Page 25 of Sweet Christmas Comeback
“Or perfect timing,” Jade said, though she wasn’t entirely sure she meant it. Her lips still tingled with anticipation. “Depending on your perspective.”
The moment was gone, scattered like snow shaken from a branch, but something had shifted between them. The air felt charged, full of possibility and words they weren’t quite ready to say.
Leo gathered the reins with hands that weren’t quite steady. “We should finish the loop. Test the rest of the route.”
“Right,” Jade said, retrieving her scattered papers from the snow. “The route.”
But as they continued through the woods, she found herself stealing glances at him. The strong line of his jaw, the capable way he handled the reindeer, the occasional small smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth when he caught her looking.
She wrote notes about timing and terrain, but her mind kept replaying the almost-kiss. The way he’d said her name. The gentleness of his touch. The feeling that in that moment, suspended between snowflakes and starlight, they’d been on the verge of something that could change everything.
The trail emerged from the woods near the town square, where warm light spilled from shop windows and the giant Christmas tree waited for Sunday’s ceremony. Felicity was already there, stamping her feet against the cold.
“How did it go?” Felicity called as they approached. “Any problems?”
“Minor detour,” Leo said easily, bringing the sleigh to a smooth stop. “Nothing we couldn’t handle.”
“You two look like you’ve been through an adventure,” Felicity observed, taking in their snow-covered coats and slightly disheveled appearance.
“Just the trail being tricky,” Jade said, though she felt heat rise in her cheeks again. “We’ll need to reroute around that curve. It’s too unstable after fresh snow.”
“Good to know,” Felicity said, but her sharp eyes were moving between Jade and Leo with obvious interest. “You both look... warm. Despite the cold.”
“Exercise,” Leo said shortly, swinging down from the sleigh. “Come on, let’s get these two back to the barn.”
Back at the barn, Leo moved through the familiar routine of unharnessing the reindeer with practiced efficiency. Jade watched him work, noting the gentle way he handled each piece of equipment, how he checked every strap and buckle before setting it aside. His movements were economical but never rushed, and she found herself thinking about how those same careful hands had steadied her in the sleigh.
As Leo hung up the last piece of harness, Jade felt the weight of tomorrow’s challenges settling back on her shoulders. The sleigh ride had been magical, but reality was waiting.
“There’s something else I need to tell you both about,” she said. “What happened at the bakery earlier.”
She told them about Cecily’s visit, the electrical inspection notice, and Mayor Clark’s intervention that bought them until Monday. By the time she finished, Felicity was practically vibrating with indignation.
“That woman has some nerve,” Felicity declared. “First the garland complaint, now this? It’s like she’s trying to put you out of business.”
“Ida and Ruth had some interesting things to say about it,” Jade continued. “Something about Cecily’s great-grandmother having issues with my great-grandmother. Old grudges being passed down like family recipes.”
Felicity’s eyes lit up with the intensity of someone who’d just caught scent of really good gossip. “What kind of issues? Did they give you any details?”
“They said it wasn’t their story to tell, but that there were complications. Old wounds that never healed.” Jade shrugged. “I got the impression there’s more to Cecily’s attitude than just historical preservation.”
“Oh, I’m definitely investigating this,” Felicity said, already pulling out her phone again. “If there’s old family drama behind Cecily’s behavior, the town gossip network will know about it.Emily Clark at the library keeps local newspapers going back to the nineteen-fiftys, and her mother knew everyone’s business.”
“Felicity,” Leo warned, “don’t go stirring up trouble.”
“I’m not stirring up trouble. I’m conducting historical research.” Her smile was innocent, but her eyes were sharp with curiosity. “Besides, if Cecily’s targeting Jade because of some ancient family feud, don’t you think Jade has a right to know what she’s up against?”
“She’s got a point,” Jade said. “Knowledge is power, especially when dealing with someone like Cecily.”
“The electrical inspection is the immediate problem,” Jade said. “Everything else is just... context.”
“About that,” Leo said, hanging up the last of the harness. “I know a guy—Danny Morrison, Ruth’s nephew. He’s a licensed electrician, does a lot of work around town. Honest, fair prices, and he’ll treat you right.”
“Ruth Morrison’s nephew?” Jade felt a spark of hope. “Would he be willing to take a look before Monday?”
“I’ll give him a call tonight,” Leo promised. “Danny’s good people. If there are any real problems, he’ll find them. If Cecily’s just making trouble, he’ll document that too.”
“Thank you,” Jade said, the gratitude in her voice deeper than the simple words conveyed.
