Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Vanessa checked her watch for what felt like the twentieth time in the past ten minutes, her heart hammering with nervous excitement as she peered through the front window of Artisan Chocolates.
It was dark out, and the Christmas lights that lit up the main square were sparkling brightly.
She scanned the street for any sign of Lincoln and the sleigh that Mabel had so cleverly arranged.
She felt sure that this was going to work.
Lincoln and Imogen had shared popcorn and laughed and stayed sitting together during the movie, but when Vanessa had talked to Imogen the next morning, there hadn’t been any indication that she’d thought it was anything more than a nice evening with a friend.
So she and Mabel had decided to ramp up their efforts a little more.
Vanessa glanced back, where she could see Imogen in the back room rinsing out chocolate molds.
She’d been hard at work on the sculpture all day between customers, and she was tired, Vanessa knew.
Vanessa felt a small pang of guilt at dragging her out—but no, she decided this would be good for Imogen.
It would make her feel special, and she deserved something like this after how hard she’d been working.
She felt jittery excitement spread through her veins. This was it, she knew it. This last effort would be the key to finally bringing Imogen and Lincoln together the way they were meant to be.
Katie was sprawled on the floor nearby, surrounded by a collection of small chocolate molds that Imogen had given her to play with, arranging them and chattering quietly to herself about the imaginary chocolate shop she was creating.
Vanessa saw Imogen come out a moment later and sit down behind the register, a stack of receipts in one hand and a calculator in the other as she started balancing the total for the day.
Vanessa felt a flutter of anxiety in her stomach.
What if Lincoln was running late? What if Imogen finished her bookkeeping before he arrived?
What if this whole elaborate scheme fell apart at the last minute?
She and Mabel and George had put so much thought and effort into orchestrating this romantic sleigh ride, and she felt sure it would make the difference. It had to work out.
“So,” Vanessa said brightly, moving away from the window and approaching Imogen in an effort to slow her down a little until Lincoln could arrive. “How was business today? You looked pretty busy every time I walked past.”
Imogen glanced up from her calculator, pushing a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear.
“Oh, it was wonderful, actually. Really steady all afternoon. I think I sold more peppermint bark today than I have all week. The only problem was finding time to work on the sculpture. And now there’s this that still needs to be done.
” She gestured at the receipts spread across the counter.
“I’m just trying to get these numbers sorted out as quickly as I can.
Katie’s been so patient, but I know she’s ready for dinner and some Christmas movies. ”
“That’s great!” Vanessa said, maybe a little too enthusiastically. She caught herself and tried to tone it down. “I mean, that’s really wonderful that business has been so good. This year has been good for everyone, I think.”
Imogen nodded, already turning her attention back to the receipts. “Absolutely. I’m so grateful for—”
“You know,” Vanessa interrupted quickly, “I was just thinking about how hard you’ve been working lately. When was the last time you took an evening just for yourself? Just to relax and enjoy the season?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Imogen said absently, punching numbers into her calculator. “I suppose I’ve been pretty focused on the shop and getting ready for the magazine feature. But that’s okay. This time of year is always crazy, and I’m lucky to have this photoshoot happening. I can’t complain.”
Vanessa glanced toward the window again, biting her lip. Still no sign of Lincoln. She needed to keep Imogen distracted for just a little while longer.
“The magazine feature!” Vanessa exclaimed, as if she’d just remembered. “How exciting is that? I still can’t believe Sweet Confections wants to feature your shop. You must be so thrilled.”
This time Imogen did look up, a genuine smile spreading across her face. “I really am. It’s such an incredible opportunity. I just hope everything goes well with the photoshoot and interview. I’ve been so nervous about it. But the sculpture is turning out exactly like I’d hoped.
“You’ll be perfect,” Vanessa assured her, and she genuinely meant it. “Your chocolates are absolutely amazing, and you’re so passionate about what you do. That comes through in everything you create. They’ll see that, and so will everyone else who reads the feature.”
“Thanks.” Imogen smiled at her. “That means a lot, honestly.”
Vanessa felt a pang of guilt at the praise, knowing that she was saying it all under somewhat false pretenses, even if she did mean it.
But it was all for a good cause, she reminded herself.
Imogen and Lincoln belonged together—anyone with eyes could see that.
