CHAPTER 5 | Making a list, checking it twice
CHAPTER 5
Making a list, checking it twice
––––––––
“Y ou’re sure you have enough food ordered?” Natalie asked from her desk, heels kicked off and feet resting on top of the filing cabinet.
Ginny lounged in the chair opposite; her own shoes long forgotten. She swirled a coffee mug filled with merlot; her eyes slightly unfocused. She hiccupped and recovered before answering her friend’s question. “Have you met my husband? I don’t know if you know this, but he’s a chef who has run several restaurants for nearly twenty years. He knows how to order turkey and bread crumbs.”
Natalie snorted. “You’re right, I’ll shut up about that.” She reached out, toying with a sparkly pencil holder Otis made the previous year as a Mother’s Day gift. The lumpy clay vessel was more reminiscent of a pile of dirt, but he’d thrown some glitter on to perfect the “girl touches,” as he’d proudly shared his artistic abilities with her.
“You seem distracted,” Ginny observed, flexing her toes and sighing after a long day. The holidays were wearing them all down in different ways.
“Sorry, just getting sentimental. I think it’s Christmas—I usually get all goofy when we put up the tree.”
Ginny cocked her head and laughed. “And what’s your excuse for the rest of the year?”
Natalie rolled her eyes, twirling the pencil holder this way and that as she gathered her thoughts. “I think it’s a lot of things. Anthony’s new job, CeCe’s about to become a mother, and Max is renovating the diner. It’s all combined to put me in a pre-holiday funk.” She made eye contact with her friend, and Ginny flushed, giving away her own distractions.
“Hey, lady, that’s my line.”
“You’re worried about the diner renovations?” Natalie raised an eyebrow.
Ginny waved away Natalie’s concerned expression. “No, I know Max has that all well in hand. Plus, the new place is going to be fantastic. He’s put so much thought and care into it, it can’t fail.” She held up her hands, all fingers crossed. “But the diner is all of our place, you know?”
Natalie nodded sagely. “Oh, I know. I’ve had more good times in that old place than I can count.” Natalie and Anthony had renewed their vows there, had shared countless family meals, and she and the girls had turned the diner into their own playground after hours. Natalie had lost track of how many nights were spent in the kitchen, with Ginny playing bartender while CeCe cooked up something delicious, Alice and Mallory rounding out their group with hilarious stories that had them clutching their sides. The diner was one of her favorite places, full stop.
Ginny hummed her agreement, lost in the musings of the past decade. When she’d moved back to town, before she’d reconciled with Max, the diner had been a thorn in her side. All the time Max spent within the walls of the restaurant used to make her resentful, but now it made her proud. He’d created a hive of activity that Buckeye Falls loved, whether you were new to town or a local with deep ties to the area.
“I think Christmas is the perfect send-off.” Ginny nodded, rolling her bottom lip between her teeth to stop herself from crying. It could be the mid-day merlot break, or the fact that she had been distracted with the kids, but suddenly she couldn’t believe all the change happening around her. She pulled her sleeves down, fingers fidgeting with the hems.
Natalie topped off their glasses and let out a breath. “We both have a lot going on, don’t we?”
Ginny blinked and sipped from her wine. “Girl, that’s an understatement.” Squaring her shoulders, she got to the question she was dying to ask. “How are you holding up with the shift from First Lady of Buckeye Falls to First Lady of Ohio?”
Natalie scoffed, waving away the moniker. “First of all, I’m pretty sure that’s the governor’s wife. Secondly, I don’t know.”
For nearly fifteen years, Anthony had been at the helm of Buckeye Falls. Yet he wasn’t the only Snyder with ties to town hall, as his father had been mayor for twenty years before Anthony. Buckeye Falls was about to enter a new era without a Snyder at city hall.
“It’s a fair amount of change for the Snyder clan,” Ginny surmised. “I don’t think it’s wrong that you’re feeling a lot of things.”
“I’m simultaneously thrilled at the change and petrified. Anthony will do amazing things, I know that in my bones, but we’ve gotten so settled in our routines, as hectic as they are, and it’s wild to think of what’s to come.”
Ginny placed her cup on the desk and reached out, snaking Natalie’s trembling hand in her own. “It’s going to be amazing, you’ll see. Anthony has done great things here, and it’s only fair he spreads his wings and helps the rest of the Buckeyes out there.” She winked and Natalie squeezed back with everything she had.
“Thanks, you’re right. You’ll never hear me argue that he’s got the chops. It’s just a little bittersweet that we’re all moving on with things. I like our little nest.”
