Sweet Treasures

by Debra Ullrick

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” She glanced at his attire. “You must be freezing.”

  “Yeah, I’m not really dressed for this.” His glance went out to the canopy of snow and back onto her. When he had gotten dressed this morning, he had no idea he would be going anywhere else but in town, so he’d worn his dress shoes, his dark blue Burberry wool Pea Coat, and leather driving gloves. None of which prepared him for this. His coat kept his upper body and backside warm, but his dress slacks and shoes weren’t doing squat to keep him warm.

  “I didn’t mean to keep you out here. It’s just when this place is covered in snow like this, I can’t help but take a few minutes to admire it and to thank God that He blessed me with it. But….” She turned. “Enough of that. Let’s get you inside and get you warmed up. Then we can eat some lunch.”

  He hoped she would say that. Not just because his insides now resembled a Popsicle, but his rumbling stomach was gnawing on his backbone. It was his own fault he was so hungry. He hadn’t had anything to eat since the masquerade party the night before.

  Stepping alongside her, they walked toward the bright red door that stood out amidst all the white. A large round pine bough with a big red ribbon and holly berries hung on the door. A strand of pine boughs outlined the frame of the doorjamb. Between the two of them, the scent of pine emanated, mingling with the fresh crisp air.

  Anna unlocked the door, and he followed her inside, closing the door behind him. Toasty warm air flowed over him, a welcome relief to his cold body.

  When she flipped a switch by the door, Christmas lights and decorations lit up everywhere. He didn’t have time to take it all in as they removed their winter garb and hung them on a coat rack near the door.

  “Make yourself at home while I get lunch ready.”

  “I can help,” he offered.

  “Thank you, but it’s all ready, I just have to do a few things.” She turned, and after just two steps she stopped and looked back at him. “Would you mind getting the fire going?”

  “Don’t mind at all.”

  She smiled that beautiful smile that went straight to his heart every time. “Everything’s set and ready. All you have to do is light the paper. There’s a long lighter on the hearth next to the log holder.” She pointed to the end of the large living room where a massive fireplace stood.

  There on the hearth set a vintage brass log holder with a couple of lighters straddled across the top of the split logs. His eyes trailed upward to the blinking lights on the mantle.

  Christmas candles and a huge variety of snow globes in all different sizes covered the thing. There had to be thirty or more on there and some of the bigger ones were lit so you could see the snow swirling inside of them. Nicholas had never seen so many in one place before.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Tearing his gaze away from them, with a smile and a nod, he turned and headed that way while Anna headed in the opposite direction.

  He walked under a high archway with a string of large red Christmas ornaments dangling from it. The white and light gray walls made the room appear even larger than it was.

  Off to his right in front of the long windows stood a fresh cut blue spruce pine Christmas tree loaded with a variety of ornaments.

  Green, red, blue, silver and gold decorations were tastefully situated throughout the rooms.

  Fresh pine bough wreaths with red ribbons hung from each long window. Different globe ornaments filled the centers of them. On the coffee table was a unique decoration made of canning jars. They were stacked in the shape of a tree and a string of gold beads wove across the front of it like garland. Inside of them were more globes, ornaments, greenery and miniature trees. Two large snow globes sat on each side of it.

  One thing was for certain… the woman loved Christmas.

  And snow globes.

  At the fireplace, he moved the fireplace screen, and grabbed the lighter. Kneeling down on one knee, it took three clicks for the lighter to finally stay lit. In several different places, he set the flame to the paper. It only took a few seconds for the pine to start crackling and popping, so he quickly put the fireplace screen back in to place.

  Making sure everything was good with the fire, he headed into the kitchen. Garlic, oregano, basil, ricotta, mozzarella, parmigiana-reggiano cheeses, and tomato pasta sauce permeated the air along with the pine from the fireplace.

  Wearing a red apron with a green Christmas tree on front, Anna scurried around in the kitchen.

  Memories of Christmas past floated through his mind.

