Around and around her thoughts circled.
Around and around.
Chapter Six
Mrs. Pottinger was a member of Bethel Church. A recipient of the spiritual gift of hospitality. And the owner of a mansion that reminded Maddie of a modern art museum. The home’s polished stone floors seemed to stretch for acres in every direction. Towering white concrete walls supported pieces of art the width of minivans.
Every year on December twenty-third, Mrs. Pottinger graciously hosted a party for the Mission:Christmas volunteers and their dates.
Maddie set a gluten-free iced sugar cookie, then a slice of flourless chocolate cake onto her plate as Rat Pack–era holiday music burbled beneath the hum of conversations.
Notecards had been placed next to several of the platters, letting guests know which items were gluten free, dairy free, nut free, vegan, or sugar free—a gesture wholeheartedly appreciated by Maddie. If a platter had no accompanying notecard, it basically signaled, “Full of all the bad stuff and extremely delicious. Eat at your own risk.”
Mrs. Pottinger had chosen a dark green and white Christmas decorating scheme. Fir trees were located in every common room of the house, each tree adorned with nothing more thanglittering crystal ornaments that resembled icicles. Wreaths of glossy leaves hung in strategic places, and similar garlands coated mantels and marched down the length of the tables.
The vibe was extraordinarily sophisticated and chic, which left Maddie feeling sophisticated and chic, simply by virtue of being a guest.
She added a scoop of candied walnuts to her plate.
Fortunately for Maddie, Leo had arrived without a date this evening. If he’d shown up with another woman, she firmly suspected that she would’ve choked on her peppermint hot chocolate. He’d found her shortly after he’d arrived and stayed by her side. They’d mingled and chatted with the other volunteers until one of his female colleagues at the college had swept him into a discussion about Abbott.
Maddie paused at the mouth of the great room. Her attention tugged, inexorably, to Leo. He was still talking with his colleague.
Tonight he wore a gray suit, white shirt, black tie. His hair was slightly disordered. Thick scruff on his jaw. He could have belonged to the Rat Pack himself, dressed as he was. If he grabbed one of those old-fashioned microphones with the long metal heads, he could cause an audience of girls to faint dead away.
In actuality, he had a brain filled with academia instead of music. In actuality, he was too humble to call attention to himself by singing to a crowd.
How long until she could wrest him back from that woman?
Maddie was on the verge of seeking out her mom when she spotted Britt’s two older sisters, Willow and Nora, and decided to turn her steps in their direction.
Britt’s sisters greeted her with hugs. Because of Britt, Maddie had known them for ages. She’d always liked them, and so she tried not to be envious of the happiness they’d both found overthe last year and a half with their wildly impressive men, both of whom were standing alongside the sisters this evening.
Britt’s oldest sister Willow, a former model, now ran a boutique in nearby Shore Pine, which was half full of women’s clothing, half full of house accessories, and entirely full ofbeautifulitems. A few months back, she’d married former quarterback Corbin Stewart.
Corbin was so over-the-top famous that Maddie always felt tongue-tied in his presence. She compensated by trying to seem casual about his celebrity, as if she hadn’t noticed that he had one of the most recognizable faces in American sports.
The middle sister, Nora, owned both Merryweather Historical Village and the heart of John Lawson, a former Navy Seal who now ran an emergency-response training company.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” Maddie said to Nora and John. The couple smiled at each other, their deep affection palpable. “I haven’t seen you since, so this is my first chance to tell you how happy I am for you both.”
“Ask to see the ring,” Willow encouraged. “It’s lovely.”
“Yes, please!” Maddie said. “May I?”
Nora extended her hand, and Maddie made an awestruck noise. Nora’s ring reflected Nora’s admiration for all things retro. It harkened back to another era with its square diamond and its halo of pavé diamonds. “It’s gorgeous,” Maddie said honestly.
“Thank you.” Nora took a sip of her drink. “Has Britt been behaving for you at Sweet Art?”
“Yes, for the most part.”
“She hasn’t goaded you into any hikes that go straight uphill lately?” Corbin asked.
“Not since last month,” Maddie answered.
“Has she acted like an eccentric artist and stayed up all night chasing inspiration for a new chocolate recipe?” Willow asked.
“Not since last week.”
