“Whoa, lots of snowmen,” Daniel said. “It’s like an invasion.”
“Heartsprings Valley is kind of famous for its love of snow-men, snow-women, snow-kids, and snow-animals.”
He pointed to a jolly snow-hippopotamus gazing at them with a happy smile. “Don’t know if I’ve ever seen one of these before.”
“He was here last year, too,” she said. “Clearly, someone enjoys making him.” She gestured to the gazebo up ahead. “On the nights leading up to Christmas, carolers meet at the gazebo before heading out to serenade their neighbors. And on Christmas Eve, a big crowd gathers here for the town’s annual holiday concert.”
“Nice.”
“Do you know the singer Melody Connelly?”
His brow furrowed. “I think I know who she is. Beautiful voice? Does Broadway? Red hair?”
“That’s her. She lives part of the year in Heartsprings Valley —she married a local guy, my friend James, a couple of years ago —and when she’s in town, she takes part in the Christmas Eve concert.”
“So you’ve met her?”
“Oh, of course. She’s a big reader.”
As they reached the edge of the square, Penny pointed across the street. “See that adorable little shop?”
Daniel followed her finger. “Abby’s Chocolate Heaven?”
“A must-see for any visitor to Heartsprings Valley. The owner, my friend Abby, makes chocolates by hand in the kitchen behind the shop.”
They crossed the street and approached the store. Daniel bent down to examine the delicious chocolates in the windowdisplay. In addition to a tempting array of nougats and truffles, the display featured a beautifully crafted gingerbread church.
“Nice detail on the gingerbread,” he said. “Is it based on a real church?”
“It’s a gingerbread version of the town’s community center, which was originally a church.”
“The icing on the stained glass windows is incredible.”
“The artist is my friend Becca. It’s become an annual tradition for her to make a gingerbread house for the window of Abby’s shop at Christmas. This is the fifth or sixth year she’s done one.”
“She’s a local artist?”
“The town librarian.”
“From what I hear, making a gingerbread house is pretty involved.”
“Oh, gosh, it can takedays. Between being a librarian and a wife and the mother of two young kids, I don’t know how she finds the time.”
Daniel smiled. “Seems like everywhere we turn in this square, you have friends. The cafe owner, the Broadway singing star, the local guy who married the Broadway singing star, the chocolate shop owner, the town librarian….”
“I’m grateful for each and every one of them.”
“Do you see them often?”
“When we’re not busy, fairly often. Is it like that for you in New York?”
He considered. “Not really. I don’t see my friends as often as I’d like, mainly because of distance. Getting from one part of the city to another takes time.”
“How much time?”
“For example, I live on the Upper West Side and have good friends in Brooklyn, and they’rean hour away, give or take.” He gestured to the chocolate shop’s door. “Do you want to go in?”
Penny peeked through the window and spied Abby at the counter helping a customer, with another customer waiting her turn.