  Memories of his mom and his nonnina, his little grandmother, baking Christmas treats that he and his siblings snuck while Nonnina pretended not to see.

  Memories of them making huge pans of lasagna, smiling the whole time while they chatted away in Italian. The same scents that lingered in the air back then, lingered in it now.

  A longing filled him for a home filled with days like those, with a wife and children, making their own memories.

  Someone like Anna. If only he had more time to get to know Anna to see if there could be a future with her or if they could even figure out a solution that would work for both of them. Right now, however, none of that seemed possible and that fact sent a wave of sadness through him. Besides, he needed to talk to God about her and seek His will, not his own.

  Enjoy today, Nico. We are not even promised tomorrow.

  With that thought settled in his mind, he leaned his hip against the butcher block counter in the center of the all-white kitchen. Well, all white with the exception of the country Christmas decorations and lights, that was. “What can I do to help?”

  Taking the lasagna out of the countertop convection oven, she looked up at him and pointed to the cupboard off to the right of the sink. “You can grab some plates and cups out of the cupboard over there and set them on the table if you would please.” She placed a pan of garlic cheese bread on the top rack of the compact oven and set the time and temperature.

  Minutes later, they sat down at the kitchen table to a meal of lasagna, garlic cheese bread, salad, and a hot apple cider float. Seeing the Christmas centerpiece made of fresh flowers, pine boughs, ornaments, candy canes and flickering candles made Nicholas feel not only the Christmas spirit but right at home as well. The place mats with the holly pattern on them reminded him of the ones his mother used to have on their dinner table around the holidays. In fact, this whole thing today reminded him of not only Christmas dinners with his family but the many gatherings they used to have; something he missed as they all seemed to be so busy that times of getting together was becoming harder and harder to manage.

  “Would you like to say grace?” she asked.

  Nicholas looked over at her. “Sure, if you want me to.” His father always said grace at family meals. It was a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Once again, thoughts of having a family of his own filtered down through his mind. With each passing year that dream was becoming more and more unlikely. That was, until he’d met Anna. However, at the moment, that too seemed rather unlikely. Batting those negative thoughts far away from his mind, he reached for Anna’s hand, covering it with his own, and bowed his head. “Father, we come to you in Jesus’ name. Thank You for this food, for this time of fellowship, and for my friend Anna. May all we say and do bring glory to Your name.” And, Lord, if Anna is the woman for me, would You work everything out. If not, not my will, but Your will be done.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Anna replied with a hearty, “Amen.” And thank you for allowing me to spend time with Nicholas. Even if it is only temporary.

  Nicholas removed his hand, and immediately she missed the feel of his strong hand covering hers. Having him here felt like home. She knew that sounded silly because this was her home, but it felt even more like home with him here.

  It was something she could get used to very easily. His aunt’s comment popped into her mind, so she quickly squelched that idea. While he was here, she would enjoy his
company, and yes even his kisses if he offered her more, but she knew that was as far as this would go.

  “Dessert first, right?” Nicholas winked as he picked up his hot apple cider float and took a sip. Cream lined his upper lip.

  Oh how she wanted to reach over and wipe the cream off with her fingertips just to feel those lips again. But the gesture was too intimate, so she fought the urge. “Um, you have some cream right above your lip.” She pointed to it as if he didn’t know where above his lip was. With a mental roll and a lowering of her eyes, she quickly settled her hand on her leg in order to keep it from wiping his mouth.

  However, instead of wiping it off, he leaned toward her. “Where’s it at again? Could you show me?”

  Anna’s gaze darted up to him. His playful smirk was so stinking cute. He was so stinking cute. Well, there was no way Anna would miss this opportunity to play along with him. “Right here.” She leaned toward him and just as her fingers were about to touch the spot above his lips, his hand grasped hers. He pulled her toward him and kissed her. It wasn’t a long kiss, just a quick peck. He let go of her and sat back in his chair, smiling. “Now you have cream above yours.”