Ginny nodded, reclining back in her seat. “Our nest isn’t so little,” she said, jutting her chin toward the door. Even through the closed door, it was impossible to ignore the din of activity. What had started as two friends with a dream had turned into a small events empire. Staff had been hired and their book of business had tripled over the last five years alone. N&G had come a long way.
Just as Natalie opened her mouth to reply, their new assistant, Zoe, knocked on the door. Both women made a show of hiding the wine bottle, but it was no use. Their weekly wine meetings were common knowledge to not only the team at N&G, but most of Buckeye Falls. “Hiya,” she said as she stepped into the office.
“What can we help with?” Ginny asked, turning around.
“Um, well. I know you’re—she hesitated and looked at the nearly empty wine bottle—“in a meeting. But there’s someone to see you. She doesn’t have an appointment, and I asked her to—”
CeCe pressed into the office, nearly knocking poor Zoe on her butt. “Sorry,” CeCe said as she pushed Ginny to the side and slid into the only other seat. “I tried to explain that I don’t need an appointment, because I’m best friends with the owners. Plus, I needed to get off my feet.”
Zoe glared as CeCe made herself comfortable, kicking her feet out to rest on the edge of Natalie’s desk. Natalie saved the day by offering Zoe the next best thing to kicking CeCe out on the street. “Thanks, Zoe. Why don’t you take the rest of the afternoon off? Our last appointment canceled, and you could probably use the time to wrap presents or do something festive.” She flapped a manicured hand in the air, politely dismissing their newest hire.
“If you’re sure?” Zoe asked, already backing out of the door.
“We’re sure,” Ginny confirmed, waving over her shoulder.
As soon as the office door snicked shut, CeCe rolled her eyes. “You two really hired some serious employees. Were they former Pinkerton Guards? Do you know I had to sweet talk my way back here for nearly two minutes?”
Natalie arched an eyebrow. “You know how to sweet talk?”
Ginny coughed and covered her smile with the merlot bottle. “I’ll have you know I can be very sweet,” CeCe protested. “When I’m not eight months pregnant with twins and hangry.”
Natalie opened her top desk drawer and pulled out a bag of Halloween candy. She tossed it on the desk and gestured at the pile. “Please, help yourself, Momma. Every time I see you, you remind me why we stopped at two kids. Although, I do love squeezing the fluff out of little Maybelle.” She sighed wistfully, popping another candy in her mouth.
Ginny snuck a piece herself. “What the babies want, the babies get.” Through a mouthful of peanut butter she added, “and that mindset continues until they’re out of high school.”
CeCe didn’t need to be told again, snatching up three mini caramel bars with lightning-fast reflexes. Biting into the first bar, she tossed her head back and made NSFW sounds. “God, why is chocolate so freaking good?”
Natalie unwrapped her own candy before asking, “What brings you in today? Other than free candy and a bathroom.” Over the last three months, CeCe would use their office as a public restroom when nature called. At first it was entertaining, until a young intern stumbled in on CeCe having a moment that involved support hose that were stuck and the vocabulary of a longshoreman.
“I was in the neighborhood,” CeCe said with a laugh. “Well, I wanted to check on the menu for Christmas. Between your husband”—she pointed an accusing finger at Ginny—“and mine, I can’t get any answers on what’s needed.”
“Um, maybe they’re keeping you in the dark since you’re supposed to be on bed rest,” Ginny shot back, smirking through her peanut butter cup.
Natalie frowned. “Yeah. Shouldn’t you be at home on a pile of pillows being worshipped?”
“I’m not a homebody. Have you two met me?”
CeCe was always on the go, and usually in a kitchen. If she wasn’t in the diner, she’d be on their food truck or helping Max prepare for Max’s Gin Joint. Not to mention, she’d been prepping menus for the bakery at Beckett’s farm. She was used to being busy, and she hated feeling the lack of control that came with pregnancy.
“You’re about to be the biggest homebody,” Ginny said, holding up a finger and adding, “and that wasn’t a fat joke. I’m actually impressed you’re not bigger with the twins.”
“The fact that you can still tie your own shoes is both impressive and really annoying,” Natalie lamented, slurping from her wine. “When I was pregnant with Otis, I couldn’t see my own ankles until he was out of diapers.”
“I’ll have you know I haven’t seen my feet in ages. I manage the task by sonar. I’m like a bat.” She squinted her eyes and flapped her arms, causing Natalie to choke on a Hershey’s Kiss.
Ginny snorted, recovering quickly. “Going back to your Christmas question, Momma-to-be, it’s covered.”
