A Christmas Kind of Perfect

by Christine Schimpf

  Lila’s breath caught. She brought her fingers to her lips. A solid maple bookcase centered in the room displayed her work. A picture of her taken years ago smiled back at her. Framed newspaper articles stood behind all ten of Lila’s books. Melanie created an impressive layout, but, more importantly, it was an endearment that touched her heart.

  Melanie turned the corner from the back kitchen holding a tray with two mugs and a plate of scones. She set the tray on the counter and placed the ceramic mugs filled with hot tea down on bamboo coasters. A small basket of cellophane-wrapped chocolates sat between them, each one tied in autumn-colored ribbons.

  “So, what do you think of the store?” She placed Lila’s mug in front of her, eased onto a stool, and picked up her own.

  “I don’t want to leave. Do you find that a problem with your people who come in here?” Lila blew the steam that rose from her mug and took her first sip. Hmm, delicious.

  “Much of the time, yes.” Melanie curled her fingers around her mug. “But when that happens, customers end up spending more money, so it’s all good. The big book retailers began to offer small cafés and comfortable spaces with good reason. I try to follow their lead as much as possible, but it’s all about overhead for me. I found out the longer a customer stays, the more they buy. First a latte, perhaps a scone, and before long, they’re reconsidering the plaque they were admiring earlier.”

  Lila’s brow furrowed. “How do you manage to keep costs low?”

  “For one thing, I do as much as I can by myself. I’ve perfected a recipe for a pretty little cranberry scone, and the lattes are easy with my new coffeemaker. On a rare occasion, I order something special from Al Johnson’s. The business owners help each other out when we can, and we never steal each other’s bestsellers. Understand?”

  Lila frowned. “Not really.”

  “Do you see the little shop across the street called Drink Coffee and Cookie Lady?”

  “I did notice it when I drove into the village.”

  “They sell some of the best cookies on the peninsula, so that’s an item I don’t offer here at Window Shopping. Instead, I bake scones.” Melanie offered up both hands.

  Lila sipped her tea. “Of course, it’s like a silent code among you.”

  “Right,” Melanie nodded, “we help support one another and when we need to, we band together. For instance, speaking to the village about snow removal during the winter. That’s a hot button because if our customers can’t park on the streets, they can’t get into our stores.”

  “So, you’re open over the winter?”

  Melanie flashed a grin. “I hang on, and we do OK.”

  Lila eased back into her chair. “I’m beginning to understand that running a store is a lot more than what I’d imagined.”

  “After Jack, it’s one of the loves of my life. Some days are quiet, and that’s when I change things around a bit or give the coffeemaker a good vinegar scrub.”

  Lila laughed along with Melanie. The years that passed between them slipping away. She was back in the company of her best friend. Although there was a sense of camaraderie with friends in New York, those relationships didn’t run as deep as the one she once had with Melanie. Lila prayed she could mend what she’d broken between herself and the woman sitting across from her.

  Melanie bit into her scone. “The store keeps me hopping, and you remember how much I love staying busy along with eating scones.”

  “Oh, yes.” Lila giggled and picked up one for herself.

  A movement from the back of the room caught her attention. She turned her head—a workman, perhaps—who’d entered the store through the back entrance. His ruffled dark hair and broad shoulders were so familiar. Could it be…?

  Melanie cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I meant to explain but didn’t get the chance.”

  Lila swiveled in her seat to face Melanie. “Explain—”

  “Conrad is here. He’s finishing up the exit ramp and new door for the disabled. He’s such a sweetheart to still do these little projects for me despite how busy he is with Hamilton Construction.”

  Lila gasped. Conrad, her first and only love, was the last person she wanted to run into in her first few minutes in town. “Are you kidding me?” She caught the panic in her voice and lowered her tone, “Conrad’s here?”

  “I didn’t think it’d be a problem. I mean, it’s all good between you two, right? It’s been such a long time. I assumed everything—”

  “I…” Lila’s tongue twisted up in her mouth. She couldn’t form a word.

