The Christmas Cabin

by Susan Hatler

  My smile widened as I felt a flare of excitement in my chest. “Really?”

  “Yeah,” Kara said in an off-handed way. “But now, Evan never even looks up from his phone when I talk to him. I told him about the cabin mix-up and it didn’t even faze him. I tried to get him to go out the other night for a romantic dinner, but he had to stay late at the office. He’s been staying late at the office for weeks.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to unload all of that on you. I’m just a little frustrated right now.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, though I was squirming with discomfort as I thought about all of the things she had just said. That was one of the things that worried me the most about being emotionally vulnerable to anyone. I didn’t want to get hurt like Kara seemed to be. “I hope everything works out for you.”

  She sighed. “Me, too. Sorry again for the double-booking.”

  “No worries, Kara. I’ll call you after Christmas and we can catch up some more.”

  We hung up and I sat on the bed, pulling the white goose feather out, while thinking that all of those problems with Kara and Evan would end up being my same fate if I let this thing continue with Gabriel. Was I making a huge mistake falling for him? If so, the truth was that it was already too late. I’d already fallen hard.

  I finished wrapping Gabriel’s gift, admiring the gold, glittery bow that I had tied around the shiny, metallic red paper. Beautiful. Aunt Lucy would definitely have approved. She always prided herself on the perfect wrapping job, elegant and festive at the same time. This was my way of bringing some of my Christmas traditions to this Christmas at the cabin.

  Sitting down on my bed, I pulled my hair back into a French knot. I couldn’t get the conversation with Kara out of my head. She had always seemed happy with Evan, but now she sounded miserable. I knew that Kara had a penchant for being overly dramatic from time to time, but there had been something real and raw in her tone. Though it did vaguely remind me of the time she had freaked out during a long study session in the library when she accused another girl of stealing her textbook, which turned out not to be true.

  Still, if Kara was serious about being unhappy with Evan, I had to wonder if that meant they were headed for divorce. Didn’t anyone stay together anymore? Surely there were couples who believed in second chances like Gabriel did. Thinking of Gabriel, my thoughts drifted to all of the things he had told me about his parents. They seemed like a great couple, who had stayed together through all of the ups and downs of life. Maybe that was where Gabriel got his optimistic outlook on life.

  Being a divorce lawyer had seemed like such a natural fit after being raised by Aunt Lucy. If getting divorced was the best thing that had ever happened to her, what better way to make a difference than to help others do exactly the same thing? Meeting Gabriel had changed my perspective on some things that I hadn’t even realized needed changing.

  Thinking about Gabriel made me smile and tingles of anticipation danced up and down my spine. I had the overwhelming urge to go downstairs to see him. Maybe he’d be up for another round of Scrabble by the fire. Or better yet, I could beat him again. I chuckled to myself. He was such a good sport. It helped that he was such a good kisser.

  Maybe we could just skip the Scrabble bets and go straight to kissing. That sounded like a good way to spend the evening, even though my conversation with Kara still nagged at the back of my mind. When I got downstairs I heard clattering coming from the kitchen. Popping my head around the doorframe, I saw Gabriel unloading grocery bags.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “Hey, beautiful.” He smiled as he set a carton of eggs on the counter. “I was just about to start making my dad’s famous gingerbread cookies. We used to make them every year, even when I was an adult. I haven’t made them since he passed away. But now I want to make them with you. Are you up for helping?”

  “Yes, that sounds wonderful,” I said, coming into the kitchen, feeling touched to the depths of my soul in a way that no one had ever made me feel before. “Do you have a recipe?”

  He tapped his temple. “It’s all up here. How about if I tell you what to put in, and then we can mix it all together?”

  “Sounds like a recipe for disaster,” I said, laughing. “You had better mix everything, and I’ll help roll it out and cut out the gingerbread men. I’m not much of a baker.”

