When Maddie had called Kim to set up today’s get-together and Kim had discovered that Maddie worked at Sweet Art inside Merryweather Historical Village on Saturdays, she’d suggested they meet during Maddie’s lunch break.
They stood on the lip of the village’s central lawn, the brick of Sweet Art at their backs, watching Kim’s two daughters chase each other across the grass.
“I’ve been meaning to bring the girls here ever since the village put up their Christmas decorations.” Kim exuded both warmth and energy. “Don’t they look fabulous?”
“Fabulous,” Maddie agreed.
Kim, whose voice held a distinct southern accent, launched into a story about the O Holy Night Christmas Concert she’d attended at the village and the nativity donkey who’d snuffled through her purse in search of the apple she’d stashed there.
Kim had clothed her sturdy body in relatively fancy clothing for a weekend. Heels. Wide-legged jeans, a black-and-white print blouse, purple jacket. Her dark, glossy hair hung in a layered cut. Her makeup had been expertly applied, which filled Maddie with a burst of admiration.
Though Maddie herself didn’t wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis, she was somewhat in awe of those who could wield makeup brushes with the kind of skill Kim possessed.
“Do you enjoy working at Sweet Art?” Kim asked.
“I love it.”
“I bet you do! Notice I’m not even looking in the direction of your chocolate shop because if I do, I’ll gain five pounds.” A rich chuckle. “I’ve only been in there a few times because those chocolates y’all make are too delicious. My willpower’s not strong enough! How’s it possible that you can work there and stay so thin?”
Free chocolate was a perk of Maddie’s employment at Sweet Art. However, she hadn’t been born with an I-can-eat-anything-I-want-and-be-thin metabolism. Like most humans, Maddie had to exercise and watch what she ate in order to stay in shape. “I only let myself have two chocolates a day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon.”
“Are you the one who makes the chocolates?”
“No, Britt Bradford does. I’m convinced that she’s a chocolate genius.”
“Such a genius!”
“I handle everything else that keeps the shop running: I wait on customers and manage the website, the online orders, and the financial side of the business.”
“That’s awesome,” Kim said. “I think I met Britt and her family at a function once. There are three Bradford sisters, right?”
“Right. Britt’s the youngest. Then there’s Nora, who works at the Library on the Green Museum here in the Village.” Maddie nodded toward the museum. “Willow’s the oldest. She opened her own boutique in Shore Pine this past summer.”
Just then, she caught sight of Leo walking toward them, holding Charlie’s hand. Both Leo and Charlie wore navy jackets over their jeans. Maddie had woken this morning to her alarm clock and a breakfast of Cinnamon Chex. Would that she’d woken up to those two. They were sweeter than Cinnamon Chex. Her heart contracted with longing.
“Did you dress Charlie like your mini-me on purpose?” she called as they neared.
“What?” Leo asked with genuine surprise. “No.” He glanced at Charlie, then down at himself. He gave her and Kim a sheepish smile. “It does look like I planned this, doesn’t it?”
“It looks adorable,” Kim insisted, before Maddie could.
Maddie introduced Leo and Charlie to Kim, then held her arms out to Charlie. “Morning, sweetheart.” He took a half-unsure, half-hopeful step in her direction. She gripped beneath his arms and swept him high into the air. Laughter tumbled from him.
“Again,” he said.
“Please,” Leo prompted.
“Please,” Charlie repeated.
Maddie swept Charlie up again, then snuck in a quick hug before depositing him on his feet.
Kim’s girls came to stand near their mom, panting slightly from all the running they’d been doing. Both had long espresso-colored hair, olive skin, and dark, liquid eyes. “These are my daughters.” Kim ran her hand down the braid of the taller one. “Victoria’s eight.” She set her hand on the shoulder of the younger one. “Samantha’s six.”
“Nice to meet you,” Leo and Maddie said.
Samantha gave Maddie a timid smile, but Victoria peered at them with worried suspicion.
“Say hello please,” Kim instructed them.
