Page 99 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Still recovering from Thanksgiving.” Emily patted her tummy. “All that pie.”
From what Victoria had heard, pie wasn’t the only thing in that stomach.
“And my honeymoon.” Bryn was positively glowing. Maybe honeymoons did that to a girl. Her heart pinched. How Victoria longed for a honeymoon. But first you had to have a groom. The three of them pivoted toward her.
“What’s with your eye?” Josie’s tone indicated she looked as appealing as Godzilla.
Victoria patted her bandage. “Nothing much. An accident.”
“How did you ever do that?” Bryn asked softly, coming closer. “Is your eye going to be all right?”
“I think so. This might look bad but it isn’t serious.” Victoria fingered her bandage. “I was sawing some, uh, branches. A sliver flew into my eye.”
Coming closer, Josie stared at her with x-ray eyes. “Have you had it looked at?”
“Of course.” Her cheeks burned.Oh boy, did I ever.“The urgent care center.”
“What’s the blush about?” Emily asked.
“Dr. Darling.” Bryn drew closer. Someday Victoria wanted to have porcelain skin like Bryn. “So you met him, right?”
“Dr. Who?” Josie swiveled.
Now she was really under the microscope. Four pairs of eyes were on her. Maisy had joined the group as Victoria fiddled with the tree.
“Derek Darling,” she tossed the name out there.
Emily chuckled. “Sounds like a movie star.”
“He looks like one too.” Bryn threw Victoria a knowing smile. “When Annabelle got stung by a bee, we took her to the urgent care center. Dr. Darling is, well, darling. All that dark hair and that cute smile.”
Victoria vaguely remembered hearing how one of Trevor’s twins had gotten stung by a bee. Bryn was just getting to know Trevor at the time.
Bryn sniffed. “Smells heavenly in here. Do you have a pine spritzer?”
Emily fingered one of the real branches. “No, she’s tucked real pine into the artificial tree. Brilliant.”
Victoria straightened. “Not too subtle, but I wanted the shop to smell like Christmas.”
“So you didn't have time to finish decorating?” Josie asked. Okay, the tree did look pathetic.
“We’re working on it.” Bless her heart, Maisy jumped in for her.
Thank goodness by this time the walking group’s attention swung to the display case. Whisking out a tissue, Maisy waited.
“I'll take a chocolate croissant.” Josie pointed. Before Victoria’s Pantry opened, Josie had existed on power bars and electrolyte drinks. The last couple months? Victoria felt proud that her pastries had led Josie astray.
Bryn motioned to her favorite ricotta cheese pastry. “One, please.”
“Make mine cherry,” Emily chimed in.
“Sweet tea all around?” Maisy asked brightly.
Settling around the glass-topped table closest to the window, they nodded.
“Mind if I join you?” Victoria asked. The drama of last night had left her exhausted.
“Oh, come here, you poor thing.” Bryn patted the chair next to her.