  Melanie turned her attention toward Conrad.

  Oh, no. Lila reached out to stop her, but it was too late.

  “Conrad, come and say hello to Lila,” Melanie’s clear voice sang to the back of the room.

  Lila nibbled on her lower lip.

  The one person she hoped to avoid on this trip walked toward them. Conrad Hamilton. She noticed his dark brooding eyes from across the room. They caught hers and held on, like so many years ago. Lila’s breath quickened, and her heartbeat thudded in her ears. With broad shoulders, strong hands, and a no-nonsense stride, he moved in her direction.

  Conrad had grown up.

  4

  Conrad groaned. If he didn’t want to run into Lila, he should’ve thought twice about accepting Melanie’s job. Only he was to blame for the situation he was in right now. Melanie told him Lila was coming to town to help out the store, and the local grapevine was buzzing. They were all talking about it at Drink Coffee this morning. Last night, a poster announcing the book signing had stared him straight in the face. He noticed it in the window of Merchant’s Meats and Sausage while driving home from Sturgeon Bay.

  Conrad’s gut signaled him to turn down the job, but he had a soft spot for people like Melanie—good people who worked hard like he did. His business started with the little jobs from the locals, and he vowed never to forget the customers who helped him along the way. Melanie was one of those people.

  He brushed away the collected wood shavings from the front of his blue denim shirt and regretted not shaving this morning. Had it been five years since he’d last laid eyes on Lila? Who was he kidding? He remembered exactly how much time passed since he’d seen her. She didn’t appear older—thinner maybe, but not older.

  Her thick hair was twisted up behind her head, loose strands framing her face. Almond-shaped eyes, the color of milk chocolate, with the power to draw him to her still. He used to lose himself in those eyes. Long, dangling earrings brushed her cheeks as she moved. He smiled when he noticed a pair of heels on the floor underneath her chair. She never did like them.

  As he drew close, the scent of lily of the valley filled the space between them. Memories of lazy summer afternoons spent on a blanket with her at Marina Park flooded in: the roar of the waves outside matching his tempo for her on the inside. His jaw tightened. He didn’t consider himself a man who kept count of his regrets, but he rued plenty where this woman was concerned.

  He shifted his weight, fighting the tight knot forming in his stomach. What could he say to show he’d gotten over her and moved on? “Hello, Lila.” The words slipped off his tongue before a second thought. Her name sounded sweet on his lips.

  Her natural smile flashed on cue. “Conrad, it’s great to see you.”

  It surprised him how wonderful it was to see her again, in spite of how their relationship ended. “You look well.” The curve of her lips took him back to the days of their early dating when he couldn’t wait to pick her up, pull her close, and to touch her skin, as smooth and silky as the ice cream sold down at Wilson’s.

  Melanie shifted in her seat. Was it possible she sensed the undercurrent between him and Lila? “I’ve been explaining to Lila that you’re always here when I need you. Installing the ramp and new door right before the signing was important to me.”

  Conrad fixed his gaze on Melanie and fought the urge to stare at the woman he failed to go after. “You’re welcome. By the way, how’s everythin
g going these days?”

  Melanie placed a pair of petite hands on her hips. “Fat and sassy and don’t you change the subject.”

  Lila tossed her head back and laughed. It rang in Conrad’s ears, sounding as good as one of his favorite rock songs.

  Melanie wore an insistent expression. “Come and join us. I was thinking about how nice it would be to include a riser for the book signing so Lila’d be visible to everyone.”

  Conrad wished he’d never walked over. Now he was in a difficult situation. He’d rather be swinging a hammer instead of sliding into a seat next to Lila. He tilted his head toward the project waiting for him. “I really should get back at it. My schedule’s pretty tight today.”

  “Oh, I promise it won’t take long. Can I get you a coffee or scone?” Melanie inched up her eyebrows.

