On Christmas Avenue

by Ginny Baird

  Sam’s voice took on a cagey edge. “Is this about a woman?”

  “Not just any woman. The woman.”

  “I see.”

  “I hate to ask you this because I know your store is closed, but I’ve got a very important question to ask today and I don’t want to show up empty-handed.”

  Sam chuckled. “I can probably sneak away for an hour later this morning.”

  Sam Singleton had made a friend for life. “I owe you.”

  “Who is she?” he asked. “Do I know her?”

  “Mary Ward.”

  “Your Christmas Consultant?” Sam sounded very pleased. “Then, by all means, come on over. I can meet you at the shop at eleven o’clock.”

  Mary followed Evan’s directions to his parents’ farm, arriving a few minutes early. Even though Evan had said it wasn’t necessary, she’d stopped and purchased a bottle of wine on her way back to the B&B last night. She was still floating on air from the romantic time she’d had with Evan. When he’d kissed her, her heart had sprouted wings and flown her to the moon. She looked forward to having Christmas dinner with him and his family. It let her pretend she was a part of them, if only for a little while.

  Connie answered the door and gave her a hug. “Mary, I’m so happy you came.” Chloe scampered into the foyer behind her. “Hi, Miss Mary. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas to you.” She grinned at the child. “Did Santa bring you something special?”

  “A new horse!” Chloe said proudly.

  “Wow.”

  “Let me go and get her,” the kid said, darting into the living room. Mary watched her lift a toy stuffed animal off the sofa and carry it lovingly in her arms. “This is Annabelle.”

  “She’s beautiful,” Mary said.

  Nash strode into the room from the kitchen and nodded at Mary. “Hi there, great to see you. Awesome job with that parade.”

  “It was awesome, wasn’t it?” Connie exclaimed, her eyes shining.

  “Uh-huh,” Chloe agreed, hugging her horse. “The best!”

  “Marshall said to tell you he’ll be a minute,” Mary informed the others. “He’s helping some new guests get settled in.”

  “Arriving on Christmas?” Jesse asked.

  “They tried to book earlier,” Mary answered, “but he was full up because of the parade. The Airbnbs were taken too.”

  “It’s a good thing we’re getting another inn in town,” Connie commented.

  Nash winked at Mary. “We’ll see how my baby brother handles that.”

  The doorbell rang and Mary peered through the glass insert in the front door. It was Evan. She was so happy to see him.

  “Merry Christmas, everyone!” he said, stepping indoors. He handed his mom a poinsettia.

  “Evan,” she said, pleased. “How festive.”

  “I would have baked some cookies,” he said, “but I would have burned them.”

  Everybody laughed.

  “I have some news,” Evan said, “about Linda and the baby.”

  “And?” Mary asked with a big grin.

  “A little girl, Eliza Jane. Eight pounds nine ounces.”

  Mary sighed. “They had two boys before, right?”

  Evan nodded. “They’re all so excited.”

  “Mary,” Connie said, “let me take your coat, then we’ll fix you something to drink. Would you like wine or eggnog?” Both sounded so tempting it was hard to choose.

  “Why don’t you start with one and end with the other?” Evan suggested lightly. He met Mary’s gaze and his warmth shone in his eyes, reminding her of the way they’d looked last night in the gazebo. She blushed under his spell and turned away.

  “That sounds like a plan!” she told the others. “Evan, what are you having?”

  “I think a glass of Christmas wine is in order, don’t you?”

  “Christmas wine it is.” She grinned at him, then at Connie, remembering the gift bag she held in her hand. “This is for you and Jesse.”

  “Why, thank you, Mary. That’s very sweet.”

  The Clarks had a lovely log home with rough-hewn walls, exposed-beam ceilings, and an enormous hearth. Connie took Mary’s coat and Mary peeked into the kitchen, spying a large holiday meal in progress. “Can I do something to help?”

  “You and Evan could set the table.” Connie gave them both a cheery look, like she knew something, and Mary wondered if she’d guessed they’d fallen in love.

