by Sabrina York
Marcy smiled. “This weekend kicks off the holiday activities and Snowfest at the resort. That means everything is red and green for the next month. We get tons of families, and the kids always like seeing the staff with hats. You’ll see reindeer, elves, Santas, jingle bells, all sorts of funny ones.” She winked and added, “We have plenty, so you won’t be left out.”
She didn’t have time to introduce the two young men working today before a throng of people approached the counter. The kids were clamoring for hot cocoa and cookies, and the parents looked like they could all use Irish coffees. Emily offered to help and manned the register. Marcy whispered her thanks and produced a red apron, flung the loop over Emily’s head and whipped the strings around to tie them, adding a set of reindeer antlers with flashing lights on top of her head. Marcy smiled and said, “There you go, much better.”
Emily laughed and turned her attention to the touch screen tablet. She had seen them in action at stores all over the city, and it was intuitive and easy to use. They had a steady stream of customers for almost an hour before the lobby cleared out and things calmed down. Marcy rewarded Emily with a peppermint mocha garnished with chocolate shavings atop the whipped cream.
Not one for fancy coffee drinks, Emily was slowly having her mind changed, one sip at a time. The creamy chocolate blended with rich coffee was the first thing she tasted, followed by the refreshing hint of chocolate mint. It was divine.
She took her drink and wandered into the lobby, choosing an empty chair near Bella. She scrolled through her phone for messages and logged into the app linked to Sara’s point of sale system. Her eyes widened when she saw the morning’s figures for the Mistletoe Lodge location. She never dreamed there was so much money in coffee and tea. She watched the constant flow of guests move in and out of the lodge as they stopped by Latte Da and warmed themselves by the fire or took a break in the lobby. In addition to people staying at the lodge, there were a number of customers who popped in from the parking area or the walking trails. Sara was right about this being a hot location.
Emily’s holiday travel article had already been submitted, but she was toying with writing another one about small town holiday traditions and knew there was no better place to find the magic of the season than Snow Valley. She spied a stack of Snowfest brochures on a side table and snagged one. Sara’s remark about the resort doing it all had been an understatement. She scanned the schedule and smiled at the offer for an elf to visit and tuck in your children each evening. They would bring treats and read stories to the youngest visitors for twenty minutes in the evenings. What little kid wouldn’t go nuts for a real-life elf in their room?
On weekend evenings, readings by Marvin the Christmas Moose would be held in the lobby, and all the kids were invited to come in their pajamas, gather around the fire, and listen to stories. S’mores parties at the fire pits were ongoing, as were the opportunities to build your own stuffed snowman and make craft projects. Most of the activities happened at the large hotel property, but Marvin the Moose was exclusive to the Mistletoe Lodge.
After reading about everything in the brochure, Emily wanted to check out the hotel and see it for herself. The spa Sara had mentioned sounded lovely, and depending on her schedule, she was hoping to squeeze in some time to enjoy it.
She asked Marcy to keep her eye on Bella and bundled up in her coat to walk the path to the hotel. Like the lodge, it had been decked out for the holidays. She strolled through the lobby, which was large and impressive and more upscale than the lodge. Everywhere she looked there were posters advertising Snowfest and arrows pointing to different activities. The concierge desk was jammed with people booking events, and masses of guests moved through the space. She followed the signs for the spa and stepped through the glass door to The Retreat. The young woman behind the counter gave her brochures and explained she could book online or call and schedule a treatment.
Every facet of the hotel was beautiful, from the refined mountain décor to the outdoor spaces with fire pits and lovely views. The service from the staff was impeccable, and if the meals at the restaurants were all as delicious as The Grille had been, she’d have to try them. The traffic at the Mistletoe Lodge paled in comparison. She learned the hotel had over 250 rooms, which explained the hordes of people roaming about and guests waiting in lines for tables at restaurants.
It was gorgeous and exciting, but she preferred the more intimate setting of The Mistletoe Lodge and after seeing Sara’s photos from the past, was excited to be involved in the annual festivities.