  Conrad raised his hand. “Thank you, no. I’ve got my thermos in the back, and I ate breakfast.” He took a seat on a stool next to Lila and lifted a foot to rest on the lower rung. “So, when do you need this riser installed, and where do you want it?” As far as he could remember, Lila wasn’t much for the limelight. Of course, that was years ago in a different time and place.

  “Is tomorrow too soon? I realize its late notice. Tell me if you can’t manage it,” Melanie begged a favor.

  Lila pressed her shoulders back into her chair and slipped one leg over the other with ease. Pink-painted toes winked up at him. He used to tickle those toes until she begged him to stop. He cleared his throat. Where was his head going? He fished around for his smartphone. When he found it, he swiped his oversized fingers across the screen. This was for Melanie.

  After checking his digital calendar, Conrad slipped his phone back into his shirt pocket and gave Melanie a smile. “Well, I don’t want to disappoint a regular customer. The earliest I can schedule it is tomorrow night after you close. It shouldn’t take me too long.”

  “Perfect. Conrad, you’re a lifesaver. If you could place it up front, that would be ideal. That way, the overflow customers will get a glimpse of Lila through the big display window.” Melanie clapped.

  “You got it. I’ll pick up the lumber from your storage unit tonight.” Conrad faced Lila. “Would you like a set of stairs? They fit in the center of the riser allowing you to walk down and join the audience at any time.”

  Lila gave him an appreciative smile.

  Conrad stood. Unable to fight the urge, he shifted his gaze from Melanie to Lila.

  Her face softened. Her lips barely turning up at the edges. Conrad recognized the gesture but wasn’t prepared for the impact of how much he missed it. It took every ounce of stamina not to smile. Instead, he managed a perfunctory nod and headed to the back of the room.

  5

  Lila brought her mug of chai to her lips and took a few sips. The delicious frothy cinnamon brew warmed her insides. Why was it that most men seemed to improve with age?

  Obviously, Conrad’s work suited him—his body strong and muscular. His thick, rounded shoulders caused the fabric in his denim shirt to strain. Chiseled cheeks and a forgotten morning shave made it impossible not to notice his attractiveness. He had matured into a man who possessed magnetism most women, including her, would find hard to ignore.

  Lila closed her eyes, imagining being wrapped in those big bear arms again. When she’d been in his arms, nothing else in the world mattered. She worked a strand of her hair around her finger, over and over and over.

  Melanie nudged Lila’s arm. “Lila?”

  Lila jerked her hand away from her hair. Oh, great. What did I miss?

  Melanie tilted her head. “You were a million miles away. Do you remember what happened when Mrs. White caught you daydreaming? You wrote a hundred times on the chalkboard ‘I will not daydream.’”

  Lila shifted her gaze from Melanie to catch a glance at Conrad’s retreating form. Was he grinning? “That’s not true.”

  “It happened all the time. I’ll bet that’s the catalyst to your success in writing. Now your make-believe world has come to life.”

  Lila adjusted her blouse on her shoulders. “I guess you’re right. But really, what did you ask me?”

  “Did you like Conrad’s suggestion?”

  “Oh, about installing the set of stairs?”

  Melanie grinned as if she suspected Lila’s thoughts. “Yes.”

  “It’s a good idea.” Was it possible Conrad remembered her distaste for attention?

  Melanie squiggled up her petite nose. “I hope that wasn’t too uncomfortable for you.”

  Lila feigned nonchalance. She placed her emptied cup on the bamboo coaster and rubbed her forehead. “You mean with Conrad?”

  “Was it a little déjà vu-ey?” Melanie’s eyes twinkled.

  Lila wasn’t sure she was ready to open up about Conrad. She’d locked away all of her hurt and disappointment when their relationship ended, but she ached for the closeness she and Melanie once shared. The years that passed were like a chasm between them. When their eyes met, Lila decided it was time to close the gap. “It was, a bit.”

  “Conrad hasn’t changed. He’s still the same sweet, big-hearted lug he’s always been.”

  Lila held back her laughter. “Lug? That’s the last word I’d use to describe a man like Conrad.”