  Nash shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and nodded at Chloe. “Come on, Nugget. Let’s go and see if your Paw-Paw needs some help with those biscuits.” He shot Mary a knowing look as they left, and she wondered if her feelings for Evan were written all over her face.

  Mary stared sheepishly at Evan, wondering if he felt like a fish in a fishbowl too. “Should we—”

  “First, your wine,” Jesse said, appearing from out of nowhere and handing her a glass. “Is red okay?”

  “Red is great.”

  “It’s the right color for Christmas,” Evan joked, accepting the other wineglass from his dad.

  Evan toasted Mary with his glass. “Here’s to a memorable Christmas.”

  She clinked her glass to his. “It’s already been memorable so far.”

  “It will probably only get better!” Connie chimed in from the kitchen.

  Mary sent Evan a puzzled look. “Is there…something going on?”

  Evan raked a hand through his hair. “Everyone’s just in the holiday spirit.”

  Mary admired the good-sized Christmas tree loaded with decorations and with stacks of presents beneath it, and the fast-falling snow outside the windows. A cozy fire blazed in the hearth, and the dining area sat at the other end of this vaulted-ceiling room, so you could see the fireplace from there.

  “You have an amazing house,” she said to Connie and Jesse, when she followed Evan into the kitchen.

  “We hope you’ll come back often,” Jesse said, with a telling edge.

  Mary raised her eyebrows and took a sip of wine. Nash stood at the counter helping Chloe roll out biscuit dough with a rolling pin, while Jesse instructed his grandchild on how to use the biscuit cutter. Connie pulled a large turkey from the oven to baste it, and it was already golden brown and smelling delicious. More pots sat on the stove and covered casseroles steamed on the counters.

  “This is a feast!” Mary said. “Thanks for including me.”

  The doorbell rang. “That would be Marshall,” Evan said. “I’ll get it.”

  Mary scanned the room, wanting to make herself useful. She addressed Connie, who was still working on the turkey. “Where do you keep your silverware?”

  A few minutes later, Marshall passed Mary laying a place setting. “You’re very good at that. Do you want a job at the inn?”

  “She already has a job.” Evan playfully shoved Marshall. “A very good one.”

  “She could have a good one in Clark Creek!” Connie called from the stove. “Just think about it, Mary. If you put your mind to running other events at different times of the year, you could make a real vacation destination out of our little town.”

  Mary smiled at her suggestion. “I do love the thought, but I’m afraid I’ve taken another job. In Seattle.”

  The room grew so still, Mary could hear the flames flickering in the fireplace.

  “Why is everyone so quiet, Paw-Paw?” Chloe asked in the kitchen.

  Connie appeared in the doorway, her expression drawn. “Seattle, hon? Is that right?”

  “Uh, yeah.” Mary bit her bottom lip, feeling like she was disappointing them all. “I’m afraid so.”

  “Mary’s a brilliant Christmas Consultant,” Evan said, walking along beside her and laying down the cloth napkins as she placed the silverware. “She’s going to be successful wherever she goes.”

  She smiled at his sweet show of faith. “Thanks, Evan.”

  “No need to thank me. I meant it.”

  Mary didn’t know when she’d had a more delicious Christm
as dinner. Every dish was so tasty, especially Evan’s dad’s stuffing, and everything was homemade. They had a fun time at the table and Mary loved the banter the adult brothers shared when they teased each other in a warm way. Little Chloe was heart-meltingly adorable, and she could see why Itzel was so drawn to her. She could also understand why the warmhearted brunette was interested in Nash. He was a very eligible bachelor, and so was bookishly romantic Marshall. But in Mary’s mind, Evan took the prize.

  She loved seeing him with his family, and the way everyone oohed and ahhed over their presents, pretending each item was the very best thing they’d ever received. Even Chloe got into the act, probably because she’d had such good modeling from the adults. It was her turn to open the last present. It was a new scarf, hat and glove set from her grandparents. Though it was a simple and functional gift, the child acted like they’d given her the crown jewels.

