Page 36 of Sweet Christmas Comeback
“Will there be sleigh rides?” the little girl asked, her eyes wide with hope.
“Absolutely,” Jade said, and tried not to think about brown eyes and flannel shirts and trust that had shattered like ice. “Leo’s reindeer will be giving rides all evening.”
“Oh, Emma will love that,” Mr. Peters said. “We’ll definitely stop by.”
As they drove to the second location—the gazebo in the town square—Jade found herself checking her phone compulsively. No messages. No missed calls. Nothing from Leo about final coordination or timing or any of the dozens of details they needed to confirm.
He’s just busy, she told herself. He probably has a million things to do with the reindeer.
But the silence felt deliberate. Felt like distance.
“You okay?” Brice asked, glancing at her as he maneuvered the truck around a tight corner.
“Fine,” she lied. “Just running through the checklist in my head.”
The gazebo location went faster—level ground, plenty of space, and direct sightlines to the giant Christmas tree that would be lit Sunday evening. Jade could see the lights were already strung.
Felicity climbed up on a bench to hang a banner that proclaimed “Sugar Pine Sweets - Est. 1952” in cheerful red letters.
“This is going to be the money spot,” she declared. “Right in front of the tree? Everyone will stop here for snacks. You’ll sell out in an hour.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Jade murmured, arranging thermoses and paper goods.
More people stopped to ask questions. Families planning their Sunday evening, teenagers wondering about prices, elderly couples reminiscing about Tree Lightings past. Each time, Jade smiled and answered and wished them happy holidays, even though her heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vise.
She was doing this. Making it happen. Proving she wasn’t running, wasn’t giving up, wasn’t the person Leo thought she was.
So why did it hurt so much?
They were loading the final booth for the church location when Ida and Ruth appeared, bundled in their matching tartan coats and armed with peppermint sticks.
“Well, well,” Ida said, circling the booth with an appraising eye. “Someone’s been busy.”
“The booths look lovely, dear,” Ruth added, her voice warm. “Very festive.”
“Thank you,” Jade said, wiping her hands on her jeans. “We’re setting up three stations around town. People can grab cocoa and cookies between sleigh rides.”
Something flickered across Ida’s face—there and gone so quickly Jade almost missed it.
“Sleigh rides,” Ida repeated, her tone carefully neutral.
“Yes, Leo’s doing rides from six to nine, stopping at each location. It’ll give people a chance to see the whole town lit up for Christmas while supporting the bakery.” Jade heard herself babbling slightly, filling the odd silence. “We worked out the whole route during our trial run. It’s going to be perfect.”
Another look between the two women. This one longer, more concerned.
“That sounds lovely,” Ruth said.
“We should go,” Ida announced abruptly, linking her arm through Ruth’s. “Lots to do before Sunday. You keep up the good work, dear. These booths are just lovely.”
“What was that about?” Felicity asked.
Jade shook her head. “No idea. Probably just Ida and Ruth being Ida and Ruth.”
Jade pulled out her phone and texted Leo. They hadn’t spoken since that night in his barn, and it felt awkward, but this was business. Having the sleigh rides was the key to success for her festival booths.
Hey, just confirming Sunday logistics. Start time still 6pm? Will touch base about the route.
She hit send before she could overthink it.
