Page 148 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Good. What are you doing?”
“I have to think about this. But just sitting here watching this happen, watching Malcolm marry Darcy-whatever-her-name is isn’t…isn’t...” She didn't know what came next.
“Isn't going to get you what you want.” Emily's words were so deliberate that they became engraved on Josie’s mind. “Let's keep that in mind.”
Emily and Josie scraped back their chairs and headed for the door. Josie’s mind was working overtime. She was so preoccupied that she almost walked out without paying.
Take a chance. Circling back, she dug in her purse for a credit card. She was a woman with a plan. On the way home, she stopped in front of Coralee’s consignment shop. Next to a gaily decorated Christmas tree a flouncy, tiered dress in sky blue caught her eye. Ruffles had never been her thing. But flounces? Maybe they would be perfect for her plan.
CHAPTER 4
The December sun was shining on Victoria’s Pantry when Josie pushed open the purple door. A pretty tree rotated in the display window, decorated with purple and green ornaments. Victoria was a stickler for her brand. Josie’s Birkenstocks sank into the moss green carpeting. Quickly stepping aside, she helped Emily and Bryn maneuver their baby strollers in behind her.
“It smells wonderful in here.” Bryn stopped so suddenly that her stroller rammed into Josie’s heel. “Oh, sorry, sorry.” Bryn murmured, maneuvering Sheldon’s stroller around her friend. While Josie reached down to rub her ankle, Bryn lifted her delicate nose to sniff the air.
“Chocolate croissants and cheese kolaches,” Emily moaned, navigating Alex’s stroller between the tables. She settled at one tucked in the back. Josie and Bryn followed. “When I lived upstairs, waking up in the morning was pure heaven after Victoria got her pantry going. It was so hard to settle for my usual breakfast of oatmeal and blueberries. I knew what was baking downstairs.”
“I can only imagine.” Josie remembered those months when Emily had just arrived back in town. She was almost glad thather own rental cottage was far away on Back Bay. Tempted by Victoria's bakery, Josie could have gained fifteen pounds instead of just ten.
Both babies were sleeping so the three friends left the strollers tucked into the table and headed for the glass display case. As Josie surveyed the trays of pastries, she felt Emily staring at her. Her friend’s intensity was making her uncomfortable. Josie turned. “What?”
“You look different.” Emily narrowed her eyes.
“You’re imagining things.” Josie’s skin prickled and she turned back to studying the case of pastries and cookies.
No way was she going to tell Emily about her new makeup routine. Especially not with Bryn standing right there. Darla, one of the girls that worked at the bakery, reached back to grab a bakery tissue and stood waiting. Staring down through the glass, Bryn put both hands on top of the counter. “I'll take three chocolate croissants. One for now and two for later. Then a couple apple turnovers…” Her order went on and on. Josie’s own stomach clenched with jealousy. Darla reached for another box.
Wishing that Emily would study the pastries with the same serious intent she was giving Josie, she edged toward the cookies at the opposite end. She was relieved when it was Emily's turn to order. The bakery now required Emily's full attention.
When she was finished, Emily glanced over again. “Hey, Josie. When did you start wearing lipstick?”
Really?Her friend had to make a point of that now? Bryn shot her a curious look. Squirming, Josie bit her lower lip. “Nothing new. You just haven't noticed.”
Tilting her head to one side, Emily seemed to be searching back over the years they’d known each other. This was becoming really uncomfortable. “Maybe,” Emily finally said. “I alwaysthought you never cared for lipstick. You know, with your working out and running and everything.”
Oh so casually, Josie pulled a strand of her curly hair over one ear so Emily couldn't see her delicate gold hoops. They were another new addition. Coralee’s consignment shop was a blessing. “An ad crossed my Facebook feed. This particular lipstick was for athletes. You know, because it stays on a long time. I figured why not. Glad you like it.” Wow, after all that she was breathless. Emily turned away but not before she’d sucked in both cheeks, as if she didn't believe one word.
Josie was relieved when it was finally her turn to order. She pointed to the smallest chocolate chip cookie on one of the trays. “One of those, please.” Okay, working on her new image was killing her.
By that time Bryn and Emily had moved over to the coffee. Victoria was offering free coffee during the Christmas holidays. For understandable reasons, peppermint mocha seemed to be the seasonal favorite. Right now the carafe was empty. Darla went running to the back to fill the glass container, her purple apron flipping back-and-forth with authority. The place was filling up.
Gripping her puny chocolate chip cookie, Josie had just sat down when she heard the back door open. Malcolm’s laugh rolled down the narrow hallway like a length of Christmas ribbon. What was he doing here so early? Josie stiffened as goosebumps prickled up her arms under her new red and white polo shirt. She'd recognize that laugh anywhere.
Underneath his rumble rippled Victoria's giggle. “If you keep cracking me up like that, I might give you a reduction on your rent,” she told Malcolm. Laughing together, the two of them burst from the hallway that led from the kitchen into the shop.
“How about a cup of coffee?” Malcolm tossed back over his shoulder at Victoria. By that time they were both standing near the coffee carafes.
“No, let me. I’m buying.” Victoria teased. Wow, Josie was glad Victoria was married and not available anymore. Those two seemed to be hitting it off. Emily and Bryn quickly joined the conversation. Darla returned with a fresh carafe of peppermint mocha. While Josie filled her mug, Emily and Bryn told Malcolm how much they’d missed him.
“And now he lives right upstairs from my pantry. My new tenant.” Victoria flipped her manicured fingers in Malcolm's direction. But he was too busy with the coffee to notice. “I might be tripping over him every time I'm in my office.”
If Victoria weren't married to Derek Darling, Josie might be upset by the easy camaraderie she’d struck up with her new tenant. But the model-thin and perfectly dressed owner of Victoria’s Pantry had become a friend. Maybe she could give Josie some wardrobe tips, even though Victoria did not shop at Coralee’s. “Secondhand” was probably not a word in her vocabulary.
That day Victoria was dressed beautifully in linen capris and Piccolino wedges. Her green silk blouse slipped over one shoulder, revealing the candy cane stripes of a seasonal cami. Victoria always had a fashion moment going on. The look that Emily and Bryn exchanged told Josie that they’d noticed too. None of them could afford to wear this comfortable but expensive look. With the exception of the candy cane striped straps, Victoria was definitely channeling Gwyneth Paltrow.
“Well, Malcolm, living here might be very convenient,” Josie said, as she turned to him. “You won't even have to make coffee in the morning.” With his usual good humor, Malcolm had quickly taken a turn at starting their morning coffee in the library break room. The responsibility rotated among the staff.
Lifting his steaming cup, Malcolm smiled. This morning he wore a slight stubble. Her palms tickled. All this shivering and prickling––was she coming down with something? Her symptoms seem limited to the times she was with Malcolm. Josie closed both hands tighter around her warm mug.
