Page 55 of The Clause in Christmas
Swallowing the last drop of coffee, Cassie rinsed her favorite mug in the sink and set it on a dish towel to dry. As she reached for her car keys on the kitchen island, she caught sight of the Christmas Calendar. She quickly thumbed the pages to the day’s date.
December 13: Have a Snowball Fight.
Cassie’s gaze darted to the window. All of yesterday’s snow had melted into puddles. Panic gripped her chest as she circled back to the Calendar, double-checking the day’s entry.
The words remained unchanged.
How could this be happening? Up until that moment, the activities had been perfectly aligned with the weather, as if her grandmother were orchestrating the forecast from a perch in the clouds. But this time the Calendar was off by an entire day.
Cassie’s knees weakened and she leaned against the counter, her pulse increasing as quickly as her doubts. After all she’d been through, could this one mishap ruin everything?
She needed to talk to Luke. He might know what to do. But what would she say? She owed him an apology. And an explanation. She couldn’t go to him for help before she fixed things between them. But how exactly would she do that?
Cassie massaged her fingertips against her temple, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. Maybe the Calendar would work itself out? After all, there was still time for it to snow again.
Strangers things had happened in Poppy Creek than snowfall two days in a row.
All Cassie needed to do was give the Calendar more time.
And maybe time would help her figure out what to say to Luke.
* * *
As Cassie walked the few feet from her car to Maggie’s Place, she kept one eye on the sky. Nothing but miles of periwinkle blue dotted with frothy white clouds. Still, Cassie told herself not to panic. She still had plenty of time.
“Good morning, dear,” Maggie greeted her with a rosy smile. “Aren’t you bright and early today.”
Cassie didn’t even wait for Maggie to finish sliding the last cinnamon roll into the case before skipping around the counter and enveloping her in a hug.
Maggie laughed. “And in a bright and chipper mood, too.”
Pulling back, Cassie beamed at the older woman who’d become more of a mother to her in a short amount of time than her own flesh and blood. “Maggie, is your job offer still available?”
“Of course!” Maggie’s eyes widened. “Are you saying—”
Cassie threw her arms around her again. “Yes!”
As Maggie squeezed her back, Cassie closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of cinnamon and sugar, suddenly overcome with emotion. “Thank you, thank you,” she murmured, close to tears.
“What’s going on?” Eliza burst through the kitchen door with a fresh batch of gingerbread scones. “Why are you crying? Did—” Realization flashed in Eliza’s dark eyes and she carelessly tossed the baking sheet onto the counter as she cried, “You’re taking the job!”
Pulling back, Cassie swiped her damp cheeks. “I am.”
Eliza squealed and tackled Cassie in a bear hug.
Giggling, Cassie squeezed her back. “I still have a few things to figure out. So, I probably won’t be able to officially start until after Christmas.”
“I can’t believe you’re staying!” Eliza cheered, hopping up in down in her excitement. “This is the best newsever.”
“It certainly is.” Maggie’s eyes sparkled with happy tears. “We should celebrate.”
Just then the bell jingled, signaling their first customer of the day. Maggie excused herself after hugging Cassie one more time.
“Have you told Luke?” Eliza whispered, pulling Cassie off to the side.
Blushing, Cassie stared at the scuffed hardwood floor. “Not yet.”
“Then let’s go find him! I bet he’s at his office already.”
