A Christmas Kind of Perfect

by Christine Schimpf

  Was that the problem? The well of creative ideas had gone dry? Lila stared into a corner of the room, nibbling on her bottom lip, a habit she thought she broke years ago. She’d been reckless with everything that grounded her in life. She’d nearly abandoned her faith, and going home never occurred to her. But there was a good reason for that decision until now, and his name was Conrad Hamilton. Living with her shame in Manhattan was hard enough, returning to Sister Bay might dredge up the past, but she’d deal with that later. Melanie needed her, and Lila wasn’t going to let her down.

  Andrea turned away from the window. “I understand why you want out of the city. I hate to make an issue over this, but we’re both aware of the situation over at Stonewood. The pressure is on, and Jim’s getting tired of the grind. I’m afraid we might lose him. The next editor may not be as eager to work with us.”

  Lila exhaled. “I’d love to do this. This last book tour drained me. Don’t you ever desire to get out of New York—to recharge if nothing else?”

  “Why would I want to get out of New York?” Andrea laughed through her words. “It’s one of the most exciting cities in the world. There’s nowhere else on earth like New York or anywhere I’d rather be.”

  “True for you, my friend, but sometimes the city closes in on me. This is one of those times.”

  Andrea walked toward Lila. She kicked off her heels and slid into the companion chair. “You shouldn’t be unhappy. You’re thirty-two years old with a stellar career as a best-selling novelist and with the movie rights you’ll continue on that path. You need to keep your momentum if you want to maintain this lifestyle. You live in this beautifully decorated penthouse apartment in Manhattan, shop on Fifth Avenue, and can vacation wherever you please. I’d kill to be in your shoes.”

  As Andrea’s largest client, this wasn’t good news. But Lila was listening to her heart for the first time in years. “I need a break, and I’ll be helping out an old friend.”

  The last glimmer of sunlight faded away, allowing a bleak darkness to creep into the room. Along with it, came an uninvited chill, sending a shiver up Lila’s spine. She picked up a remote and with a click of a button, the keystone fireplace whooshed into motion. Bright orange flames danced on blackened logs.

  Lila closed her eyes and remembered the autumn season in full swing in Door County: the scent of outdoor fires, the showcase of color, and the bite in the air at dusk. How she’d missed the fall extravaganza that walked into the village like a welcomed guest.

  Andrea laced her fingers in front of her. For a moment, she looked like a stern elementary school principal. “I don’t understand. What could be more important to you than securing your next contract?”

  Silence found a spot between them and settled in. The grandfather clock chimed, reminding Lila time was moving right along.

  “OK,” Andrea drawled, “how long will you be gone?” She lifted a glass of cucumber infused water to her lips. The sound of resignation in her voice as clear as the antioxidant beverage she held in her hand.

  “A couple of months. After the book signing at Window Shopping, I’ll recharge my batteries and hit the ground writing.”

  “So, you’d be back here Christmas week? I want to remind you, Stonewood wants new contracts signed by New Year’s Eve.”

  Lila reclined in her chair. “I’ll hand you the fifty pages on my return. That should satisfy everyone.”

  “You realize you’re going to miss out on Stonewood’s Halloween costume ball. You remember how much fun it was last year? You might meet someone this year.”

  The thought of staying for the ball almost made Lila laugh. Every year, Stonewood Publishers threw a fantastic Halloween party. Writers, editors, the press, and fans with deep pockets arrived dressed in elaborate costumes for the event. She winced as she remembered last year’s bash. Although she’d met someone at the event, in the end, the spark died and the relationship soon followed suit. It shouldn’t surprise her anymore. It was so much like all of her other relationships over the years—dismal failures. But after the hurt she inflicted on her ex-boyfriend, she didn’t deserve to find love again. Sometimes second chances never came.

  “I bet your lease on this apartment, you’ll be back well before Christmas. You’re going to miss it. The city is addictive.” Andrea flashed a genuine smile in Lila’s direction.

  Lila breathed a sigh of relief with Andrea’s change of heart. She didn’t want to upset her or Jim and risk losing everything she worked for over the last ten years. Andrea wasn’t wrong. Lila was sure to miss New York, but at the same time, something was pulling her toward this trip.

