Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
It was almost time to go home.
Correction: It was almost time to go to her mother’s apartment.
Later that afternoon, Felicity finished checking out a customer. It was someone from out of town. Even though she didn’t know the woman, she enjoyed telling them about Kringle Falls. Felicity suggested the woman check out the lights at the waterfall in town. It was such a beautiful sight.
After the woman left, Felicity glanced around for the next thing to do. But the new books had been placed on the shelves, and the shelves behind the counter had been organized. So, for a moment, she stared out the window at the gently falling snow.
Jingle Bell Books was the only place where she could relax. When she was in the bookshop, she felt like herself. Maybe what she needed was to contact her old friends.
She thought of her lifelong friends, Holly and Belle. Guilt assailed her for not preserving their relationships. When she was in New York, she’d let herself get so caught up with her work that it wasn’t just her relationship that suffered, but she’d lost contact with her oldest friends.
When she’d come home for her father’s funeral, they’d reconnected, and she’d promised that she wouldn’t let the distance come between them again.
She’d failed to keep her word. After her father’s funeral, she’d been a mess.
In an effort to avoid the grief, she’d thrown herself into her work.
It kept her distracted—perhaps too distracted.
Connie stepped out of the office. When she saw Felicity, she smiled. “How are things going?”
“We just sold a tourist guide to New England and a book on the history of Kringle Falls.”
“That’s great. I always love when tourists make it in here.
We actually get more than you would think at this time of the year.
Most are here for the skiing and take a side trip to visit our Christmas town.
” Connie made her way behind the checkout counter.
“Did they happen to mention where they were from?”
“I think they said Virginia.”
“That’s great.” Connie’s gaze met hers. “I’m just so glad to have you here. I know it’s quite a few steps down from your editor position.”
“Don’t say that.” It was on the tip of Felicity’s tongue to admit that she’d lost her job, but she bit back the words. “I love it here.” When Connie sent her a look of disbelief, Felicity said, “I mean it. It’s like coming home.” And then she had a thought. “Did you know my mother sold the house?”
Connie froze with a deer-in-headlights look on her face. “Felicity, I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling to see someone else living in your childhood home.”
Her thoughts turned to the Barber family, and tears rushed to her eyes. Why had she brought up the subject? She blinked repeatedly as she shook her head. “Forget that I said anything about it.”
Connie hesitated. “I’m always here if you need to talk.”
“I appreciate it. It’s just that so much has changed.”
“Felicity, don’t take this the wrong way, but you have been gone for years.”
She sighed and nodded. “I know.”
“Things were bound to change, especially for your mother. It took her a bit to get her feet under her after she lost your father.” Connie’s voice was soft and comforting.
Felicity could hear what Connie wasn’t saying: she should have been there for her mother.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be there for her—she didn’t know how to move past her own grief to be there for her mother.
Her father always said her and her mother were like oil and vinegar—even though they belonged together, they didn’t mix very well.
Needing a moment or two to pull herself together, she said, “Would it be…” She worried her bottom lip. With it being her first day back, she wasn’t sure she should ask about leaving early. Back in New York, her boss never would approve of such a request.
“What is it?” Connie studied her. “You know you can ask me anything.”
Felicity swallowed hard. “Would it be all right if I took off a few minutes early? I wanted to see Holly Berry. We haven’t talked in a long time, and I feel bad about that.”
Connie waved away her worries. “It sounds like a wonderful idea. And don’t worry about the shop. I’ve got it.”
“Thank you. I promise I’ll be in early tomorrow.”
“That’s not necessary.”
Felicity noticed the big difference between Connie and Felicity’s previous boss. And it wasn’t that one was from a small town and the other was from the big city. No, it had to do with kindness and respect. One had it and the other did not.
She continued to ponder the differences as she changed from her sneakers into her snow boots and grabbed her coat. With a wave to Connie, she rushed out the door. It would take her a little bit to walk to the soap company.
As she made her way through town, she said hello to so many familiar faces.
Sometimes she would stop to speak and other times a simple hello sufficed.
This was nothing like being in New York City, where she didn’t recognize any of the faces that passed her on the sidewalk.
