Chapter Fifteen
HOLLY
“W hat do you think of this one?” Cassie asks, holding a scarf up in front of my face.
“It’s nice.”
“Just nice? Feel this? It’s so soft.”
I hold my hand out and run it along the soft merino wool, barely letting the buttery texture register. “Yeah, it’s nice.”
“Okay, what’s wrong?” she asks, taking the scarf away and plopping it back on the table in front of us.
“Wrong? Nothing’s wrong?” I fib, not meeting her eyes.
“I know we’re new friends and all, but that doesn’t mean you get to lie to me,” she prods, following behind as I trail down the display in front of me.
I smile, watching the scene in front of me. Rex and Jacob are waiting outside with Tag. They sent us in and told us to take our time while we look for gifts. I glance out the window, seeing them as they play with Tag, who’s running circles around their feet as Jacob holds out a treat, trying to get him to do some trick on command.
“See! There is something going on. What is it? Is it Rex? Oh my gosh, what did he do?”
“What? Nothing!” I look over at her as she studies my face. “Are you sure you want to talk about this?”
“Why wouldn’t I want to talk about it?” She tilts her head to the side, regarding me.
“Well, I picked up on some feelings you have for Rex…”
“Oh, that.” She looks past me for a moment, her gaze fixed on the men outside the window. “I can’t lie about that. I’ve had feelings for Rex for a while. It was so horrible about him and his wife. It was just never a good time, you know? But then he started coming into the cafe every day for his latte and he seemed like he’d been coming into town more. I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter, because he never looked at me the way he looks at you.”
My heart stills. How does he look at me? Do I look at him the same way?
I can’t stop the tumbling thoughts in my head as I look between Cassie and Rex.
“Hey, calm down,” she laughs. “This can’t be news to you.”
“No, it’s not. We, uh, sorta had a moment yesterday. I think it’s what spooked him and got him to ask you to take me shopping.”
“I mean, I won’t be sorry for that because today has been awesome, but what kind of moment?” She leans towards me, waiting for me to fill her in.
“We were talking in his kitchen. He told me all about Lauren and what happened. He really opened up to me. And then we—we almost kissed.”
“Almost? Why just almost?” Her voice is hushed and her eyes wide as she leans in closer.
“Well, Tag sorta decided he was going to get an ornament off the tree and ended up knocking it over, wrapping himself in the garland.”
“Oh Tag,” Cassie bursts out laughing, wiping the tears from her eyes. “That dog has horrible timing.”
“Or good timing. We can’t kiss. We can’t do anything. I’m leaving to go back to Vancouver as soon as my car’s done. Why does everyone keep forgetting that?”
Why do I keep forgetting that?
“Is that still what you want?” The laughter stops as she grabs my arms. “Are you still thinking of leaving?”
“My life is in the city, Cassie. I can’t stay in Candy Cane Creek. It’s literally the exact opposite of what I wanted for my life. It’s a small town. It’s a Christmas small town. I don’t belong here.”
“Says who? You can do your job from anywhere, proven by the fact that you’re here in the first place. You told me you spend most of your time when you’re not working by yourself. You can’t tell me that’s better than here with a community that already loves you.”
“They don’t know me, Cassie.”
“They know you enough to have welcomed you in. To show you around the town and make you feel welcome. Enough for Rex to open up his home to you. He doesn’t do that for just anyone,” she huffs out. She lets out another deep breath before dropping her shoulders. “We care about you, Holly.”
My eyes start to mist as I take in her words. It’s true that I’ve felt more at home here than I ever have in the city. My small one-bedroom apartment feels like a jail cell compared to the guest house at Rex’s. The concrete high rises and city lights block out the countless stars that take my breath away every night.
I also can’t deny that the people have made me feel more at home, more loved, than anyone in Vancouver.
“What is it about Christmas that makes you want to leave so much?” Cassie whispers.
I look down at the table before me, seeing sentimental ornaments with sayings like ‘Our First Christmas,’ and ‘Baby’s First Christmas.’ Is that something I would be celebrating had Josh and I stayed together? Would we have children?
“It’s complicated.”
“It’s only complicated if you make it that way.”
I trace my finger over the ‘Our First Christmas’ ornament, thinking about how it didn’t even cross my mind to get one for Josh and me.
“I was supposed to get married on Christmas. It didn’t work out.” I fixate on the rough texture of the glittery letters, letting it ground me to where I am. I’m in Candy Cane Creek with someone who’s declared herself my new best friend. I’m not in the city. I’m not surrounded by my parents telling me I must have done something wrong for Josh to have stood me up. I’m not with the women I thought were my friends that distanced themselves from the disgraced writer who caused a social scandal in their circle.
I’m just me. In a small town where people don’t judge, and with a woman that wants to be my friend even though I’m linked to a man she’s had a crush on for a while.
“I’m so sorry, Holly.” Cassie pulls me into a side hug, wrapping both of her arms around me.
I cradle her arm that’s across my chest with both of mine, closing my eyes and resting my head against hers. It’s been so long since someone’s just hugged me.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Do you know what you need?” she asks, pulling away.
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
“Some stollen and apple cider.” She nods her head as if it’s decided, even though I’m completely lost.
“Some stollen?”
