Page 19 of The Christmas Cottage
“I brought this back, as promised.” Her smile spread across her face. “It was tempting to keep it, I have to admit. It’s a good mug.”
“I can sell you one.” He couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face either. “Right there.” He pointed to the shelves behind the hostess stand, where there were more of the travel mugs, coffee cups, t-shirts and hoodies all emblazoned with the diner’s logo. Tourists ate it up.
“I might take you up on it.” She glanced at a menu, and Jackson tried not to think about his disappointment that she was leaving that afternoon.
“Come to get a coffee for the road?” he asked, trying to sound as neutral as possible. Vanessa looked up, toying with one corner of a menu as she nodded.
“I did want a coffee to-go. But as far as the road…” She shrugged. “I’ve decided to stay a little while longer. My grandmother really needs the help. And I haven’t taken time off in—well, I don’t think I ever have, actually. So it’s good for everyone. I do need that coffee though,” she added with a laugh.
Jackson tried his best to hide the spike of excitement he felt at hearing her say that she was staying in town longer. It was still irrational, he knew. She wasn’t actuallystaying, not forever. She just was spending a little more of the holiday season with her grandmother, and by the new year if not sooner, she’d be headed back home.
“Mabel’s got to be relieved. George was telling me she hurt her wrist trying to get something off a tall shelf. Some of us have been trying to talk her into hiring help for years. It’s a good thing you’re there to help her for the season.”
“I’m glad I can stay.” Vanessa tugged on her purse, pushing it a little further up her shoulder. “I need to get her a sturdier ladder too. Maybe I can buy one of those off of George.”
“If not, the general store might have one.” Jackson saw her glancing at the time. “I’ll go grab you that coffee.”
He poured a cup of coffee for her in a to-go cup, reaching down into the small fridge beneath the counter to pull out the eggnog creamer he’d bought just in case she came back. Another silly gesture, he knew, but he’d wanted her to have a taste of another special thing that Fir Tree Grove could offer. He poured a generous slug of it into the coffee, bringing the cup back over to her.
“Here you go,” Jackson said, pushing the coffee toward her. “Make sure it’s good, before you go. I’ll fix you another cup if you’re not satisfied.”
Vanessa laughed, but she took a sip all the same, her eyes widening. “That’s amazing!” she exclaimed, and Jackson felt a burst of satisfaction hearing it. “Is this eggnog creamer?”
He nodded. “Fresh and local. The farm on the other side of town sells it, and bottles of regular eggnog this time of year, along with all the other things they typically sell. I thought you might appreciate it,” he added with a grin.
Vanessa smiled widely, taking another long sip.
“It reminds me of the eggnog lattes I can get this time of year back in San Francisco, actually,” she said. “They’resogood. I have this favorite little coffee shop a few blocks down from my apartment, between it and work, and I go there pretty often to… well, work.”
She laughed a little nervously, as if she was embarrassed to mention that she went there just to work. She did mention her job a lot, Jackson thought. He wondered what else she liked to do. Hobbies, things she’d get up to on the weekend, what she might be missing out on this time of year.
“I’m glad you could have a little taste of home,” he said with a smile. “I’ll have it all season, I can add it to your coffee anytime you like.”
“I guess technically… this is home.” Vanessa gave another small, nervous laugh. “I was born at the closest hospital to Fir Tree Grove. And I grew up here for the first several years. My parents moved away when I was little to California, but I guess it really is my hometown.”
He tried not to think about the way his heart flipped in his chest again when she referred to the small town ashome. She didn’t mean it in the way his traitorous heart seemed to think, and he knew it. But it was tempting all the same to let himself think that maybe, if she stuck around long enough, she might start feeling at home all over again.
“Well…” Vanessa picked up the coffee. “I need to get to the shop, if I’m really going to be helping my grandmother out for the season. But don’t worry,” she added with a grin as she got up, waving the coffee cup at him. “I’ll be back for more.”
She glanced at the basket of Christmas decorations next to the small tree, saw the quickly lettered sign that he’d leaned against it to give customers instructions, and plucked a tiny gold ornament ball out of the basket.
She hung it on the nearest branch, smiled at him again, and then headed back out into the snowy town.
Impermanent or not, he couldn’t help whistling happily as he started to wipe down the counter. He’d get to see her again and talk to her more, and right at that moment, that was all that really mattered.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
As it usually did, even on a Saturday, the toy store started to slow down around one in the afternoon as tourists and town residents alike headed home or out to the diner or tavern for lunch. Mabel had brought turkey sandwiches for them that morning, and she brought them out to the main floor as they closed for a half-hour lunch and she and Vanessa worked on organizing for the Santa and Mrs. Claus event.
“This is really good.” Vanessa looked at her turkey sandwich. “I’ve never really had that high of an opinion of turkey, since I don’t usually do the whole traditional Thanksgiving thing. But this might change my mind.”
Mabel laughed. “Istillhave sliced turkey in the freezer that I’m defrosting every week. I’m just glad someone is here to help me eat it. That’s one of my favorite ways to make a sandwich with leftovers,” she added, nodding at the ones she’d brought out. It was mayo, mustard, pickled red onion and local lettuce and tomato on it, all on a soft brioche bun from the bakery.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a better sandwich,” Vanessa said, taking another big bite.
“That turkey comes from the local farm,” Mabel pointed out. “It’s all local, actually. We all try to shop here as much as we can,support our neighbors. It’s a good way to live. And everything tastes better, in my opinion.”
Vanessa looked at her sandwich again. “I’m not sure how I feel about eating a turkey I could have met if I went to the farm,” she said dubiously. “There’s a… detachment that comes with going to the grocery store, you know? Thinking about the actual livestock makes me feel a little odd,” she added, and Mabel chuckled.
