by Violet Paige
All the women liked to talk to him about their granddaughters or nieces. Sometimes it was the daughter of a good friend in for Harpers Point for their first Christmas here. The holidays had a way of turning the community ladies into a team of relentless matchmakers .
He didn’t need to be paired up. He had enough problems without worrying about fucking women over the holidays .
“Have a good day, Ms. Crawford.” The bells on the fresh greenery wreaths jingled as the doors closed behind him .
Evan Jacobs wasn’t the kind of man to get sucked into sentimental tradition, but if he wanted to serve another term, he was going to have to find a way to embrace it. That meant participating in the bake-off, the mistletoe shootout, and the Snow Ball on Christmas Eve .
“There he is. Good morning, Mayor.” Georgia beamed when Evan strolled into the mayoral suite. She had served every mayor since 1985. She was as much a legend in town as the annual Snow Ball .
Her gray hair was pulled back in a bun. Christmas tree earrings dangled from her lobes. Evan tried not to stare at the sweater she wore. Rudolph’s nose was actually blinking .
“Good morning, Georgia. Messages?” He leaned over the poinsettia on her desk to collect the stack of pink notes .
“I copied down all the emails for you .”
“Georgia, you could have just hit forward. I can read them on my laptop .”
No matter how many times he explained how the email system worked, Georgia wouldn’t let go of the old ways of running the communication inside the office. Evan had even brought in a few high school students after school from the coding program to give her some basics. Nothing stuck .
“Oh, this was much easier, sir .”
He sighed. “Thanks. I’ll look them over in my office .”
He closed the door that separated their two offices from each other. He placed the coffee on the corner of his desk and sorted the messages into two piles: urgent and next week. The next week stack was significantly higher. He grumbled when he finished reading the last one .
It was from Claudine Francis. If he discarded this particular message into the second pile, Claudine would inevitably call again. However, if he returned the call, he had a feeling he’d regret it. It was a no-win situation. She could be a fucking nightmare when she wanted to be .
Evan sat into the cool leather seat behind his desk. He stared at the American Flag framed on the opposite wall. It had been a gift when from the town when he was sworn in as mayor. Along the bottom was a brass plate with his name and the date of his inauguration .
He stared at the stripes and the stars. Sometimes it felt like the years on deployment were a lifetime ago. When he was a different man. When the only thing that mattered was survival. Other days it felt as if he could almost taste the sand in his mouth and the dryness in his throat. He could hear the explosives in the distance .
Evan shook his head. There were a lot of things he couldn’t change about the past .
Three
Cami
T he brass key turned in the lock with a solid click. Cami felt the door give way as she pushed it open. It creaked with the impact as if the room had been locked for fifty years .
Cami stared at the open space. The black and white tiles were coated in dust. Over head the decorative tin tiles were rusted in spots where the roof had leaked. How had things gotten so bad? She crossed the threshold, mustering up the courage to stand in the middle of the room she now owned. She wasn’t an intruder. This was hers now .
The store front windows ran the entire length of her part of the building, facing the main downtown drag. Just like her loft apartment upstairs, one side was all brick. To her right was an arched doorway that led to the shoppette. Well, what used to be the candy shop. She wondered when the last time her aunt actually sold a piece of candy from one of the glass cases .
They used to be filled with fudge and macaroons. Homemade peppermints and rock candy on sticks. There was nothing more beautiful at Christmas than to stare inside the deep oak cabinet and eye the displays her aunt would make. There was even a tiny train that would make a loop around mint trees, carrying box cars of marshmallow gift boxes. Everyone in Harpers Point always stopped to look in the window at that year’s gingerbread house. Cami’s aunt made every dot, every wreath, every flake of snow out of her special sugar recipes. There was nothing like that display .
But now the great antique case stood empty. The train was packed in a box somewhere. And Cami wasn’t even sure the ovens were in working condition .
She glanced at the empty room adjoining the candy shop. Where did she start first ?
* * *
“H ello? Hello?”
Cami looked up from the floor. “Oh hi. Sorry, we aren’t open yet .”
She had just dipped her latex gloved hand in a soapy bucket of water. The only way to get the marble floor clean again was on her hands and knees. She had posted Closed signs on the storefront doors, but had forgotten to relock them after taking out a load of trash .
“Cami Addison, is that you ?”
Cami wiped her forehead with the dry part of the back of her hand. She squinted, trying to get her bearings. “Yes .”
“It’s me. Samantha .”
Cami pushed off the floor and faced the woman who used to be her best friend. “Oh my God, Samantha . It’s so good to see you .”
She pulled her into a hug, assaulting Cami’s nose with a pungent expensive French perfume .
“I heard you were back in town, but I wanted to see it for myself. The famous Cami has returned .”
Cami’s eyes fell to the floor. The embarrassment flooded her. “Yeah. I’m back. I inherited all this from Aunt Sophie.” She waved her hands around the empty store .
“Aren’t you lucky ?”
