Wrapped Up In Christmas

by Janice Lynn

  “Can’t say as I’ve ever experienced magic.”

  “Stick around and you will before the night’s over,” Ruby promised, patting Sarah’s hand this time. “Now, I’m taking my place over on the other side of the tent to sell baked goods and hot cocoa. You enjoy the festival.”

  When Ruby left to work the other booth, Claudia greeted a customer she knew as she showed her an ornament.

  With Bodie standing a few feet from her, Sarah waited for him to say what he was doing one way or the other. Stay, she mentally whispered. Maybe she would be able to leave the booth, find him prior to the tree lighting, and they could experience it together.

  How wonderful would it be to share that with Bodie?

  “Is Ruby’s best night of the year the same as yours? Christmas?”

  Her eyes searching his, Sarah shook her head.

  His brows lifted and he teased, “What day could possibly be better than Christmas?”

  “I know, right?” Sarah asked with a smile. “To me? None,” she assured. “To Ruby, it’s her and Charlie’s anniversary.”

  “That makes sense.” Bodie looked impressed. “Where are the other Bees?”

  “Butterflies,” Sarah corrected, glancing toward Claudia to see if she was eavesdropping. As one of the woman’s daughters was now visiting the booth, Claudia was too busy oohing and aahing over her grandson to have noticed anything else.

  “Rosie is over at Lou’s food booth, plying him with her grandmother’s cinnamon bread,” Sarah told Bodie. “Apparently, Alberta Jennings invited him to go on a sleigh ride later tonight.”

  “I bet that didn’t sit well,” Bodie mused.

  “You’d win that bet. Although she’s refused to settle down since her last husband died, Lou is special to Rosie.”

  “Nice enough fellow,” Bodie agreed.

  Sarah knew Bodie stopped by the diner early most mornings. Even if he hadn’t told her, the Butterflies kept her posted about his comings and goings around town.

  She thought they’d quit following him eventually, but they refused to quit dropping his name every chance they got.

  “Maybelle should be this way in a bit,” Claudia added, letting Sarah know the woman had been following the conversation after all. “She’s having coffee with your father and that sweet couple from over on Bell Street while entertaining herself by watching Rosie hem and haw over Lou.”

  Sarah could see it unfolding exactly that way. Her father would be discussing the weather or his upcoming Sunday sermon with the couple. Pretending to listen, Maybelle would be calmly sipping her coffee while enjoying the show—because if Alberta was making moves on Lou, Rosie would be fit to be tied.

  Another customer arrived and Sarah waited on the woman, smiling and selling her five ornaments. While she wrapped them in tissue paper, she chatted with the woman and watched Bodie squat to pet Harry from her peripheral vision.

  “Sarah, I hate to leave you alone, but would you be okay for a few minutes if I go to watch my granddaughter in the Little Miss Pine Hill Christmas pageant? I totally forgot about it when I signed up for this time frame.”

  “I’ll help in the booth while you’re gone.”

  Both Sarah and Claudia looked at Bodie in surprise. The customer Sarah was waiting on did, too.

  “Thank you,” Claudia told him, looking pleased. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.” She paused. “Actually, if those judges have eyes and a brain, I may be a while as I won’t be back here as long as my sweet girl is still in the running.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Sarah assured her, bagging up the five ornaments and handing them to her customer. Another two had stepped up and were looking at ornaments.

  While they were looking, Sarah motioned for Bodie and Harry to come around the table. Apparently remembering his spot from earlier, Harry went back to lie beneath the table, but kept his head up to take in what they were doing.

  “I’ll walk you through checking out this dear lady,” she told Bodie, but as Bodie stepped up to help another couple who wanted to purchase several of the ornaments from the pegboard, she realized instruction wasn’t necessary.

  Bodie paid attention to details. He’d watched her and Claudia wait on a few customers and no doubt could write a textbook on the dos and don’ts of ornament selling by this point.

  For the next hour and a half, they sold ornaments nonstop as more and more people arrived at the festival.

