by Rachel Hanna
“Look at this one!” Dylan said, holding up the gingerbread cookie he had decorated. “I think this is my best one!” So far, he’d thought every one he decorated was the best one.
“It looks great,” Colleen said, smiling at her new little brother. She had to admit, having a little brother was something she had never imagined for herself, especially at her age. But now she did, and she loved him with her whole heart.
“Can I keep this one instead of taking it to the firefighters?”
Julie smiled. “I suppose so, but you’ve kept about ten of them. Where are you putting them, anyway?”
“On the bookshelf over there,” Dylan said, pointing across the room to Dawson’s grandmother’s antique bookshelf.
Julie’s eyes widened. “Dylan, how about taking them into the kitchen? Put them on a plate and hide them in the laundry room.”
“Yes ma’am,” he said, groaning. He walked over to the bookcase and collected his hidden cookies before disappearing into the kitchen.
“That kid has more energy than ten wild animals put together,” Dawson said, shaking his head.
“He cracks me up,” Colleen said. “But watching you raise a nine-year-old is even more hysterical. I never thought I would see the day that I’d have a little brother.”
“Well, I never thought I’d have a son,” Julie said. She continued icing the cookie in front of her. “But he’s been a wonderful blessing for us. I just can’t wait to see what he does in the future.”
“I can promise you it will be something that requires a lot of energy,” Dawson said, taking a bite out of his cookie.
Julie slapped him on the arm. “You’re supposed to be a good example! What are you doing eating the cookies?”
He stared at her for a moment. “Julie, honey, we have like three-thousand cookies here. There’s a hundred people sitting in our living room decorating them right now. The firefighters will not go hungry if I eat a couple of cookies.”
“I think you are overestimating the number of cookies or people here. Stop eating them! We want to give them all to the fire station.”
“Are you telling me we’re not going to keep any of these cookies for ourselves?”
“We’ll keep a few. But you’re going to be so big you’re going to need to borrow William’s Santa Claus costume.”
Tucker laughed. “Is this what being married is like?”
Colleen elbowed him. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, dear,” he said, hanging his head like he was a dominated husband before chuckling under his breath.
“So, I hear congratulations are in order about a new toy line you might work on next Christmas?” Dawson said.
“Yeah. It’s a really exciting opportunity with Jamison O’Malley’s company. I thought it would take me years to accomplish something like that.”
“That’s great, Tucker. I know you’ve worked really hard for this,” Julie said, picking up another plain cookie and beginning the decorating process again.
“We wanted to talk to you guys about something,” Colleen said, looking at Tucker nervously.
“Okay. What’s going on?” Julie asked, putting the cookie back down on the table.
“Well… There’s been a pretty major change in our lives.”
“Did you get engaged?”
“No, Mom. Don’t you think I would’ve told you that?”
“Besides, I’m terrified to ask her again. She broke my heart into pieces the last time,” Tucker said, putting his hand over his chest dramatically.
“You’re not funny,” Colleen whispered.
“What’s this big change?” Julie asked getting impatient.
“We spoke to Jamison O’Malley yesterday, and in order for this opportunity to come to fruition, he’s going to need us to come to New York City for a few months after the first of the year.”
Julie’s face fell a bit. “A few months?”
“Yes. He wants us to work right there in his offices in Manhattan. Really work closely with his team in a way that he doesn’t think we can do remotely.”
“But, I’ll miss you. I’m used to having both of my girls here in Seagrove.”
Colleen reached across the table and squeezed her mother’s hand. “I know. And we will miss this place too. Trust me, we’re not planning on staying in New York City for any longer than we have to. We will be right back in Seagrove as soon as possible.”
“Congratulations, you two. What an honor to be invited to do something like this, and I’m sure it’s going to be a financial success for you,” Dawson said, putting his arm around Julie as if he was trying to pull her into the same way of thinking.
“I hope you’re happy for us, Mom?” Colleen said.
Julie smiled. “I am extremely happy for both of you. And so proud. I’m sad for me, but thrilled for you. At least we can video chat every day!”
“Yes, technology is a wonderful thing,” Tucker said. “And don’t worry, Julie, I promise I’ll take good care of your daughter.”
Julie smiled at him. “I have no doubt about that, Tucker.”
Chapter Eight
One of the people that Julie was so happy that she had invited to the cookie party was Amy, the social worker who had first helped to set up the camp that led to them finding Dylan. She thought it was a perfect way to thank her and include her in their holiday festivities. Plus, Dylan was really excited to see her again.
“I’m so happy that you could come! I know everything is really busy around the holiday season,” Julie said, giving her a hug.
Amy smiled. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Dylan was always one of my favorites, and it’s been months since I’ve seen him. I know that he is doing so well with you guys, and he’s happier than I’ve ever seen him. Just look at that grin on his face!” She pointed across the room where Dylan was sitting at a table with Meg and Christian decorating his cookies. He had made the rounds already, going from table to table showing off his cookie decorating skills.
