“You two are going to spoil me rotten,” he said, his voice hoarse and scratchy. Another cough shook his shoulders, and Mabel immediately rushed to his side, guiding him to his favorite armchair by the window.
“That’s exactly the plan,” she said firmly, tucking a soft throw blanket around his legs. “Now, you sit right there and don’t even think about moving. Vanessa and I are going to make you the best breakfast you’ve had in weeks. I’ll bring it up to you. And drink your tea.”
George chuckled weakly, which immediately dissolved into another coughing fit. “Thanks, sweetheart,” he managed between coughs, and Mabel felt a warm glow at the endearment, despite the rasping tone it was delivered in.
She came back down to find Vanessa cooking bacon and warming up the biscuits, and Mabel joined her at the stove to start on the eggs. The kitchen was filled in short order with the delicious smell of breakfast, and Vanessa’s stomach rumbled as she flipped the bacon.
“I might steal a piece for myself,” she laughed. “I only had time to grab a muffin on the way out, this morning. Jackson and I were up late going over plans for the lighting display on the house.”
“How is that going?” Mabel looked at her curiously, and Vanessa beamed.
“So much better, since we hired Henry to help. He came up with some amazing ideas. We’re going to do some shopping, and before we know it, our house will rival any of the others on Birch Street.”
“I knew the two of you would figure it out—George!” Mabel tsked as the sound of footsteps could be heard in the doorway, and George appeared in pajamas and his robe, looking tired. “I said we could bring it up to you.”
“I want to eat at my own table,” he grumped, sinking down at the far end. “It smells amazing. You’ve really outdone yourselves. Especially considering this ridiculous flu made me miss our caroling date.”
“I’m sure Mabel was looking forward to hearing your lovely voice,” Vanessa teased. “But there’s plenty of time left in the season to get your Christmas spirit going. You’ve got to get well first, though.”
“Speaking of Christmas spirit—” Mabel pushed the scrambled eggs around the pan, looking between George and Vanessa mischievously. “I’ve been thinking a lot about that, lately. It really has a way of bringing people together, doesn’t it?”
Vanessa narrowed her eyes at her grandmother. “You’re up to something. What is it this time?”
“If it’s resuming our pranks, I don’t think I’m up to it just yet,” George added, sipping his tea. “I’ll need to recover for a while first, I think.”
Mabel tried to look innocent, although she suspected she wasn’t entirely successful. “I’m not plotting anything, you two. I’m just observing the way that Christmas seems to open people’s hearts to possibilities they might not otherwise consider.”
George raised an eyebrow, his expression amused despite his illness. “Mabel Stewart, in all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never made an observation that didn’t come with a plan attached to it. So what wheels are turning in your head now?”
Mabel couldn’t help but laugh. After all these years, there was no claiming that George didn’t know her. “Well, if you must know, I’ve been thinking about Lincoln and Imogen.”
“Ah.” Vanessa looked knowingly at her. “And you’re scheming how to get them together. Look, I know there’s something there, anyone could see it, but?—”
“Something there?” Mabel repeated, her voice rising with incredulity. “There’s enough electricity between those two to power the entire Christmas light display on Main Street.”
George chuckled, which thankfully didn’t trigger another coughing fit. “I take it you have a solution in mind?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” Mabel scooped eggs onto a plate. “They’re not going to do anything about it on their own, obviously. Everyone knows they were high school sweethearts, and everyone knows they only broke up because Imogen wanted to stay and Lincoln wanted to go. And ofcourseit was good that they followed their minds instead of their hearts back then. They were so young, and precious little Katie wouldn’t be here otherwise. But they’re not as young any longer, and they have lives here now. There’s nothing keeping them apart except fear of heartbreak.”
“And things like the fact that Imogendoeshave Katie,” Vanessa pointed out. “What if Lincoln doesn’t want to be a stepfather.”
“Pssh.” Mabel waved a hand. “That man adores her. I don’t think he’d balk at that for a second. They’re just afraid of trying a second time and not having it work out again. And of change.”
“Those are valid fears,” George said, shrugging. “Maybe it’s best to leave it be.”
Vanessa added biscuits to the plates Mabel had set out, eyeing her grandmother. “So what are you thinking? Lock them in a closet together until they admit their feelings?”
“Nothing quite so dramatic,” Mabel said, although her tone suggested she wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea. “I was thinking more along the lines of a Secret Santa exchange. Maybe picking out a gift for each other would remind them how well they know each other—or need to get to know each other better all over again to know what to choose—and push them closer together.”
“Mm-hm.” George sipped his tea. “And I suppose you’d make sure they drew each other’s names?”
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t leave something that important to chance,” Mabel scoffed. “We could set it up at the toy shop. Make it a community-wide thing, encourage everyone to participate. It would be perfectly natural for both Lincoln and Imogen to stop by and draw names.”
Vanessa set the plates on the dining table and put the jam out, taking a seat across from Mabel. “You know, that’s actually not a terrible idea. And it would be good for business too. People love that sort of thing during the holidays.”
“Exactly!” Mabel clapped her hands together, delighted that her granddaughter was warming to the plan. “We could make it a real event. Maybe serve hot cider and cookies, play someChristmas music. Create a festive atmosphere that puts everyone in the mood for romance.”
George reached for one of the warm biscuits, spreading it with a generous helping of strawberry preserve. He frowned slightly at Mabel, clearly not convinced. “You realize, of course, that if this backfires, you could end up ruining a perfectly good friendship.”
