Hannah wasn’t a fan of doorbell cameras, but she needed to consider getting a camera she could put outside that would notify her of anyone coming to her door. She wished she could just brush off her fears as paranoia, but she couldn’t take that chance. Hannah pulled out her laptop, and within five minutes a camera with a phone app was ordered. Once that was complete, a wave of exhaustion hit her. She dragged herself to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth, and then she practically crawled into bed. After double-checking that her alarm was set for the morning and her notifications for any texts from Kate were on, she closed her eyes and fell asleep, thinking about the community group she planned to build.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Kate was fueled by the largest peppermint mocha coffee Donnie offered in his bakery. “I can’t believe you won’t be at the Mistletoe Market,” Kate said as she took another large swig of the tasty brew.
“I’ve got all I can handle keeping the bakery stocked and having time for all the special orders I get.”
“You’re a victim of your own success. If you didn’t have the best brownies in the tri-state area, you might have time for the market.”
Donnie chuckled and absentmindedly ran a hand through his grey beard. And then he realized what he’d done and took off his plastic gloves and put on a new pair. “So, how about you? Are you ready for the market?”
“More than ready. I’m going to,” She’d almost told Donnie about buying the building and then she stopped herself. Until it was a sure thing, she wouldn’t share. “Erm, I’m going to bedressed as the Grinch for pet photos, complete with a green face full of makeup.”
“That’s right, I saw that on the Marley Creek Community page.”
“I’ve only got a few slots left open on Sunday. Today and tomorrow are totally booked.”
“Congrats,” Donnie said.
“Thanks!” Kate said. She headed out the door and down Main Street to the Mistletoe Market. As she got closer to the market, the smell of roasted nuts was in the air. It was still over an hour until the market opened for the season. Kris Kringle and his elves would officially kick off the season and hand out candy canes and tote bags to the first two hundred shoppers. A brisk wind was making her ears burn from the cold, and she was glad she’d be wearing the furry Grinch suit for most of the day. For at least the fiftieth time, Kate was grateful Hannah had come up with the idea to do pictures with the Grinch. She’d arrived at work this morning to a list of emails confirming pet photos. At this point, she had no doubt the last few times on Sunday would be gone before the end of the day.
Her ears and face heated as she thought about the joy she felt every time Hannah’s eyes lit up when she had an idea she couldn’t wait to share. She thought back to a night in early November when they’d spent the night together. Kate had complained about her feet hurting, and Hannah listened and then offered to massage her feet. It had felt so good to have Hannah’s delicate fingers gripping her feet. A shiver ran through her that had nothing to do with the cold. And then her stomach tightened. She’d almost forgotten that she needed to break up with Hannah. Her heart sank, but she pushed those feelings away. Her number one and, really, only priority in life right now was to make the money for the down payment. If she saw Hannah today at the market, she would be pleasant butstandoffish and not mention anything about getting together. That should help lessen any surprise Hannah might have when Kate told her she didn’t want to see her anymore.
As she turned toward the entrance to the market, Kate blinked quickly. There were already at least fifty people waiting to get in. Plus, there was a long line that had already formed outside Kris Kringle’s large wooden chair. Kate saw a curvy brown mom wearing a baby on her chest, and her heart stopped. No, there was no way Brittany had a baby now. Not possible–Brittany had said over and over how much she did not want to have a baby. Then again, Brittany had also said the thought of her ex-boyfriend touching any part of her body made her want to puke, right before she’d left Kate for him.
Kat shook her head, dispelling the thoughts of both her ex and her current attraction. Her shoulders climbed up so high that the trunks of her Christmas tree earrings brushed against them.Concentrate on work. No time for this.She made a beeline for her hut. Might as well have it ready to go now—hopefully, those families in line with their kids also had pets at home. She moved to the back of her space, where she’d set up a screen and put the Grinch costume over her leggings and long-sleeve shirt. Once it was on, she painstakingly put on the green and black makeup using a tutorial she’d found online. Kate had what she described as a strong opinion on how her displays should be set up. She puttered around, moving the Santa hats for cats and the pre-made stockings for dogs. Then she looked through a large box that had been delivered late on Wednesday and entered the stock numbers into the point of sale app on her phone. Lost in her work, she stopped thinking about Hannah until hours later, when she heard a familiar voice singing along with music coming from the small stage by the food vendors.
