Page 85 of The Clause in Christmas
“I’ve decided to quit my law practice and pursue my passion full-time.”
It took a moment for Luke’s words to sink in, but then a slow smile spread across Cassie’s lips. “Really?”
“Really. And I have you to thank for it.”
Cassie threw her arms around his neck, burying her face against his chest. Her heart swelled with happiness. She knew it must have been a difficult decision, and she couldn’t be prouder. “I’m so happy for you, Sprinkles.”
Luke laughed softly into her hair. “We make a good team, don’t we?”
“The best.”
“Speaking of teamwork…” Luke released her so he could let down the tailgate of his pickup. “Ready to see the project we worked on?”
Cassie gasped as Luke lowered a stunning walnut rocking chair, the fresh polish gleaming in the sunlight.
“Luke! It’s gorgeous.” She ran a hand along the headrest, her fingers grazing the delicate carvings.
“Let’s just hope Frank likes it,” Luke said, grabbing one side. “Ready to show him?”
“Ready!”
She couldn’t wait to set the two rocking chairs side by side, already hopeful a special person, one day soon, would come along to balance the pair.
Chapter 31
December 22 flew by like a flurry of snowflakes. And everything in Cassie’s life finally seemed to be falling into place. She’d decided to cash Frank’s check and had paid Derek back, much to his annoyance. He whined and complained, even though Cassie had emailed him a list of her top five food vendors, links to all the equipment he needed to purchase, plus the résumés of three ideal candidates for the management position.
With the uncomfortable conversation behind her, Cassie then spent the afternoon with Luke going over ideas to expand his office into a studio to display his work. Even though they hadn’t been picking out grinders and espresso machines, Cassie felt content simply being in Luke’s company.
To end the evening, everyone in town—including Frank—converged in the cafeteria of Poppy Creek Elementary to watch the kids performA Charlie Brown Christmas. Which happened to not only be the annual Christmas performance for the entire elementary schoolbut alsothe Calendar’s activity for the day.
So far, Luke had been giving Cassie’s tasks to her one day at a time. But on this particular morning, two days before Christmas, he’d called to say he wanted to keep it a surprise.
As Cassie waited for her morning cup of coffee to steep in the French press, she idly tapped her fingertips against the countertop. Checking the Christmas Calendar used to fill the four-minute brew time. But now, Cassie realized how much she missed it. And Luke’s photocopied pages simply weren’t the same.
Her fingertips grazed a nick in the butcher block, tilting the corners of her lips into a smile. She still wondered how the groove had come to be. Was it the slip of a knife? Or something else?
As her gaze traveled the rest of the kitchen, she observed other small details. How one gingham curtain was slightly longer than the other. And the tiny dent near the bottom of the white, retro-style refrigerator. So much life had taken place in the cottage. So many memories lingered in the nooks and crannies. Memories that didn’t belong to her.
In a matter of days, the house would become Cassie’s. And even though the cottage had already become her home, she realized very little in the space was actuallyhers. At least, not in the usual sense. For the first time, Cassie wondered what she would keep exactly as it was, and what she would make her own.
Perhaps she would spend the day figuring some of it out.
While she waited for Luke’s surprise.
* * *
Cassie stood in front of the vintage hall stand, peering past the aged patina of the antique mirror to assess her appearance.
She’d left her hair down, falling in loose waves around her shoulders, topped with her red knit cap, which made her lips and cheeks look even rosier.
Sticking with her basic black peacoat, she paired it with a red-and-green plaid scarf and a bejeweled poinsettia brooch she found in her grandmother’s jewelry box. Somehow, she thought her grandmother would approve of the festive addition.
Cassie wasn’t sure why she’d paid so much attention to the little details, except something told her the evening would be special. Ever since she’d received Luke’s text that simply read,Pick you up at 7. Dress warm, she’d been buzzing with anticipation.
Cassie glanced at her phone, noting the clock denoted seven o’clock on the dot. Trying not to be impatient, she stuffed it back inside her coat pocket and fidgeted with a few wayward curls.
The faint jingle of bells outside drew her to the door. Swinging it open, Cassie’s breath stalled in her throat.
