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Chapter One
Daisy
’Tis the season to be jolly, Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la…
Silence.
The radio stopped.
“No, no, no. No. You need to start, Foxy. You need to start.” I gently banged my fist on the steering wheel as lovingly as possible and groaned.
The ignition wouldn’t even turn over in my trusty Subaru wagon.
I could see my breath in the air inside my car.
My wipers were frozen on the windshield.
If this were a hint of the holiday season to come, I’d gladly fly to the Bahamas.
I glanced in my rearview mirror to see the lights still on at the community center and the Sunshine Breakfast Club gleefully gathering in the window.
They were always so perky, those people.
“Ugh, this isn’t what I need right now.” I had thirty minutes to get to my bartending shift at the resort.
I’d promised Millie that I’d stop by the book club to deliver my famous candy cane fudge, but I just didn’t have time this month to join in on their monthly reading selection.
And now, I had to walk back in with my tail between my legs and ask for help.
But at what cost?
There was always a catch with the Sunshine Breakfast Club. I knew this all too well because I was often one of the conspirators orchestrating something behind the scenes to bring two unsuspecting souls together.
I chuckled and unbuckled, hopping out of my car as the first flake landed on my nose. I should have just agreed to read the book.
This was Christmas karma.
I tied my wool scarf tighter, zipped up my puffy, red, goose-down jacket, and trudged across the parking lot.
Yanking the door open, I smelled the sweet cinnamon apple cider drifting through the air. Laughter jangled down the hall as I shut the door behind me with a thud.
They were obviously having a better night than I was.
The giant Christmas tree in the corner of the lobby twinkled its red and green lights with sparkling holiday tags dangling for those families in need. I’d already picked one family from the tree and couldn’t wait to select another. I always tried to buy toys for kiddos whose families might need a little extra. I remembered all too well what it was like growing up in hard times, and Christmas only highlighted the fact.
I pulled off my gloves and walked down the hall to the meeting room where the Sunshine Breakfast Club had gathered.
About twenty members had made it to the meeting. Two tables with green plaid tablecloths had been pushed together in the back of the room and were filled with food. A miniature tree with tiny book ornaments had been propped on the drinks table, along with a tray of cookies.
My stomach growled just as Millie’s gaze landed on me. She was the ringleader—I mean, book club president. She’d earned her title years ago, and nobody would ever dare take it away. Her silver hair had been cut into a bob. She’d managed to put two poofy red barrettes on each side, but the topper was her flashing Rudolph sweater. The blinking nose put me in a trance as she grabbed my cold hand and cupped it to make it warmer.
“Welcome back, Daisy. Did you change your mind about this month’s book?” She grinned with the wisdom of being in her eighth decade on this planet.
My cheeks flushed. “No. Foxy won’t start.”
Millie’s white brows rose. “Foxy?”
I shook my head. “Oh, sorry. My car won’t start. I had it idling, and then it just died, and now it won’t turn over.”