Cami didn’t know whether to take the comment seriously or not. It seemed more like a ton of hard work, frustration, and financial risk. Not to mention, her homecoming meant she had accepted defeat. She wasn’t singing anymore .
She smiled weakly. “I sure am .”
“Are you going to be ready in time for Christmas? The store looks a little…” Samantha looked around. Her fur vest hanging off one shoulder .
“You can say it. It’s a disaster, isn’t it ?”
“Oh no. It’s not that bad. A few coats of paint. Maybe some new light fixtures. It will be like it used to be .”
Cami sighed. “That’s sweet of you, but I’m not sure any of this will ever be like it used to be .”
“But you’re home now. That’s what’s really important.” Samantha smiled .
Cami didn’t have the heart or the energy to explain home was a confusing word. Was she in Harpers Point because she wanted to be, or because she had to be ?
“Right.”
“You know I bought your first album. It was great. We were really proud of you .”
Cami nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it .”
“My girls are big Cami fans. They’d love to meet you. I’d love to have you over for dinner. Nate wants to see you too, of course,” she added .
Cami hadn’t missed the rock on Samantha ’s finger. It was like a big piece of play jewelry. Would it be rude to ask how many carats it was ?
“Girls?”
Samantha held up her phone and scrolled through a few pictures. “Two and three. Nate didn’t want to wait. Plus, you know…baby sex is amazing .”
She had no idea about baby sex. She spent her sex life doing everything she could not to get pregnant .
“They’re beautiful. That’s great .”
“So what about dinner?” she prodded .
Cami looked around the dingy room. “That would be nice. Maybe when I get a few things done. I have to finish cleaning the shop so I can get some inventory in, and I’m still debating on whether or not to bring in candy .”
“Bring in candy?” Samantha ’s mouth hung open. “You’re not going to make it? Your aunt made everything from scratch. The Sweet Spot
was famous for that .”
Cami chewed on her bottom lip. “I don’t know that I have time this year. It’s a lot. I don’t have any help. Plus, I need permits to get the kitchen operating. I stopped making candy years ago. I think I’ll have better luck getting the shop open .”
Samantha pouted. “What are you planning on selling? Oh, tell me it’s all Christmas .”
If there was one thing Harpers Point didn’t need it was another Christmas store. “No, actually, I was thinking about following a business model of a friend of mine in Nashville. I thought I could try it here .”
“Oh? Really? What kind ?”
“Sort of like antiques, but vintage pieces. Sort of a shabby chic farmhouse feel .”
Samantha twisted her lips together. “But no Christmas ?”
Cami knew she was going to have to cave on that part at least seasonally. “Of course there will be some Christmas.” She smiled. “It will be very festive in here. I promise .”
“Good.” Samantha clutched her Kate Spade bag. “Well, I have to run some errands for Nate and the girls, but I’ll check back for dinner ?”
Cami nodded. “Definitely. I’d love to catch up more .”
They hugged and Cami watched her friend sashay onto Tinsel Avenue .
She stood for a few seconds as Samantha faded from view. Just when Cami was getting ready to return to her bucket of sudsy water, her heart stopped .
On the other side of the sidewalk was a man in a rich charcoal coat with a red scarf draped around his neck. He was tall and broad, with shocking black hair. Even from this far away Cami felt the butterflies. Her throat tightened and she let the scrub brush fall from her hand. It hit the floor with a thud, splattering bubbles on the marble .
There was only one man who had ever made her feel that way. Just one look. One glance and her belly flipped and danced. That man was Evan Jacobs .
Four
Evan
L unch was the same every day. Call it habit. Call it the life of a military man. Call it the lack of options in a small town. Evan strolled down Main Street toward the Shipwreck. It was a corner café at the end of the block that overlooked the small marina in the cove. As soon as he walked through the door, Anna grinned .
“The regular, Mayor ?”
He nodded. “Grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup. Too cold for anything else .”
She grabbed a nubby pencil from behind her ear and scribbled his order on a green and white pad .
“I heard the flotilla’s full this year.” She rang up his order while he waited .
“Yes.” The flotilla was always full, but the Shipwreck was a place for small talk. “Should be a good one .”
“How’s your grandmama?” Anna asked .
Evan frowned. “The same .”
“Sorry to hear that.” Anna boxed up the sandwich and poured the soup into a cylinder with a lid. She stuffed them both in a white paper bag dotted with mistletoe leaves. “Maybe the holidays will give her something to look forward to. I’ll run some cookies over later. Cheer her up .”
“She’d like that.” He paid for his lunch. “Thanks, Anna. See you tomorrow .”
“Sure thing, Mayor .”
He was the youngest mayor in the town’s history. No one ever accused Harpers Point of being particularly progressive, but they had embraced him with open arms when he returned from his last tour of duty. Evan knew he wasn’t going back to the desert, but he had to serve another way. The military had ingrained that much into his soul. So at thirty, he ran for public office and won in a landslide election .
Evan stepped onto the brick sidewalk outside Schooner’s. There was a delivery truck blocking his path to City Hall. A man with a dolly made a path with crates full of milk. Shep’s Market stocked up once a week on the essentials. Reluctantly, Evan crossed the street, passing the hardware store and Bee’s Florals . He tried not to walk on this side of the street when he could avoid it .
