Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Karl
The truck’s warm, and the smell of coffee hits me as soon as I walk up, thick and rich, calling my name.
There’s a deep, earthy scent that lingers in the air, almost like toasted almonds mixed with cocoa. Then I get a sharp, spicy note from the cinnamon she’s been dusting over the froth of a cappuccino, curling into the steam, combined with the caramelized sugar. Sweet, smooth, almost buttery.
This place… it’s Olivia in a cup. She’s got this way of making everything around her feel just a little bit better. Her coffee? Addictive. Her smile? Even more so.
She’s inside, doing her thing. The sleeves of her sweater rolled up, her hands quick and steady as she works the espresso machine. She’s lost in it, humming to herself, the sound musical.
If I weren’t so obsessed with watching her, I’d almost call it soothing.
But, then again, I’m not here for soothing today. Today, I’ve got one thing on my mind… making her laugh.
I lean against the side of the truck, my jacket tight around my chest.
“You know,” I call out to her, “I think you’ve got a secret. You’re brewing more than just coffee in there, aren’t you?”
She barely looks up, full of mock suspicion. “Oh, really? And what makes you say that, Karl?”
I tilt my head, a grin spreading across my face. “I don’t know, it’s the way you’re moving around in there. You’re either making the best damn coffee I’ve ever smelled, or you’re trying to summon a genie. Either way, I’m in.”
Olivia rolls her eyes, and even though it’s the usual eye roll, there’s something about the way she does it that still makes me want to kiss her.
“Maybe I should summon one to get rid of you,” she teases, but I see that smile fighting its way through.
The one that’s for me.
“I can’t go anywhere. Not when you’re making coffee look this sexy.”
She doesn’t even look up, but I can see the corner of her lips twitch.
“Is that so?” she replies, her tone dry, but with a touch of something playful underneath.
I take a step closer, resting my hand on the side of the truck. “Oh, yeah. It’s like you’re seducing that espresso machine. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to make me jealous.”
Olivia finally glances at me, rolling her eyes as she pours the milk into a cup.
“You? Jealous?” Her voice is laced with amusement. “I didn’t know you were capable of that.”
I lean in a little, my smile spreading.
“Well, you’d be surprised what I’m capable of,” I say, lowering my voice just enough for her to feel the weight behind it. “But don't worry. I’ll survive.”
“Karl, get your ass in gear,” Jesse grumbles, standing in the doorway of the fire station with his arms crossed, brows furrowed. “You’ve been outside all morning flirting. We have fires to fight, you know.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming…”
“Leo and I are waiting for you, actually, to put some effort into your job.”
Olivia chuckles from behind the counter, clearly enjoying the back and forth. I catch her eye and see the amusement in her gaze. “Seems like someone wants you.”
I shoot her a playful wink. “I know you want me too. Unfortunately, I have to go and be a hero. But I’ll be back.”
“Go save some lives, Karl,” she says, her eyes glinting with something I can’t quite name, but I know exactly what it means.
“After I’ve made a mess of your heart, I’ll be happy to.”
Jesse clears his throat from the door, his tone teasing as he leans against the frame. “You done, or are you going to make this more painfully dramatic?”
“Right, right,” I chuckle, stepping past him. “You’re no fun.”
“Yeah, and you’re a damn flirt,” he mutters, but there’s no heat in it.
We both know the truth now…. it’s not just playful anymore.
As I walk into the fire station, I catch a glimpse of Leo working on some equipment, and I shoot him a wink, to see him roll his eyes.
“How’s it going?”
Leo glances over, unamused but clearly enjoying himself in his own way. “You’ve finally decided to join us?”
“I’ve been thinking…” I start, ignoring his remark as I take a seat. “About Christmas Day.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Do you guys have plans?”
I know Leo doesn’t, but it’s a relief when Jesse shakes his head too.
“I was going to go to Ivy’s, but I can change that…”
“So, what do you guys think about making Christmas unforgettable for Olivia? She deserves the best after everything she’s been through. I’m thinking we pull out all the stops.”
Jesse looks up from the stack of paperwork on the counter, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pushes his sleeves up. “Ooh yeah, I actually like that idea. You serious?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool, but I can tell Jesse's already thinking about it. “You bet I’m serious. She’s been through hell, and she’s finally starting to smile again. I want to give her something that reminds her how amazing she is. We can make this her best Christmas ever.”
Leo glances over, raising an eyebrow. “What did you have in mind, genius?”
I walk around the table, running my hands through my hair, about to pitch a big idea.
“I’m thinking… we make Christmas day perfect for her.
A day that’s all about Olivia. Something she’s never had before.
