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Chris and Holly had earned the grand prize of the Annual Simsbury Grand Gingerbread Jubilee, Featuring a Creative Confectionery Construction Challenge with Extravagant Adorned Apparel Encouraged Competition, and Annie was furious.
“Our design was gorgeous. I’m proud of what we made,” Nick told her gently.
“Nick, we were robbed. Again! You should be more mad about this,” Annie wailed.
“Annie, they made a super solid rendition of the Nutmeg Nest. You know, the inn this town apparently now treasures above almost anything else. We didn’t have a chance once they pulled the hometown Simsbury spirit card into their design. I’m happy we got an honorable mention, honestly,” Nick said.
“We only got that because one of the judges is obsessed with you,” Annie muttered, crossing her arms across her chest, causing her sweater to emit a few jolly jingles in the process.
“Hi, Annie,” Chris said, approaching her, Holly’s hand in his. Annie did her best to plaster on a gracious, congratulatory smile, even though they had been robbed of their rightful win.
“Chris, Holly, congratulations,” Annie said stiffly.
“Annie, my precocious daughter here has a question for you,” Chris grinned conspiratorially with Holly who let out a little giggle and hugged Chris’s arm.
“Miss Annie, would you come to our house for dinner tonight?” Holly asked hopefully.
“Felix is making his famous spaghetti and meatballs,” Chris explained. “We’d love to have you as our guest,” Chris said, his voice full of pure sentiment. “I thought we could walk home together after rehearsal.”
“Oh, I hope you say yes, Annie,” Bailey encouraged, moving to stand closer to Nick. “Nick and I were invited to meet Eve at the inn for dinner,” she continued.
“You’re having dinner with Eve?” Annie asked, a pang of hurt ping-ponging across her chest.
“We really bonded as judges,” Bailey explained. Annie flushed with more feeling. Wait, was Eve here to be Bailey’s best friend? Maybe she wasn’t here for Annie at all. The idea brought a prick of tears to Annie’s eyes. “A chance to have dinner with a real princess, I’m so excited!” Bailey squealed, completely unaware of the pain her words were causing Annie.
“Right,” Annie said, trying to get herself back on track. She blinked away the emotion and brought her eyes back to Chris. “Well, I would love to try some of Felix’s famous spaghetti and meatballs, that sounds like something that can’t be missed! Made even better if I can sit next to Holly, of course.”
If she was ever going to get out of here, she had to take advantage of this opportunity with Chris. At this point, she worried that if she didn’t escape soon, the confusion might knot around her like a string of lights she’d never untangle.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
That day’s rehearsal gave the kids the opportunity to practice in their costumes and ensure everything was in its proper place for the show. Chipperton had been welcomed into the fold and had added a few unexpected dance moments that were quite moving, and Annie had clocked Grant’s visits and growing support. Having front row seats to their unfolding love story was quite charming, and despite this Grant not encompassing all the color and vibrance of her friend from the real world, she was still rooting for his happy ending.
Annie easily solved two “major disasters” when two kids accidentally switched costumes and another kid put her dress on backward. In both instances, once again, she had been showered with praise by Chris and the cast thanks to her “quick thinking” skills. Annie couldn’t help but admit this time, though, that it felt nice to be so thoroughly appreciated, even if she didn’t feel it matched what she deserved.
When it was time to leave, Annie helped Holly into her coat, and the trio quickly covered the distance to Chris’s house. Traveling within this contained block continued to be delightfully easy. Annie knew once she was back in the real world, relying on her car again would be a lot less fun, though at least she could return to her murder podcasts without the threat of mindless small talk from someone in town. As they approached the large, circular driveway, the entire house glowed with the volume of lights strung across every available surface and ledge. Annie had to squint and avert her eyes to avoid going blind.
“We’re still working on our decorations,” Holly explained, and Chris eagerly nodded.
“I think you have all of them,” Annie said, which made Holly and Chris chuckle heartily. The exterior of the house itself was also wallpapered in wreaths of every size. All the interior lights of the midsize brick home appeared to be on the highest wattage, and fake candles were flickering away in every visible window. Annie desperately wanted to ask about their electric bill.
“Felix is in the kitchen preparing supper,” Chris said, escorting Annie through the front door. The inside of their house was as bright as the outside; where there wasn’t a literal light, there were Christmas decorations, even some of the weird ones that Annie had never understood, including those large glass cylinders filled with red and green balls. Who were those meant to appeal to besides Nick, circus camp juggling star? No, why are you thinking of Nick, or juggling, or circus camp, gross, Annie scolded herself. She was here to get closer to Chris.
Annie spotted Felix in the kitchen wearing an apron decorated with cartoon hot chocolates in various holiday-inspired mugs. He hummed softly while stirring a large pot. “Annie, can I interest you in a seasonal beverage?” Chris asked.
“Anything but hot chocolate,” Annie said, and everyone turned to look at her with concern. “I’m planning to have another cup at the festival,” she explained nervously. “But anything should be fine! What’s good here? You seem like you’d have an eggnog tap at the ready,” Annie joked. Felix dropped the large, decorative serving spoon he was holding, Holly whimpered, and Chris silently picked up the utensil, which had luckily only landed on a rug and remained completely intact. He held it firmly in his hand and cleared his throat before summoning the courage to speak.
“We don’t have eggnog in this house,” Chris said somberly.
“Oh, okay,” Annie said softly. When no one spoke, she asked, “Is it, like, because of the high-fat content or something?”
“No, no, dear,” Felix said, his eyes still twinkly but drenched in sorrow now too. “My sweet Caroline passed away almost twenty years ago. She accidentally consumed some expired eggnog, and it made her quite ill,” Felix said sadly.
“She died from eggnog poisoning?” Annie asked, secretly making a mental note to look up holiday-related deaths once she had easy internet access, because that would be a fascinating rabbit hole to fall into.
“She did. Instantly,” Felix said matter-of-factly. “The eggnog debacle was a traumatic ordeal for our family.”
Chris rubbed Felix’s back in small, loving circles. Annie was now both dying to know how Chris had lost his wife in this universe and terrified of the answer, as it would surely be another bewildering tale, and it would surely come out soon.