  “As you wish.” He smiled, getting to work mixing the molasses dough. The cinnamon sent me into fits of Christmas memories, and I couldn’t help but sneak a spoonful of dough from the bowl. Gabriel smirked, but pretended not to notice.

  I pushed some ingredients out of the way, and dusted off my hands as I leaned against the counter. “Do you make traditional gingerbread men?” I asked.

  “We can make whatever you want,” he said, with a wink.

  He handed me a floured rolling pin, and I set to work rolling out the dough. While I was doing the rolling, Gabriel set up his phone, and played Christmas music throughout the kitchen, starting with Martina McBride singing “White Christmas.” The heat from the oven made the kitchen feel cozy and I felt myself singing along with the music. I barely noticed the wind picking up outside and the sky clouding over. More snow would not have been unwelcome at the moment.

  We finished cutting out the gingerbread people—men and women, thanks to yours truly— and placed them on the baking sheets. After the first batch of cookies were in the oven, Gabriel extended his hand to me. “May I have this dance?”

  “For real?” I flushed, and glanced around the kitchen, though I wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like anyone was here. I’d never been very romantic, so maybe I was just feeling a little out of my element.

  “The Christmas Song” sung by Nat King Cole was playing and there was nothing I’d rather be doing right now other than dancing with Gabriel. So, I nodded, and then took his flour-dusted hand, letting him lead me around the room as we smiled at each other. When the song finished, another came on, and then another. Finally, I rested my head against his chest for a moment.

  The timer went off, buzzing throughout the room. Gabriel kissed my temple before releasing me. He went to check on the cookies and dust them with a tiny bit of powdered sugar. That had apparently been part of the secret recipe.

  “You know,” I said. “I don’t know if I should be saying this or not, but I feel like this whole trip was serendipitous.”

  He smiled at me as he set the timer again. “My dad used to tell me that Christmas is the perfect time to reset yourself, because an open heart willing to give love and second chances can change the world.”

  “Did he have a lot of sayings?” I asked, rolling a small ball of dough between my fingers and then popping it in my mouth.

  “Mostly he just taught me by his example. Like his take on second chances,” Gabriel said, a look of wistfulness filling his face. “He was very big on that.”

  “What else did he say about them?” I asked, finding that I had an overwhelming desire to know more about his dad, because clearly his father had a huge influence in his life.

  “He used to say that everyone deserved a second chance, because it’s hard to get things right the first time around. When I was in law school he actually encouraged me to become a divorce lawyer.”

  “Why would someone optimistic do that?” I asked.

  The timer dinged, and Gabriel paused to pull out the baking sheet and pop another in. As he started to move the cookies to the cooling racks, he turned to me. “He said that divorce lawyers were more of a shrink than anything else. He thought that I could help people get the second chances they deserved.”

  “I wonder how Noelle and Riley are doing,” I said, suddenly thinking of my client and her husband. I remembered the way she’d looked at him. “She really did love him. You know what? I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but I’m glad that things got disrupted at that final meeting.”

  His brows rose. “You are?”

  I nodded. “Maybe they r
eally will make it work. I mean, your dad could’ve been on to something. I don’t always get everything right the first time around, no matter how much I’d like to think that I do.” I glanced over at Gabriel, thinking how happy he’d be that I was finally coming around to some of his optimism.

  Instead of his smile, his forehead crinkled and the corners of his mouth turned downward.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Nothing.” He ducked his head, concentrating hard on the cookies in front of him. When he didn’t say anything further, I had to fight down the confusion and the panic that threatened to rise in my chest. This wasn’t law school and I wasn’t getting dumped.

  I decided to change the subject. “Now that I know you went to law school at Davis, how did you end up in Blue Moon Bay?”

  “Oh.” He glanced over at me, seeming surprised. “I was on vacation with some buddies, staying at the Inn at Blue Moon Bay. I felt connected to the town right away, like it was pulling me in with every step I took.” He held up a finger, as if to say he’d continue his story in a minute. “I think these cookies are just about cool enough to decorate. I’ll get the icing ready.”