  “Oh, thank you, Me-Maw and Paw-Paw! They’re just what I wanted.”

  “You’re welcome, Chloe,” Jesse said.

  Connie beamed at her granddaughter. “They’ll look fine on you when you’re ice skating.”

  Evan slapped his forehead and stared at Mary. “Oh wow.”

  She leaned toward him where they sat on the sofa. “Evan? What is it?”

  “I had one more thing.” He grimaced then whispered confidentially. “That I meant to bring here.”

  Mary figured it was for his niece or parents. “Oh no. Where is it?”

  “I left it at my office. Things were so busy yesterday that I kind of lost track of—”

  “It’s not too late.” Mary touched his arm. “We can go and get it.”

  Evan glanced around the room. “I’d hate to bust up the party.”

  “It won’t be busted up,” Connie said.

  “Right,” Nash agreed. “We’ll be nursing our eggnogs right here.”

  Evan stood and cleared his throat. “Well, if you really don’t mind.”

  Marshall sat back in the recliner by the fire. “We’ll wait.”

  “Can we play a game until they get back?” Chloe asked. “Or watch a movie?”

  Jesse angled forward in his armchair and set his elbows on his knees. “How about we break open that new puzzle your Uncle Evan gave you? The one of Santa Claus with his elves?”

  Chloe’s toothy grin lit up her face. “Yay!”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Mary rode with Evan in his truck to the courthouse. The entire downtown area was quiet after the noise and excitement of yesterday. Storefronts were darkened, and fluttering decorations hung serenely from lampposts. Light snow drifted, turning in lazy spirals toward the ground. No one was out on the sidewalks because everyone was at home with their families. Mary was happy to be included at the Clarks’. They made her feel like she was one of their own.

  She noted that Christmas Avenue had been returned to Main Street. “I see the signs have come down.”

  “For the time being, yeah.” He paused at the street corner and grinned. “You never know about next year.”

  “Will Clark Creek have another parade?”

  “Hope so.”

  Mary stared at the closed Whistle Stop Café, thinking of meeting Evan there, and then of the snowball fight they’d had outside it. “Yeah, I hope so too.”

  “Ya going to write to me from Seattle?” he asked, sounding flirty.

  “Ev-an.”

  “You know you kind of want to.”

  She giggled. “You’re right. I do.”

  “So, we’re rethinking this long-distance thing?”

  Mary sighed. She didn’t want long-distance with Evan. But after their talk last night and the kiss they’d shared, she didn’t want to be completely without him, either. “I might write,” she teased. “If you write back.”

  Evan thumped his steering wheel with his gloves. “I’ll think about it.”

  She shoved his arm. “You’d better think hard, then.”

  He laughed. “I will.”

  They drove past the town square, which was just as deserted as the rest of downtown. The ice skating rink was closed and the gazebo stood empty. Mary thought of their romantic dance there, believing she could get used to being in Evan’s arms. She hoped he’d come out to Seattle to visit—a lot.

  Evan normally parked around back, but this time, he pulled into an empty parallel parking spot close to the courthouse. Most of its office windows were dark, except one. Mary gaped up at a second-floor window, the one that belonged to Evan. It was glowing with Christmas lights. Tons of them, like the entire room was lit up inside.

  “What’s all that?”

  He shrugged, looking nonplussed. “Let’s go in and see.”

  She was really curious now. While she’d been fooled back at his parents’ house, Mary questioned if this was really about some forgotten Christmas gift.

  “Evan,” she asked slowly, as they climbed the courthouse steps. “What’s going on?”

  He took her hand and whispered. “Maybe my office was invaded by a Christmas elf?”

  “Invaded? What?”

  He chuckled at her surprised look and tugged her along, hurrying up the steps, while taking care with his footing. “Watch your step.”

  She glanced down at her high-heeled boots. She’d worn the dressy ones because she’d wanted to look nice for the holiday meal at his folks’ house. She hadn’t expected this after-dark trip into town. Mary followed him carefully, at one point losing her balance when her heel hit black ice. “Yikes!”