“I never thought I’d be a mother again at this age, but it has been delightful. He’s a handful, don’t get me wrong. One of the most energetic kids I think I’ve ever met, but he’s so smart and sweet and talented.”
“Of course, Julie isn’t just slightly biased,” Dawson said.
As they were speaking, Tina walked by, carrying another tray of plain cookies to one of the tables.
“Tina, come here. I’d like you to meet someone,” Julie said. For a moment, Tina looked a little hesitant, probably because she wasn’t very good at meeting new people. In fact, she was one of the shyest people that Julie had ever met.
“Hi,” Tina said, barely looking up at Amy.
Amy eyed her carefully. “Hi. I’m Amy, the social worker that put Dylan with Julie and Dawson. And you are?”
“Tina. I am just staying here during the holidays,” she said, stuttering over her words.
“You look so familiar. Have we met before?”
Tina shook her head no. “I don’t think so. I’m not really from around here. I was just coming to see some family.”
“Maybe I know your family. Who are you visiting?”
“Um… my cousins… You probably wouldn’t know them. They don’t actually live right here in Seagrove…”
Julie couldn’t understand why Tina seemed so incredibly uncomfortable. But she felt bad for putting her in that situation and wanted to do whatever she needed to get her out of it.
“Oh, Tina, can you go check with Lucy and see if she’ll make a new pot of coffee?”
Tina, seeming thrilled to get out of the situation, quickly disappeared back into the kitchen.
“She’s very shy. She didn’t really have anyone to spend the holidays with and I think she just made up a story about her family, honestly. She has a very sad history, but she doesn’t talk a lot about it.”
Amy stared at the kitchen door for a moment and then looked back at Julie. “It’s uncanny. She must look like somebody I
know. But anyway, I’m glad you’re helping her at the holidays. Nobody should be alone at Christmas time.”
Julie thought the same thing. If at no other time of the year, people shouldn’t be alone at Christmas.
* * *
SuAnn sat across from Dixie, the few cookies she had decorated sitting in front of her. She knew she should work faster, especially since she worked in the bakery every day. This should’ve been exactly what she was good at. But, right now, she just felt like the wind had been let out of her sails.
“Honey, are you okay?” Dixie asked, that deep southern twang of hers enveloping every word like a warm sweater.
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?” SuAnn said, staring down at her cookies and speaking in a monotone voice.
“Oh Lord, it must be man trouble. I hear you had an old flame come back and find you?”
“I swear, small towns are rumor mills,” SuAnn muttered.
“Well, it ain’t a rumor if it’s true,” Dixie said, smearing red icing on a candy cane cookie. Carrie had walked into the kitchen to help Julie package up some of the cookies for the firefighters.
“I wish everybody would just stay out of my business.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“If you wanted everybody to stay out of your business, then you’d put a smile on that scowling face of yours. But you’re not doing that because you’re upset about something, and you want people to know it.”
“Dixie, just decorate your cookies,” she said, exasperated.
“Look, the way I see it is we’re both in our golden years, so you should be able to confide in me about this sort of thing. None of these young women are going to understand.“
“Since when are we best friends?”
“Do you want me to call Hen?”
“No. Hen is busy with the Christmas festival. And besides, I’m not asking for counseling about anything. And you’re getting that red icing all over the tablecloth,” SuAnn said, pointing at the cookie that Dixie wasn’t paying close enough attention to.
“Well, excuse me. I do have Parkinson’s disease and shake a bit. Be happy I’m not flinging this icing all over the room. The marvels of modern medicine are keeping this hand pretty steady,” Dixie said with a laugh. “The other night, you should’ve seen me and Harry trying to put cinnamon on our sweet potatoes. Poor Carrie had to clean up our mess!”
“I’ve never seen anybody make fun of such a serious medical diagnosis.
“Honey, if I don’t make fun of things, I’d be sitting in the corner crying all the time. And I have a life to live! I don’t have time to be sitting around sulking and worrying about the future. All I have is today, and I’m going to make it the best day I can.“
SuAnn sat there for a minute, contemplating whether she should confide in Dixie. After all, if anybody was going to understand her predicament, it would be Dixie.
“Nick and I had a little argument earlier today.”
“What kind of argument?”
SuAnn pushed her cookies aside and leaned on her forearms. “The kind that could mean the end of our relationship before it even starts.”
“You two were high school sweethearts. What on earth could you be arguing about already?”
“He wants me to run away with him. Move to Hawaii or Montana or something. I tried to explain to him I just got my life going here. I have my business and my girls. I don’t want to take off and live somewhere else where I don’t know anybody.”
“And he does?”
“Very much so. He said it’s his big dream. And I just said that maybe we don’t have the same dreams. Honestly, I kind of wish he never came to town because he gave me a taste of what I’ve been missing in my life and now he might go somewhere else.”
“Well, that is a dilemma. My Harry was okay staying here but doing some traveling in the RV. Maybe you could suggest that to him?”
SuAnn shook her head. “I don’t think so. If he really cared about me, he would’ve listened to what I was saying. He would care about what I care about.”
