Page 24 of The Christmas Cottage
“The coffee is good,” Vanessa said noncommittally. “He has eggnog creamer, and it’s even better than what I can get in San Francisco, so of course I keep coming back.”
Jackson couldn’t help the warmth that spread through him at that. He’d gotten the creamer especially because he’d thought she would like it, so hearing that she’d appreciated it made his entire day seem brighter.
“Also,” Vanessa continued, before Mabel could say anything else about how good she and Jackson would be together. “We were so busy this morning that I forgot to mention it. But Imogen asked me if you could look for a toy for Katie. There’s this figurine—Unicorn Princess Paint it’s called, I think. She’s having a really hard time finding it, and she thought you might have better luck.”
“Oh, I know that one,” Mabel said with a laugh. “All the kids are crazy about it this Christmas. It’s backordered right now, unfortunately. But I’ll do my best to see if I can get one in, especially if it’s for little Katie.”
“Thank you.” Vanessa smiled. “I know Imogen will appreciate it.”
Jackson found ways to keep busy, cleaning up after the last of the breakfast rush and making sure there were plenty of clean dishes and glasses for lunch, while he waited for the two women to finish their meal. When he saw their plates were close to cleared, he went and poured a mug of coffee for Vanessa, adding a liberal dose of the eggnog creamer to it before carrying it over.
“I overheard how much you still like that creamer,” he said with a grin as he set it down in front of her, taking her empty plate. “So I went ahead and made you an eggnog latte. On the house, as always.”
Vanessa’s cheeks turned a dusty pink, and he realized too late that by admitting he’d overheard the comment about the creamer, he was also admitting he might have heard other parts of the conversation. But he kept quiet, and Vanessa smiled a moment later.
“That was very kind of you,” she said, ignoring her grandmother’s chuckle across from her. “You know how much I love my coffee.”
“I do.” Jackson took Mabel’s bowl as well, as she nudged it to the side. “Can I get you ladies anything else? Pecan pie, maybe? We have it fresh today…”
“I think we’re both stuffed,” Mabel said. “But now that I’m looking at you two—” That mischievous gleam sparked in her eyes again. “I can’t help thinking that you two would be the perfect Santa and Mrs. Claus this year.”
Jackson frowned. “I thought you and George would play the parts. You always do. Are you having a second event, or you need another pair of Santa and Mrs. Claus?” He trailed off, confused, and Mabel chuckled wryly.
“No. Just the same event as usual. But I just don’t think I’m going to be up to playing the part this year with my wrist the way it is. And you know George does it as a favor to me. I don’t think he’ll be nearly as interested in playing the part if it’s someone else.”
Jackson wasn’t sure if that was true or not—he thought the older man got a real kick out of being Santa every year. But Vanessa was already speaking before he could say anything, shaking her head.
“I’m sure there’s someone better for it,” she said quickly. “You can’t corner poor Jackson into being Santa, Nana. And anyway, I’m sure he’s far too busy, and I don’t even really live here any longer. The town doesn’t want me to be Mrs. Claus.”
“You’refromhere, and you’re my granddaughter, so that’s all that really matters. It’s perfect,” Mabel insisted. “Every year I’m Mrs. Claus, and you’re my granddaughter, so it works out exactly the way it should. Maybe Jackson can grow out his beard…”
“I don’t know about that,” Jackson said with a chuckle.
“See? There’s got to be someone else,” Vanessa insisted, but Mabel shook her head.
“Just looking at the two of you, I can see it. Besides,” she added, that glint still in her eyes. “You came here to help me, right? This is definitely something I need help with. And I just don’t know if I can trust it to anyone else.”
Jackson could see the moment that Vanessa gave in, her shoulders dropping slightly as she let out a sigh. It was sweet, really, how he could see that she had a soft spot for her grandmother. She was stoic and a little icy the rest of the time, but with Mabel, he could see that softness.
“All right,” Vanessa conceded. “If it means that much to you and it really would help, then I’ll do it.”
“It absolutely will,” Mabel said firmly. “Jackson?” She turned those mischievous eyes on him, and he heard himself saying yes before he’d even fully formed the word in his head.
He’d never thought that he’d jump at the chance to play Santa for the toy shop’s event. But he was going to eagerly take any chance he could get to spend more time with Vanessa.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The sun was just setting as Vanessa was bundling up to go meet Imogen and Katie the next evening, to go to the holiday market.
She had to admit, she was intrigued. She’d been thinking about it all day, and now she put a little more effort into being festive for the occasion. She’d decided to wear her other coat, a bright red peacoat that was fancier than what the locals wore, but it wasn’t as if she was really fitting in anyway. Everyone knew at this point that she was Mabel’s granddaughter from out of town.
She layered a warm black cashmere turtleneck underneath it, with jeans and her black heeled boots. She knew they were impractical, but they were the only boots she had, much like the beanie with the little pom on top that she knew stood out. She opted for a pair of silky black faux fur earmuffs that she’d found at the Holly and Ivy Market instead, which wouldn’t fit in that much more, but were at least a little less obvious.
Tugging on her leather gloves, she was ready to go. Outside her window, the sky was streaked in brilliant colors, the sun sinking fast and creating a gorgeous display over the snow. She stood there for a moment, just looking at it. Sunsets in San Francisco were beautiful over the harbor, but she couldn’t recallever really paying attention to them for more than a second. She’d certainly never taken the time to just enjoy one like she was right now, taking in the beauty of the snowy landscape.
As she walked toward the spot where she was meant to meet up with Imogen and Katie, twilight rapidly setting in, the town began to light up all around her. It was stunningly beautiful, she thought, looking at all the white and multicolored lights as they flickered on. They were draped over shop displays and street entrances, wrapped around some of the streetlights and trees. It was like nothing she’d ever seen anywhere else, and she took it all in as she walked, remembering this same view as a child, walking with her parents.
It didn’t hurt, the way she thought it would. It made her chest feel soft and warm inside instead, at the memory of sitting on her father’s shoulders looking at the lights as they walked.
