Page 25 of The Christmas Cottage
Imogen and Katie were standing at the entrance to the holiday market, and Katie was bouncing in place, practically glowing with excitement.
“I’m so glad you made it,” Imogen said with a bright smile, and Katie nodded enthusiastically.
“Mama promised hot chocolate!” she told Vanessa excitedly, and Imogen laughed.
“We have it at the shop, of course, but I still try to keep it as a special treat. And outside, snowy hot chocolate is better than anything else, isn’t it?” Imogen asked her daughter, and Katie nodded again, bouncing on her toes.
“Hot chocolate sounds perfect,” Vanessa said, and the three of them headed toward the vendor near the entrance of the market. Katie and Vanessa both got peppermint hot cocoa, Katie with extra whipped cream, and Imogen opted for the salted caramel hot chocolate. As they waited for their drinks, Vanessa looked around, amazed at how quickly the market had come together in the main square of the town. She’d seen them settingup earlier in the day, but now it looked like something entirely different, a vibrant collection of festive booths, games, and food and drink vendors. Twinkling lights and garlands were hung all around the booths, and the market was filling up with people, the lively chatter and the beginning of Christmas music filling the air.
“Let’s walk around,” Imogen said once they had their drinks in hand. “I can’t wait for you to see all of it.”
They’d just begun walking past the first couple of booths—one for wreath-making and another selling the handmade soaps that Vanessa had purchased at the Holly and Ivy Market—when a tall, lean man with rumpled dark hair and green eyes came toward them, raising a hand in greeting at Imogen.
“Who is that?” Vanessa asked curiously, and Imogen smiled, tugging Katie to a stop gently as the man approached.
“Vanessa, this is Lincoln Blackwell. Lincoln, Vanessa Stewart. Lincoln owns the local skating rink in town. And Vanessa?—”
“Mabel’s granddaughter. I heard you were in town, helping with the toy shop.” He reached out to shake her hand, and Vanessa returned it.
“It’s nice to meet you.” She glanced at Imogen. “This is the skating rink where you said they use your chocolate for the hot cocoa stand?”
Imogen blushed slightly, and Lincoln chuckled. “We sure do,” he said with a grin. “Best chocolate you can find in New England.”
“I don’t know about that,” Imogen said with a hasty laugh. “But it does seem to get the job done. Kids and parents both love it.”
“Gotta have a warm drink out by the ice.” Lincoln smiled. “I haven’t seen you two at the rink this winter, speaking of that.”
“The shop has just been so busy,” Imogen said apologetically. “Which is good! But hasn’t left a lot of time for getting out and about.”
“Well, I can understand that. How about you?” He glanced at Vanessa. “How long are you in town for?”
“A week or two,” she said carefully. “Just until my grandmother doesn’t need my help any longer.”
“Well, hopefully you get to stick around for Christmas.” He looked back at Imogen, his smile widening. “Don’t be a stranger all winter, all right? Come by the rink and skate. I’ll even give you half off.”
“We’ll see, if I have time—” Imogen started to say, at the same moment that Katie piped up.
“Yes! Skating!”
“She’s got the right idea.” Lincoln grinned. “See you around.”
The entire interaction made Vanessa curious, as she watched. There was definitely something about the way Lincoln and Imogen talked to each other—the way theylookedat each other, even, that made her wonder exactly what their relationship was.
“How do you know Lincoln?” Vanessa asked curiously, looking over at Imogen as he walked away.
“Oh—” Imogen waved a hand. “We’ve been friends for years.”
“Just friends?” It surprised her a little that she let the teasing question slip out. It was unlike her to pry like that, especially since she didn’t know Imogen all that well. But she felt lighter than she could remember feeling in a long time—maybe ever—and it might have been the Christmas spirit getting to her just a little bit.
“Just friends,” Imogen confirmed. “I mean, we used to datewayback in high school, but so much has changed since then. Now we really are just friends.”
“I see. Well, he seems nice.” Vanessa let it go, but privately, she wondered if that was entirely true. She didn’t think she was imagining the connection she’d seen between them—the way Lincoln’s gaze lingered on Imogen or the way she blushed a little when he teased her.
“Come on,” Imogen urged, as Katie ran ahead in front of them. “I’ll show you the rest of the market.”
There was a lot to see too. The market was clearly a place for all of the craftspeople of Fir Tree Grove to show off their holiday wares, and the market was bustling with shoppers, both tourists and locals. They passed a stall with homemade candles in an array of holiday scents—fresh fir, pecan coffee, gingerbread vanilla, cranberry apple and spiced cinnamon and hickory—and another with homemade knitted stockings in a wide variety of patterns. There were stands selling pies and chutney and cookies and jams, and a butcher’s stall from the local farm with fresh cuts of meat as well as pre-made charcuterie boards and homemade jarred glazes and dips.
There was a wreath-making stall, vendors with mulled wine and hot cider, and one selling beautifully carved wooden toys. Another had a variety of hand-blown glass ornaments, and Vanessa stopped at a stall selling homemade bath products and skin care. There was a gorgeous soaking tub in her room at Hearthside, and she considered the idea of taking a long bath before she curled up in front of the fire with her book. Both of those things sounded incredible, and it made her wonder why she hadn’t done them sooner. She had a bathtub in her apartment at home, and even though she didn’t have a fireplace, she could have had a similar night in anytime she wanted.
