Page 92 of The Blessings of Christmas
CHRISTMAS WITH DR. DARLING
BY BARBARA LOHR
CHAPTER 1
Bah humbug! The week after Thanksgiving and Victoria still didn't have a Christmas tree up in her shop. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” played on the sound system, so perky and warm. But not for her. She looked around. No pine cones or magnolias. No bright bulbs or shiny ornaments.
And no wonderful piney smell. No holiday spirit.
Her shop didn’t look like Christmas. And her heart didn’t feel like it either. She had to do something. Fast.
Victoria’s Pantry had only been open a few months. She desperately needed a successful holiday season. Where was her holiday merchandise? Mugs, hand towels and tea cozies? She’d ordered late and the darn stuff still hadn’t arrived. Her small shop needed some Fah-la-lah. Every other store bordering the square of Sweetwater Creek was aglow with lights. Angels, elves and Santas smiled invitingly in every window.
Victoria had fallen behind and she hated it.
When she lived at home, her mother had been the queen of Christmas. Augusta Pomeroy handled everything. Well, of course Maribelle made all the arrangements for the decorators to work their magic. Franz came all the way from Atlanta tosprinkle pixie dust in every room. Garland and pine cones here. Magnolias and elves there. Magic.
Why hadn’t she paid more attention? Maybe she’d been too busy moving into the apartment above her shop. But after Emily Sommers’ wedding to Jackson Hart, Victoria couldn’t wait to move into the space where Emily had lived. Since he owned a bunch of companies dealing with coastal construction and design, Jackson had helped with the renovation.
And now Christmas was bearing down on her. “The artificial tree looks so, well, fake.” Flicking a dry branch, she frowned at Maisy, one of her employees.
“County Ordinance. No real trees in shops. They’re a fire hazard.” When Maisy shook her head, her dark curls shivered. “Bummer.”
Like all the other stores on the square, Victoria’s Pantry was closed on Sundays. Victoria wasn’t about to tackle this herself, so she’d asked Maisy to help. But her assistant was in a bad mood.
“Look, for an artificial tree, it looks fine. Tall and skinny so it doesn't take up the whole store.” Cracking her gum, Maisy adjusted some of the lights they’d strung on the limbs. From her gloomy expression, she wanted to be someplace else. Victoria felt the same. She worked way too much. Dating? Not happening. Not since she broke up with Lance months back.
Her Christmas wasn’t looking jolly. And it sure wasn’t looking romantic.
“So what have you got for ornaments?” Maisy turned toward the glass-topped tables where Victoria had stacked her loot from the Five and Dime across the square. Opening a box, Maisy peeked inside. Her face fell. “Okay, these are...very red and green.”
“This was all they had left.” Collapsing into one of the wrought iron chairs, Victoria crossed her legs and bobbed oneof her red leather boots. “No candy canes or elves. No angels or nutcrackers. The shelf had been picked over big-time.”
“Hey, take a deep breath.” Maisy put a hand on Victoria's shoulder. “It’s not that bad.”
“Oh, I think it is. “ Victoria’s laugh turned into a hysterical giggle. “This place should feel festive, with that homey southern touch.”
“Why not borrow some of your mother's ornaments? She must have tons of stuff she doesn’t use.”
Victoria’s foot stop bobbing. “Of course. That huge attic with all the tubs from past Christmases.”
“She won’t mind, right?” Maisy kept working with the fake pine limbs that refused to fluff.
What had their tree looked like last year? “Mama’s always on to the next color scheme for each room. We have a three-tree minimum at the Pomeroy house.”
“Your mother’s cast-offs? I'd call that a Christmas bonanza.”
Drumming her fingers on the table where ladies sipped sweet tea and nibbled cucumber sandwiches, Victoria considered past holidays. “But I’m not sure all Mama’s glitter and glitz would be right in here.”
“Nothing wrong with gold.” Frustration vibrated in Maisy’s voice. She’d mentioned she was meeting a friend. Just like every Christmas season, the movieScroogewas playing at the Sweetwater Theater.Scroogeplayed on Sundays, withHome Aloneshown on week nights.
Her mind racing, Victoria jabbed a hand through her blonde hair. Although she hated to depend on her parents––they were still miffed that she’d moved out––her desperate situation made short work of any reservations. Victoria’s Pantry had been well-received. Pretty freaking amazing. Now she had to live up to her reputation. Her shop had become the hub for good food and tasty gossip.
Daddy had been so proud when she opened Victoria’s Pantry. Of course, he’d bank-rolled the whole thing. She’d only been out of school a little more than a year. The whole town loved coming here, but they had expectations. A few fake orange leaves and some pumpkins and cornucopias had covered Thanksgiving. The smell of pumpkin pies and homemade apple sauce had filled the air.
Christmas called for more.
Coming closer to the tree, Victoria sniffed. “Maisy, there’s no smell.” Running her fingers over the stiff bristles, she groaned.
