Page 32 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Are you going to bring the boys to hear me read Christmas stories this Saturday?”
“Sure. Of course.” How would she cover the shop? “I’ll work something out.”
Humming to herself, her mother spritzed the counter tops and wiped them down with paper towels. But her eyes were dreamy as she worked. Mom had always been a very practical, no nonsense woman. Sarah might have to tell her to ease up on the purple eye shadow but didn’t have the heart. She seemed so happy.
Going into the back, Sarah called Lindsay.
“What’s up?” Lindsay said when she picked up. “Haven’t seen you much lately.”
“Busy baking Christmas cookies. It’s kind of my last hurrah before people take off for the winter break.”
“Break? Tanner and I are staying right here.”
“Uh, huh.” Sarah pictured the two of them cuddled and cozy in Tanner’s home above the dunes with her two girls, Rebecca and Susan. Although she was happy for her friend, her heart twisted a bit. “I’m calling to ask a favor.”
“Name it,” Lindsay said with no hesitation.
“My mother is reading for the Children’s Hour at the library this Saturday. Could you watch the shop for maybe an hour or so?”
“No problem, even though this is like letting the fox into the chicken coop. All that pastry to sample while you’re gone.”
Lindsay was thin as a strand of dune grass. “I’m trusting you. A new librarian has taken Mildred Wentworth’s place. My mother’s acting weird so I have to check him out.”
She could hear her friend release her breath. “Your mother is dating?”
Dating. Mom?Reaching over, she picked a letter she’d baked from the leftover dough. Biting down, she munched for a moment.
“Sarah, are you still there?”
She swallowed. “Yes, sorry. Just thinking. I want to meet Stuart. You know, casually.”
“Stuart. Hmm. A very distinguished name.”
“You think so?” She took another bite.
“What are you eating?” Lindsay asked.
Sarah glanced down at the half eaten letter. “Oh, no. I’ve eaten Ryan.”
“What?” Lindsay howled.
Heat flooded Sarah’s face. “A cookie. I just ate the R.”
“See you Saturday.” Lindsay was chortling as Sarah hung up.
CHAPTER 8
“Can I help you?” Standing behind the desk of the Gull Harbor library, Stuart Martin was tall and slender with the kindest eyes Sarah had ever seen. No wonder her mother brought him cookies.
“Mom, come on!” Nathan and Justin pulled at her hands. They’d been restless since she got them home Friday.
“I've come to hear my mother read to the children today.”
A smile creased Stuart's face and made his blue eyes sparkle behind the Buddy Holly glasses. “Of course. I suspect you know where she is.” He waved toward the back. In his houndstooth jacket and blue shirt he cut quite the figure.
The hum of voices echoed from the children’s nook, and she wanted the boys to get a seat. “Thank you.” Sarah led Nathan and Justin past the stacks of books and computer stations into the children's area.
Holding a large book with Frosty on the cover, Mom gave her a nod. “We’ll wait until our newcomers get seated.” On the floor around Mom were sprawled at least a dozen children, their snow jackets piled on one of the low desks. The small room smelled like wet snowsuits. Mothers sat cramped in the small chairs, looking as if Christmas was catching up to them.