  “She won!” Claudia beamed as she returned to the booth, her cheeks rosy and her eyes full of pride. “Annabelle is Little Miss Pine Hill Christmas.”

  “That’s awesome,” Sarah said, giving Claudia a high-five as the woman joined them behind the checkout table.

  “Congrats,” Bodie added.

  “It was only fitting. All the girls were wonderful, but my Annabelle outshined them,” Claudia assured in her most proud grandmother tone. Bodie and Sarah exchanged a look, smiling.

  “She takes after her grandma that way,” Sarah said, earning a happy grin from Claudia.

  A half-dozen new customers arrived, entering the booth to check out the ornaments displayed on the pegboards and to congratulate Claudia on her granddaughter’s success.

  “Phew, you can tell it’s getting close to time for the parade,” Claudia observed as she smiled at a woman purchasing a snowflake.

  “Most definitely,” Sarah agreed, eyeing the building crowd prior to greeting a precious girl who had been in her Sunday school class the previous summer and who held three ornaments. “Hi, Chevell, did you find everything you needed?”

  The girl nodded, then said quite loudly, “I’m buying these for my teacher.” Then, she leaned forward and whispered, “Really, they’re for my mom, but I don’t want her to know.”

  Chevell’s mom looked amused and indulgent, holding her young son and watching over Chevell while she shopped.

  While Sarah wrapped the ornaments, Bodie collected the girl’s money and gave her change.

  “Thanks for your business, Chevell.” Sarah winked at her. “I hope your teacher loves her gift.”

  The little cutie grinned, then winked back before rejoining her mother. Chevell held up her paper bag to her mother, then turned and waved goodbye at Sarah and Bodie.

  Sarah sighed with happiness. “That, Bodie Lewis, is what Christmas is all about.”

  “Buying presents?”

  “No,” she corrected with a scolding look that prompted a laugh from him. “The excitement Chevell felt at getting her mom a special gift. The joy she experienced at the thought of giving her mom those snowflakes is what Christmas is about, what it should be about.”

  He didn’t comment, just grinned, then turned to wait on another customer.

  They were still working the booth when Sarah heard the whine of the fire truck sirens, signaling the start of the parade.

  The parade would make its way down Main Street, turn onto the square, go around the courthouse, then head toward the church. Once past the church, the participants would park their floats in the church parking lot and disband to walk back to the square to enjoy the festivities.

  Sarah wanted to shoo Bodie out of the booth so he could watch the parade. But the booth was busy, and, surprisingly, he seemed to be enjoying himself while talking to their customers, especially the ones who spotted Harry and made a fuss over the dog.

  “Not sold out yet?”

  Sarah grinned at the balding, uniformed man in his early sixties strolling up to their booth. “Not unless you’re here to buy us out, Sheriff Roscoe.”

  He gave a hearty laugh. “Now, Sarah, you know I’d be in all kinds of trouble if I bought out one booth and didn’t buy out the others. Showing such favoritism would be the end of my career.”

  The sheriff and his department had made several hefty donations to support Sarah’s projects and his deputies had been known to
volunteer on several occasions to lend a helping hand. She adored them all. Except for perhaps that ticket-writing Donnie.

  “There is that,” she agreed with the sheriff.

  He gestured to Bodie. “Who’s this?”

  As if the Butterfly-aiding-and-abetting law enforcer didn’t know. But fine, she’d play along.

  “Bodie Lewis. He’s helping at Hamilton House.” She glanced at Bodie, who had finished waiting on his customer and was now watching them.

  “Heard about you,” the sheriff acknowledged Bodie, sticking his hand out to shake. “Hear you’ve got an impressive military background. Appreciate your service, young man.”

  His face looking a little taut, Bodie shook the sheriff’s hand. “As I appreciate yours.”

  Although Bodie had likely meant his law enforcement career, the sheriff puffed his chest out with pride. “I served in the Army myself, back in the good ol’ days when…”

  He continued talking military with Bodie, but Sarah lost track of the conversation as she waited on a repeat customer who wanted two dozen snowflakes.

