Her Christmas Prince (Love in the Keys)

by Godin, Caroline A.

  “Hey ladies, sorry to be banging your door down, but we're driving up island for a training seminar and I could really use a cuppa joe for the trip.” He smiled sheepishly.

  “Not a problem, Clint. We were fixing to open up soon, anyhow. I'm just moving a little slower than usual this morning.” Callie gave him a welcoming smile and ushered him in.

  “Well hey, Clint. The usual this morning?” Erin greeted Clint warmly. He was a favourite customer and though he'd only lived in Sunnyside Key a few years, he was entrenched in the community.

  “That would be great, thanks, Erin. What kind of muffins do you have today?”

  “Not sure, what kind do we have today, Callie? I just got in so I'm not up to speed yet. Boss lady?”

  “Chocolate chip or pumpkin spice.”

  “Ooooh. Pumpkin spice, please. Do they have pecans?”

  “You know it, Clint. What is pumpkin without a pecan, I always say?” Callie liked the easy banter that she had with so many of her customers. Some would view serving coffee and snacks as a small thing. But she provided a service to the community and really got to know her customers. She belonged. And she liked it.

  “It's nice to see you so perky today. If you don't mind me saying, you weren't your usual self this last while. And we couldn't help notice the lack of a certain individual in town these days and sort of made the connection.”

  “I'm fine, Clint, really. I appreciate your concern. But life is OK. And sometimes you don't realize you're better off without them ‘til someone is actually gone.” This was a home truth that had come to Callie last night while she battled her insomnia. As much as she felt deflated and rejected, it occurred to her that she didn't actually miss Brian. Yes, she noticed his absence. But it wasn't the same thing.

  “Well, I do hear through the coconut telegraph that you were out for dinner with a handsome looking guy last night at the Grill House.” Clint grinned at her. Callie looked at his with surprise. “Callie, I am a police officer ... we do have our sources.” Clint laughed.

  “And that, my friends, is the downside of living in a quaint little town like Sunnyside Key. You can't hiccup without everyone knowing about it.” Erin shook her head. It was amazing how news travelled up and down the coast, like the wind.

  Callie laughed. It was true. Come to think of it, she was surprised her mother hadn't picked up on the good old coconut telegraph herself. She hadn't mentioned Brian being absent. Interesting, maybe her mom was losing her touch on the news front.

  “Can we get you anything else, Clint?”

  “No, I'm good. I guess that means you're not spilling on who your date was last night.”

  “Not right now, Clint. But don't worry, I'll keep you informed if it turns serious.”

  “I can always do a background check for you, it's no problem. Perk of the job. All part of the service.”

  “Actually, he's a friend of Tom's, so that's all the background check I need.”

  “Well, if Tom says he's good kin, that is good enough for me, too. Tom's no fool, and he has a real sense about people. Must be from being in the military.”

  Clint and Tom were friendly and played on the same baseball team. Callie was sure there'd be a follow-up conversation between the men. Clint sometimes acted like everyone's big brother. If ever there was a person suited to be a small town policeman, it was Clint. He really took his job to heart.

  Callie noticed Erin was taking in every detail of the conversation. It was obvious she was dying to ask more but was not doing so in front of Clint. When they finally waved him on his way and out the door, some the usual customers started heading in before their work and school days began. They were steadily busy for another two and a half hours, doling out coffee, tea, fresh squeezed juice and the tasty treats lovingly baked by Callie that had made the Beach Buzz the success it was.

  When the last customer of the morning rush left and it appeared there wasn't another one outside, Erin burst. “Finally! I have been dying to get the low down on last night and people keep coming in! Start talking, and make it fast!” Erin poured out two cups of coffee and put two muffins on a plate, and headed for the table closest to the counter.

  Callie moved out from behind the kitchen window to join her at the table, festively covered in a green cloth and adorned with a small potted poinsettia plant. She hadn't realized how much time had passed. It was amazing how time flew when you were busy and really enjoyed your work. As soon as she sat down, her feet felt better.

  “Where should I start?” asked Callie.

  “I want to know everything!” Erin was riveted. “Who's the guy? Where did you meet him? What about your mom? All of it. Dish!”

  Callie giggled. Erin's exuberance was contagious. And it made her a real joy to be around.

  “I walked down the beach yesterday after I left here and ended up at the Happy Clam. Tom was working. It was quiet, between lunch and dinner.”

  “And?”

