Eli frowned. “Shouldn’t that be Noël?”
Aileen chuckled. “No, silly. It’s your names. You know, like Brangelina?”
Noah looked horrified. “Who did that?”
She snickered. “Elsie, obviously.”
Within minutes the bakery filled with neighbors, volunteers, and half the lantern crew from the night before. Every person congratulated them, some hugged them, some cried, and one person tried to ask about wedding dates.
Eli leaned against Noah. “I thought I’d become acclimatized, but this is a lot.”
Noah’s breath tickled his ear. “It’s Mapleford,” he murmured. “And this is subtle for them.”
“Do I get to congratulate the happy couple too?”
Eli froze. Mom stood in the doorway of the bakery, Trevor at her side, the kids outside playing at sword fights with giant candy canes.
He had a feeling this was Aileen’s doing.
Eli smiled. “Mom, this is Noah.”
Mom smiled. “When I heard, I said we had to stop by and meet your fiancé.”
Trevor shook Noah’s hand. “You made a rocking chair for our neighbor. She’s never out of it. Beautiful work.”
Noah thanked him.
“Mom, can we go skating?” Eli’s half-brother yelled through the door.
Mom rolled her eyes. “Kids nowadays. They always want something, don’t they?”
Noah laced his fingers through Eli’s and squeezed.
Eli straightened. “I’ll see you soon, Mom.”
And with that, they were gone.
“You okay?” Noah asked him.
Eli squeezed his hand. “I’m fine.”
Everything he needed was standing beside him.
Amid the bustle, Aileen reappeared with hot cocoa for both of them.
“I meant what I said last night. You two aren’t working today,” she said in a stern tone.
“Aileen—” Eli began.
“Nope. Not happening.” She crossed her arms. “Noah, your work is done. It’s Christmas Eve, you’re engaged, and the universe owes you a day off. Go be in love somewhere else.”
Eli’s throat tightened. “Aile?—”
“Don’t make me shove you out the door,” she warned, her eyes shining. “I don’t want to see either of you until tomorrow morning. But if you turn up in matching Christmas sweaters, I may heave.” She hugged them both again. “Now escape while you can.”
As they left the bakery, someone shouted, “Hey! How about you two kiss for the crowd?”
Noah grabbed Eli’s hand and made a break for it. They stumbled along the road laughing, their breath forming white clouds in the cold air.
