Page 37 of The Blessings of Christmas
“I'm behind as usual. Ryan's agreed to work some hours here. Mom’s getting older so she minds the store. That back room with heavy trays and heat might not be the place for her anymore.”
“She is getting on,” Lindsay agreed.
Smiling, Sarah thought about Lila and the librarian. “She’s mighty spry when she wants to be.”
Lindsay leaned closer. “How was the librarian?”
“Oh, Stuart is quite an eyeful if you're over sixty.”
Lindsay’s eyes brightened. “Wow. Good for her.”
Smiling to herself, Sarah took another sip. “My mother takes cookie samples to the library almost every day.”
“Has it helped business?”
“Yes.” Sarah chuckled. “Have you seen my mother lately?”
“No, I’ve been so busy. Our rentals went from football games to cross country skiing, not that I’m complaining.” In addition to cleaning cottages, she also had a rental service with Mercedes.
“My mother is now blonde.”
Lindsay snorted on the coffee.
Getting up, Sarah grabbed more napkins and handed them to her sputtering friend. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Blotting the tears from her eyes, Lindsay sucked in some air. “Give me a warning before you lay that kind of news on me, okay?”
“She noticed your mother’s hair at your wedding. But I do think meeting Stuart gave her that extra little push.”
Lindsay’s mouth fell open. “That’s amazing. How does she look?”
“Ten years younger and she acts like it too.”
“I say, go for it.” Lifting her mug, Lindsay took a sip. “What about you, Sarah? Have you ever thought of going out with someone?”
“Oh, no.” The acid from the coffee gnawed at her stomach. “Haven't got time. Where would I find a man anyway?”
“We talked about this last summer, Sarah. Then Tanner came into my life.”
Reaching over, she squeezed Lindsay’s hand. “I’m so happy that happened for you, Lindsay. Really I am. But how many single men are there in Gull Harbor?”
“What about Ryan?”
She stared at her friend blankly. “What about him?”
“The times I’ve seen you together at school events? I've always thought your brother-in-law had a secret thing for you. Well, since, you know, Jamie.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Sarah twisted a curl at the nape of her neck.
“Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us. Or we don’t want to see,” Lindsay added quietly.
The conversation had turned totally crazy. Sarah pushed her mug aside. She’d had enough coffee for today. From the back room came the sound of the boys arguing.
Checking her watch, Lindsay got up. “Never overlook the man closest to your heart.”
Sarah stood and gathered the napkins and mugs. “What the heck does that mean?”
Lindsay lifted a brow. “When you're making those cookies with Ryan, maybe you should take a good look at him. He’s a hunk. Sure, he was a little crazy when he was younger but hasn’t that changed?”