  “And at first I thought this guy was trying to pick me up and I was a little annoyed. But he was so charming. And Tom said he was a good guy, they served together in Afghanistan. So we were talking. And then ...”

  “Then what? Oh my goodness, it's so exciting! Don't stop!” Callie smiled at her friend.

  “My mother walked in with my dad in tow.” Erin gasped. “Yup. She's like a hound, she always knows how to find me. So, she started giving me a hard time about not calling her back and Henry and ...”

  “So you told her?”

  “Well, she was told. But not by me. Henry, the guy, Tom's friend, he kind of told her.”

  “He told her you broke up with Brian? Wow, you must have really had a heart-to-heart conversation.”

  “No, he actually told her that he was in love with me and that I'd thrown Brian over for him.”

  “What?! What did you just say? That is crazy. Totally crazy. What did your mom say? I wish I'd been there to see Milly's face!”

  “Funny enough, at first, she didn't say a thing. He totally knocked the wind out of her sails. Can't remember the last time I saw my mother speechless. It was kind of funny. And my dad sure thought so.”

  “So then what? I can't believe you didn't call me last night! This is huge. Major.” Erin gave her a disapproving look.

  “I thought about it, but I didn't want to wake you up. And why have two of us with insomnia?”

  “Hmmmm. Next time, call. I could have dealt with less sleep. Go on.”

  “So, she starts giving out about how I must have done something to run him off and that she will be one short for Christmas now. But then Henry said he'd like to come for Christmas.”

  “Jeepers! Where did that come from?”

  “I dunno. He said he just couldn't resist coming to my defence. He was my knight in shining armour. And I think my mother was going to say no. But then daddy said yes.”

  “Your dad spoke? Seriously. And said he could come to Christmas?” Erin shook her head in disbelief.

  “Yup, he said if he was OK in Tom's book, he was OK with him and he looked forward to getting to know him better. I don't think my dad has said that much in the last month. I think he was really taking advantage of my mother being gobsmacked.”

  “Wow. I don't know what to say. I am still processing ...”

  “So am I, to be honest. I never saw yesterday coming, that's for sure.”

  “And what about dinner?”

  “Well, I figured we'd better get out of the Clam while the getting was still good and my mother was still in shocked mode so we beat a retreat, and ended up going for dinner at the Grill House to talk.”

  “And?”

  “And, it was nice. It was nice to finally let everything out, and to get a guy's perspective. He basically said Brian was a jerk. Which I know you've been saying, too, but you have to, you're my best friend! Tom even said he never liked him, which was kind of interesting. He never said anything before.”

  Callie had thought a lot about what Henry had had to say ov
er dinner, and the more she did, the more she agreed with him. And liked him. He was honourable. And in her corner, after knowing her for only an hour.

  Erin let out a sigh. “Well, you could just about knock me over with a feather. I thought you'd come back today with a fresh perspective, not a new boyfriend!”

  “Very funny. He's not really my boyfriend, he's just helping me out.”

  “But how are you going to explain the second breakup in two weeks when he's not at your house for Christmas?”

  “He is coming for Christmas. He said he didn't have firm plans to go home yet so he didn't mind staying.”

  “Where's home?”

  “Not sure, Europe, I think. He's got this accent which is hard to make out.” An accent which was delightful. What was it about guys with accents? They could make anything sound good, even the menu. Henry certainly had last night.

  “Europe? I thought you said he served with Tom?” Erin looked confused.

  “He did. But it wasn't just Americans in Afghanistan, he served with soldiers from several countries.”

  “Is he still in the military?”

  “Nope, family business, he said. Public relations and events. Sounds kind of interesting. And he seems very connected to his family, which is nice. He was talking about his new baby nephew and it was really sweet.”

  It was obvious by his comments about his little nephew that he was happy to be an uncle and enjoyed children, something Brian clearly hadn't. On the one occasion she'd managed to drag him with her to church, he was quite hostile to the kids that she sometimes taught Sunday school to. She had put it down to not being used to kids, but now she wondered. Not that it mattered.

  “Seems like a trained chef could easily fit into that kind of business.” Callie looked at Erin and rolled her eyes. “Well, I'm just saying. It's very .... simpatico.”

  “Erin, this is not a real romance. It's just a nice guy, a gentleman, helping a friend of a friend out of a jam. That's it.”

  “Sure it is. So when do I get to meet this guy?”

  “Probably later, he said he was going to stop by for a snack. He seems to have a sweet tooth.”

  “He barely knows you and he's already mooching dessert,” Erin asked in a disapproving tone.

