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“So, darling…”

Here it comes.

“I know you like your time to…decompress, so no pressure…” His father had to be standing next to her, otherwise there would indeed be pressure and maybe even guilt added to her request. “But we would love to see you for dinner tomorrow.”

He’d agreed to spend the holiday season in his hometown. What had he expected? That his family and old friends wouldn’t want to see him? Truthfully, he wanted to see them all, too. But in small doses. Too much socializing and celebration only irritated him. He couldn’t expect everyone to see the world through his grim, realistic perspective, but it was difficult singing “Jingle Bells” and drinking eggnog from a cup shaped like a moose’s head when there were children who had no idea there was something in the world to be excited about at all.

At least she was giving him another day and not expecting him there bright and early the next morning. “Of course. Six?” he said, suppressing a yawn and blinking the remaining fog of tiredness from his eyes.

“Perfect! Oh, and I ordered dessert from Delicious Delicacies on Main Street. Could you pick it up on your way over?”

Dessert. That meant one thing. It wasn’t going to be a private family dinner. His mother had obviously invited others, but he’d agreed and there was no backing out now. “Sure, Mom,” he said. “See you tomorrow.”

“Love you, darlin’.”

“Love you, too.” He disconnected the call and released a sigh before tossing the bedsheets back and climbing out of bed. As much as he wanted to hide out in the room all season, he had to start shaking off the dark cloud that continued to loom over him. He couldn’t go back overseas allowing this last mission to haunt him and affect his judgement.

If only things hadn’t gone so wrong…

At the window, he opened the blinds and shielded his eyes from the bright sun. These balconies off of the bedrooms were a new addition from Sarah. He didn’t hate them.

He stepped out onto the deck, a chilled December breeze blowing through his hair, and leaned against the cool metal railing, peering out over the ocean in the distance with sunlight sparkling on the waves. An ocean away, there was death and destruction and hopelessness, and he was there in Blue Moon Bay, where the only hardship was trying to catch the perfect wave.

Could he survive the season of joy and giving, selfishly enjoy it, even, when his heart told him he should be out helping others?

Chapter Three

December 3rd…22 Days Until Christmas…

She’d stolen the wedding cake.

Technically, it had been hers. But the pissed off bride and groom weren’t likely to see it that way.

Spooning a forkful of it into her mouth, Jessica scanned her whiteboard on her kitchen wall Monday morning. Six orders needed to be filled that day. Well, maybe five. She was fairly certain the gift opening cupcakes John and Emily had ordered for their event that day was one of the flashing messages on her phone, canceling the order.

What the hell had she been thinking? She could have cost herself every wedding business in town after this rumor circulated. Only the delicious, not-too-sweet, not-too-chocolatey cake on her tongue made her feel even the slightest bit better about her actions. They were hardly professional, but she’d snapped. No one could possibly understand how hard it was, constantly surrounded by brides-to-be and not having an engagement ring on her hand herself.

And then to hear that she was being used, not only for her cakes, but as some weird mythical token of good luck? Now she’d be looking at every potential suitor with a cautious eye. How could she trust anyone’s interest in her now?

She shook her head. Either way, her actions had been wrong.

She sighed and tucked the phone into her apron. It was in the past and she had current pressing matters at the moment. Rolling up the sleeves of her oversize plaid shirt, she started on the busy day ahead.

A bar mitzvah cake, several holiday cookie orders, a time-suck cheesecake—plain, not even an exciting flavor—and a stream of walk-in customers later, her phone ringing off the hook with new, last-minute holiday orders, she was exhausted.

Jessica refilled her frosting bag, then retrieved the yet-to-be decorated birthday cakes on the order list. Michael, Ross, and Elliott. All boys around the same age.

Sorry, kids, everyone is getting the same blue frosting this year.

The front door opened again and she shut her eyes tight, hoping whoever it was had walked into the wrong store. If that chime over her door jingled once more today, Jessica was going to lose her shit. Had everyone in Blue Moon Bay fallen off their latest health fad diet in the last eight hours?

It had to be the rain.

Rainy days were common this time of year on this part of the coast, and when the skies decided to open, it resulted in dark, overcast downpours that lasted for hours. It was pretty to watch from inside the bakery, but unfortunately, it spurred a need for a sugar fix in the locals and tourists alike. Something to do with a change in barometric pressure…

“Hello?”

The unrecognizable male voice had Jessica counting to ten.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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