Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
CASSIDY
The next morning, Cassidy still felt like trash.
She’d slept on the couch all night, only getting up once to take Muff out. Her poor pup must’ve sensed she wasn’t feeling well; she hadn’t left her side once.
She hated how awful she felt. Tonight was Zoe’s light-up night, and Cassidy was most likely going to miss it.
She knew Zoe had special-ordered dozens of roses, deep-red carnations, frosted white mums, and all kinds of winter greenery.
Whatever Zoe had planned for the Cherry Crush, she’d kept it tightly under wraps, but it was going to be stunning.
Zoe had a gift for turning flowers into magic.
And even though they were competitors, she wanted nothing more than to be out there supporting her friend with the rest of the town.
But instead, she was stuck here.
She glanced down at the thermometer in her hand: 103.2.
Yep. Still a walking furnace.
Even if she could summon enough energy to bundle up and shuffle down the street, she’d just end up coughing on everyone. And no one wanted a mystery virus for Christmas.
The best thing she could do, the only responsible thing, was stay home, drink lemon and ginger tea, and keep her germs to herself.
Still, her heart ached knowing she wouldn’t be there for her friend.
She was feeling pretty low, thinking about how much she wanted to see Zoe’s display, when her phone chimed from the end table.
It was a text from Liam:
Hey, Sugarplum. How you feeling?
She shook her head at the nickname. She knew he’d started using it to tease her, but somehow it had become… endearing.
Cassidy stared at the screen. She didn’t want to lie and say she was fine, but she also didn’t want him to think he had to rush over and take care of her again. He had his own shop to run, his own Christmas display to finish. Still, she knew he’d want to know the truth.
Still a bit rough, Grinch, but your soup and company worked wonders. I owe you one.
She read it over twice, making sure it was honest but warm, letting him know how much she appreciated him, not just the soup.
A few moments later, Liam replied:
You don’t owe me a thing. Just get better. And if you need anything just say the word.
She smiled at the message, then curled back up on the couch. Her favorite holiday rom-com was on, the one she’d seen a thousand times. The soft music and familiar dialogue lulled her back to sleep in no time.
By the time she woke up, the sun had shifted. It was well into the afternoon, and Muff was pawing gently at her leg.
“Alright, girl, I hear you,” Cassidy murmured.
Still in her pajamas, she threw on her heavy-duty puffer coat, slipped on some boots, and grabbed Muff’s leash. She’d planned on using the back exit, but as she passed the front window, she paused.
Liam was out there with a drill in one hand and a couple of two-by-fours in the other.
“What in the world…?” she muttered.
Muff barked softly and wagged her tail, already heading for the door. Cassidy followed, stepping outside into the crisp air.
“Liam?” she called, her voice hoarse. “What are you doing? Everything okay?”
He looked up, startled to see her. “Hey. Yeah. I’m just finishing something.”
She stepped closer and realized what he was working on: her display backdrop. The one she’d been too tired to finish last night. He’d added brackets to reinforce the base and threaded a length of chain through a cinder block to weigh it down.
“I didn’t want all your hard work to go to waste,” he said, tightening a bolt.
“You did all this… for me?”
“And for poor Mr. Alders. Hate to see what you’d do to the man if your display toppled over.”
She let out a weak laugh. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”
But the chuckle turned into a coughing fit that left her doubled over and wheezing. Her chest ached, and even just standing upright made her feel like she’d run a marathon.
“Thanks again,” she managed between breaths. “I think I’d better head back in and lie down.”
He straightened and gave her a once-over, eyes full of concern. “Call me if you need anything. Seriously.”
“I will,” she promised. “Oh, and can you tell your mom I won’t be able to make the cookie decorating?” She doubted she’d feel better in the next day.
“Don’t worry, I’ll let her know.”
“Thanks.” She gave him a small, grateful smile before heading back inside with Muff at her heels.
She downed some cough medicine and crawled onto the couch, where she promptly fell asleep.
When she woke, night had already fallen. The living room was dim, the TV screen frozen on a Netflix prompt asking if she was still watching.