  Andrea lifted her glass. “When do you leave?”

  “Fall Fest is next weekend. I booked the 7:00 AM flight into Green Bay International.” This was really happening. A fresh surge of excitement pulsed through her veins. She hadn’t felt this way since her first book launch.

  Andrea smirked. “Tomorrow morning?”

  Lila took a deep breath. “Yes.”

  “Wow. This reminds me of something my mother used to say, ‘No rest for the weary.’”

  Lila giggled. “I guess not.”

  “What about phone service? I want to stay in touch.”

  “I should receive good enough coverage, but it might be spotty at times.”

  Andrea raised her glass in Lila’s direction as if holding a glass of champagne. “Here’s to a great trip to Door County and back home again.”

  Lila smiled and returned the toast. “Thanks for understanding. It makes it easier for me to leave.”

  Andrea’s smile faded, replaced with a frown. “You make it sound like you’re never coming back.”

  “Don’t be silly. Of course, I’m coming home.” Lila flashed a reassuring smile. “The last thing I want to happen is to lose a bet.”

  Andrea chuckled. “I believe that.” She returned her plate to the table. “I should scoot. I’m meeting Jim for dinner tonight. I’ll be sure to fill him in on your news.” She grabbed her expensive blue bag and headed for the door.

  Lila hugged her friend good-bye, and Andrea blew Lila a kiss as she made her way down the hall to the elevators.

  Lila leaned her head against the cold metal door. What was she doing standing there? She needed to pack.

  3

  Lila slipped behind the wheel of the sport utility vehicle she’d rented at Green Bay International. Despite the early departure, LaGuardia Airport churned out a healthy dose of chaos. Would she ever adjust to the warp speed of life in New York? In years gone by, she’d always preferred the smaller terminals, the scenic route to a destination, or the mom-and-pop restaurants. How she ended up in Lower Manhattan still surprised her.

  Music filled the cab, and with a surge of adrenaline, Lila merged onto Highway 57, heading straight for Sturgeon Bay. She was filled with childlike ache to squiggle her toes in the dirt, to lie in the grass, and to roll side-over-side in the leaves. Although a nip chilled the air, she cracked the window and enjoyed the crisp pine scent. She shivered, and as silly as it was, she flipped on the heat to toast her feet as she drove home. Color surrounded her on both sides of the road like exploding fireworks on the Fourth of July—scarlet reds, blackened browns, leprechaun greens, gingered yellows.

  Her heart picked up its pace as the magic of autumn hit her full force. Memories came next, drowning out the lyrics playing in the background. Her mind wandered to celebrations around a bonfire, her mother’s smile, the crunch of leaves under her feet and canning applesauce with her Aunt Cathy. She recalled the scolding she and Melanie received for not peeling the entire apple before dropping the slices into the bubbling water, and she laughed. “You’ve got to do a better job, ladies, or the skins will end up in our sauce.”

  Lila lifted her shoulders and stretched her neck, a practice she’d mastered to relieve tension. She inhaled a slow, deep cleansing breath. She was on sabbatical. “Let all your worries go.” Her yoga instructor’s words whispered in her ear as if he was sitting rig
ht beside her. She wouldn’t consider herself a fan of exercise, but it acted as a good replacement for the morning runs she no longer enjoyed. As the miles passed, she reminisced the carefree days of her youth.

  Lila had met Melanie in the back row of their elementary school class. As the years passed, they kept each other’s secrets, and Lila believed nothing could break a friendship as strong as theirs. The sisterhood-like ties bonded them together, making Lila believe they would share the relationship throughout their lives.

  When the college years arrived, Lila chose a different path, pursuing journalism in Chicago while Melanie chased after a business degree at the University of Milwaukee. The occasional visit home for the holidays and the lure of new relationships worked against them. The move to New York had severed their bond in a way that felt like forever.

  Lila crossed over the bridge and began the ten-mile stretch through Sturgeon Bay. She pulled over to the curb and shot a few pictures of the apple-red barns with their brand-new tin roofs. Not long after, she picked up Highway 42 toward Egg Harbor and Fish Creek. The cherry orchards and harvested cornfields peppered the landscape. Her mouth watered remembering her mother’s homemade cherry pie. Nothing in New York would ever compare to the homegrown cherries she took for granted as a child.

