Page 22 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Almost ten years now.” Sarah’s voice held a wistful note. Was she thinking of her own situation?
“Sounds like it’s high time, right? I mean, for your mother.”
“Time for what?” She stared at him blankly.
Head down, he kept scraping. “It must get lonely for her, Sarah.”
She didn’t say anything for the longest time. “Yes, very lonely,” she finally whispered.
Her words opened up a whole world of hurt. He set down the grater and wiped his hands on a towel. “This will get better, Sarah. With time.”
“Isn’t it awful?” She lifted eyes filled with tears. “But I don’t want to forget him.”
“You never will.” He thought about his brother every day. Every time Ryan hit a pothole along Red Arrow, Jamie came to mind. They used to alert each other with a text. “You don’t forget people who’ve been so important in your life. But I guess, like your mom, you move on. You have to.”
Eyes red, Sarah crinkled her apron in her bandaged fingers.
He wanted to comfort her.
Don’t even think about it.
Instead, he picked up the grater. Pulling a tissue from her apron, she dabbed at her nose. “Guess we’d better get busy. I want to bake a new batch of thimbles too.”
“Again?” The thought of separating eggs again made him drop the grater.
“Rinse that off before you use it again,” Sarah told him in a crisp tone.
“Sure thing, boss lady.”
“Puh-lease.” Her laughter followed him to the sink. For the next two hours they turned out cookies and pastries. Then it was time for him to head to the garage.
He was putting on his coat when she said. “Are you coming to the Holiday Walk this Saturday?”
“Yeah. I told Cole I’d step in for him as Santa this year.” Ryan tried to inject some enthusiasm into his voice. He wasn’t looking forward to it.
“You’ll make a great Santa.”
“I couldn’t say no. He’s so busy with the new baby and all.”
“Being Santa will get you into the holiday spirit.”
“Ho, ho, ho.” He felt as grim as that sounded. “You always see the bright side, Sarah.”
“I try.” She trailed him to the door, as if she was sorry to see him go.
When he cracked open the door, the cold blast of air made Sarah shiver. “Get inside. You’ll freeze.”
She waved good-bye and closed the door. Ryan climbed in the truck. Giving a lazy groan, the engine didn’t want to turn over. But on the third try, it started. He bumped over some icy patches in the alley and finally made it out to the street. But all the way up Red Arrow Highway, the warmth of the bakery stayed with him. Working together felt good. There was nothing phony about Sarah and he liked that.
Then he hit a pothole.Got that, Jamie? Help me out here.
Maybe being with his sister-in-law was getting way too comfortable.
Nathan and Justinwere giddy with excitement Saturday morning. Sarah suspected they’d been sneaking cookies from the store. More than once lately she’d found crumbs under their pillows. Maybe Mom was the culprit. Sometimes she felt that her mother tried to fill the loss of their dad with sweets.
But sugar wouldn’t do it. And it wouldn’t help Nathan behave. Friday he’d brought home a note from his teacher.Nathan had shoved some other boy over something, and Sarah had to call Monday.
But she wouldn’t think about that now. On Saturdays, she worked out front while the boys played quietly in the back. But today Santa was arriving at noon. As usual, Sarah was running late. Maisy Bows had come in, breathless because she was having a children’s party after the Holiday Walk and needed cookies. The platter took a little time, so now Sarah had to rush.