Muff lifted her head hopefully from the end of the couch, tail thumping once.
Cassidy sat up and leaned forward to scratch behind her pup’s ears. “You’re a very good nurse,” she said with a tired smile.
But the truth was, she still felt awful. Her head throbbed, her body ached, and her fever hadn’t budged. This was clearly one of those colds that needed time to run its course.
She checked her phone and saw that her brother had called her as well as Mrs. Bishop. She didn’t even know how the older woman had her number. She played the voicemail and listened to Mrs. Bishop promise to drop off her homemade cold remedy.
Cassidy decided to call back her brother later. No sense in getting Julian and Miles worried about her once they heard how sick she was, and if she texted them, it would only lead to questions.
She texted Zoe instead, wishing her good luck for the night.
Sorry I’m sick. I’m sure it’ll be beautiful. Good luck!
Zoe replied almost instantly with a heart emoji and a Feel better soon.
Cassidy wrapped herself in a blanket and shuffled toward the front window.
The Cherry Crush flower shop was just down the block, and a small crowd had already started to gather out front.
She pressed her forehead gently to the cold glass, trying to see, but the angle wasn’t great.
And the condensation on the windowpane blurred everything.
Still, it was something. At least she could support her friend in spirit.
Her phone buzzed in her hand again.
Liam.
She answered, her voice rasping. “Hello?” She hadn’t realized how scratchy and rough her throat was until she went to talk.
“I see you’re feeling better,” he replied sarcastically.
“I feel like I’ve been run over by Santa’s sleigh.”
“I bet. I’m sorry. Zoe’s light-up is about to start. Want me to FaceTime you from the street so you don’t miss it?”
She fumbled for her words. He knew her so well. “Would you? Really?”
“Already walking down there. Hold tight.”
Her FaceTime notification began to ring a few moments later.
Cassidy walked back to the couch and propped the phone up against a nearby mug.
And there he was. Liam’s face filled the screen, his breath clouding the camera in puffs as he turned it toward the crowd.
“Evening,” he said with a wink. “Reporting live from the second official Maple Falls light-up extravaganza.”
She chuckled, coughing slightly. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And yet you’re smiling,” he said. “And I like those glasses.”
Cassidy had forgotten she was wearing her red frames. She’d been too sick to bother with her usual contacts.
“They look great on you.” He’d dropped the comment nonchalantly, but it meant everything to her. Jean-Paul’s disparaging remarks floated in her head, but she quickly shut them down.
“Okay, hang on. I’ll flip the camera so you can see the magic,” Liam said, getting right to it.
The view shifted, showing Zoe’s shop, where her display had just been revealed.
“Merry Christmas” was spelled out in giant block letters—each one overflowing with blooms. Red roses, white carnations, green mums, and sprigs of holly packed every letter, the colors rich and festive, like something out of a holiday card.
Twinkling lights outlined each letter, making the flowers glow against the snowy backdrop.
Cassidy leaned closer to the screen, smiling despite the ache in her head. “She filled the letters with actual flowers?” She gasped. “Zoe outdid herself.”
“It’s pretty awesome,” Liam agreed, angling the camera so she could see the crowd clapping and cheering. “Everyone’s loving it.”
She leaned her head against the cushion, a smile tugging at her lips despite the fever. “Thank you for this. I didn’t realize how much I needed to feel part of it.”
“You are part of it,” he said quietly. “Even if you’re watching from the couch wrapped in a blanket burrito.”
Her eyes filled with sudden tears. “I really like you, Liam.”
“I know,” he said, grinning. “I like you too. Now rest. I’ll call you in the morning, yeah?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
He gave the screen a little salute. “Goodnight, Cassidy.”
The call ended, but she didn’t move. She sat there watching the last flickers of Zoe’s lights from her window, Muff’s warm body curled against her side, her heart full despite everything.
She may have missed the crowd, but she hadn’t missed the moment.
And the truth was, Liam had been her favorite part of it all.