  “I use them to decorate Christmas packages, rather than hanging them on my tree,” the woman enthused. “I got so many compliments on the ones I bought last year that I’m doubling my order this year.”

  Although she really wanted to listen to the sheriff and Bodie’s conversation, Sarah beamed at the woman and set about helping her pick snowflakes.

  Bodie had no idea how good Sheriff Roscoe was at police work, but he liked the blustery, talkative lawman who’d done two tours of duty in the army.

  What he didn’t like was the man’s questions about why Bodie had chosen not to re-enlist. There were some things Bodie didn’t want to talk about—especially the demise of his career.

  “Probably same reason as you.” Probably not. “Was the right time for me to get out.”

  There wouldn’t have been a right time for him to get out had he not gotten hurt. He’d planned to be a lifelong military man.

  “You looking to stay around here?”

  Bodie shook his head. “I’ll be moving on as soon as I finish at Hamilton House.”

  “Too bad. I’m looking for someone to replace one of my officers.” Sheriff Roscoe shook his head in disappointment. “Donnie took a desk job with the state. He’s better suited for that, anyway.”

  “Donnie left the sheriff’s department?” Sarah exclaimed, pausing in her snowflake wrapping to gawk at the sheriff.

  “Don’t worry, Sarah. Your speeding ticket still stands.”

  Sarah gave him a beatific smile and went back to wrapping while she said, “If Donnie’s no longer with the department, shouldn’t that old ticket be torn up?”

  Sheriff Roscoe laughed. “That’s not how the law works. You go too fast, you get a ticket and you pay the price. Next time, make sure there isn’t a next time.”

  Sarah gave an exaggerated sigh.

  “It was worth a try.” She smiled at her customer. The woman chuckled.

  “Now,” the sheriff turned back to Bodie. “As I was saying before Lead Foot there interrupted,” he jerked his thumb in Sarah’s direction, “I’m looking for a good man to take Donnie’s place on my team.”

  “Are you trying to hire Bodie?” Sarah was obviously not through with the conversation.

  “I’ve got to replace Donnie to make sure someone’s around to write little speed demons’ tickets.”

  “Oh.” Claudia joined in from where she was helping a customer. “You should hire Bodie. He could write Sarah tickets when she drives too fast.”

  “I do not typically drive too fast. If I didn’t know better, I’d think there was a conspiracy to make sure I keep my car going at a snail’s pace,” Sarah accused, winking at her customer as she put her tissue-wrapped snowflakes into a bag. “Oh, the joys of living in a small town.”

  “Isn’t it grand?” her customer asked.

  “That it is. Wouldn’t live anywhere else,” Sarah agreed, handing the woman the paper bag. “Thank you so much for shopping with us. We hope everyone loves their snowflakes again this year and that we’ll see you next year, minus the discussion on my driving habits.”

  While Sarah collected the woman’s money, Bodie regarded the sheriff.

  “Think about it, son,” the sheriff suggested. “Be hard to find a finer place to live than Pine Hill.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I really am just passing through. I have a job lined up I’ll be starting in January.”

  With Lukas at iSecure. He’d be back to making the world a safer place and helping his friend have more time with his wife and baby once Kelly delivered.

  Though his work wouldn’t really make the world a safer place, he corrected his thoughts. More like he’d be making the person or persons he was hired to protect safer.

  “I’ve read your background.” The sheriff’s cheeks turned a little pink as he seemed to recall why he’d performed a background check. “You’re more than qualified,” the sheriff continued. “Have more training than most of the men in my department. You change your mind and decide to stick around, give me a call. I’ll arrange an official interview.”

  The sheriff handed him a business card, and they shook hands again.

  Out of respect for the sheriff, Bodie put the card into his jacket pocket. He’d toss it later as he had no intention of calling the sheriff or of staying in Pine Hill. His life was elsewhere.

