On Christmas Avenue

by Ginny Baird

  “How ya doing?” he asked, leaning forward. His warm breath tickled her neck, and little tingles raced down her spine, and then back up again.

  She smiled over her shoulder. “Better.”

  “Good.” He snuggled her closer and gave a command to his horse by making a clicking sound with his tongue, and they began moving faster.

  She still jostled in the saddle but there was a regular rhythm to it, so she adjusted, keeping time with Evan’s movements behind her. Brisk air nipped at her cheeks and snowflakes coated her hair and eyelashes. She laughed, feeling free and uninhibited. “I like this way better than riding on my own,” she told him.

  “Just takes practice,” he said smoothly, and Mary realized she’d rather have more practice doing this. With him so close she could smell his outdoorsy cologne.

  He leaned forward to guide Trixie into a turn and his beard stubble brushed her cheek. Mary’s heart stuttered and then it beat faster. She’d never had an experience like this, and had never experienced anyone as wonderful as Evan.

  When she’d told him about her ordering mistake, he hadn’t scolded her or issued any well-deserved reprimands about her endangering the financial well-being of the town. It was true he’d seemed shocked at first, but then he’d reflected on the situation and tried to make her feel better about things. Even that infuriating typo. How had she missed it? She just didn’t know. She hoped Evan was right and that they could spin it, so people would still buy the T-shirts anyway.

  She also hoped for a really big turnout for the parade. All one hundred of the Airbnb rentals had been booked, so she knew they were counting on at least two hundred visitors from out of town, since most of those rooms were doubles, and some even offered lodging for entire families. She hoped for another couple of hundred visitors from Hopewell, and more from the surrounding area. In addition to out-of-towners, she expected roughly two thousand of Clark Creek’s citizens to attend, not counting those participating in the parade. That barely reached twenty-eight hundred ticket sales, assuming everybody bought one, and she doubted most of those folks would buy T-shirts.

  “Everything tomorrow will turn out fine,” Evan said, like he’d known she’d been worrying about it. “You’ve worked hard on this parade.”

  She wished. “But what if—”

  He embraced her from his position on the horse. “Positive thoughts, Mary.”

  Her face heated and suddenly her thoughts turned away from the parade and back into the moment. “Why are you being so good to me?”

  His voice was a deep rumble. “Because you deserve it.” The way he said it made her feel like she did. Like it was okay to make mistakes, because that was part of being human. She would do her best tomorrow to give Clark Creek the most spectacular Christmas parade ever, and maybe things would be all right.

  If they weren’t, and she failed, she’d deliver her heartfelt apologies to the town and to Davenport. Then she’d need to resign from her position and find a way to move on, like she’d always moved on before. Right now, it seemed impossible to envision being anywhere but here with Evan, and she found herself not wanting their time together to end.

  They entered a clearing by the edge of the woods which led to a path. If she’d thought the scenery was magical in the pasture, it was even more spectacular under a canopy of snow-covered trees. It was like they were in their own private realm. So special and quiet. She could hear the sound of the snow softly pelting the trees as they made their way deeper into the forest.

  The wind picked up, blowing snow from the underbrush, and some rained down on them from above. “Whoa!” Evan cried, sweeping the snow from Mary’s hat and shoulders with his glove. “That was a surprise. You okay?”

  She giggled, because it hadn’t been a bad one. Being pelted by nature with snow was just one more unexpected event that complemented this experience. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She peered at him over her shoulder. “How about you?”

  His eyes kindled with warmth. “Never been better.”

  He held her tighter and she eased back against him, enjoying his strength and warmth. He slowed Trixie’s pace again, and the steady clip-clopping of her hooves matched Mary’s pounding heartbeat. This was so special and romantic. They were in their very own world, her and Evan.

  “I wish you didn’t have to go,” he said, his tone husky.

  And, in the moment, she found herself wishing that very same thing. “Yeah.”

  “Maybe we can keep up?” he suggested. “You know, after the parade.”