They just needed a little push in the right direction.
“Mom,” Katie piped up from her spot on the floor, “can we make hot chocolate when we get home? The kind with the little marshmallows?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” Imogen replied, glancing down at her daughter with an affectionate smile. “Just let me finish up here and we’ll head home.”
Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t let Imogen finish her bookkeeping yet. Where was Lincoln?
A moment later, just as she was about to really panic, she heard the sound of jingling bells and looked toward the street.
She felt a flood of relief as she saw the sleigh coming down the road, pulled by the two huge Clydesdale horses, their harnesses decorated with red ribbons and silver bells.
Lincoln was driving, looking somewhat bewildered but undeniably handsome in his winter coat and knit hat.
“Oh my goodness,” Vanessa breathed, trying to contain her excitement. “Imogen, look outside!”
Imogen turned toward the window, her eyes widening in surprise. “What in the world… ?”
Katie scrambled to her feet, abandoning her chocolate molds as she pressed her face against the glass. “Mom! Mom, look! It’s a real sleigh! With real horses! Just like in the movies!”
The sleigh came to a stop directly in front of Artisan Chocolates, and Lincoln climbed down, looking around with obvious confusion.
Even from inside the shop, Vanessa could see him shaking his head and running a hand over his chin—clearly he was just as bewildered by this turn of events as they’d thought he probably would be.
“I don’t understand,” Imogen said, still staring out the window. “What’s a sleigh doing here? And is that Lincoln driving it?”
Vanessa took a deep breath and turned to Imogen with the biggest, most convincing smile she could muster.
“Congratulations!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “You won Fir Tree Grove’s Surprise Sleigh Ride!”
Imogen blinked at her, clearly confused. “I won what now?”
“The Surprise Sleigh Ride!” Vanessa repeated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s a Fir Tree Grove tradition. And you won!”
“I…” Imogen looked from Vanessa to the sleigh and back again. “Since when does Fir Tree Grove have a Surprise Sleigh Ride drawing? I’ve lived here my entire life, and I’ve never heard of any such thing.”
“I, well—” Vanessa stumbled a little. “Maybe you just forgot about it? Or you hadn’t heard of it?”
Imogen narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. “I think I’d know about a tradition we’d always had.”
Katie was practically bouncing with excitement, her face still pressed against the window. “Mom, can we go? Please, please, please? I’ve never been in a real sleigh before!”
Lincoln had approached the front door of the shop and was now peering inside, looking just as confused as Imogen.
Vanessa waved at him enthusiastically, gesturing for him to come in.
The bell above the door chimed as Lincoln came in, bringing a gust of cold air with him.
His cheeks were pink from the cold, and snowflakes clung to his dark hair and coat.
He looked at Imogen and then at Vanessa with a bewildered expression. “I have to say, I’m a little confused about this whole situation. Mabel told me I won some kind of sleigh ride surprise, but I’ve never heard of Fir Tree Grove having anything like that before.”
Vanessa’s heart sank slightly. She’d hoped Lincoln would play along a bit more smoothly, but she supposed she couldn’t blame him for being confused. After all, she and Mabel had sprung this on him at the last minute.
“Oh, you’re both just being silly,” she said with a laugh that sounded forced even to her own ears. “How do you not know Fir Tree Grove has a Surprise Sleigh Ride tradition? It’s been going on for… well, for years! Mabel filled me in on all the details.”
Imogen and Lincoln exchanged a look, and Vanessa could see them communicating silently. They both clearly knew something was up, but neither seemed quite sure what to make of the situation.
“Vanessa,” Imogen said slowly, “are you feeling all right? Because this really doesn’t sound like something the town would organize without more publicity. And I definitely would have remembered entering a contest.”
Lincoln made a noise in his throat. “Apparently everyone just gets… entered?” The skepticism in his voice told Vanessa that he definitely wasn’t buying it.
“Mom!” Katie interrupted, tugging on Imogen’s sleeve. “Who cares about contests? There’s a sleigh outside with real horses! Can we please go for a ride?”
Vanessa seized on Katie’s enthusiasm. “See? Katie understands! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How often do you get to ride in an authentic horse-drawn sleigh through the streets of Fir Tree Grove?”