Page 64 of Grumpy Glitter Christmas
“A walking glitter bomb who turned my orderly life upside down?”
“Exactly,” she said, and kissed him again, there in the glow of the ballroom she’d brought back to life.
Outside, snow began to fall, soft and silent, covering Frost Pine Ridge in a fresh blanket of white. The gala was a success. The bank was saved. And Felicity Adams—professional decorator, purveyor of strategic joy, and the woman who’d taught a banker how to shine—was finally, completely, impossibly happy.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Felicity pushed through the door of Sugar Pine Sweets the Monday after the gala, breathing in the familiar scent of vanilla and cinnamon. The scents seemed even sweeter now. The afternoon sun slanted through the windows, casting everything in a warm, golden glow.
Jade looked up from behind the counter and broke into a wide smile. “There she is! Professional Event Coordinator extraordinaire!”
“Stop,” Felicity said, but she was grinning as she slid onto her usual stool at the counter.
“I will not stop. You pulled off the event of the decade. The town is still talking about it.” Jade was already preparing two mugs of cocoa without asking. “Ida and Ruth were already here this morning and all they could do was gush over Grant’s speech.”
Felicity felt her cheeks heat. “It was... unexpected.”
“It was perfect.” Jade set the cocoa down, topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. “So? How are things? With you and Grant?”
“Good,” Felicity said, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. “I’m not rushing into anything, though. Taking it slow, you know? No pressure. Just... seeing where it goes.”
“Smart,” Jade approved. “Though from the way he was looking at you on Saturday night, I’d say it’s going somewhere very specific.”
“Jade—“
“I’m just saying! The man looked at you like you’d hung the moon and invented hot cocoa.” Jade leaned her elbows on the counter. “But slow is good. Solid. Building something real.”
“Speaking of building something real,” Felicity said, grateful for the subject change, “I deposited the check this morning. Eight thousand dollars!”
“I know! You texted me seventeen times!” Jade laughed. “I’m so proud of you. You did it. You proved everyone wrong.”
“I proved myself wrong,” Felicity corrected softly. “That was the important part.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their cocoa. Outside, a light snow had started falling, dusting Main Street in white.
“Can you believe Cecily Glick?” Jade said suddenly. “Running the food bank all this time? I had no idea.”
“Me neither,” Felicity admitted. “I always thought she just ran around town doing mean things.”
“She’s been running it for over twenty years, apparently,” Jade said. “One of the customers told me this morning. Cecily’s helped more families in this town than anyone will ever know. She doesn’t talk about it. Just does the work.”
Felicity thought about the woman who’d accepted that oversized check with such quiet dignity. “There’s definitely more to her than we know.”
The bell over the door jingled, and they both looked up.
Meena Patel walked in, looking decidedly less corporate than usual. She wore jeans and a cream cable-knit sweater, her dark hair cascading her shoulders instead of in its usual sleek ponytail. She looked younger. Softer. Almost uncertain.
“Meena!” Felicity said in surprise. “I thought you’d be back in the city by now.”
“So did I,” Meena admitted, approaching the counter. “But I’ve got a few weeks off. Vacation time I haven’t used in... well, ever, apparently. Corporate insisted.”
“And you’re spending it in Frost Pine Ridge?” Jade asked, already preparing a third mug of cocoa.
“My grandfather is at Pine Ridge Manor,” Meena said, settling onto a stool beside Felicity. “I don’t get to see him as much as I should. So I thought...” She shrugged, looking almost embarrassed. “I thought I’d stick around. Spend some real time with him.”
Felicity felt a surge of affection for this woman who’d been all business and clipboards but clearly had a soft heart underneath. “That’s really lovely, Meena.”
Meena shrugged. “I’m glad to spend time with him. We were close when I was a kid.”
