Chapter 14
14
E mily stood behind the counter at Doug’s Hardware Store, tapping a pen against her clipboard as she mentally sorted through the day’s to-do list. Outside, snow flurries danced in the early morning light, adding a layer of fresh powder to Mistletoe Hollow’s cobblestone streets. The town had settled into a rhythm of quiet holiday cheer, but Emily’s mind buzzed with a growing list of worries.
Lila’s footsteps echoed across the shop floor, pulling Emily out of her thoughts. She glanced up to see her friend approaching with a sheepish smile and a paper bag clutched tightly in her hand .
“Hey,” Lila said, sliding onto the stool by the counter. “Is it okay if I hide out here for a bit? I need a minute to... process.”
Emily arched an eyebrow. “Process what? Did Jack finally burn the pancakes again?”
Lila let out a nervous laugh, setting the bag on the counter. “Not quite. I, uh, bought this earlier.”
Emily eyed the bag curiously. “A paper bag of secrets? Intriguing. What’s in it?”
Instead of answering, Lila reached into the bag and pulled out a slim rectangular box. Emily froze as realization dawned.
“Wait,” Emily said slowly, her eyes widening. “Is that… a pregnancy test?”
Lila nodded, biting her lip. “I’ve been feeling off for a while now—nauseous, tired. I thought it was just stress, but then it hit me... what if it’s not?”
Emily’s mouth opened and closed as she processed the confession. “Oh my gosh. Are you... excited? Terrified? Both?”
“All of the above,” Lila admitted, her cheeks flushing. “I haven’t even told Jack yet. I wanted to be sure first.”
“Well, you’re not taking that thing here,” Emily said, motioning to the restroom in the back. “The hardware store bathroom isn’t exactly the ambiance you want for life-altering news.”
Lila laughed, a genuine sound that seemed to ease some of her nerves. “Good point. I’ll wait until I’m home.”
Emily reached across the counter, giving her friend’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Whatever happens, you’ve got this. And Jack is going to lose his mind—in the best way.”
That afternoon, Emily and Lila piled into Lila’s car, a thermos of tea in Emily’s lap as they made their way to the doctor’s office. Doug had grudgingly agreed to let them accompany him after several rounds of pleading and one sternly worded ultimatum from Lila.
“I don’t see why you girls have to come,” Doug grumbled as they helped him out of the car. “It’s just a checkup.”
“A checkup you’ve been putting off for weeks,” Lila countered, linking her arm with his. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how many cough drops you’ve been going through.”
Doug muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue further.
The waiting room smelled faintly of antiseptic and pine, a small Christmas tree in the corner decorated with paper snowflakes and candy canes. Emily flipped through a magazine while Lila filled out the check-in forms.
When Doug’s name was called, the three of them made their way into the exam room. The nurse who greeted them was a tall woman with curly auburn hair and a quick smile that seemed to light up the small space. Her name tag read Nancy .
“Well, Doug,” Nancy said cheerfully, glancing at his chart. “It looks like you’ve got quite the entourage today.”
Doug chuckled, his gruff exterior softening. “What can I say? They don’t trust me to follow orders.”
“Smart ladies,” Nancy replied, winking at Lila and Emily.
As she took Doug’s vitals, Emily couldn’t help but notice the way Nancy’s tone shifted from professional to warm, her conversation peppered with gentle teasing that had Doug cracking a rare smile.
“So, Doug,” Nancy said as she wrapped the blood pressure cuff around his arm, “what’s your secret to surviving the holidays in a small town?”
Doug shrugged, his eyes twinkling. “Avoid the tree lighting ceremony and let the kids do all the heavy lifting.”
Nancy laughed, a sound that seemed to brighten the room. “Sounds like a solid plan. Though I have to say, I can’t picture you sitting out completely. You strike me as a hands-on kind of guy.”
Doug’s ears turned red, and Emily exchanged a glance with Lila. Both of them bit back smiles as they watched the scene unfold.
When Nancy stepped out of the room to grab a chart, Lila leaned toward Emily and whispered, “Did you see that? She was totally flirting with him.”
Emily grinned. “And he was flirting back. Who knew Doug had moves?”
Lila covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. “We are never letting him live this down.”
By the time they returned to the hardware store, the sun had dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the snowy streets. Emily was tidying up behind the counter when the bell above the door jingled. She looked up to see her mother, Sarah, strolling in, her coat pristine despite the slushy sidewalks outside.
“Emily, darling,” Sarah said with a too-bright smile. “How’s my favorite daughter?”
Emily raised an eyebrow. “I’m your only daughter.”
Sarah waved a hand dismissively. “Details, details. I was just in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by. How’s business?”
“Steady,” Emily replied cautiously. “Is there something you need?”
“Well,” Sarah began, her tone turning sugary sweet, “I couldn’t help but notice how much you’ve taken on lately. Between the store, the garden project, and all these holiday events, you must be exhausted. Have you thought about delegating?”
Emily frowned, unsure where this was going. “I’ve got plenty of help. Lila and Grace have been great.”
“Of course they have,” Sarah said quickly. “But you’re still handling all the finances, aren’t you? Wouldn’t it be easier to let someone else take that off your plate? Just temporarily?”
Emily’s stomach tightened. “I’m fine, Mom. Really.”
Sarah’s smile faltered for a split second before she recovered. “If you say so. I just hate seeing you so stressed. You know I’m always here if you need me.”
Emily nodded, though a faint unease settled in her chest as Sarah left.
Later that night, Emily sat by her window, watching the snow fall in gentle drifts. The town square was quiet now, the Christmas lights casting a warm glow over the deserted streets.
Her mind drifted back to the day’s events—Doug’s surprising charm with Nancy, Lila’s nervous excitement, and Sarah’s strange offer. Something about her mother’s visit didn’t sit right, but Emily couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
As she sipped her tea, Emily resolved to keep a closer eye on things. She’d worked too hard to build this life to let anything—or anyone—derail it.