  His gaze cut to Sarah and she motioned to where her father and Maybelle headed toward them. “Looks like our shift relief is on the way.”

  Bodie glanced at his watch, surprised at how much time had passed while they’d been selling ornaments. Sarah greeted Maybelle and her father, kissing them each on the cheek.

  “If you two hurry, you can catch the last half of the parade,” her father suggested.

  “Oh, let’s.” She turned to Bodie and grabbed his hand.

  He glanced toward Harry.

  “The dog can stay with us if you want,” Maybelle offered, giving Harry a squinty-eyed look. “He won’t misbehave on my watch.”

  Bodie doubted anyone misbehaved on Maybelle’s watch, but he shook his head. “Harry will go with us.”

  At hearing his name, Harry’s head lifted and Bodie motioned for the dog to join him. Harry was immediately at his side, raring to go, and Bodie clipped the leash to his collar.

  Straightening, he turned to a visibly excited Sarah and couldn’t resist grinning. “Let’s watch this Christmas parade you keep talking about.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Sarah stole a look at Bodie, hoping to see complete enchantment on his face at the parade floats passing by.

  Not exactly enchantment, but he didn’t look bored. Keeping a tight rein on Harry, who was distracted due to all the people and noise, he was hunkered down next to the dog.

  “Hey, Sarah!” Carrie’s son, Jeff, called as the local high school football float passed by. A handful of candy rained down several feet in front of them onto the paved street.

  “He’s obviously not the quarterback,” Bodie mused.

  Picking up the candy from the pavement, Sarah laughed. “You’re right. He’s not our quarterback, but he is one fantastic receiver and a great member of our church youth group. An awesome kid.”

  Sarah handed the candy she’d picked up to a couple of nearby kids, then she rejoined Bodie.

  “Looks like he has a little crush on the special projects director.”

  “What?” Sarah frowned, shaking her head. “No. I’m sure he doesn’t.—What about you? Did you have a teenage crush?”

  He shrugged. “Not really. My teenaged fantasies all revolved around becoming a soldier.”

  “Seriously? No special girl from your past who still holds your heart?”

  Now why had she asked that? It wasn’t as if it mattered to he
r whether he did or didn’t have someone special waiting for his return someday.

  “I rarely dated, and it was nothing serious when I did. It wouldn’t have been right to try for something more when I knew I’d be leaving with no return planned.” He stroked his hand over Harry’s neck. “So, no, there isn’t anyone special from my past.”

  She barely heard the last part as the high school band moved their way, playing an upbeat Christmas tune and making conversation temporarily impossible. Which was just as well, as she might have said something silly, such as that she was glad he didn’t have someone special waiting on him.

  How selfish of her to feel that way. She should want Bodie to have someone, to feel love and happiness.

  Yet, hearing him say that there wasn’t someone special, that there never had been, pleased her in ways it shouldn’t. In ways that a friend shouldn’t feel about a friend.

  Ignoring her tumultuous thoughts, she swayed and sang along with the upbeat band. Later, in the quiet of the night, she’d think over the day, over how much fun she’d had with Bodie, and maybe then she could label the giddiness in her belly when he smiled.

  After the group passed, when they could hear each other talk again, Sarah asked, “How about band? Do you play an instrument?”

  Bodie straightened from where he’d been squatted with Harry and glanced toward her. “What is this? Twenty questions?”

  “Just curious about you.”

  “I was a boring kid in high school, Sarah. No sports, no band, no clubs, very few girlfriends. Just school, ROTC, and working for my stepfather. That kept me plenty busy.” Before she could ask another question, he turned the tables. “How about you?”

  “Me? I did a few school clubs, no sports or ROTC, and spent all my spare time away from school with my father, with Aunt Jean and the Butterflies, at church, or some combination thereof.”

  He adjusted Harry’s leash handle. “You left out the boyfriend part.”

  Her cheeks heated. Not from the thought of anyone from the past, but at the way Bodie looked at her, the way he seemed edgy as he waited for her answer. As if her answer mattered. As if she mattered.