  Melanie waved a hand. “He’s like a big brother to me. May I tell you something else? I don’t think Suzanne Matthews deserves him. Despite her attractiveness or success in real estate.”

  Lila’s heart dropped to her stomach, as if she’d read her first rejection letter. She busied her hands rearranging the wrapped chocolates in the basket. “Conrad’s dating Suzanne?” Asking the question was as hard for Lila as believing it could be true. Of course, she didn’t expect him to be single all these years, did she?

  Melanie brushed a hand across Lila’s shoulders. “I’m sorry. I assumed someone told you. They’ve been together for a couple of years now. The rumor mill has it she expects a ring this Christmas.” Melanie’s eyes softened. “It took him a long time to get over you. He began playing volleyball in the summers and joined Jack’s bowling league in the winter. You remember how he hated bowling, right? He was never home. He ate out a lot. Started hanging out at the Bier Zot, and, well, you can imagine what went along with that—too many bad decisions with all the wrong people.”

  Lila stared at the wood-planked floor, devouring the information. “How did his relationship with Suzanne start?”

  “Jack mentioned she started working part-time at the bowling alley shortly after Conrad joined the team. She’s a hard woman not to notice, if you get my meaning, and one foot does follow the other.”

  Who could forget Suzanne with her inherited Norwegian bone structure and the rare shade of captivating green eyes? “From what I remember, she’d always been attracted to him.”

  “And that may be enough.”

  Lila scowled. “Is that what’s going to make a good marriage?”

  “People get married for all kinds of reasons. Trust me, Lila. In a village this size, I listen when people talk and hear plenty, especially running the store.”

  “I suppose Suzanne is still as gorgeous as always?”

  Melanie smoothed her hands down her sides, protruding her round belly.

  Lila rolled her eyes. Melanie’s sense of humor was as strong as ever.

  “You remember she studied ballet, so she has that svelte body.” She drawled out the words in an attempt at a French accent.

  Lila appreciated the comic relief. The conversation had turned more serious and she didn’t want that.

  Melanie bent toward Lila and lowered her voice. “I need to flat out ask you something.”

  “Do you have any other style?” Lila smirked. Their old relationship was beginning a new chapter between them.

  “How did it end between you? Conrad wouldn’t talk about it to anyone. He and Jack were tight for a while, before Suzanne entered the picture.”

  Lila exhaled a long, tired breath. “The internship in
Chicago left me with little time to make it home. The job was demanding, a lot more was expected of me than I had anticipated, and I was exhausted. I told myself it was only for a few months. But, somehow, I grew to enjoy the pressure. It pushed my writing to the next level. When it ended and the opportunity to connect with an agent in New York came up, I grabbed it. The book deals kept coming, and then the movie rights—it snowballed from there. In the end, Conrad didn’t want to leave Sister Bay, and I couldn’t turn the job down. We broke up over the phone. Can you imagine?”

  “Oh, Lila, was it worth it? I mean, everyone thought you two…” Melanie lifted her shoulders as if to indicate they would get married.

  Lila moved her mug in circles over the counter. “My career is terrific. Everything I ever wanted in that department came true.”

  Melanie laced her fingers and rested her hands on her belly like a shelf. “I hear a but between those words. Is something missing?”

  This was the part of their friendship that Lila missed the most—her friend’s ability to read her without judgment. “It’s wonderful in New York but lonely at the same time.”

  Melanie’s drooped shoulders brought Lila the realization that something about New York troubled Melanie.

  “How long does it take you to write a book?”

  Lila drew in a deep breath. “About nine months. After it’s launched, we tour for the next three.”

  “Let me get this straight. You released a new book, finished a three-month book tour, and now you’re expected to start all over again?”

  Lila nodded. “That sounds about right. That’s the job, and I get paid well to do it.”

  Melanie moaned. “Are you kidding me? That sounds like a lot of pressure to finish the book and more to promote it. All I do here is have fun interacting with people. Sure, I need to keep the books and make enough money to stay afloat but that’s about it.”