  Oh, so that was how he wanted to play, was it? Anna nonchalantly swiped her finger across her drink. And with a single swipe, she ran the cream down the length of his nose. She picked up her fork and took a bite of lasagna, acting as if nothing at all was amiss.

  A second and a streak of cream dotted the tip of her nose, her right cheek, and then her left. She blinked, surprised he’d done that.

  “Whipped cream is very becoming on you, you know. You look cuter than a Yorkshire puppy.” Nicholas took a bite of garlic cheese bread.

  “’Yorkshire puppy’? My mom and dad have a Yorkie. I love Cuddles.”

  “I love cuddles too.”

  Anna shook her head, chuckling. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

  “So, I’ve been told.” His handsome face showed no penance whatsoever. In fact, he looked downright adorable.

  “Oh, you have, have you?”

  “Yes. Multiple times by Aunt Savia.”

  “I knew I liked your aunt. She has you pegged.”

  “Oh, so you think you know me that well, huh?”

  “I may not know you that well, but from what I’ve witnessed…” She picked up her napkin and wiped the cream off of her cheeks and nose. “I would have to agree with your aunt.” She laughed. “By the way, I know I already told you this, but I really like your aunt and uncle. They remind me so much of mine.”

  “Oh yeah.” Nicholas took a bite of lasagna. “This is really good, Anna. Reminds me of my nonnina’s. She makes the best lasagna ever. So that says a lot about yours.”

  His compliment warmed her heart. “Thank you. My mom taught me how to cook. And her mother taught her.”

  “Where does your grandmother live?” He took another bite.

  “My nonna and nonno live in Italy. So do several of my aunts and uncles. Where do yours live? I know one of your aunt and uncles live here in Colorado, but where are the others?”

  “I have a few relatives who live in Italy, but most of them live here in the United States.”

  “Do you get to see them very often?” Anna forked a bite of the crisp salad and munched on it.

  “Not as much as I’d like to. We used to get together twice a year for a big family reunion, but it seems like everyone is so busy these days that it’s getting harder to get us all together. But when we do, watch out.”

  Anna laughed. “I know what you mean.”

  They both ate several bites of their food.

  Nicholas set his fork down, wiped his mouth, and set his napkin beside his plate. “I’m curious. Are you sorry you didn’t move to California with your family?”

  Anna finished swallowing the cheesy garlic bread and wiped her mouth. “No. I miss them. Especially around the holidays, when things are so busy at the shop that I can’t get away to spend the holidays with them. But I can’t imagine myself living anywhere else, and I have no plans to ever move.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she caught a glimpse of Nicholas’s face going slack. Only then, she wished she could take the words back even though they were the truth. She couldn’t leave. Her dear friends that were also now her employees, along with Donald and his friends needed her.

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, Anna woke up at two and made it to her shop by three. She and her crew had so many orders, it would take several days of early mornings to fill them all.

  Cailyn was the first to walk in the back door of Sweet Treasures. “Morning,” she chirped.

  Anna turned from setting the ovens on preheat. “Morning.”

  Cailyn hurried over to her. “Okay. Before everyone else gets here, tell me all about your day yesterday. I saw you leave church with Nicholas. Did you have lunch together? Did you spend the whole day together, or what? Spill, woman, spill.”

  “Well I would if you’d give me a chance.” Anna playfully swatted at Cailyn’s arm. While she teased her friend, Anna loved how Cailyn cared about her and every aspect of her life. God had shined down on her by giving her such a special friend as Cailyn. “Yes, we had lunch together. We went out to my place and—“

  “You took him to your place?” Cailyn’s sparkling green eyes zoned in on Anna’s face, and her smile widened. “So what happened? Anything? Did he kiss you again?”