  But Mary didn’t know what would be happening after tomorrow. Everything depended on the outcome of the parade. She hadn’t told Evan about Seattle, and she decided there was no point mentioning it now, since it might not happen anyway. So instead of making false promises, she spoke the truth she felt in her heart. “I’d like that.”

  Daylight started to fade so Evan returned them to the stables, his spirit soaring. He hadn’t been this lighthearted in a while and it felt good. He’d broached the subject of him and Mary keeping up their relationship after she left Clark Creek, and she’d said she’d like that, too. Nothing would make him happier than continuing to see Mary. He’d drive to Richmond seven days a week just to buy her a coffee, if that’s what it took.

  He hopped down off Trixie, then helped Mary next. She put her hand on his shoulder, wearing a big grin. He could tell that she’d liked the horseback riding. He had, too.

  Evan encouraged her to jump down, and she did, as he held out his arms to help her. She slipped but he instantly caught her. The next thing he knew, he held her in an embrace, as Trixie ambled away to munch on some hay in her open stall. There was no one else here besides the horses and the two of them. And suddenly, it felt like nothing else mattered in the world. Mary must have sensed that dynamic between them, too.

  She gazed up at him and her cheeks tinged pink. He’d known she was good-looking before, but he’d never seen her this beautiful, and part of the attraction was the way she looked at him. Like she desperately wanted him to kiss her. He wanted that too.

  “Evan, I…” She licked her lips. “Don’t think that we should—”

  He cupped her chin in his hand and stared deeply in her eyes. “Why not?”

  “Because, the parade—”

  “Is tomorrow.”

  “And, I’m leaving—”

  “Yeah, but you won’t be far.”

  “Ohhh.” She moaned, sounding enticed but conflicted.

  He reached up and gently stroked her cheek. “I won’t kiss you, if you don’t want me to.”

  “I want you to,” she whispered, and shut her eyes.

  Evan’s mouth hovered closer and his lips brushed over hers, then—wham! An icy cold shower of crystals clobbered them from above.

  Mary yelped and jumped back, staring at him wide-eyed.

  Evan slowly looked up, seeing that the pile of snow that had been wedged above the stables’ doorframe had broken loose and cascaded down on them. “Sorry.”

  “Oh boy.” She shook her head and started laughing. “Maybe it wasn’t meant to be?”

  He wasn’t so sure about that.

  She pushed up her coat sleeve to check her watch. “Oh gosh, almost five o’clock. We should probably get back to the courthouse.”

  Evan raked a hand through his hair, regretting the lost opportunity of that kiss. Then he told himself there were bound to be others. That’s what he wanted to believe. “Yeah. Let me just take care of Trixie.”

  She nodded and offered to help as he removed Trixie’s saddle and put other things away.

  He was tempted to try to kiss her again, but this probably wasn’t the time. The spell had already been broken. She gave him an impish smile, offering an alternate suggestion as they left the stables.

  “Race you to your truck?”

  Evan hadn’t raced anybody on foot in years. Just like he hadn’t been ice skating.

  Or—he swallowed hard—fallen for a woman, like he was certain he was doing
now.

  “You’re on!” he said, running after her. He paused to grab a fistful of snow off the ground and he hurled it at her.

  “Evan!” she cried in mock offense, but she was giggling. She bent down and made her own snowball and lobbed it at him. They exchanged several more volleys, reminding Evan of the fun they’d had outside the Whistle Stop Café with the boys.

  They finally reached his truck, both of them laughing.

  “I guess it was a tie?” he said.

  “Nope!” she tagged his truck. “I won!” He laughed and her dark eyes sparkled. “Better luck next time.”

  Affection warmed his soul, and something deeper than that. Because he was really hoping there would be a next time with Mary. For footraces and snowball fights, horseback riding and skating, and well…a whole lot of other things.

  “Thanks,” he said, grinning happily as they climbed into his truck.

