“Hold up,” Madison said, lifting a hand. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I never said I was giving up coffee.”
Cassidy laughed. “She didn’t. But she did go through plenty of mugs while she was helping me repaint the shelves.”
Madison rolled her eyes. “You kept the cocoa coming, and I wasn’t about to say no to free taste-testing.”
“And now I’m here,” Edith replied, waving her off. “Where is this famous cocoa of yours?”
Cassidy ladled up two steaming mugs of cocoa from the festive pop-up café counter and let them top them however they pleased. Madison went for whipped cream, red sprinkles, and a caramel drizzle. Edith added whipped cream, chocolate sauce, a shot of peppermint, and crushed hazelnuts.
Edith glanced around the shop, taking it all in. “I just love what you’ve done with the place. It’s got such a cozy, old-fashioned chocolate shop feel—and the Spiced Cocoa Cafépop-up is just delightful. What a wonderful idea. It makes you feel like you’ve stepped right into one of those festive storybook towns.”
“Thank you,” Cassidy replied, smiling. “That’s exactly the look I was going for.”
“Well, you nailed it. You fit right in here in Maple Falls.”
Cassidy’s heart warmed at the compliment. Mr. Alders might not be a fan, but at least not everyone resented her for renovating after Rita’s retirement.
She thought briefly about bringing up the mysterious festive sabotage and her worry about Mr. Alders but decided against it. She wasn’t going to be a town busybody. She was still getting to know everyone and didn’t want to start spreading gossip.
“Oh! Before I forget,” Edith said, peering into the display case, “do you have any pralines? Or maybe caramel clusters?”
“I do.” Cassidy smiled. “What would you like?”
“I’ll take both. Poor Hank’s stressed up to his eyeballs.” Edith chuckled.
Cassidy glanced at Madison for clarification.
“Mayor Bloomfield,” Madison supplied. “Gram’s dating him.”
“And he’s a fine lover, too,” Edith added with a wicked grin and a twinkle in her eye.
“Gram!” Madison covered her ears.
Cassidy snorted.
“I do not want to hear about your love life,” Madison groaned.
“Well, maybe I do,” Cassidy teased, grinning.
“I knew I liked you,” Edith said, reaching over to pat Cassidy’s hand. “Youarecoming to the crafting club this month, aren’t you? It’s on the sixteenth. We’re making sock snowmen in the inn’s dining room.”
She leaned in, eyes twinkling. “Madison found the cutest tiny scarves and button noses for them, and we’ve got enough glitter to cover half of Maple Falls if we’re not careful.”
Cassidy remembered the first crafting club she’d attended—back when she had only been visiting Maple Falls. It was right then, making wreaths in Mrs. Humphrey’s kitchen, that she’d realized she could imagine a life here. A small town with an artistic soul… and a chocolate shop for sale? It had felt like fate.
“I’m really going to try. I’ve got so much going on with the light-up contest coming up too, but I want to be there.”
“Good. And I can tell you all about my latest rendezvous with Hank. He can do this thing with his tongue…” Edith shivered, just to make Madison groan and cover her ears again.
“I just love messing with her,” Edith added, laughing. “Like I haven’t had to hear her and Zach going at it every five minutes.”
Madison turned beet red. “We don’t even live at the inn anymore, Gram!”
“No,” Edith agreed, “but you still have an old bedroom… the pantry… the laundry room. Don’t forget the firepit. I’ve debated wearing a bell around my neck so you can hear me coming!”
Cassidy couldn’t stop laughing. Edith was hilarious. Watching Madison and her grandmother filled her with warmth and longing. It reminded her of her own dear grand-maman. Would they have teased each other like that, too, if she were still alive?
“Anyway!” Madison declared, trying to change the subject. “You’re coming to the Santa House opening tonight, right?”
