Chapter Fourteen
The next week and a half were chaos at the bakery. People came in to congratulate Poppy on their win and to sample her award-winning gingerbread men. The contest had separated construction from taste, and according to the mayor, they’d won the taste category, hands down.
She spent her days in the bakery, and her evenings at Mythos. With each moment spent together, they grew closer together. Darius met her at the bakery every morning and helped her produce the day’s treats. The long hours were tiring for both of them, but the companionship was incomparable.
Tonight was Christmas Eve, and they were taking the next three days off. Together.
People rushed into the bakery, made last minute purchases and hung around chatting. It grew busier and busier, all the tables filled until it became standing room only. Poppy’s mother strolled in unannounced and donned an apron to help with the rush.
“This is insane. Don’t these people have homes?” Poppy asked jokingly. “We’re never this busy this close to closing on Christmas Eve.”
“Weird.” Her mother grinned and turned away.
A large delivery truck pulled up out front just as Darius ambled through the front doors. Gertrude Schmidt, the first-place winner, was hot on his heels, her long grey hair caught in a tidy bun and her designer coat buttoned tightly. They were both grinning like mad fools.
Julianna slid through the crowd to the front of the store and propped the double doors wide open. The delivery man pushed an enormous, tarp-covered load through the opening.
“Poppy Holiday?” His voice rose questioningly. “I have a delivery for you.”
“That’s me.” She hurried to his side. She hadn’t ordered anything beyond basic supplies and she always received those through the back door. She froze mid-step. Whatever was under that tarp looked big enough to be…
No way.
She turned to Darius with a frown.
He shrugged. “Not me,” he mouthed around a secretive smile.
She squinted at him, trying to surmise the truth.
Gertrude strode forward, a huge grin on her face. Poppy blinked in bewilderment.
“What? Why? How? Who?” Poppy whispered the word, unable to narrow her questions down to just one.
“Merry Christmas, Poppy. From me, and all of Cranberry Cove.” She whipped the tarp off the load to reveal a top-of-the-line double oven.
“What? How? Why?” Poppy blurted, feeling stupid for inability to form a complete sentence. Her heart thundered in her ears drowning out the comments of the people around her.
Gertrude rushed forward as fast as her seventy-something legs would carry her. “I was there, child. I saw what happened. I saw your castle and I tasted your gingerbread. You would have won if not for that unfortunate accident.”
“Thank you. But I still don’t understand.” This whole thing felt surreal.
“I entered as a lark. I never planned on winning. I don’t need the money. I donated my winnings to the women’s shelter. And then, I set about getting you your oven. I called some friends, who called some friends and we created a secret fundraiser. We got your oven and this.” She handed Poppy an envelope.
“What’s this?” Her mind wasn’t processing things quickly enough.
“We raised more than we needed. The rest is your nest egg. It won’t buy another oven, but I know your backup oven dates back to when I worked here with your grandmother. It won’t last forever. Save the money for a down payment on the next one.”
Suddenly understanding what her grandmother’s old friend had done, Poppy burst into tears of gratitude. “Oh my. Thank you so much, Gertrude.”
“Thank Darius too. He found it for us and ordered it.”
She smiled at Darius who swept her into his arms. “Anything for you, Poppy Holiday. Anything for you.”
Poppy wiped away her tears. “Coffee and treats, on the house for everyone,” she called out joyfully. It was the least she could do for the people who had rallied together to help her.
She spent the next hour serving treats and wandering the room thanking everyone personally. Her face ached from smiling so widely.
Her mother, Julianna, Gertrude and Darius helped her keep everyone fed and entertained.
Totally stoked, thrilled, and exhausted, she took a moment to herself behind the counter. She watched her friends, joy and love blooming in her heart.
Darius came out of the kitchen and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Thank you so much. You didn’t have to.” She faltered, unable to express the depth of her gratitude, of her love for him.