  The Cupola House in Egg Harbor was now on her right. The rocky shoreline on her left reappeared. She curled along the highway moving with traffic through Fish Creek. If only she had time to stop at Shipwrecked Pub for a spicy bowl of their renowned chili. She searched her purse for one of her power granola bars. Sighing, she found one and devoured it before the next curve in the road.

  She scanned the countryside for the red-planked Anderson Barn in Ephraim, which would mean Sister Bay was close. Lila slowed as the road wound around towering birch trees, stout evergreens, and underbrush showcasing paprika-colored leaves. Bethany Lutheran Church’s steeple rose to the north as if guiding her path. The brilliant colors surrounded her like a thick warm quilt, and the door to her past she’d thought she closed began creaking open.

  Lifting her foot off the gas, Lila followed the tree-lined streets along the water’s edge and coasted into Sister Bay. The newly paved roads welcomed her into the small and only incorporated village in Door County. Kitty-corner from the marina, the familiar Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant acted as an anchor for the retail shop district and for new businesses such as Drink Coffee and Cookie Lady. Too bad the goats weren’t on the grass-covered roof at Al’s, but their season ended every year at this time.

  Lila scolded herself. Now was not the time for sightseeing. She needed to find a parking space. She drove down Bay Shore Drive, made a U-turn, and traveled back through again and found a spot right across the street from Window Shopping.

  Lila stepped into the street among the swirling leaves picked up and spun almost magically by a passing wind. She never thought of herself as nostalgic, but the giddiness of a child filled her as she checked for oncoming cars making her way across the street to Window Shopping. Now she was home and about to see her best friend.

  Lila swung open the wooden gate leading to the store, causing a creak that reminded her of the sound her grandmother’s rocking chair. She walked up the gray-toned stone walkway, keeping a careful eye on her steps. Why on earth had she worn heels today? An expansive yellow-and-white-striped awning that protected an enormous display window caught her attention. Behind the glass, a lazy array of pumpkins, gourds, and baskets of apples was scattered across the floor. It was as if she had walked into the October page of a Norman Rockwell calendar. Lila’s fingers drifted along the tops of scarlet mums the soft petals caressing her fingers. Melanie put a lot of work into this yard.

  Lila pulled open a screened door. An oversized wreath showcasing dried lavender, roses, and mums, the same flowers in the front yard, hung in the middle of a pane of frosted glass. The words Window Shopping were etched in a semicircle above. She wrapped her fingers around the brass lever, positioned her shoulder square on the doorframe and pushed. A tinkling bell greeted her along with the strong scent of gingerbread, taking her back to her mother’s kitchen.

  She gravitated toward the voices coming from the other side of the room, passing by a pair of club chairs and a matching ottoman. She grazed her fingers over a fisherman’s knot afghan draped over the chair. She wished she were wrapped inside its warmth with a good book.

  Melanie stood behind an oversized antique counter. Her Italian dark curls were piled high on her head, secured in place with rhinestone pins reminiscent of those she’d loved in years past. Her cheeks were flushed as she handed over the striped paper bag bearing the store’s logo to a customer. Lila slowed her step. Melanie appeared healthier and happier in all the years she could remember. Lila’s heart melted when her friend noticed her.

  “Lila! You’re here.” Melanie stepped around the counter and walked toward her. She opened her arms wide. “So, this is what a famous author looks like.”

  Lila gasped. “Oh, my word. You’re…”

  Melanie grinned, taking Lila back years to their mischievous era, and patted her tummy with small hands. “Pregnant? Yes. I’ve got twins in here.”

  “Oh, Mel, congratulations.” Lila couldn’t be happier for her friend. Melanie always wanted a large family. She wrapped her arms around her best friend with care. Although tiny lines etched the familiar eyes of the woman who used to be the closest person to her, Lila still saw the friend she’d met in grade school. An overwhelming sense of peace prevailed. She was home, and for the first time in years, Lila wanted it all back.

  “It’s so good to see you, Mel. I’ve missed you. And twins? How is that possible? You look fantastic.” Lila brought her hands to her face, flabbergasted with Melanie’s unexpected news.