A lopsided grin broke out on Kate’s green makeup’d face. Before she could stop herself, her green floppy paw was in theair, waving to Hannah. Hannah waved back with a hand holding a churro that was at least a foot long. Kate froze as Hannah walked over. She had to be less interested. Kate looked left and right as best she could while wearing her green furry hood. No customers in sight. It was the afternoon lull. All the current shoppers were either in line for food or listening to the band playing “Winter Wonderland,” the tune Hannah was still singing as she stood at Kate’s counter.
“Hey there!” Hannah said as she leaned across the wood, trying to kiss Kate’s cheek. Right before Hannah could make contact, Kate wheeled away.
“I don’t want to get this makeup messed up.” She winced, realizing her words had come out harsher than she had wanted. “And I don’t want you to get green all over your face.”
Hannah’s eyes were cast downward.
“Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?” Kate asked.
Hannah shrugged. “It was okay.” Kate paused as the air around them shifted and a few snowflakes blew past them.
The music at the stage stopped and the sound of people leaving the area and heading back to the huts filled with things to buy and taste replaced the sound of Christmas music. “Looks like the crowd is headed this way!”
Hannah adjusted her glasses a few times. Kate had figured out last week that Hannah fidgeted with her glasses when she was anxious or upset. She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, and then she closed it with a snap. They were not a couple. Over the past few weeks, she’d been imagining what it would be like to share a home with Hannah. Hannah would obviously move in with her. Smoky would be part of the deal. Did Hannah have a stocking for Smoky? Would Kate be annoyed by black hair getting on her clothes? Of course she wouldn’t. There went her mind again. This had been happening more and more, even on the way home from her parents’ house. She’d wondered whatit would be like if she brought someone to her parents’ house again.
Hannah walked away through the crowd of people. Kate watched her as she made her way down to the end of the huts and then turned the corner. At least they weren’t close to each other. Bittersweet longing flowed through her veins, and she pushed back the hood of her costume. The frigid blast of wind smelled of snow and forced all thoughts of Hannah out of her head.
“Hi! We’re here for our photoshoot.” It was the woman she’d thought was her ex. Now that she was face to face with the woman, she realized she looked nothing like Brittany. Kate confirmed their information and swiped their credit card. In a flurry of sales and photoshoots, the day and the rest of the weekend passed in a blur.
It was after nine p.m. on Sunday when Kate finally had a chance to prop her feet up and relax. She rarely felt older than she had in her twenties, but after three straight days of standing on concrete for twelve hours a day, her feet were shot. She soaked them in a tub of hot water and Epsom salts and wished Hannah was there to massage them. Did she really have to cut things off with Hannah, she asked herself for the hundredth time. Each time her brain answered the same, it’s too scary to love someone who you’d have to see after the breakup. You can’t risk it.
Resolved, she decided it would be best for her to call things off via text and not with a phone call. Knowing full well it was a craven thing to do, she started typing. Her stomach roiled as she typed out a pathetic “it’s not you; it’s me” message and hit send before she could flip-flop in her intentions again.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Tomorrow was the first day of December. Hannah could finally start opening her crystal Advent calendar. She crossed her fingers, hoping the calendar would contain a lapis lazuli, the stone of friendship. Nothing else could be a better sign that the new year would be the best time to start her Marley Creek Community For All group. She still wasn’t sure about the name or even if she should decide on a name and then ask people to join, or ask people to join and vote on a name. In any case, she was glad she’d set aside the Advent calendar when she brought them to the Mistletoe Market. They had sold out before she closed on Black Friday. The weekend had passed in such a blur.
She’d only been able to see Kate for a few minutes on Friday. She had hoped that Kate would have asked her to come over or maybe even out for dinner, but she hadn’t. There had been a constant parade of people with pets passing by her, so Hannah knew Kate’s pet photos were a hit. Hannah smiled broadly–she had helped make that happen. Hannah loved being able to helpfriends, and to be able to help Kate? After all Kate had shown her? That made her feel as if she was an equal, even though Kate was practically in a different generation than her. More importantly, Kate had made her feel like she knew what she was doing. She’d taught Hannah not to be afraid of her own pleasure and how to give that pleasure back.
Hannah was lying in her bed watching a Christmas movie she hadn’t seen before while Smoky kneaded the blanket next to her. Monday was a rare day off, and she planned to stay home in her pajamas all day. The worries over Chad had been pushed into the background as she worked at the market. Not only had the promise of snow been in the air all weekend, but she was feeling the magic of the holiday season. It was as if the universe wanted to confirm that this was a time she should be rejoicing and celebrating. The song “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” began playing on the TV as the requisite cookie-making montage scene began.