As he approached dark window front of The Sweet Spot , he felt a tightening in his chest. Twelve years had passed and he felt the same way every time he saw the scrolling sign swinging over the candy shop doors .
He peered through the frosted glass. The candy shop was dark, but as he took another step he thought he thought he saw movement in the store next door .
“What the fuck is going on?” he muttered .
There had been a recent rash of teenage pranks lately in town. He knew kids were easily bored. He used to be one of them, so he got it. But he didn’t like the idea of someone being in this shop. Evan bristled, worried a few of them had broken in. He noticed the latch was loose on the lock. He pushed the door open and hurried inside .
“Who’s in here?” he barked. “This building is closed .”
Before he had a chance to search the empty room he heard a scream. He looked up just in time as a figure came barreling down from the ladder .
The paper bag fell to the floor with Evan’s soup. He extended his arms as Cami Addison landed in his palms with a gentle thud .
“Whoa! Gotcha.” He had kept whoever this was from hitting the marble floor, but they were about to get an earful about trespassing .
“Cami?” His eyebrows rose as he locked eyes on Cami’s soft gaze. He’d never seen blue eyes like hers. They were dusted with specks of sapphire. There were nights when those blue eyes haunted him .
She wiggled in his hold. Her auburn hair, falling loosely from the messy bun on her head .
“Evan?” she whispered .
He was almost too stunned to place her feet on the floor. She wasn’t the eighteen-year old girl he had loved any more, she was a stunning woman. Her cheeks were flush and her pink lips had never looked more kissable. But he hadn’t forgotten what happened between them. He never would .
“What are you doing here?” he asked .
“Can you? Can you put me down?” she eked. Was it fear or surprise in her eyes ?
“Right.” His hands had tucked her protectively to his chest to catch her from the fall. Her body was warm and soft. Something stirred under his ribs he couldn’t describe. He lowered her legs until she was balanced on her boots. He stared, not knowing what question to ask first. He had at least a hundred .
“What were you doing up there?” He pointed to the top of the ladder .
“Trying to replace the lightbulbs. I can’t even see what I’m cleaning. All the lights are out. Nothing works .”
He glanced around. There was a bucket, rags, and wet spots all over the floor .
“Are you doing this by yourself?” he asked .
She nodded. “I guess you didn’t know I was back in town ?”
Evan frowned. “I had no idea.” It seemed if Harpers Point’s sweetheart had returned, it would have made the front page of the Point POst . How had he not known? For the first time in his memory, the damn grapevine had failed .
“When did you get back ?”
Cami winced. “Last night. Claudine Francis made the arrangements for me .”
At least that explained why she had called his office this morning. Knowing Claudine, she was trying to fix them up. He held in the long string of curse words that popped in his head .
“How long are you staying ?”
Her long lashes did something to him. He couldn’t look away, even though he wanted to. He didn’t want to stand here and talk to her like nothing was wrong. Like the last twelve years had never happened .
“I’m back,” she answered .
He huffed. “Right. You just dropped your music career?” He leaned down to collect his soup and sandwich .
Cami bit the inside of her cheek. She used to do that when she was nervous. How did he still remember that ?
“More like it dropped me.” Her voice softened. “And anyway, I inherited Aunt Sophie’s properties. The entire building is mine now .”
“Got it. You didn’t have a choice.” He backed up toward the door .
“No, it’s not like that exactly .”
>
“I guess Claudine could sell it for you .”
“Why would I do that ?”
He didn’t want to stand around and catch up with her. Everything between them was over. It had been for a long time. What she did now didn’t matter to him .
“I need to get back to the office.” He tugged on the old brass knob .
“I heard you’re the mayor now.” She offered a smile .
He didn’t want a fucking trip down memory lane. He wanted off this road, wherever it was headed .
“A lot has changed since Cami Addison packed her guitar and left this town.” It came out as a snarl .
“Evan, I — ”
“See you around, Cami .”
He let the door slam behind him .
Five
Cami
H er knees wobbled as she gripped the ladder for support. Evan Jacobs had waltzed in, rescued her, and disappeared again in a matter of minutes. Cami sank to the floor in disbelief .
That wasn’t how that was supposed to go. She wasn’t prepared. But would she ever be prepared to see Evan again ?
It was as if a train had barreled in through the glass doors and shattered the windows and the walls. The look he gave her was as crushing as the anger in his voice. How would she forget the way it felt when she fell into his arms? The way his fingers curled around her waist. The solid wall of muscle that was his chest .
She sighed, trying to push the image of his body from her mind. That was probably going to be the most impossible part. He wasn’t the eighteen-year old she dated. He was tall and sexy. He had more muscles now than he did years ago. He was gorgeous .
They lived in the same town for the first time in twelve years. And he was the mayor. Cami was going to have to figure out a way to navigate this awkwardness. She crawled toward the bucket on the floor and picked up the scrub brush .