Natalie nodded. “We were actually just discussing this when you interrupted our meeting.”
CeCe scoffed, holding up the now empty bottle of merlot. “Oh yeah. I really interrupted a meeting of the minds.”
“I only had a glass and a half,” Ginny bragged.
“That’s only because her husband isn’t picking her up,” Natalie retorted. “I’m getting a ride from Representative Snyder, so I can drink to my heart’s delight.” She punctuated her point by tossing back the last of her wine.
CeCe chuckled. “Why do I feel like you call Anthony that in the bedroom?”
“Do I want to know?” Anthony asked from the doorway. He was dressed in one of his navy tailored suits, his dark hair graying at the temples.
Natalie waved him over, leaning over the desk to smack a kiss on his cheek. “Hello, Representative Snyder. We were just talking about you.”
He turned to look at CeCe and Ginny before rolling his eyes. “Whatever she said, it’s probably a lie.”
“I asked if she—” CeCe’s explanation was halted by Ginny’s hand over her mouth.
“Ignore all of us. Happy hour started early, and we’re glad you’re here.”
Anthony reached out and took a piece of candy from Natalie’s desk, chewing thoughtfully while his wife tidied up their glasses and bottle. “Everything set for Christmas? Now that I’m no longer mayor, I actually have some time to help with cooking or whatever.”
“No offense, JFK, but I want the professionals to handle the cooking,” Natalie teased, striding over to her husband and adjusting his tie. “And is your replacement ready to take the oath?”
Anthony sighed but rallied quickly. “Yep. Mayor Josh is ready to go. Technically, he’s in charge now until his official swearing in, but with the holidays, I’m hoping we can all relax.”
Ginny collected the candy wrappers and laughed. “I can’t believe Trudy’s grandson won the election. And I really can’t believe he won it on the platform of Call me Josh. ”
Making a show of rolling his eyes, Anthony helped Natalie into her coat, taking care to wrap her scarf around her neck. Trudy had been Anthony’s assistant, and his father’s before him, in town hall for decades. Apparently, her colorful stories about the job interested her twenty-five-year-old grandson to run for office. He’d worked in local politics a few towns over, and since no one was looking to fill Mayor Snyder’s shoes, it was a runaway.
“Admit it,” Natalie said when they were all bundled up. “You’re going to miss the local political drama.”
Anthony blinked, shoving his hands in his pockets. Three years before, he’d looked into running for state representative. It was a huge undertaking, and his campaign succeeded with the help of his detail-oriented wife. After the new year, he’d be sworn in as the newest state representative in Columbus. It was a job tailor-made for him, much like his navy suits.
“I might miss it a little,” he lamented, helping CeCe to her feet. “And don’t even say you’re walking back to the diner. We’re driving you home.”
CeCe saluted and let Anthony hold the door for her. “I won’t argue, but can you drop me at the Dairy Queen on the way out of town? We’re craving some Blizzards.” She enthusiastically rubbed her belly.
Natalie linked her arm through Anthony’s and sighed. “That actually sounds really good.”
Anthony jangled his keys like he was tempting a toddler. “All right, ladies. Follow me to the land of fat and carbs.”
Ginny whined, “Oh, I want to go.” She followed them outside into the crisp December air, locking up the flipping their sign to Closed .
Main Street was decked out in all its finery, with garlands hanging from storefronts, wreaths on the doors, the lamp posts wrapped in fairy lights. It was a scene from a Hallmark movie.
Striding ahead, Anthony opened the car doors for the ladies and waved to Ginny. “Tell Henry to break a leg tonight.”
Natalie hopped in the passenger’s seat and pointed at Ginny. “Yes, send him our best. I’ll eat an extra ice-cream cone for you, since you’re needed at Henry’s pageant. And don’t forget to send me the final Christmas menu.”
“Like you’d let me forget.” She checked her watch and winced. “And thanks for the reminder. I keep forgetting the show is tonight.”
That wasn’t true, she remembered. Max’s concerns for their son’s stutter had needled into her own thoughts, the stress weighing her down. In her heart, she knew Henry would rally. Just because his father struggled didn’t mean Henry would follow precisely in his father’s shoes. Henry loved the stage, and that passion should be enough to keep his words clear, whether he was singing or speaking. Or at least that’s what she told herself...
The friends all waved goodbye before Anthony pulled onto Main Street. Fifteen minutes later, their SUV was filled with a dozen varieties of ice cream and a very contented CeCe. Ginny played Christmas carols at the highest volume her ears could handle, drowning out her fears as she crested the hill toward home.