She took her time walking back to the lodge and said her goodbyes to Marcy and the crew before telling Bella it was time to go. She drove the Jeep downtown, was surprised to find all the street parking full, and circled a few blocks before she found a lot with space. She and Bella trudged to Main Street, noticing several people carrying Latte Da cups as they strolled by the shops.
Emily held the door, and Bella hurried through it and to her dog bed in a corner near the bookcase. Jackie was at the counter and waved hello in between customers. A few tables were occupied with people visiting, and there were a couple of solo guests on laptops, tapping away on their keyboards. She smiled at the kindred spirits, knowing if she lived in Snow Valley this would be her coffee shop, where she would spend her days when writing by herself in her apartment got too lonely.
It was getting close to the lunch hour, and Emily had spotted Rosie’s Diner on the walk. Memories of her beef dip sandwich made her stomach growl. Jackie finished with her customer, and Emily said, “I’m going to run to Rosie’s and grab lunch, can I bring you anything?”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful. I’ll do the soup and salad special.” Jackie offered to call in the order and make Emily something hot to drink.
Emily took a seat at the table nearest the counter, and Jackie delivered a steaming London Fog. “We just came from the lodge, and it’s busy. The whole resort is full of guests. Downtown looks busy today as well.” Emily took a sip from her cup and said, “Delicious.”
Jackie eyes widened. “It’s the kickoff to all the Christmas activities, and the shops are doing a scavenger hunt today. Lots of sales and Christmas shopping going on. The contest encourages people to visit, get their cards stamped, and turn them in for a prize, so we’ve been busier than usual.”
“Sara’s getting packed for the trip, so she sent me to visit the shops and check in, sort of a test drive.”
“I know you’ll do a great job, and I’ll help you however I can.” Jackie glanced toward the entrance. “Here’s our order. Rosie’s delivers to all the neighboring businesses.”
Emily dug out some cash and hurried to pay Eddie, the young man delivering their food, while Jackie took the order to the back room. The young man shook his head and asked her to sign the delivery slip instead, explaining Sara had an account.
She returned to the office and shoved her money in her wallet. Jackie handed her the box with her sandwich and said, “Sara’s a gem. She treats me to lunch as part of the deal for me working all day without a break. We alternate between Rosie’s and the Log Cabin Café for the most part.”
Emily savored the sandwich, heaped with caramelized onions and melted cheese, and ate every last one of the garlic parmesan fries piled next to it. Jackie speared another bite of her salad and tilted her head in the direction of Emily’s takeout box. “I used to eat those about three times a week, until I couldn’t button my jeans anymore. They’re addictive.”
“I’ve missed them ever since I left. There are so many restaurants and options in the city, but I don’t think I’ve ever found anything better than Rosie’s.” She took a sip of her drink and gestured to the calendar by the desk. “I saw this location is normally closed on Sundays, except during the holiday season. So, you work seven days a week now?”
Jackie’s brows rose, and she smiled. “There are a couple of high school students who I can call if we get slammed, like for next weekend. Sara pops in and relieves me when she c
an, and it’s only for a month, so I don’t mind. A bit of extra money for the holidays is always nice.”
“You work six days a week all the time though? That’s impressive.”
Jackie blushed and said, “I enjoy working here. It’s sort of my social life. I live alone, no kids, so not much going on. Oftentimes, Sara will work on Mondays for me so I can get two days off, and anytime I need a day for something, she’ll cover for me. It really works out fine.”
“If you’ll teach me how to make the drinks, I’m happy to relieve you, once this party is over. I actually prefer this location over the lodge. It’s so inviting, and it’s got a vibe that makes me want to sit here all day. In fact, you’re probably going to get tired of me.”
Jackie shook her head. “Not a chance. It’ll be fun having you here, and I’m happy to show you.” The bells on the door jingled, and Jackie pointed at the hooks on the wall, “Grab an apron, and you can start learning right now.”
