Page 54 of The Clause in Christmas
“More or less.”
Maggie planted her feet against the sawdust-covered floor before gently pushing off again. “Did you know the first time your father asked me out I said no?”
Luke frowned. “No, that’s not right. I remember the story of how you met. At the Fall Flower Festival. Dad plucked a rose off the winning float and gave it to you with some cheesy line about how you were the prettiest rose in the parade.”
“That’s true.” Maggie smiled fondly. “But that wasn’t the first time he asked me out. It was actually the third. We just like that story better.”
“Okay… So, what’s the real story, then?”
Maggie rested her head against the back of the chair, her hazel eyes soft and dreamy. “The first time your father asked me out was a Sunday after church. The second time was on Valentine’s Day three months later.” She chuckled at the memory. “He bought every box of chocolate at Mac’s just so he could fill one box entirely with the caramel-centered ones. My favorite.”
“Impressive. Why’d you turn him down? Especially after that.”
“No good reason, really,” Maggie admitted. “I’d just returned from my trip to Europe, and I had the itch to travel the world. Your father was fresh out of law school and was anxious to set up the first practice in Poppy Creek. Seems foolish now, but I thought we were too different to make a real go of it.”
“What changed your mind?” Resting both elbows on his knees, Luke leaned forward, soaking up every word.
Maggie’s eyes glittered with wistful tears. “That story about the parade… there’s a part we leave out.”
“You mean you lied about your lie?” Luke teased.
Maggie’s lips twitched. “I suppose you could say that.” She planted her feet once more, but this time she remained motionless. “When your father plucked that rose off the float, he got cut by a thorn. Pretty bad. In fact, the blood trickled all the way down his hand, staining his best trousers.”
Luke cringed. “I can see why you left that part out.”
Maggie released a regretful sigh. “We shouldn’t have. Truth is it was one of the most romantic things your father ever did for me.”
“What? Bleed all over himself?” Luke asked with a laugh.
“When that thorn stuck your father’s hand, he didn’t even flinch,” Maggie said proudly. “He stared me right in the eye, got down on one knee, and held out that rose with an invitation to dinner that night.”
“Wait.” Luke held up his hand. “You turned him down after he gave you an entire box of your favorite chocolate, but you said yes to a rose covered in blood?”
Maggie’s shoulders shook with laughter. “It wasn’tcovered.Besides, you know what I saw? I saw a man who pursued me, even through pain.” Her features sobered as she met Luke’s gaze. “Marriage might be a bed of roses, but sometimes those roses have thorns. And when times get tough, you want someone by your side who will fightwithyou andforyou. When you have that, differences seem a whole lot smaller.” Tears glistened in her eyes, and she sniffled a few times before adding, “And you know what? Your father was the biggest champion of my dreams. From taking me to Paris on our honeymoon to buying the bakery.”
Luke swallowed past the tightness in his throat. He’d always admired his parents for their love, devotion, and ability to find joy even in the most difficult circumstances. But now he had an even deeper appreciation for their love story. “So, you’re saying I shouldn’t give up?”
“I’m saying, some things take time.”
“Like, third time’s the charm?” Luke grinned, adding a little levity before they both wound up in tears.
“Sometimes.” Maggie smiled softly.
They sat in silence for a long moment, the low hum of the space heater and the gentle swishing of the rocking chair filling the space between them.
“I think a season of change is coming,” Maggie murmured, breaking the stillness. “For all of us.”
Chapter 19
As Cassie poured herself another cup of coffee, she realized she hadn’t stopped smiling all morning. Since readingA Christmas Carolthe previous day, the impact of her epiphany had been settling in, creating a seismic shift in her heart and mind. Staying in Poppy Creek would change so much more than her address. It would change her entire life! And the one area where it scared and excited Cassie the most was her relationship with Luke. What would it mean for them? And what would he say when she told him the news?
Cassie’s smile faltered as her hand shot to the necklace at her throat. She spun the heart charm, tightening the delicate chain as her mind raced with possibilities. What if Luke no longer had feelings for her? Or what if he couldn’t forgive her for running away the night they’d kissed?
Releasing the charm, Cassie took a long sip of coffee, allowing the soothing liquid to calm her racing pulse as it tingled against her taste buds. Before she told Luke—and any of her hopesorfears became a reality—Cassie needed a plan. She’d still have to sell the cottage to put her mother through rehab. Which meant Cassie needed to find a new place to live as soon as possible.
Finishing off her third cup of coffee, Cassie scrolled through property listings on her phone. She wasn’t surprised to find Poppy Creek didn’t have a single apartment complex. But rental properties in general were practically nonexistent. She’d have to broaden her search to surrounding towns, which wasn’t ideal. Especially if she’d be working at Maggie’s Place.
Cassie glanced at the time, and her heart skittered in anticipation. At that exact moment, Maggie would be flipping the sign in the bakery’s front window to Open.