“Well, pardon me for asking this, but do you care about what he cares about?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it seems to me that you’re only thinking about yourself here, SuAnn.”
“What a horrible thing to say!”
“I didn’t mean to sound ugly. I just mean that you want him to care about your hopes and dreams. Have you thought about asking him about his?”
“He already told me! He wants to run away and act like a couple of teenagers in love.”
“It sounds to me like he wants some adventure in his life. Some excitement. And he’s been waiting for you all these years. Doesn’t that tell you something?”
“It tells me he’s immature and thinks he can just waltz around the world for the rest of his days.”
“You know, it’s not so bad to have a healthy, energetic, mature man. Maybe you need a little more excitement in your life?”
“I get plenty of excitement here.”
Dixie laughed so loudly that people turned around at the other tables. “I love Seagrove. You know that. But there ain’t a lot of excitement going on around here.”
“I think excitement is overrated anyway,” SuAnn said, picking up another cookie and angrily starting to slather icing on it. “Buddy and I did plenty of traveling, and it sure didn’t help us stay married.”
“Because you didn’t love him, and you know it. You were bored. Maybe you’re just scared to step out there and do something new?”
“You would’ve made a terrible psychologist,” SuAnn said, knowing full well that Dixie might have a point.
“Well, that’s a good thing because I was never planning on becoming a psychologist. But I am an old woman, so I have old woman wisdom. And I’m telling you, you don’t need to let this guy go. He’s pined for you his entire life, so you need to do your part to see if you can make it work out.”
“And if I can’t?”
Dixie shrugged her shoulders. “Then you know you tried. And you can go on with your life with no regrets.”
She had a point there. Maybe all she could do at this point was to have a heart to heart talk with Nick and just see if they were compatible anymore. A part of her was terrified that they weren’t.
* * *
“Okay, everybody, we have all of the cookies packaged up. We’re gonna need everybody to help carry some of them out to Dawson’s truck. Then we will just pile into as many vehicles as we need to and head on over to the fire station.”
“What are we doing when we get there?” Dylan asked.
Julie smiled at him, knowing full well that she had explained this at least five times over the previous few days. Sometimes she didn’t think he listened with his ears at all. “We’re going to drive over there and we’re going to thank the firefighters for serving the community all throughout the year. We will carry these cookies into their kitchen, along with the pound cake and fruit cakes. And, if they’re not busy, they may give us a really nice tour of the fire station.”
“Will, I get to sit in the fire truck?” Dylan asked, excitedly.
“Maybe so. One year, they even pulled the firetruck out and raised up the really tall ladder with a bucket on the end. My girls got to stand in it high up in the air with one of the firemen.”
“I hope they do that!” Dylan said, clapping his hands.
“Don’t count on it. Things were a lot different back then,” Dawson said. He leaned over and whispered into Julie’s ear. “Back before people would sue anybody for anything.”
She laughed. “All right, everybody out the door. Grab some cookies!”
For the next few minutes, there was a flurry of activity in the kitchen as each person grabbed what they could and walked out to Dawson’s truck. They carefully packed it all up so it wouldn’t fly around in the bed of the truck on the way to the fire station.
When they finally had everything packaged, Julie
and Dylan climbed into Dawson’s truck along with SuAnn, who was catching a ride with them. She had been silent most of the afternoon, except when Julie saw her sitting at the table talking to Dixie. She could only hope that Dixie was setting her straight on whatever was going on.
“Are they following us?” Julie asked, looking out the side mirror.
Dawson reached over and squeezed her leg. “Stop stressing out, Julie. Everybody knows where the fire station is. I doubt they’re going to get lost on the way.”
She laughed because she knew he was right. She was stressing over every little detail today. Her perfectionistic tendencies were coming out, what with her involvement in the Christmas festival too. She wanted everything to go smoothly, but she knew she had a high likelihood of crashing as soon as the holidays were over.
“Can you turn some air on? I’m having a heat stroke back here,” SuAnn said.
“Mother, it’s December. Why on earth would you need air conditioning?”
“I don’t know, Julie. I guess it’s because I’m at a certain stage of life, and I’d like to have a little cold air blowing on me. Do you have to make everything such a big deal? Plus, we’re in the lowcountry, not Alaska! It’s still warm here.“
Yes, there was definitely something going on with her mother. Although SuAnn had a tendency to speak her mind, she was definitely on edge today more than normal.
“Fine. I’ll roll down your window a little.”
“Well, you’re gonna mess up my hair, but whatever“ she heard her mother mutter under her breath.
She cracked SuAnn’s window and then looked over at Dawson. He gave her a look as if to say just ignore it. Ignoring her mother was difficult, as it was for many daughters. That relationship between mother and daughter could be treacherous.
A few minutes later, they pulled into the fire station. An older red brick building, the fire station has been in the same place for many years, according to Dawson. He thought they might renovate it one day, but it didn’t seem to be high on the list of the city council’s concerns.
“Do they have a pole in here that the firefighters slide down?” Dylan asked as they parked the truck.
