Chapter 26
S adie
Sadie had never experienced anything like the wall of welcome that hit her when she walked into the Crooked Spoon. In Seattle, returning from business trips meant empty apartments and voicemails about client crises. She was lucky to get a hello when she walked into her corner office, let alone anything else. Here, she could barely move through the crowd of genuine hugs and joy-filled faces.
Jessie rushed up, enveloping her in a cinnamon-scented hug. “You came back to us. I knew you would!”
Tears pricked Sadie’s eyes when Ten Second Tess planted herself in front of her. “I think I remember you. You’re from Talkeetna.” She extended her hand. “I’m Tess. Pleased to meet you. What’s your name?”
Sadie considered it progress. This was the first time Tess had any semblance of remembering her, despite not remembering her name. The best Christmas present ever.
Tucker handed her a napkin-wrapped gift and nodded at her to open it. “For you, my dear.”
She tore off the napkin to see a framed sketch of Main Street and the buildings surrounding Polar Creek...with one added detail: a couple kissing in the middle of the street, with Sadie in her stilettos and Kreston in his tux. Her heart stuttered as she swallowed Tucker in a hug .
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it always,” she said, her voice tremoring.
Aloha moved in with a plethora of leis draped on one arm, holding a deck of cards. “I’m so glad you’re back. Jessie missed having you to help, and I missed having you to talk to. Tess couldn’t figure out what was missing. We hoped you and Kreston would get together.” She placed a silk lei around Sadie’s neck. “I got these online, twenty leis for ten bucks.”
Sadie fingered it. “Thanks, Aloha. I love it.” Everyone treated her like she’d been gone for months. It was delightfully overwhelming, and she embraced it.
Jessie spread her arms. “Everyone! The annual Christmas brunch is ready. Dig in!”
Everyone stampeded to the long tables lining one wall and wrapping around the other in an extended “L.” Sadie couldn’t believe the staggering amount of food.
Kreston appeared at her side, noting her hung jaw expression. “Everyone contributes. It’s easier to have the potluck here instead of across the street. Jessie does the prime rib and fish, and the rest of us contribute our specialty dishes.”
“I’m starving, come on.” Sadie led him by the hand to get into the long line.
Aloha rushed up. “Please sing us a song while we wait to get our food? Pretty please with unicorns on top?” Her puppy dog eyes were a hard sell. “We want to hear you both sing.”
Sadie turned to Kreston. “Are you game?”
He shrugged. “I am if you are.”
“Aloha, sneak up there and get me a roll,” whispered Sadie, her stomach gurgling .
Aloha did her bidding as Sadie and Kreston moved up to the karaoke machine, still on the table from the night they served the Arctic char. While Kreston powered it on and tested the microphone, Sadie bit into the warm roll, closing her eyes.
“Mm, so good.”
“Mind if I pick?” he asked as she chewed, dragging two bar stools over for them to sit on.
She swallowed and smiled. “Nope, go ahead.” The more she looked at Kreston, the hotter he was, and the more she fell for him. She shoved away the notion of what would happen after New Year’s.
One day at a time.
The introduction to “Silent Night” filled the room, and the crowd quieted as Kreston sang the first few notes. His baritone sent chills down Sadie’s spine. She joined him in the second verse, singing harmony, loving how her voice blended with his. He was by far the better singer, but she could hold her own.
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” followed, turning the restaurant into an upbeat celebration. Sadie and Kreston moved between the tables, sharing the microphone. By this time, most people had their food and were seated at the tables.
Tucker joined in, along with the Gossip Trio. Ten Second Tess changed the song when it was her turn, but no one cared. Like everything else in this crazy town, it was taken in stride. Back in Sadie’s stiff world of social events, such chaos wouldn’t be tolerated.
Here, it was normal.
“Time for presents!” Jessie announced. “For our mayor and his—his—what are you calling her?” Jessie stage-whispered to Kreston.
He replied, “My friend from Seattle.”
Sadie glanced at him in surprise, and he darted his eyes at her, raising his hands in an “I don’t know what to say” stance.
Sadie called out to Jessie. “Girlfriend. I’m his girlfriend.”
Kreston beamed at her, nodding his approval.
“Alrighty, then. First, our mayor’s esteemed girlfriend,” declared Jessie, producing a large, wrapped package and handing it to Sadie with a flourish and much ceremony.