  Melanie lifted her small shoulders. “Jack Winters knew full well that twins were a possibility with me, but he married me anyway. We expect Benjamin and Brian before Christmas.”

  Lila shook her head, her eyes wide. “You haven’t lost your sense of humor. How is Jack?”

  “He’s busy running all over the county, but the engineer in him is happy.” Melanie guided Lila’s steps behind the checkout counter.

  Rolls of wrapping paper, ribbon, striped gift bags, and tissue cluttered the area. “Sounds like he’s doing a lot of traveling.”

  “He is, but he’s transferring to a desk job in the Sturgeon Bay office the first of the year.” Using a soft bristled brush, Melanie swept the remnants of ribbon and paper into a small garbage pail.

  “I’m glad, especially now with the babies coming.” Lila gestured toward Melanie’s bulging tummy.

  Melanie rested her hands on her back. “Believe me, so am I.”

  “Are you sure you need my help? The store gives a divine impression both inside and out. In order to enjoy anything close to what’s in your front yard, I have to get myself down to Central Park. And although it’s beautiful, it’s not this.”

  “Really? How far is it from where you live?” Melanie leaned against the counter.

  “It’s not far, but with all the foot traffic, it takes too long to get there, and by the time I do, it’s lost its appeal.” In fact, Lila didn’t want to tell her how long it was since she’d been there.

  Melanie raised an eyebrow. “That sounds awful. I choose not to live without the birds in the morning or the grass beneath my feet. Even the winter months provide a solace that mends the soul.” Melanie’s eyes held a hint of concern. “You used to love those things too, Lila.”

  “I still do, but living in the big city is a different way of life. Honestly, Mel, how did you create such a beautiful front entrance to the store? It’s so welcoming.”

  “Before Jack’s father sold the property to us, we did a complete renovation. He even hired professional landscapers to give the place ‘my style,’ as he called it. He understood how much I loved the outdoors, so he filled the front lawn with flowering bushes.”

  Lila laid a hand on her chest. “That’s ama
zing.”

  Melanie gestured toward the coffee bar. “I considered it a very generous thing for him to do. God bless him. The only project left is something I call the ski chalet. It’s a small addition with benches and a gas fireplace at the back of the store.”

  “A ski chalet? Why?” Lila followed Melanie toward the bar, absorbing the intoxicating colors, textures, and scents swirling around her.

  “The village board approved a ginormous ski and sled hill at the edge of town. Not too long ago, we all enjoyed an official groundbreaking ceremony. The whole village showed up. It should be finished in time for Christmas. Since there’s no lodge being built, in the future, I’d like to attract the business to the store and offer hot cocoa, scones, and I’m considering light sandwiches.”

  Lila lifted a hand to her forehead. “I envy you and everything going on.” Melanie was living the dream Lila gave away. How her life would be different if she’d come home after the internship in Chicago or turned down the job in New York. Her mind wandered. Would she and her first love be married by now, expecting their first baby?

  Melanie interrupted Lila’s thoughts. “To answer your question, yes, I need you. Your book signing is a blessing.” She gestured Lila toward a quilted-topped stool.

  “Still enjoy a chai latte?” Melanie rubbed her palms together.

  Lila grinned. “You read my mind. May I help?”

  Melanie waved her hand and patted her round belly. “No, no. If I stop moving I tend to cramp up. The boys are beginning to fight for the little space left, and the pain shoots right down my legs. I’ll be back in two seconds.”

  Lila removed her leather jacket and placed it on top of her bag on a neighboring stool. She took a seat and worked off her high heels. They fell on the floor with a muted thud. She massaged her foot working out the kink in the ball of her foot.

  The soft strumming of an acoustic guitar and chirping birds filled the space. The rhythm of the chords began to work its magic. Lila’s shoulders eased. She scanned the room. Her gaze caught the sparkling stones in a selection of handbags. Crayola-colored umbrellas stood at attention in a metal stand, and earthy brown mittens with burgundy buttons sat on a nearby antique table. The store was loaded with fabrics that wanted to be touched and colors that soothed one’s soul. Everything Melanie loved, from almond bread recipes to inspirational plaques to books and so much more.