Emily chose a purple one and stood to the side of Jackie as she welcomed a couple and two children. As they ordered, Jackie selected drinks from the touch screen and ran their credit card. She encouraged them to take a seat and promised to bring their order to them.
She went about gathering cups, choosing holiday themed ones for the hot chocolates the children wanted. First, she made a latte and showed Emily how to grind the coffee, tamp it and polish it, brew the espresso, and use the steam wand to froth the milk. She poured the milk into the espresso, raising the metal container high in the air as she created a beautiful design resembling a Christmas tree.
She let Emily try her hand at steaming the milk for the hot chocolates and, once they were prepared, added hot water to a cute glass teapot and placed tea leaves in a diffuser and inserted it in the pot. She added everything to a tray along with two gingerbread men cookies and carried it to the waiting family at a corner table, leaving them smiling.
Emily shook her head and took the tray from Jackie when she stepped behind the counter. “You’re so fast. It’s going to take me forever to learn all of this, not to mention your latte designs.”
Jackie smiled and waved her hand. “It just takes practice. I’ll show you the basics. That’s all you need. You can come back tomorrow, and we’ll practice more.”
Emily worked with Jackie until they closed the store at four o’clock. As they were cleaning the counter, Emily laughed and said, “I think all I’ve managed to master is regular coffee, tea, and maybe hot chocolates. All the rest of the lattes, breves, and macchiatos are a bit of a blur.”
“I’ll dig out a cheat sheet I used when I first started that will help you.”
Emily woke Bella from her nap and waved goodbye, promising to see Jackie tomorrow. Dusk was settling into the valley, and Emily shivered as she and Bella left the store.
The colorful Christmas lights along Main Street sprang to life, and like the snowflakes beginning to fall, memories of all the Christmases she had spent in Snow Valley swirled around her. When she gazed upon the quaint and quiet street, accented with twinkle lights and decorations in the windows of the shops, it reminded her of all she had missed by avoiding coming home.
5
Sunday morning dawned with a hint of sunlight, enough to send a cascade of glittering diamonds across the fresh snow blanketing the yard. Emily sipped a cup of hot tea as she watched Bella burrow into the snow, digging tunnels with her nose and romping in delight. Today was the day she had planned to fly back to the city. Knowing Sara would insist she spend Christmas with them, since they’d be home only a couple days before, she texted Rachel to let her know she was staying through Christmas and would be in touch with her travel plans.
Mike manned the snowblower, clearing the walkways and concrete driveway, while Bella ran back and forth in a frenzy, trying to catch the flying snow in her mouth. Sara came around the corner, poured herself a cup of tea, and joined Emily at the counter.
She plucked a set of keys from a dish and handed them to Emily. “Here are the keys to everything, including the electronic key for the Mistletoe Lodge.” She pointed out the house and various shop keys. “With this snow and unpredictable weather, we decided to head to Seattle early today so we have plenty of time to get to the airport for our flight tonight.” She slid a small notebook to Emily. “This is all the information you’ll need if you run into any problems at the house or the shop downtown. Plumber, HVAC, our mechanic, the snow removal service Mike contracts with—he’s already arranged for them to handle the house while we’re away—our veterinarian, doctor, dentist, the whole ball of wax. Charge anything you need to the credit card, and we’ll figure it out later.”
Emily skimmed the notebook. “Okay, hopefully I won’t need to use it.” She smiled and wrapped her hands around her cup. “I was going to spend some time at the shop with Jackie today and learn to make a few drinks so I can help out when it’s busy. It’s such a cute place to work and hang out.”
“Isn’t she the best? I knew you’d like her.” Her smile widened. “I’m thrilled you love the shop. Besides home, it’s my favorite place to be.”
“What time are you leaving today?”
“Mike thought we could go to an early brunch at the resort and then hit the road.” She reached for her sister’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m going to miss you, but I know you’re going to love all the holiday fun in Snow Valley. And don’t forget to make time for the spa.”
They heard the clomp of boots outside, and a few minutes later, Mike came through the door, red-faced and out of breath, with Bella hurrying behind him. “That’s done, and Bella is semi-dry. Are you ladies about ready for brunch? I just need to change clothes.”