It was nice being among friends. Maybe Kringle Falls wasn’t as bad as she remembered.
When she reached the Kringle Soap Co, she noticed from the outside that it still looked the same as it always had.
The two-story red brick building had been there long before she was born.
A white door off to the left led to the second floor.
And then to the right of the door was a large picture window with Christmas lights strung around it.
A small Christmas tree was placed front and center with little snowman soaps for ornaments.
A smile pulled at the corners of her lips.
It was good to find the place hadn’t changed. It made her feel rooted.
She sighed in relief when she saw the shop was still open.
Felicity rushed up to the door and swung it open. When she stepped inside, she was greeted by the most amazing scents. She came to a stop and breathed in deeper.
She closed her eyes. She discerned cinnamon and cloves as well as vanilla and wait, was that sandalwood?
Whatever it was, it smelled divine. The scents momentarily took her back in time.
She remembered loving coming into the store to visit Holly.
Back then she was so innocent. Her biggest worry had been earning enough money to get a milkshake at Kringle Cones.
When she opened her eyes, Holly was standing in front of her with a warm smile. “You’re back.”
Felicity smiled and nodded. “I am. I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long. Life gets busy in New York City, and time goes way too fast.”
“I totally understand.”
Of course, her friend would understand as Holly’s grandmother had passed earlier that year. Again, she was hit with guilt because her boss hadn’t approved her time off to come to the funeral. Instead, she’d sent a big bouquet and an apology note.
At the time, Felicity had told herself that it was the price of working at a prestigious publisher, but now that she was away from the situation, she could finally acknowledge that her boss was a jerk.
Maybe it was good that Tanner had wormed his way into the promotion.
Although there was still the problem of her being unemployed.
“How’s life in the big city?” Holly’s voice drew her from her thoughts.
It was a loaded question. Of course, her friend didn’t know it. And not wanting to get into the mess otherwise known as her life, she settled for, “It’s okay.”
Holly reached out and gave her a quick hug. “How long are you back for?”
“I’m not sure.” When Holly sent her a curious look, Felicity said, “I mean, definitely until Christmas, but I don’t know if I’ll leave then or after the New Year.”
“Well, it’s good to have you back, even if it won’t be for long.”
Felicity looked around at the shop. She noticed little changes here and there, but for the most part, the place looked like she remembered. Chalk up one more place that hadn’t changed.
She turned back to Holly. “This place looks good. Your grandmother would be so proud of you.” Then Felicity got a somber look on her face. “I’m so sorry I didn’t make it back for the funeral.”
“It’s okay. I totally understand. The flowers you sent were beautiful.” Holly turned and straightened up a display of little white soaps shaped like snowmen. “I hope you’ll have some time so we can get some coffee and talk.”
Felicity nodded. “I should have some time when I’m not working at the bookshop.”
Holly’s brows rose. “You’re back there?”
The awkwardness returned, causing Felicity to glance away. She pretended to be interested in a gift basket of soaps and other assorted items. It was actually really cute.
She could feel her friend’s expectant gaze. “Connie could use some help for the holidays.” That much was true. The part about her needing money she left out of the conversation. “And, uh… It’s not like I have anything else to do while I’m here.”
“I thought you’d be spending your time visiting with your mother. She had to have missed you a lot.”
Felicity lowered her gaze as she nodded. “I didn’t tell her I was coming home. I thought I’d surprise her. The surprise was on me because her calendar is full between work and the holiday events. Besides, I’ve missed working at the bookshop.”
“I bet Connie is already trying to talk you into staying on.”
Felicity shrugged as she lowered her gaze. “She hasn’t said much about it. Well, I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to say hey.”
This wasn’t a good idea. She shouldn’t have come here. She just couldn’t bring herself to admit that she’d been let go from her position at the publisher. She certainly couldn’t confess to her friend who was successfully running her own business.
Holly adjusted a sign on a nearby display shelf. “I’d offer to get coffee now…but there’s something I have to do.”
“I understand.” Felicity stepped forward and gave Holly another hug. Without another word, she headed out the door.
Maybe it wasn’t the things in Kringle Falls that had changed so much. Maybe it was herself who had changed. And she wasn’t sure it was for the better.