“Yes, the German Christmas dessert. Anita from the bakery makes the best stollen and mixed with her apple cider, it’ll cure any sadness this time of year.” She glances around the table, picking up her forgotten sweater and the ‘Our First Christmas’ ornament. “We can’t walk out of here without buying anything. The boys will get suspicious.”
“And you think an ‘Our First Christmas’ ornament won’t raise any eyebrows?” I chuckle.
“Think of it as a memento of our first Christmas as BFFs.” She strolls off to the cashier, leaving me behind to watch after her.
What a strange town.
What’s even stranger is, I’m beginning to love it.
* * *
“Do you mind if I join you?” Rex asks as he approaches the bench I’m sitting on.
“Not at all.” I slide over, giving him room to sit beside me.
We watch in silence as some local kids play with Tag, throwing a frisbee for him as he chases after it, the Santa hat flopping on his head as he runs.
“How does that hat stay on?” I ask in awe, watching the black and tan dog run through the town square.
“Christmas magic. It’s the only thing I can think of,” he says, giving me a shy smile that looks utterly adorable on him. “Did you really have a good day with Cassie?”
“I did.” I turn slightly to face him. “We had a lot of fun shopping, and she took me to a great cafe in town. I have to admit, I was shocked when I first saw her at my door this morning, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.”
There I go, thinking of the guest house door as my door again.
“That’s great. I was hoping it would work out.” He takes a sip from his mug and looks at me. “How is it you can drink apple cider, but you think the Holly Jolly Latte is a monstrosity?”
I can’t help but let out the belly laugh building in me. “For starters, this is a holiday classic, and it’s more spice than sugar. Plus, I don’t like coffee. That’s the main thing I have against it. The sugar is just collateral damage.”
“So you have a sweet tooth, then?”
“Have you seen the number of cookies I’ve been eating since I got here?” I chuckle.
“I’ll be sure to remember that. Anita goes all out for Christmas, but she has the most amazing desserts between then and New Year's, too. By the time the new year rolls around, we’re all ready to sugar detox.” He takes a breath before continuing. “You know, when I first moved here, I was told about the history of Mrs. Claus’ Bakery.”
“Oh, yeah?” I ask, intrigued, crossing one leg over the other and resting my elbow on my knee. “Is it more than just a normal bakery?”
“Oh, yes. When Anita and her husband got married, they bought the location they’re at now and completely transformed it into a bakery fit for the North Pole. Anita’s husband, Jack, wanted something that would really add to the town. He wanted a way that they could contribute to the Christmas festival but also be a meaningful business for the rest of the year.”
“I love that.” I’m completely drawn in by the history of the business. I love learning what makes small towns unique. Their quirks. And this town has a lot of them. “Let me guess, their last name is Claus?”
“Nope, Frost.” Rex bites his bottom lip, suppressing a smile.
“Stop it! It is not! Jack and Anita Frost?”
“It’s true!” He chuckles, holding his hands up in front of him in surrender. “I believe the original name was going to be along the lines of ‘Anita Frosting Bakery.’”
“Anita Frost. Like ‘I need a frosting?’ That’s amazing.”
“Yes, but they decided to go with something more…festive. To really fit in with the town.”
“Candy Cane Creek is something else,” I say with a smile.
Silence falls between us once more as we look into each other’s eyes, a smile on both of our faces. My breath hitches as I take in just how handsome he is. His brown hair looks nearly black under the dark night sky; his blue eyes are vibrant behind his black-rimmed glasses. Even in his ridiculous Santa pjs, he’s still the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.
Not that I can talk, as I’m currently dressed like a reindeer.
I shiver, the cold sinking into my body as snow starts to fall lightly around us. The pathway in front of us has been cleared from the previous snowfalls, and I’ve never been more thankful for the salt sprinkled over all the cleared patches to prevent any more falling, especially on my part.
“Cold?” Rex asks. Without waiting for an answer, he puts down his mug and takes off his jacket, sliding it over my shoulders.
“But what about you?” I can’t help but pull the edges of his coat tighter around me, taking in his spicy sweet scent that now envelops me. It’s a mix of dogs and candy canes. Something that could only be uniquely Rex.
“I’ll be fine,” he says, lowering his arm so it rests on the bench beside me.
He had moved closer to me when putting his jacket around me. The heat from his jacket now matches the heat from his arm across my shoulder as it presses against mine. I’m shivering again, but not from the cold.
“Rex…” I start, not really knowing what I’m about to say, but also stunned as I look past him at what is approaching us.
Tag rolls toward us on top of a skateboard, his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth, the Santa hat fixed on his head. He’s wearing skiing goggles as he glides past us as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to be doing.
“Did you see that?” I ask, whipping my head around to follow the skater pup.
“Tag,” Rex huffs in annoyance, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes.
A group of teens break out in laughter as they run after the getaway dog, trying to catch up with him as he navigates his way through the shovelled paths.
“I’d better go get him before he causes more of a spectacle of himself than he already has.” Rex stands and looks down at me as if he wants to say something else. He opens his mouth and shuts it again, looking between me and the path Tag rolled down. “Do you mind waiting here and I’ll give you a ride back?”
“No, take your time.” I stand, putting my cup on the ground and pulling off his jacket. “Take this.”
“No, I’ll be fine. I’m probably going to have to run after him, anyway. Just—wait here. Please?”
I nod, holding his gaze for a moment more before watching him retreat down the path after his wayward dog.
This town really is something else.