Page 100 of The Blessings of Christmas
“How bad is your eye?” Emily asked as Maisy hustled over with their glasses of sweet tea.
“It should be fine in a couple of days.” Eyes. Derek Darling’s bluish gray eyes lit up when he smiled. And then there was that dimple.
“So what's with the grin?” Josie was never one for subtlety.
“Nothing.” Victoria wanted to keep Dr. Darling under wraps. No way did she want women stampeding through the urgent care center, just to see Dr. Darling smile. He had to be the hottest thing going in Sweetwater Creek.
But Bryn wasn’t going to let it rest. “Doctor Darling made Annabelle feel comfortable right away. Great bedside manner.”
Josie’s eyes snapped. “How about you, Victoria. Did you like his...bedside manner?”
“Enough of that,” Bryn said softly. “Don’t tease, Josie.”
Victoria wasn’t going to admit that she’d been a nervous twit. “I wasn’t at my best.” The words sounded like something her mother might say.
The girls laughed. “So what do you know about Dr. Darling?” Victoria turned to Bryn.
With the sun beaming through the window, Bryn took a sip of her tea. “Not much. I didn’t notice a ring on his finger. He’d be wearing one if he were married, right?”
Emily frowned. “Probably but not always.”
“So when are you going to decorate your tree?” With a glass of sweet tea in hand, Josie wandered back to the tree.
Getting up, Victoria followed. “The garland looks pathetic, right?”
Tossing her paper plate in the trash, Emily glanced around. “Where are your ornaments? We can help you decorate. Won't take long.”
That’s all Maisy needed. She was already trotting off toward the back. “Terrific. I'll just grab the boxes.” Soon she returned, plopping the boxes at the base of the tree.
Victoria’s shoulders slumped. “Okay. I know they're not great. But this is what I have to work with.” No one looked excited.
“Why don't you bring some of your parents’ stuff in here?” Josie asked. “Your mother probably has tons of decorations stored away.”
Oh, does she ever.
“Ornaments from your childhood,” Bryn offered.
But Victoria shook her head. “They wouldn’t fit in Victoria’s Pantry.”
“Why not?” Emily asked. “She has wonderful taste.”
When Victoria frowned, she felt her bandage crinkle. “But she doesn’t like old-fashioned stuff.”
“No gingerbread men?” Bryn’s delicate eyebrows pulled into a frown. “No little animals or angels?”
Victoria shook her head. What was she going to do? Sweetwater Creek was counting on her. This Christmas she had community responsibilities.
Emily turned, swinging that dark black ponytail over her shoulder. “I’ve got a better idea.”
“Please share.” Victoria wanted to hear it because Emily was a whiz at marketing.
“Invite the town to decorate your tree.”
“Details please,” Josie demanded.
“It will be fun.” Emily's eyes shone with Christmas spirit. “We'll put a sign under the tree, inviting customers to be a part of Victoria's Pantry Christmas. If they bring an ornament, they will receive a free Christmas cookie.”
Her friend’s idea settled over Victoria like a warm blanket. “People might love that.” She gave Emily a hug.
