.”
Cassie smiled, inhaling the musty scent of damp earth and sediment. “Maggie, this place is incredible.”
A rickety wooden table displayed long-forgotten items like rusty cast iron cookware along with pickaxes and chisels, historical artifacts left behind by previous adventure seekers. At the far end of the table, a flannel sheet covered a large, bulky object.
“Is that…” Cassie glanced over her shoulder at Maggie, who nodded, confirming her suspicion.
“I feel a little ashamed it’s been sitting down here so long,” Maggie admitted. “But I had no idea what to do with it.”
Holding her breath in anticipation, Cassie carefully tugged the sheet. The soft fabric slipped away, revealing an antique espresso machine. Although the hammered copper had lost its sheen, it appeared to be in excellent condition. Perhaps evenworkingcondition.
A small gasp escaped Cassie’s lips.
Maggie chuckled. “It must be something pretty special.”
“It’s…” Cassie gently ran her palm along the grimy surface. “Beautiful.”
“I have no idea if it still works. But I’ll ask Penny to come take a look at it. She runs the antiques store, Thistle & Thorn. If anyone can fix it up, she can.”
“Really?” Cassie asked, barely allowing herself to hope. “Why now? After all these years?”
Maggie’s eyes shimmered with motherly warmth. “Sometimes it takes the right person to inspire a change of heart.”
Cassie didn’t know what to say. She smiled her appreciation, holding back grateful tears. After running her hand along the cold metal one last time, she slid the sheet back in place.
Returning to the brightly lit kitchen, it took a moment for Cassie’s eyes to adjust. Slowly, her gaze settled on the dingy brick walls, outdated appliances, and scratched, stainless steel countertops. Not for the first time, Cassie noticed how badly it needed a makeover. Or, at the very least, a fresh coat of paint.
“So, what do you think?” Eliza scooped warm gingerbread cookies onto a cooling rack, the spicy, sugary aroma curling into the air with the wisps of steam. “The espresso machine is pretty cool, huh?”
“It’s amazing!” Cassie still hadn’t found the proper words to describe the full extent of her emotions. Nothing seemed to do it justice. “I hope it still works! I’m not an expert in refurbishment, but one espresso machine works pretty much like the next. I could try my hand at it.”
“Let’s see what Penny thinks,” Maggie said, closing the door to the basement. “It could be it simply needs a good cleaning, but Penny’ll know for sure.”
“Great idea!” Eliza beamed her approval. “She’s a genius when it comes to old forgotten things.”
A bell chimed, signaling the entrance of a new customer, and Maggie excused herself.
Sliding a fresh tray of cookies into the oven, Eliza asked, “What’s on the Christmas Calendar for today?”
Cassie made a face. “I have to go sledding. Which either means my grandmother had a crystal ball, or she didn’t care if I was able to complete the Calendar or not.”
“Or,” Eliza said, “she cared more about yourattemptto complete it, not the completion itself. Kind of like, it’s the thought that counts.”
Not wanting to belabor the point, Cassie shrugged. It wasn’t as if she could comment on the motivations of someone she’d never met.