Sara rinsed her cup and put it in the dishwasher. “Just about. I need to check a few more things in my bags, and then you can load them.”
Emily wandered into the great room and smiled at Bella already asleep in front of the fire. She spied a stack of red and green plastic tubs in the corner of the room that hadn’t been there last night.
The wheels of Sara’s luggage clattered across the floor. “Oh, I see you found the Christmas decorations. I thought you might want to decorate the tree. Scott is going to deliver it this evening. If you’re not up to it, the kids will do it when they get home.”
Mike followed Sara with his luggage and wheeled the bags through the house to the garage. After a few minutes, he returned. “Do we have everything? Passports and tickets?”
Sara’s eyes twinkled, and she patted her leather bag. “Got them. I think we’re set. If I’ve forgotten anything, I’ll just have to go shopping,” she said, winking at her sister.
Mike moaned and chuckled. “I have a feeling you’ll be shopping regardless.” He put his arm around her and said, “Let’s go. Do you want to follow in the Jeep, Em, so you can go wherever you want from brunch? Get in some snow driving?”
“Why not?” Emily grabbed her coat and scarf and followed them to the garage, taking the snowy roads with care as she followed in Mike’s path.
The weather hadn’t slowed business at the resort. They had to hunt to find parking places, and when they entered the main lobby, it was crowded with guests. Mike led the way to the Cascade Café, and a hostess showed them to their reserved table.
As Emily enjoyed her eggs benedict, Sara chattered nonstop, going over all of the details related to the house and her businesses, telling her again to text with any questions. As Mike signed the check, he reminded Emily to charge any meals she wanted to their account.
Sara swallowed a hurried sip and added, “Oh, and I have an account at Rosie’s, so feel free to eat there. Jackie and I eat there quite often.” Before she could bring the cup to her lips again, she said, “Don’t forget Bella’s supplement for her hips. I told you, didn’t I? You’ve got Mike’s cell number, right?”
Emily resisted rolling her eyes and smiled at her sister’s obvious nervousness. “Don’t worry about anything. I’m sure I can figure it all out.” She hoped she sounded more c
onfident than she felt. There was so much to remember, and Sara’s last minute overload of information wasn’t helping.
Mike bent to the floor and picked up Sara’s gorgeous silky pashmina that matched her blue cape and rested his hand on her shoulder. “Sweetie, Em can handle it all, and we’re only a phone call away. Let’s get going.”
Sara leaned into Mike and squeezed his hand with hers. “I know. It’s just been a long time since we’ve been gone.” She turned her watery eyes to Emily. “I know you can handle it. I think I just feel a bit guilty.”
Mike held his wife’s cape, and she slipped into it. “You two need to enjoy yourselves and not worry about anything. I expect to see lots of photos of all the Christmas decorations in London and Paris. They’re going to be beautiful.” Emily hugged both of them and watched them walk hand-in-hand to the parking lot.
She lingered behind for a few minutes, listening to the soft Christmas music playing throughout the huge lobby and taking a decorated cookie from a tray held by a friendly elf. She took the long way around the property, basking in the view of the pristine snow on the mountain and the thick layer of it on the branches of the trees. Flames danced from the fire pits behind the hotel, with several guests gathered around them visiting and laughing.
Snow in the city was never this pretty and quickly turned to gray slush instead of the acres of gorgeous untouched snow blanketing the resort and the entire valley. She couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend the holidays.
During a quick stop at the Mistletoe Lodge, she found the action in full swing at Latte Da. Instead of Marcy, there was a different young woman in charge of the team behind the counter. Emily didn’t interrupt them, just spent a few minutes watching the comings and goings while warming her hands by the fire.
Several people were in line at the main desk, checking out and herding children from the lobby. Elves were on hand to soften the goodbyes with treats, hugs, and well wishes. Emily slipped outside with a group and headed back to the house to pick up Bella for their trip downtown.