  Anna should have never shared those particular details of her Saturday night date with Nicholas. But, Cailyn had made her promise to call no matter how late it was when she got home and Anna had found she couldn’t refuse. When she had finished sharing, Cailyn all but had Anna and Nicholas married and living happily ever after despite the fact that Nicholas lived in New York. That fact hadn’t deterred Cailyn one little bit. Anna wished she could say the same thing for herself. But that was Cailyn. Always the romantic. “You are such a hopeless romantic.”

  “No. I’m a hopeful romantic. But forget about that. Tell me. And don’t leave out a thing.” Cailyn sat on the stool in front of their work bench.

  Since they had a couple of minutes before the rest of her employees came, Anna sat on one of the other stools next to Cailyn. “Yes, I took him to my place. We had a nice lunch and he left early because his uncle needed to talk to him right away.”

  “Oh.” Cailyn scrunched her face. “That’s it. Lunch. Nothing else. I thought maybe you’d go skating or something or a moonlight walk around your pond.”

  “Maybe next Sunday.”

  “Oh-h-h…” Cailyn’s countenance brightened. “You’re seeing him again next Sunday?”

  Anna couldn’t help but laugh at the anticipation in Cailyn’s eyes. “Yes. Nothing concrete or anything, but if things work out, we’re going to try and get together next Sunday.” She glanced at the board with the long list of orders pinned to it. “But if I don’t get these cookies and cupcakes baked and all the hot chocolate orders made by then, that won’t happen.”

  Cailyn glanced over at the board and then back at Anna. With a brush of her hand she said, “Don’t worry about those. We’ll get them done. I’ll see to it personally if I have to. You need to spend time with Nicholas to see where this thing with him will go.”

  Her heart did a little swan dive to the floor, and Anna leaned an elbow on the work counter and settled her chin in her hand. “Probably nowhere. I can’t see how we can work. But…” She sat up straight. “I am going to enjoy every minute I can with him. Even if I have to say goodbye, it will be better to have that time with him then none at all.”

  “That’s the spirit, girl!” Cailyn did a yay-you-go-girl-fist swing. “I wouldn’t give up on Nicholas. I have it on good authority that God is in the miracle business. And if you two are meant to be together, it will happen. I have no idea how, but He has a way of making things work where there is no way.”

  “That’s true.” Anna’s chest heaved. “I’ve been praying if he’s the one for me, that God would show me h
ow it can work. But God hasn’t shown me anything yet. Then again, like you said, if we’re meant to be together, God will work things out.”

  The back door opened and in walked Jenna, Lisa, Terry, and Dorothy. Jenna rubbed her hands together. “Man, it’s cold out there.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Anna stood. “It was 20 below at my place this morning.”

  Terry shuddered. “And I thought five below was bad.” Her eyes slid upward. “Sorry, Lord, for complaining.”

  They all laughed.

  Five minutes later, Brittany and Maria showed up.

  Within a few minutes, they were all busy baking and filling not only the orders but the display counters with goodies. They did it while listening to peppy Christmas tunes playing over the surround sound speakers.

  At fifteen minutes to five, Anna wiped her forehead in the crook of her elbow and glanced over at the front door. Outside, a line of customers stood there waiting to come in. Even though there was fifteen minutes to go to opening time, she didn’t care, she wouldn’t leave them standing out there in this bitter cold.

  Quick as she could, she removed her apron, tossed it on her stool, and wove her way through the maze of work benches and counters to the front door. Opening all the locks, she swung the door open, relishing the cold air rushing in. It got pretty hot working in the back with all the large ovens on. “Good morning, everyone. Come on in. Welcome to Sweet Treasures.”

  Several ‘good mornings and thank you for letting us in’ came her way as women and men from all walks of life trailed inside her shop like a string of ants. They all headed to the counter where Cailyn, Jenna, and Dorothy were, waiting to take and fill their orders.

  When the last customer scurried in, Anna stepped out and peered to her left then to her right. Where was Donald this morning? He was usually somewhere nearby. With the drop in temperatures, she hoped Donald had stayed at the homeless shelter last night and was okay. She closed the door and made a mental note to keep an eye out for him.