Sadie opened it to find a pair of white bulbous bunny boots—practical and totally unglamorous, but perfectly Alaskan. In her old life, she would have dismissed such a gift. But she also knew this for what it was—a please-stay gift.
“Now you’re a true Alaskan!” Jessie announced, circulating with a tray of mimosas. The declaration hit Sadie unexpectedly—when was the last time anyone had wanted her to belong somewhere just for herself, not for what she could do for them?
Lucky grabbed the microphone, his grin infectious. “A toast to the couple we knew should be a couple even before the couple knew they were a couple! To Kreston and Sadie—proof that sometimes you have to get lost to find your way home.”
Sadie caught Kreston watching her, his expression soft. In that moment, surrounded by this collection of bizarre yet wonderful people, she realized her Seattle life had been about managing perceptions, but here it was about being yourself. She’d forgotten how to be herself until Polar Creek.
The jukebox sprang to life with Christmas classics, and Jessie reduced the volume so people could enjoy conversation.
Jessie and Kreston found two empty seats at a table with Lucky, Tucker, and Ten Second Tess, who scooted her chair close to Sadie. “I like you. What’s your name?”
She patiently answered. “Sadie.”
“Did you know Mayor Collins likes you?” she chirped innocently, as if asking for the first time.
“I heard that, yes,” said Sadie, between mouthfuls. The food was so good she wanted to inhale all of it.
Jessie paused her hustle and bustle to join them. “How was your flight this time? Hopefully, not the same as your first wild ride into Polar Creek.”
Sadie sipped her mimosa, loving the orange juice and sparkling champagne. “It was magnificent! Oh my God, Jessie, Kreston flew us right next to Denali, and I got to see it up close. We were eye to eye with the summit!” she gushed.
“That’s all I could think of for a Christmas gift,” said Kreston.
“All you could think of? It’s the best one I’ve ever had.” Sadie winked at him. “Well, maybe not the best one...” she trailed off, squeezing his hand.
Lucky laughed. “Few get to see Denali up close and personal. Especially on a clear day. However, there’s another storm headed our way tomorrow. Another big one from the Bering Sea.”
Sadie gave him a coy smile. “This time, I won’t mind being stranded.”
“How long are you staying?” asked Jessie.
“Until New Year’s,” replied Sadie. She knew what was coming and braced herself.
“And then what? ”
Sadie let it hang there as all eyes at the table darted to her. She sensed Kreston stiffen next to her.
“I’m taking it one day at a time.” She said it firmly so no one would press further.
Lucky downed his mimosa. “What are your plans for today, you two?”
Kreston shrugged. “Depends on what Sadie wants to do.”
“A Christmas sled dog ride sounds fun.” She sent a hopeful glance to Kreston.
“There’s your answer,” said Lucky, laughing.
Sadie couldn’t wait for them to be alone again. She’d become addicted to Polar Creek’s charming, irresistible mayor. She rose from the table, put on her jacket, and picked up the box with her bunny boots.
“Come on, Mayor Collins. We have dogs to hook up.” She waggled her brows.
He stood up so fast his chair tipped over. “Then we better get going.”
Sadie suppressed a laugh at Kreston’s unbridled enthusiasm, her insides spinning cartwheels.
“Load up with some of this food,” ordered Jessie, motioning to the tables.
“Thanks, Jessie.” Sadie hustled over to load two paper plates for their Christmas dinner later on.
Kreston found a cardboard box, and Sadie lowered the plates in, setting napkins over the food. “Merry Christmas, everyone!” they called out, then hurried from the restaurant.
Once they reached his pickup, Kreston opened the truck and set the box of food inside. He gathered Sadie into his arms and planted a kiss on her that would melt an Alaskan volcano .
Sadie’s heart lifted to the heavens as she lost herself in him. He topped off the passionate kiss with several light ones. She had the sensation of being watched and swiveled her head toward the restaurant.
There, in the window, were so many faces she couldn’t count them all, eagerly watching. She burst out laughing and stepped back from Kreston, who shook his head. “If they want a show, let’s give them one. Watch this.”
He grabbed her around the waist, leaned her back in a swoon, and kissed her thoroughly, holding the pose until the cheering erupted. Above the commotion, Lucky’s distinctive whoops and hollers broke out as Kreston lifted Sadie into the pickup and they sped off.
This was definitely a first for Sadie. And hopefully, it wouldn’t be the last.