  Evan dropped Mary off at the Clark Creek B&B so she could shower and change into something dry. He was going home to do the same, and they planned to meet back up at the courthouse shortly. It was after five and they still had tons of work to do to get ready for tomorrow morning. Mary entered the inn and passed Gerald and Geraldine coming down the hall. They were on their way out and dressed for an early dinner.

  “Looks like someone’s been playing in the snow!” Geraldine teased with a titter.

  Mary self-consciously touched her damp hair and then the band of her hat, which had icy snow stuck to it. “Ha ha. Yeah. Went out for a horseback ride.” She was amazed to hear herself say it so naturally, like she rode horses all the time. Which she clearly did not from her episode with Jumper. Evan had seen evidence of that.

  “We went out with some horses,” Gerald said. “At Marshall’s brother’s farm.”

  “We went sleigh riding,” Geraldine’s eyes twinkled. “It was so much fun.”

  “You all staying for the parade?” Mary asked them.

  “Oh yes,” Geraldine said.

  Her husband nodded. “We’d planned to leave today, but when Marshall told us about it, we decided to stay on. Sounds like a fantastic time.”

  Mary was glad that the older couple would be there. She liked Gerald and Geraldine a lot.

  “Were you out with your sheriff friend?” Geraldine asked her.

  Mary’s face warmed. “Actually, I was.”

  Geraldine’s eyes held a knowing gleam. “He’s very handsome.”

  “Yeah, well.” Mary licked her lips, trying not to think about that at the moment, or about how he’d nearly kissed her, and how badly she’d wanted him to. “He and I are working together,” she explained. “On the…the parade!” Which is why she needed to untangle herself from this conversation and get moving. “I’m sorry,” she told them politely. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to run upstairs and change. I have to get back to the courthouse to tend to some details.”

  “Of course,” Geraldine said.

  Mary hurried up the stairs and into her room, her heart hammering. If she’d thought ice skating with Evan had been fun and romantic, there was no topping that incredibly dreamy horseback ride through the snowy woods on Trixie. And then, afterwards, when he held her in his arms and his lips barely brushed hers, she’d nearly melted. She sighed, the sensory memory flooding her, and her body tingled from head to toe. She’d never met anyone as swoony as Evan, and yet she couldn’t let crushing on him persist. She had to push all those feelings to the back of her mind and focus on coordinating the parade. That’s where she had to center her energy.

  She returned to the courthouse with renewed determination to complete her preparations and make the parade a success. Doubt and worry were her enemies in this situation. She needed to remain positive and hopeful. Being out in the country and away from the pressures of the parade had helped her regain her perspective. She strode into the conference room, her confidence renewed. Evan was already there opening up boxes.

  “You cleaned up quickly,” she told him.

  He smiled but kept working. “Yeah, so did you.”

  She’d feared that things might be awkward between them because of what had happened at the stables, but Evan seemed to share her commitment to setting their personal relationship aside so they could concentrate on the task at hand. Glancing around the room, Mary saw that task was enormous. They had to streamline their efforts somehow.

  “Where do you want me to put things when I take them out of the boxes?”

  Mary considered their options, suggesting they set up an assembly line of sorts. He could open and unpack boxes, placing items on the table. Then she would unwrap any individual packaging and sort the souvenirs into bins. She sat down at the table to work while Evan stood at the other end.

  “So I was thinking about where everyone should be during the parade,” Evan told her as they worked. He opened a box of flags, placing them by fistfuls on the table. “I’d suggest Itzel cover the section of Main Street that runs from the fairgrounds’ parking area to Maple. That’s roughly the midpoint for the parade.” He emptied a big box of magnets next. “Dennis can patrol the section between Maple and the town square, and I can keep a general eye on things.”

  “But you’re riding on a float.”

  “Yeah, but mine is last.” He winked at her and Mary tried to ignore the giddiness she felt inside, reminding herself to focus. “So I can walk around a bit at first.”

  “All right.”

  “Might even be able to help you with the lineup.”

