Page 20 of Sweet Christmas Comeback
“Wish I could help out, but that’s a busy night on the tree lot,” Brice said.
“Well, I’m definitely coming,” Felicity said. “Promotional gold. And I want to see the reindeer in action.”
“It’s not going to be anything fancy,” Jade warned. “Just a run-through to work out the kinks.”
“The best events always start that way,” Felicity replied.
As they cleaned up the pine needles and packed away the tools, Jade felt a sense of optimism she hadn’t experienced since arriving in Frost Pine Ridge. The bakery looked beautiful, the festival plans were coming together, and she was surrounded by people who seemed genuinely invested in helping her succeed.
“Six tomorrow?” Leo asked as Brice loaded the last of the tools into his truck.
“Absolutely,” Jade replied. “And thank you again. All of you.”
“Don’t mention it.” Brice glanced at Leo. “You need a ride?”
Leo shook his head. “Nope, I’ll walk around out back. Need to check on the reindeer, make sure Vixen hasn’t escaped.”
After Brice drove away and Felicity headed home, Leo lingered on the sidewalk, looking up at their handiwork. The pine garland caught the light from the street lamps, and the red ribbons fluttered gently in the evening breeze.
“It really does look good,” he said.
“It does,” Jade agreed. “And it smells amazing. Every time someone walks by, they’re going to smell Christmas.”
They stood there for a moment in comfortable silence, the winter air crisp around them. Above, the first stars were beginning to appear in the darkening sky, and the warm light spilling from the bakery windows created a golden glow on the snow-dusted sidewalk. The scene was almost achingly perfect—the kind of Christmas card moment that made you believe in magic.
“So, see you tomorrow at six?” Leo asked, his voice softer than usual.
“Tomorrow at six,” she confirmed, aware that they were standing closer than they had been a moment ago. “Weather permitting.”
“Weather permitting,” Leo agreed. His eyes caught the light from the bakery windows, and for a moment Jade thought he might say something else, something that had nothing to do with festival logistics.
Instead, he took a small step back. “I should head home. Early morning .”
“Of course,” Jade said, trying to ignore the flutter of disappointment in her chest. “Good night, Leo.”
“Good night.”
She watched him walk away, his hands shoved deep in his coat pockets, his breath visible in small puffs in the cold air. At the corner where the path split toward his farm, he stopped and turned back. For a moment they just looked at each other across the distance, the space between them charged with possibility.
Jade lifted her hand in a small wave. Leo returned it, then stood there for another heartbeat, as if he might change his mind and come back.
Instead, he turned and continued toward the farm, disappearing into the darkness beyond the streetlights.
Jade remained on the sidewalk for a long moment, surrounded by the scent of pine and the soft glow of Christmas lights, her heart beating just a little faster than the cold air warranted.
CHAPTER TEN
The next morning dawned crisp and clear, with the kind of bright winter light that made everything look like a snow globe come to life. Jade woke early, energized by the previous day's success and eager to tackle the growing list of orders that had been trickling in since word spread about their improved baking.
The morning flew by in a blur of mixing, kneading, and decorating. Mrs. Henderson had ordered two dozen sugar cookies for her book club, shaped like winter mittens and decorated with delicate blue and white icing. The high school's drama department wanted three dozen cupcakes for their cast party, and Mayor Clark phoned in to request five dozen Christmas tree cookies for the town hall's holiday reception.
By afternoon, at least two dozen customers had come and gone and Ida Hartwell and Ruth Morrison were standing in front of the pastry case slowly working their way through the difficult decision of which pastries to select for their daily treat. Ida held a peppermint stick between her fingers like a tiny sword, gesturing at the display case while Ruth peered through her wire-rimmed glasses at the options.
"The lemon bars look exceptional today," Ruth was saying, "but those chocolate eclairs are calling my name."
"Get both," Ida replied pragmatically. "Life's too short to make hard choices about dessert."
"We're going to need more flour," Mabel announced, wiping her hands on her apron as she surveyed their depleted supplies. "And more butter. At this rate, we'll be sold out by Friday."
