Page 47 of Maybe This Christmas
“And I didn’t even get a chance to go for glory.How disappointing.”Emma brought her gloved hands to her face.She mimed wiping tears away.
“You’re a champion here”—he patted his chest—“where it counts.”
She let out a raucous laugh.“Okay, smart ass.You’re missing out, not seeing my sick moves.That’s all I’m saying.”
“I’ll take your word for it.Hey, do you want to get a hot cocoa to warm up?I’ve been out here for hours, and I’m about to turn into an icicle.”
They turned toward the lodge.Emma looped her arm through his.“I heard the biddies talking about us.We’re hot news, apparently.”
“It doesn’t take much to excite them.Are you okay with them talking?I mean, they can be a little judgmental.”
She shrugged.“Let them talk.We’re grown folks who aren’t doing anything wrong.”
“Amen to that,” Caleb said.
She tugged on his arm.“Normally, I don’t like being in the spotlight.But just this once, I’ll take it.If it means I get to spend time with you.”
Caleb’s breath danced in front of him as he gazed down at Emma.
“Ditto, Em.”
Chapter Sixteen
Emma spent the afternoon in a paint-and-sip class run by Sabrina.She’d hoped to see Caleb, but he was still dealing with resetting the front of the resort after the sledding competition.
Emma, Sabrina and a group of older ladies had set up by the large fireplace in the lodge.The fireplace, decked out with Christmas decorations, was the inspiration.
Aside from her easel, Emma had a hot toddy and her art supplies.She’d chosen the gouache paints because she loved the watercolor look.
She took a sip and appraised her work.She wouldn’t call herself an artist by any means, but she’d always liked to scribble and doodle.Recently, she had turned to sketching, but she didn’t take it too seriously.
As she mixed up paints, Sabrina rolled her chair in place next to her.“Well, damn.You’ve got a lot of hidden talents, Emma.That’s beautiful.”
Emma blushed.“I guess I’m kind of an arts and crafts gal.Well, I used to be.”
“Why are you using past tense?”
Davis was not the type who would’ve allowed paintbrushes to be washed out in his kitchen sink.So, she’d stuck to watercolors at first, then worked on lettering, before the inspiration had eventually left.
“Eh, my ex keeps his condo like a luxury car showroom.No personality or warmth allowed.”She brought her paintbrush to add golden flourishes to the decorations around the fireplace.“He did give me my own office that I could do whatever I wanted with.”She dabbed her paintbrush in the palette once more.“It was in the hall closet, but it was better than nothing.”She turned to find Sabrina wearing a disgusted expression.“I know how that sounds.But I do have a space of my own.Well, I did.”
Sabrina rolled her chair back slightly.“I heard you were looking at the empty spot next to the Ellis & Daughter office.”
Emma set down her brush and gave her painting the critical eye.“Word flies fast, huh?”
Sabrina chuckled.“Small towns.No, but Caleb told me how you’d always wanted to open a stationery store.I can see now that you’ve got an artistic flair.Did you know there’s an unused second floor in the space?It’d be perfect for something like this.There are a lot of talented people in Falling Leaves.Lots of clubs thataren’texcuses to get together and gossip.”She nodded toward her mother and Inez, bickering over their joint canvas.
Emma could see it.She’d always wanted to teach hand-lettering.Or art journaling.She could bring in artists to teach townsfolk and tourists alike.
Then, the reality of starting a business when she had no source of income would set in.It was a pipe dream, nothing more.
“I love that idea.But I’m not sure if it’s a realistic dream.”
A waiter stopped by to drop off another hot toddy.
“Why do you say that?”Sabrina passed their empty cups onto the waiter’s tray.
“Well, I currently have no job, no place to live… I think I have other priorities to sort out first, you know?”