  “Thanks, that would be super.” Mary had been wondering how she was going to handle directing it on her own, with Itzel deputized and stationed near the fairgrounds, so she was grateful for his help. He probably knew more about the parade than anyone else in town by now, besides her.

  She was about to ask him about communications when he volunteered. “I’ll be carrying a walkie-talkie. It won’t be visible beneath my Santa Suit. Itzel and Dennis will each have one too, and so will you.”

  “Perfect.” Mary dropped several magnets into the magnet bin, mentally complimenting herself on the design. They were really cute.

  “Also giving one to Helen,” he added. “Since she’s on dispatch and it’s critical for her to get through if she can’t reach us otherwise. Sometimes cell communications can get a little wonky during big gatherings.”

  Mary had experienced that firsthand. “Understood.”

  He hoisted another box onto a chair to open it and stared around the room. “Hey, I think this is the last one.”

  Mary scanned the area, seeing he was right. “Great. We might just get this done.”

  “We will get this done.”

  The glint of affection in his eyes made her heart flutter. Mary dropped her chin to hide her blush, removing the cellophane from another magnet. “Evan,” she said after a pause. “Once we’re finished with the boxes, you don’t have to stay.”

  His brow furrowed. “I really don’t mind. If there’s something else I can do?”

  She checked her watch and saw it was approaching seven. “You need to eat dinner,” she said. “So, when you’re done with that box—”

  “You need to eat too.” He thought for a moment. “How about pizza?”

  But she’d had pizza earlier and had been thinking about picking up Thai on her way back to the inn. She’d seen a place on Main Street that did carry-out. Besides, she didn’t want to keep him. “I’ll pick up something later,” she said. “In the meantime, once I’m done with these”—she gestured at her sorted souvenirs on the table—“I’ve got to go through paperwork and accounting stuff.”

  “Are you sure?” He actually looked disappointed, and Mary found herself being disappointed, too. She loved spending time with Evan, but tonight she had important things to accomplish.

  “Yeah, but thanks for your offer.”

  “No problem.” He cut the final box open. “You’ll never guess,” he said, pulling back its flaps.

  Mary rolled her eyes and they both laug
hed together when they said, “T-shirts!”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Mary woke up on Christmas Eve, a ball of nerves. This was it. Parade day was here, and she had so much to do. It was just before six a.m. and still pitch-black outside while she did her morning yoga. She needed to be focused and calm for the day’s activities ahead. Marshall had thoughtfully offered to leave muffins and fruit outside her door, along with a carafe of hot coffee. When she checked after completing her yoga routine, it was there. Breakfast at the B&B didn’t begin until seven-thirty, and Mary would be long gone by then.

  The parade started at nine, but she had to coordinate the lineup an hour beforehand. She was excited to see all the different floats and knew that the music entries she’d interspersed among the others would be especially appreciated by the crowd. In addition to the high school marching band, she had the middle school jazz choir singing popular Christmas tunes, and the fourth-grade recorder players from Clark Creek elementary riding on the second-to-last float and playing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

  The bell ringers from the Community Church would ride the church bus with its windows down, while chiming out the “Carol of the Bells,” and their spot was somewhere in the middle. It was going to be a fabulous parade. The Paw Brigade, four pickup trucks sporting animal adoption banners and carrying rescue cats and dogs all snuggled in blankets and wearing animal sweaters, was Mary’s favorite part. The clear weather was expected to hold, with only a few flurries predicted for later, but those wouldn’t dampen the parade. If anything, a little light snow would lend the event extra Christmas charm.

  Evan and Dennis had agreed to adhere the Christmas Avenue magnets to the street signs on Main Street before seven o’clock. Connie had solicited help from the maintenance crew at the courthouse to transport the tickets, programs, and souvenirs from the courthouse conference room to the gazebo, along with folding tables and chairs. They were to begin moving things over at seven, so as soon as Mary left the inn, she’d go to the gazebo to check on them. All volunteers had been asked to arrive by seven forty-five, and meet with Mary at “Christmas Central,” meaning the gazebo.