  I watched as he got out two piping bags and a small bowl of red cinnamon candies. “Aren’t those spicy?” I asked pointing at the candy.

  “Sorry, it’s a tradition,” he said, grinning. “My dad loved those.”

  “I’m sure they’re perfect,” I said. “Now finish telling me why you moved to Blue Moon Bay. I mean, I get why you’d be drawn to the town. It’s perfectly charming. But to uproot your whole life? That’s a big commitment.”

  “I’ve never told anyone this story before. But I was out for a walk on the beach behind the inn and I came across the plaque that holds the Kissed by the Bay legend on it,” he said, outlining one of the gingerbread men in white icing, and then using the icing to glue on red candy buttons and eyes. “I read the story of the legend, and how it promised that ‘one kiss, right here, under a blue moon would lead to love that lasts forever.’ That felt like magic to me. I knew without any hesitation that I was meant to live in that town.”

  “Wow.” I let his words sink in. He was the most romantic man I had ever known. I loved that about him, which was odd considering that I’d never been a romantic person—not since I’d had my heart broken anyway. Maybe my heart needed a second chance. There were so many things that I wanted to say to Gabriel, but the words all tangled on my tongue. So, instead I grabbed a piping bag and began to mimic his decorating style.

  “You can decorate them however you want,” he said, grinning as he watched my pathetic attempt at decorating a gingerbread woman. My bow looked like a big blob perched atop her head, but instead of feeling stressed at the imperfection like I might’ve before I’d met Gabriel, all I could do was laugh at my mess. “That’s an amazing rock on her head,” he said, joking.

  Joy filled my chest, but instead of laughing, tears filled my eyes.

  Suddenly, I blurted, “You know how the Kissed by the Bay legend felt magical to you? That’s what the past few days here at the cabin have felt like to me.” I looked up to find that Gabriel had stilled and was watching me carefully. Taking a deep breath I continued, “I’ve completely fallen for you. You’ve made me ready to trust again. I trust you, Gabriel.”

  “Harper . . .” He set down his piping bag and moved around the island. He reached out and pulled me into his arms. Placing my palms against the front of his shirt, I could feel a lump growing in my throat, and I couldn’t believe what I’d just admitted to him. He put his crooked finger under my chin, and lifted my face so that I was looking into his chocolate-brown eyes. “You can trust me. I promise you that,” he said.

  And then he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was as sweet as the Christmas cookies we were baking. Falling deeper into the kiss, I closed my eyes, wanting to use all of my other senses to remember this moment forever—the way he tasted like cinnamon, the way the kitchen smelled like gingerbread, his flannel shirt soft under my fingertips, but then the sound of the timer made me jump back.

  “You surprised me.” Gabriel’s hooded eyes told me he seemed as dazed as I felt, but I couldn’t believe my admission had been that big of a surprise. He cracked a smile at me. “I’ve been waiting, but you still haven’t cleaned up the mess I made from baking.”

  I glanced around the kitchen, noticing the complete disaster this baking endeavor had created, and suddenly realized that I didn’t care. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I didn’t care about the mess around us in the least. It was funny how a sweet man, standing with his arms around me could change my priorities.

  Maybe it was even a Christmas miracle.

  I grinned back up at him. “I guess I have better things to do right now.” Grabbing a fistful of his shirt in my hand, I pulled him back toward me until our lips met in another sweet, soul-shattering kiss that made me melt against him.

  Chapter Six

  I woke from my nap later that afternoon, feeling warm and content, with the cabin still smelling strongly of gingerbread. In my hazy, half-wakeful, half-dream state, I wondered if I had ever had a nicer Christmas vacation than this one. Not likely.

  Even when Aunt Lucy and I were celebrating with our small traditions, had I ever felt so homey and content? As I woke up more, I realized that sunlight was slanting through my window. The dark, threatening skies from earlier in the day had retreated, and from my view outside the window, the sky was now blue with small fluffy clouds drifting by.

