“She doesn’t need anything else added to her plate.”
“Maybe you don’t keep her plate full enough.” Brayden slipped his phone from his jacket pocket. “Should I call her and ask?”
“Sounds like it’s all settled.” Mom’s smile was dangerously cheerful as she fumbled with her phone. “I’m going to enter the four of us into the local Christmas cookie-baking contest. If you don’t have a favorite recipe,” she said to Pamela, eyes still fixed on her screen, “I have a few you can choose from. Winning team gets five hundred town bucks.”
“I don’t bake—”
“There! We’re all entered. Tuesday evening.” Mom dropped her phone back in her purse, refusing to meet Ava’s assessing gaze. The woman didn’t know how to take down a photo posted on Facebook, but she entered thefourof them into the baking contest with lightning speed? There would be words later.
“Sounds fantastic.” Brayden eased back against his chair, his smile smug yet somehow charming and butterfly-worthy.
Before Pamela could object, the server appeared with a full tray, handing out entrees. For several minutes, conversation evaporated completely. Ava had been meaning to try out Whitmore Patio since it opened, but time always seemed to work against her. Then the budget. But she wished she’d treated herself before now, because the food was amazing. The same Whitmore sister who originally shot down her Christmas basket pitch before she gave her a maybe—Tessa—was a professional chef who left behind the big-city life to open the charming lodge restaurant.
“This food is amazing!” Mom exclaimed. “Makes me want to move back.”
Ava nearly choked on her final bite of mushroom risotto. “How’s Jamie?” she asked, eager to remind Mom why she couldn’t possibly leave Minnesota.
“Cranky.” Mom cut the last of her salmon. “Course, when I was thirty-eight weeks pregnant with you, I was a grizzly bear, too. You’re not comfortable, you don’t sleep, and your back hurtsallthe time.”
“Jamie’s my youngest sister,” Ava explained.
“You’ll find out soon enough if this one decides to put a ring on your finger,” Mom added with her overly cheerful smile.
“Mom!”
“Ladies, it’s been a lovely evening,” Brayden said, scooting his chair back. “But Ava and I both have work to do tonightandearly tomorrow morning. We have to get ahead to make the baking contest, you see.”
“And the Christmas sweater party!” Mom added. “Monday at four thirty.” She looked at Ava in apology. “Jamie refused to let Trey stay up too late. Can you work that out in your store schedule?”
Ava couldn’t get her coat on fast enough. “I hired Rilee, remember? She’s happy to cover as often as I need her, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the wedding.”
“I don’t know how you afford this,” Mom muttered.
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Ava said. “Mrs. Young, it was nice meeting you. Let Mom show you the sights. Sunset Ridge is a wonderful little town. You should try to enjoy it while you’re here.”
She and Brayden made it as far as the Christmas tree centered in the lobby before they were stopped again. “Ava, wait!” Cadence called after them, rushing their way. “Do you still have those Christmas baskets?”
The tension from the awkward family dinner dissipated, until she spotted the moms exiting the dining room. Ava discreetly shuffled back one slow step at a time until she and Brayden were nearly hidden beneath a ledge. If she didn’t need these sales so desperately, she’d make an excuse to bolt. “Yes, I do.”
“I talked it over with my sisters, and we decided they would be lovely gifts for our lodge guests staying over the holidays.” Cadence revealed a notebook, flipping through dozens of pages before she found her spot. Unfortunately, Mom’s curiosity was clearly piqued, and she was heading over. “I made a list of guests staying between now and Christmas. You know, how many, which ones have kids. That sort of thing, since you offer different sizes.”
“Did you want to email me your order?” Ava suggested as Mom paused to admire the tree, tugging on Pamela’s arm and pointing at one of the ornaments.
“I have it right here. I need them as soon as you can deliver. Tomorrow morning, if you can manage it.”
Ava had a few assembled baskets taking residence on her couch and dining table. Though the dinner had wiped her energy and she craved nothing more than some hot cocoa and a fuzzy blanket, she could work tonight. Every sale mattered.
“Tomorrow morning is doable,” Brayden answered, placing his arm around her waist as the moms glanced at them together. Ava was more worried about the mischievous twinkle in Mom’s eyes than Pamela’s unconvinced scowl. “Even if Ava has to hire an elf to make it happen.”
“Wonderful!” Cadence ripped out a notebook page and handed it to Ava. “These are the quantities of each. I’ll have a check ready for you in the morning.”
Hope filled Ava at the total number.Thirty-two. It wasn’t enough to save the store, but it was definitely more than she’d hoped from the lodge. “We’ll drop these off in the morning.”
“Please use the back door. We don’t want to spoil the surprise for our guests.”
“Of course.”
As Cadence stepped away, Mom dashed toward them. Pamela lurked near the tree, preoccupied with her phone. “Please let me take a picture. I won’t post it on social media.”
