Chapter 1 #3
Eileen taps her lips. “What if you could practice dating with very low stakes?”
“Like by dating the two dudes I crossed off your list?” Charlie asks, laughing. “Those would be low stakes.”
“No,” she says slowly. “What if we have an event at the café? Santa Speed Dating.”
My jaw drops. “Like…all of the men will be dressed up like Santa?” My mind conjures a roomful of Santas drinking hot chocolate from pink mugs, their fake white beards stained with it, and laughter tries to spill out.
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Charlie says with a grin. “Would you be less nervous if the guys are in costume?”
I consider this. “Maybe. I’ve never had a daddy kink. Will I have to wear a costume?”
“Only Christmas colors, dear,” Eileen says.
“Let’s make the men work for it. Oh, this is an idea.
I’ll have to get it added to the town calendar.
We can do it on the day we host the Advent calendar.
We’re December second this year.” Her mouth flattens slightly, the closest to a disapproving frown it gets. “Hidden Italy has the first.”
“They didn’t even put up any twinkle lights last year,” Charlie says, full of indignant rage.
“That’s because they live in the Hellmouth,” I joke.
“Well, they do have something planned this year,” Eileen says, “and I’m truly happy for them.
They’ve had some business troubles lately, something to do with the accounts.
So they could stand to have a little holiday magic in their lives.
Still, I’ll confess I was a little miffed we didn’t get the first day. ”
The Advent calendar is a Hideaway Harbor tradition.
Each day in December, the calendar is carted to a different Hideaway location, which hosts the unveiling of the day’s number in the countdown to Christmas.
The business that hosts the big reveal usually holds some big event in honor of it.
The bigger the event, the better the publicity.
Sometimes local celebrities reveal the countdown number.
Other times it’s someone dressed up like Larry the Lobstah, the town’s mascot, or one of Santa’s elves.
On one memorable occasion, one of the owners of Hook, Wine, and Sinker dressed up as the clown from It.
Or so Eileen told me. This will be my first Hideaway Harbor Christmas.
It’s a big deal here, I’m told. Which is a relief, because I’ve decided to reclaim Christmas.
Last Christmas was awful, the first without my mom, but I’m determined this one will be full of holiday magic.
Eyes gleaming, Eileen adds, “Perhaps we’ll make a signature drink for it too. I’ve been experimenting with crème br?lée lattes.”
“And a signature sweet,” Charlie says, getting into the spirit of the thing. “What if it’s a gelatin dessert called the bowlful of jelly?”
I laugh, but there’s an uneasy edge to it. The truth is, I’d rather work at holiday speed dating event than participate in it. An hour of five-minute dates with men dressed in Santa suits sounds stressful.
Maybe they’re right, though: if I practice with softballs, I might someday be able to play baseball.
“That wouldn’t give us much time to prepare,” I point out. “It’s already November twenty-sixth.”
“Oh, what’s to prepare?” Charlie says offhandedly. “All we need to do is buy some discount Santa suits in bulk, and we’re good to go. You know, I bet the tourists will actually love this.”
“It could become a yearly tradition,” Eileen says brightly. “But why stop there? Why limit our attempts to find Lucy a man?”
“Why indeed?” Charlie says with a snort. “Why ever stop anywhere?”
Eileen turns to me. “I’ll have an event every night in December if it helps us find you a fine young man. We’re going to get this sorted before a jolly old man makes his way down the chimneys of every house in Hideaway Harbor.”
“That sounds way more disturbing than I think you intended it to,” Charlie says with a grin.
“Oh, it was intended.” She smiles at us both. “I love you girls. My purpose is to see all of you beautiful young people happily settled.”
Charlie seems to agree with Eileen’s declaration, offering her a reassuring pat on the hand.
Then she turns to me with a hopeful expression.
“I have to get going for now, but I’m in complete agreement with Eileen.
I want you to fall madly in love, get engaged, and then we’re going to have a joint wedding. It’s written in the stars.”
“Only if we exclusively play Britney Spears at the reception.”
“Yes, Lars will be totally on board with that.” Charlie blows us kisses, then carries her hot chocolate mug to the sink and rinses it before leaving, letting in a waft of freezing air.
Eileen gives me a tender look over the rim of her mug. “It’s going to be okay, Lucy.”
“I know,” I say thickly, but we both know I don’t mean it.
She takes my hand and squeezes. “I hope you don’t think I overstepped, but I made an Advent calendar for you.” She wrings her hands together. “Each day offers a different suggestion for how you can enjoy the season. I thought you might miss having—”
Before she can get all the words out, I’m already hugging her, feeling the press of tears behind my eyes. Oh, dear, sweet Eileen. Here she goes again, giving people what they didn’t know they needed. “Thank you. Thank you.”