  “Hey, I offered! He bought dinner, it is the least I can do.” Despite Callie's repeated offering to cover the cost of the meal, Henry was insisted it was his treat and he was happy to have her.

  “Well, I guess we'd better get cracking, then.” Erin got up, cleared the remnants of their morning snack from the table and headed for the kitchen.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We'd best get to the baking ... you're going to want to leave early with Romeo when he gets here, so let's get as much done as we can.” Callie followed her into the kitchen and swatted her with a tea towel.

  “You are such a brat! He's just coming by for a snack. We don't have any plans. Just behave yourself, and for heaven's sake, don't embarrass me. My mother does that just fine.”

  The two friends laughed and started to work on the chores that needed to be done to prep for tomorrow. In many ways, having a cafe was a bit like the movie Groundhog Day. There were small variations ... chocolate chip muffins, or pumpkin? And what would the special coffee blend of the day be? But the routine of the preparation was the same, and very much a rhythm that was almost automatic to both of them now.

  Erin reached over and turned on the local radio station, which was playing all Christmas Carols all the time. An upbeat version of a classic re-done by Lady Antebellum came on, and they began humming, then singing, and eventually full out dancing as they worked making batter and filling pans. And having a ball doing it.

  This was the scene Henry walked in on.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The Christmas bells hanging over the door of the Beach Buzz sounded. But the commotion in the kitchen drowned them out. Through the pass through window, Henry could see Callie and another woman. They were singing, laughing and dancing around the island in the kitchen, all the while preparing things to go in the oven. It was multitasking at its finest, and perhaps the first case Henry had actually seen of people dancing like no one else was watching. They were clearly having fun, and enjoying the Christmas carol blaring from the radio. Yes, the festive spirit was definitely alive and well at this cafe.

  Henry smiled as he watched them, thinking how long it had been since he'd been out dancing. He quite liked dancing. Not formal waltz type dancing, which was all right, but cut loose, cut up the rug dancing. It may have been since homeward bound party the night before they shipped home from Afghanistan. Two years ago. Too long. He would try to do something to remedy that before going home.

  Just as he was about to make his presence known, Callie caught sight of him. At first she looked embarrassed, and her colour began to rise, and then she just grinned, as if thinking better of it and carrying on ‘til the end of the song. When it was over, she motioned to Erin that they had a guest. Erin didn't seem to mind the intrusion, she just waved.

  Callie came out of the kitchen and met Henry at the counter.

  “Beach Buzz dance party? Did I miss my invitation?” Callie laughed at the joke.

  “Sometimes, you just have to dance. It was one of those days for us.”

  “So I see. Good for you. The world would be a far better place if more people danced like that every day.” Henry sounded quite philosophical. And he wasn't wrong.

  “Have you come to claim your dessert and coffee?” She began to pour him a mug of Christmas blend, their special of the day. “How do you take it?”

  “Black is fine. And what are my options on the sweet side?”

  “Shortbread cookies, date squares, or pumpkin spice muffins ... that's all that's left at this point, and we're just getting tomorrow's stuff partially ready.” Henry looked at the display case intently and didn't speak.

  “Nothing appealing?”

  Henry looked shocked at such a suggestion. “Quite the opposite ... I was wondering if it would be rude to have more than one thing ...”

  “Why don't you try one of each, and whatever you can't finish, I'll give you a doggie bag for.” Henry nodded agreement to her plan and watched her serve out one of each very delectable looking treat on a brightly coloured plate. She gestured him over to the table closest to the counter.

  “Do you have time to sit with me and chat?” Henry looked hopeful.

  “Sure, til a customer comes in. Erin is a bit tied up but she'll be out shortly and she's dying to meet you.” Henry raised his eyebrow quizzically, but couldn't speak, because his mouth was full of pumpkin spice muffin.

  “Mmmmmm. So good. So very good.” He took a sip of coffee and delicately wiped his mouth on a napkin. “She is, is she? So you spilled all the details?” Callie had mentioned Erin was her best friend so it was natural she'd tell her everything about the events of yesterday.

  “I sort of had to ... apparently it is out there on the coconut telegraph that I was out for dinner with a handsome stranger last night.”

  “The coconut telegraph?”

  “It's the island version of the gossip grapevine.” Ah. Henry nodded in understanding.

  “So we were spotted, were we?”

  “Apparently so. Which isn't a bad thing. I guess it lends credence to the fact that we are supposedly dating.”