  “Whoa there!” He caught her. “Are you all right?”

  Her pulse pounded. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  Evan took out his pass card and let them into the building. The motion-sensor hall lights automatically turned on.

  “It’s different in here when it’s empty.” Mary surveyed the darkened halls. “A little spooky.”

  He laughed. “Is not.”

  “Okay then.” She grinned. “Christmas spooky.”

  He laughed even harder, and the sound echoed up the stairwell.

  “Whoa,” she said, gawking up at the ceiling. “Did you hear that?”

  “Yep.” He smiled. “There’s an echo.”

  She got a silly idea and called up the stairway. “Merry Christmas!”

  Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

  Her voice tumbled back down the stairs and her eyes widened. “That was pretty cool.”

  “You’re pretty cool.” His eyes sparkled. “A bona fide Christmas Consultant.”

  Evan pressed the button for the elevator, and they went to the second floor. Mary felt like a kid doing something naughty. Like sneaking downstairs early to peek at the gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. She’d never had a family tree, so hadn’t sneaked downstairs, but she used to dream about doing that when she was small. She’d also dreamed she’d heard Santa’s sleigh once or twice, but Lila told her that had probably been the hotel elevator dinging, not sleigh bells ringing.

  “You know,” Evan said. “You’ve changed my mind about Christmas.”

  “Have I?”

  He nodded. “I’m kind of into it now.”

  They reached his office and he threw open his door.

  Mary’s jaw dropped. The entire place was decked out—from ceiling to floor! Colorful Christmas lights circled the room while icicle lights dripped from the walls, and a bright strand of tiny white bulbs wrapped around his coat rack in front of the window. The stand of reindeer that she’d given him sat on his desk, and there was a gigantic blow-up snowman beside it. It sort of looked like the one that had been on the Blue Heron Bookshop float.

  And—wait! Those huge candy cane balloons resembled the ones that had been attached to the mobile library entry. There was even a life-size painted donkey that reminded her of the one she’d seen in the Feed & Seed’s flatbed truck nativity display.

  “Hang on.” She laughed in amazement and joy at the fanciful site. “Did all these things come from the parade?”
>
  “Not all of them. A few were gifts from somebody special.”

  “But, how—?”

  “I called around this morning to see if anyone could let me borrow a little bit of Christmas cheer.”

  Mary clapped her hands together and grinned. “Oh Evan, this is fun.”

  “I had to ask Itzel about borrowing the reindeer.” He dropped his gaze and winced. “Please don’t be mad, but I…I sort of gave them to her.”

  “Did you?” Mary laughed, not angry at all. “When?”

  “That first day, after you put them on my desk and they tore my ledger.”

  She giggled, remembering the stony look on his face. “Oh yeah, then.”

  Mary scanned the room again, taking in the garlands and greenery, including the two Christmas trees she thought had come from Connie’s office. She pointed to them. “Your mom’s?”

  He shrugged. “I’m going to have to give them back after the holidays.”

  Mary laughed out loud, her heart so light. She did feel like a kid on Christmas morning. This was such a cool surprise.

  “There is no missing gift, is there?” she asked him. “You wanted me to see this.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Well, thank you.” Mary folded her arms in front of her, beholding the room again. “I love it.”

  She could tell he was pleased by her reaction. “The thing is,” he said, stepping closer. “I didn’t care much about Christmas until I met you. I mean, I cared in a general way, but I guess you could say I’d lost touch with a lot of things.” He gave her a soulful look. “Including myself.”

  He took both her hands in his and her heart melted. “Mary,” he said. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me at Christmas, or at any time of year at all. When I met you, I sensed you were different, impressive. I just didn’t know how much, or how desperately I’d come to care for you. How I’d fall for you—so hard.”

  She tightened her grip on his hands. “I feel the same way, Evan. You’ve changed me for the better. I feel stronger now, more confident that I don’t have to be afraid of loving someone. Not when that person is you.”

  “I’m so glad you said that.” He grinned and released her hands. “Don’t go away.”