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“Yeah, but you and Jimmy are now divorced. How would you like it if your Christmas and busiest time of the year was ruined because you found out he had an affair?”
Birgit let out a dry laugh as she rubbed her temples.
“Ha. I did. Back in 2016.”
“Wait, really?” Chris asked, looking at her in concern.
She nodded. “I got a call from one of the orchard workers that there was a squatter in one of the old cabins the day before Christmas. I went to check it out and found Jimmy with some barely legal girl.”
Birgit shook her head in disgust. “It was awful.”
“B, I’m sorry,” Chris replied gently, “I didn’t know.”
Birgit patted his hand, still resting on her shoulder.
“It’s okay, and you’ve proven your point. Getting that kind of news during this time of the year can be devastating. I guess we should wait until the holidays are over to tell him.”
As Birgit seemed to get lost in thought, Chris studied her thoughtfully.
“I think you should let me take you out to dinner,” he stated.
“What?” Birgit asked, snapping back into focus. Chris nodded.
“Dinner. I think you should let me take you out. It’s been an awfully hectic few days for you, and I think you need a break. Just a few hours away where you don’t have to think about any of this mess.”
He held his right hand up, his fingers making the Boy Scout symbol.
“I swear on my Eagle Scout pin that I will keep you laughing and distracted the entire time. We won’t talk about anything heavy or real. We’ll keep it light and fun. What do you say?”
“I don’t know,” Birgit replied, looking down at her watch. “The next shift doesn’t start for another twenty minutes, and I’d need to shower and change. It’ll be past eight until I can get out of here.”
“So I’ll wait,” he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “I can run my candy canes back to my store and then wait for you here in the lobby.”
Chris walked over to the coffee table sitting between the two large, cushioned, dark brown leather sofas, and picked up a magazine.
“Birds of Washington,”he read aloud, “hmm. I’ve been wanting to read this issue. It’s supposed to be a good one. I can finally read it while I’m waiting.”
Birgit couldn’t help but giggle at his dorky sense of humor. She really did like hanging out with Chris. He had a way of making her laugh even when she didn’t want to.
“Okay, fine,” she finally agreed. “But I amnotgoing toThe Schauffen Stube.”
Chris smiled at her triumphantly and nodded.
“You’ve got a deal,” he replied happily.
ChapterSeven
Birgit’s eyes lit up as Chris turned down an all too familiar road, and she looked at him with a smile.
“You’re taking me to Iced Vines?” she asked excitedly.
Chris smiled as he took his eyes off of the road to look at her.
“I thought you would enjoy seeing some familiar faces,” he replied, “plus I’ve been told the new chef your parents hired is amazing.”
Grinning from ear to ear, Birgit turned back to the Christmas light-covered barn that housed her parents' wine-tasting room and restaurant. It had been months since she’d had a chance to visit home, and as they drove closer, a sense of nostalgia filled her. In an instant, she was flooded with happy memories of her earlier life that had taken place on the property.
“Are you sure they’re not hosting a private event tonight?” she asked as Chris pulled into a parking spot.
