He raised his gaze briefly and smiled. “Above the coffeepot.”
I went to the cupboard in question and helped myself to the biggest mug available. I poured fresh coffee into it and started drinking.
“Black?” Felix asked, eyeing me. “I have cream and milk in the fridge.”
“I need it strong.Someonekept me up late.” I joined his side and put an arm around his lower back. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” Felix leaned down to give me a kiss. “Hungry?”
“Yeah, but I should be going soon. I’ll just grab something at McDonald’s on my way to the high school.”
Felix shook his head and set his cup down. “Sit. I’ll make something.”
“You don’t have to.”
“It’ll be quick. You can take it with, if you insist.”
“You spoil me rotten, you know that, right?” I asked, sitting on one of the stools.
“I like to.” Felix glanced at me from the fridge and offered another smile.
I’d woken sometime during the night and was pressed firmly against Felix’s back, a leg thrown over him and arm under his, holding him tight. I’d thought for a moment he might have been uncomfortable in my hold and tried to pull my arm free. Instead, Felix had put his hand over mine and pressed my palm to his chest, keeping me where I was. When I’d finally drifted off again, I did so with his heart beating against my hand.
Neither of us said much until coffee had been fully consumed. By then, Felix was putting toasted sandwiches on plates. Tomato, avocado, lettuce, bacon—a perfect start to the day. He took a seat beside me and had barely taken a bite of his breakfast when the landline rang.
“Is school canceled?” Alan asked from the stairs, his tone hopeful.
“Doubt it,” Felix called loudly as he stood and went to the end of the kitchen. “Finish getting ready!” He picked up the phone. “Hello?”
Felix’s expression turned to one of horror nearly immediately. I jumped to my feet and walked toward him. “Felix?”
“H-how? But—is the fire department—? Oh my God, I’m on my way.” He hung up. Tears blurred his eyes. “Snowy Ridge is on fire.”
Chapter Twelve
11 Days Until Christmas
FELIX RANevery red light.
We turned onto the long drive of the apple orchard, snow tires barely able to keep traction with the way Felix was driving. He pulled off to one side since the parking lot was blocked off by the local fire department and a few of his employees’ vehicles. I scrambled out of the car after him.
The gift shop and café were a burning inferno. The flames were yellow, the heat biting my face even from a distance. Black smoke poured out of broken windows. Firefighters were wrangling hoses and dousing the building in water, desperate to contain the blaze before it had a chance to catch the surrounding woodlands on fire and destroy the apple orchard or Christmas tree farm.
Some of Felix’s employees ran toward him. The cashier from the other day looked grief-stricken. One of the men who worked landscaping was filthy with soot.
“Was anyone hurt?” Felix asked, speaking around sobs that now wracked him.
“No!” the young woman said. “Phil was here first—he saw the fire! He said he tried to put it out with an extinguisher, but it was too big!”
Phil swallowed. “My cell wasn’t getting service, Mr. Hansen. I’m sorry. When Katie arrived, I drove to Pete’s Fish Shop to use their phone and call for help.”
There was a loud crash from inside the shop that startled us all.
Felix dropped to his knees in the snow, and I crouched down in front of him, wrapping my arms tight around him. “It’s happening all over again!” he cried.
I put my hands on his face and forced Felix to look at me and not the fire. “No, this isn’t like last time.”
“Everything I’ve worked for is gone!”