  Syrupy Christmas songs trilled in my head, and I thought taking a little hike might be a nice way to spend an hour. I’d invite Gabriel to go with me. With that thought, I jumped out of bed. Before heading downstairs to ask him, I ran a brush through my hair and then decided to wear my long strands down.

  “Gabriel?” I called as I skipped down the stairs. No answer. Maybe he had gone out to get some more wood for the fire. Or, better yet maybe he had gone to chop more wood. I’d certainly enjoy watching him do that, so I hurried to the kitchen window to take a peek outside, but was disappointed to find that he wasn’t there. I called his name again, as I wandered to the front of the cabin, and then I noticed Gabriel’s car was gone.

  Frowning, I turned around trying to remember if he had told me that he was going out. I couldn’t remember him saying anything. That’s when I noticed a plate of gingerbread cookies sitting on the side table with a note propped up next to the plate. I opened the folded paper, and immediately a smile curved across my face.

  Hey, beautiful,

  * * *

  I hope you had a good nap. I’m going into town to pick up a measuring tape. It’s essential for the professional light display I’m planning to create later. I take my Christmas decorating very seriously. Eat some gingerbread cookies, and enjoy the fire I made. I’ll see you soon.

  * * *

  Gabriel

  After reading his note, I felt a warm glow spread through me, and I decided to take that walk anyway. I wouldn’t go too far, just in case the weather turned bad again. If our tree cutting expedition had been any indication, that could happen at any point.

  I bundled up with Gabriel’s extra pair of socks that he had loaned me. It made me feel closer to him by wearing them, and I marveled at the change that had overtaken me in such a short time. It was amazing to feel this happy.

  The brisk, cold air welcomed me as I stepped out of the cabin. Taking a deep lungful of fresh air, I set out across the back. I noticed deer tracks threading their way through the property, mingled with Gabriel’s large footsteps in the snow heading toward the woodpile.

  Just thinking about Gabriel brought a goofy smile to my face. I really loved the festive Christmas we were setting up. At first, I had been set on incorporating my own traditions into my long weekend holiday vacation. Aunt Lucy and I had certainly never done much to decorate, not like Gabriel and his family. Still, we’d had our own way of doing things that had always felt special to me
.

  We would get our Chinese take-out dinner on Christmas, and then we would stroll along outside expensive shops to do window-shopping. The windows were always decorated in the most intricate, beautiful, festive ways, which I loved. Plus, we would get our tree and fill it with our small box of silver and gold bulbs. That had been Christmas to me.

  I couldn’t remember much about what I had done before my parents had left, and Aunt Lucy never liked to talk about how her brother and his wife had deserted me. Sometimes I had fantasized about the type of Christmas that Gabriel described his family having, but when I really got to thinking about it, that had felt strange and foreign. What Aunt Lucy and I did might not look like a picture book Christmas, but it was ours and I loved our traditions.

  A brown rabbit darted across the trail in front of me. Startled, I stumbled over an exposed tree root, and grabbed onto the trunk of a small tree to steady myself. My movement shook snow loose from the thin branches, sending a cascade of flakes flurrying to the ground, shining in the sunlight all around me.

  There was something about being here in the mountains with Gabriel this Christmas vacation that felt special to me. The things we had done—cutting down and decorating the tree, playing Scrabble by the fire, drinking hot apple cider, baking gingerbread cookies—it all felt like the start of something magical. This time of year was supposed to be a time for miracles, and whenever I thought about Gabriel and the way he looked at me, I thought that I might just be living in a miracle of my own. Whatever it was that I felt for Gabriel was deeper than anything I had ever felt before, and that was both wonderful and terrifying.

  Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I reached into my coat to get it, thinking that it might be Gabriel wondering where I was. I realized that I hadn’t left him a note, and I didn’t want him to worry about me. But then I saw the name of my client, Noelle Jacobson, flash across my cell’s screen. I wondered why she’d be calling me on the weekend.