We fill it with little surprises, joy, and laughter.
We want to make sure she feels the love, you know?
A real Christmas. It seems like she has spent the last few years working for that asshole, Richard, and she’s never had the chance to enjoy it.
I want to change that. This year, in Coyote Glen, with us. ”
Leo nods slowly, his eyes lighting up as he picks up on it. “I like it. But you’re right. It has to be personal. No generic holiday stuff. We need to make it all about her.”
Jesse leans back against the counter, his arms crossed, his expression thoughtful for a second. “I’m in. I can’t stand the idea of her spending Christmas without something that makes her feel… loved. But how do we make it perfect? We can’t just throw some random stuff together and call it a day.”
“That’s what we need to work out,” I declare with a grin. “And where are we going to be?”
“At mine,” Jesse says sharply. “My cabin in the mountains. You know that’s perfect.”
“I’ve got an idea for the day,” Leo pipes up. “We could start early, make her breakfast at the cabin. Something cozy, you know? Pancakes, bacon, maybe some homemade cinnamon rolls, coffee in those big mugs she likes. We take our time, no rushing.”
I nod, liking where he’s headed. “Yeah, that’s the vibe.
I want her to wake up and… feel the calm.
No stress, no to-do list. Just a slow, easy morning.
We could make the cabin look like a damn winter wonderland, too.
String up lights, maybe even a few garlands on the mantle.
Nothing too over the top, but enough to make it feel magical.
More so than you already have, I’m sure, Jesse. ”
Jesse chuckles and shrugs. “There could be some improvements.”
“Definitely,” Leo agrees. “And we keep the whole day personal. Maybe a note from each of us on the table next to her plate. Something that tells her we’re here for her, no matter what.”
Jesse shifts, getting into it now. “I like that. No fluff. Just straight to the heart.”
I can feel it all coming together now. “Exactly. And after breakfast, we can get out of the cabin and do something fun, but easy-going. We take her for a walk around town to see the Christmas lights. Coyote Glen’s pretty lit up on Christmas Day. It’s even better than the rest of the season.”
“We could go ice skating,” Jesse suggests, surprising me a little. “The lake’s frozen over, right? I can picture it now. A quiet, calm day. Maybe even just the four of us skating around, a little competition here and there. I don’t know if she’s into skating, but it’ll be fun either way.”
“Yeah, ice skating,” I say, the idea sticking. “We can have hot cocoa waiting afterward. Maybe some of those peppermint bark cookies Olivia loves.”
“And we can cook lunch between us, right?” Jesse glances at each of us. “I’m sure we can work this shit out.”
I nod enthusiastically. “I’m not too sure about my kitchen skills, but we can make it work. And then afterward, maybe a movie? Hot chocolate, blankets, and one of those classic Christmas flicks?”
Leo raises an eyebrow. “Are we talking Miracle on 34th Street, or are we going with something a little more… fun? Like Home Alone?”
Jesse laughs. “Definitely Home Alone. Olivia’s seen it, right?”
I nod. “I’m sure she has. We’ll make a whole thing of it. Lots of snacks, lots of laughs. I think she’ll love it.”
“Right,” Leo says, his tone turning more serious again. “But let’s not forget about the gift exchange. We can’t make this day special without the right presents.”
I grin. “You’re right. Personalized gifts. Nothing generic. We get her gifts that show we really know her. Presents with meaning. And we’ll give them to her after the movie, right when we’re all cozy by the fire.”
Jesse nods. “You want it to be intimate. That’ll make her feel like she’s not alone anymore. That we’ve got her back.”
I smile, glad we’re all on the same page now. “Exactly. I’ve been thinking about it. I want to give her something she can hold onto. Like a framed photo of us all.”
Leo taps his chin thoughtfully. “Jewelry, maybe. But right for her.”
Jesse speaks up. “Maybe I’ll get her a leather journal. Something custom. She’s always writing down her thoughts in that little notebook of hers. I think she’d love something that’s all hers. Something she can pour her heart into.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, the plan starting to come together more clearly.
“This is it,” Jesse says, breaking the silence, “the best damn Christmas she’s ever had.”
I grin, looking at the two of them. “Hell yeah. This is the Christmas she deserves.”
Leo leans back in his chair, giving a rare, relaxed smile. “You know what? This is going to be one hell of a day.”
“And no one needs to know,” Jesse adds. “We keep this under wraps. Just us, and her. No drama.”
We all agree that the plan is finally settling in. It feels good, no, it feels right, to be doing something for Olivia. That’s going to show her just how much she means to us.
When Christmas Day comes, it’s going to be perfect.