I scurried to keep up with him, basking in the cloud of cinnamon and love. “I’m not going to get you in trouble by being here, am I?”
“No, I was in trouble from the minute you hit me with that snowball.” He smiled and took my hand. “I had to wait to touch you, though. A security camera is over there.”
“Oh. Okay.” I kept an eye out for any other dark globes hanging from the ceiling. “Thanks for the cookies, by the way.”
“You’re welcome.” He led me to a back area where they prepared the baked goods and stored ingredients. A few coats hung on a rack mounted to the wall, so that’s where I hung my bag. There weren’t any cameras here, and the whole place smelled like sugar and cinnamon.
The indie holiday specials playing through the venue quietly shifted to an instrumental piece from The Nutcracker. I gasped and turned around, waving my arms like a dove. “This is my theme song. 'Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.' I have to do one last performance, especially while I still have the outfit.”
Harvey straightened his spine. “Does this make me the nutcracker?”
I grinned and faked some ballet. “You are many things, Harvey: an artist, a manager, a baker, a grinch.”
He laughed and twirled me into his arms. “I am?”
My fingertips landed on his chest. “You’re also my prince.”My daddy, my person.I lowered my gaze and stepped closer as he leaned in, encircling me with his arms.
His heartbeat was strong, even through two layers and an apron. We swayed, his dark, curious gaze steady on my face. If I tilted my face up, we’d kiss. But I wanted to savor this for a minute, and my boyfriend was incredibly patient. The flour and sugar on the counters was a pretty kind of snow for our little wonderlan. A leafy light fixture might as well have been our mistletoe.
I’d found so much love as Sugarplum. So much magic. I’d danced, caroled, and candy-caned my heart out…right into the hands of a wonderful man and a possible new career path. I’d always treasure my season as Sugarplum. Now, it was time to honor that magic and put it to rest.
I turned, guiding Harvey’s hands to the zipper on my dress. “I’m ready.”
He eased the uniform down and pressed gentle, ticklish kisses on my simmering skin. “I love you, Shelby.”
Hot tears of relief pressed against my eyelids. I let out a shaky, happy breath and hung my head, my knees wobbling as elation flooded my veins. I hadn’t expected him to say it yet—or to keep being so attentive when he had his own adventures. But here, stripped of my uniform, he was giving me strength.
“I love you too,” I said. I loved who I was around him. I loved his nurturing manner, I loved the way he listened and took charge. I loved that he thought about stuff so hard. I loved that we could play and talk about anything at all. I loved us.
Harvey nuzzled the back of my neck. “I feel like we should celebrate again.”
Our declaration warranted more than a slice of a cake. My hair grazed his chest as I turned to trace the soft scruff on the side of his jaw. “Merry Christmas.”
“And happy new year," he said softly.
We kissed, the soft embrace melding into a silent promise that we’d be together for many more celebrations.
40
Christmas
On Christmas morning, the cookies I put out the night before were untouched on my desk. I wiggled my toes and scooted up to taste them, basking in the company of my bright red poinsettias. As a kid, I liked to think Santa saw the effort I put into making him a plate and let me eat most of the cookies because he knew how much I enjoyed them. It was my favorite gift, especially since I didn’t get that many from my family. Sugar and spice started the day off nice. Memories of Harvey and our tryst in the bakery just made it that much better. I sent him a good morning text with a dozen emojis and scooted out of bed.
My throat was dry, so I made some tea to go with the baked snack for breakfast. Mom was still sleeping, or the bedroom door was closed, anyways, so I went back to my room to savor the early morning quiet. I wrapped my comforter around my shoulders and ate in bed, watching snowflakes drift outside my window. The chill from outside seeped through the walls, but my mug warmed my fingers. I didn’t have anywhere to be until 3PM. Technically, I didn’thaveto be anywhere else after this,although I had set up dates with Harvey for later in the week. I’d have to figure something out in the meantime.
I blew on my tea. Not a person was stirring—not even a cousin. Or a plow truck. Outside, everything was a blank slate of snow.
Strangely enough, today didn’t feel any more special than my average day working at the mall. I had a whole season of celebration. Shelby had a very different role than Sugarplum for the holidays: show up, babysit, and pass out gifts. Once that bonus check hit my bank account, I could get back in business. Part of me wanted to relax and put my aching feet up for the next week, but another part was eager to keep chasing my passion—and that didn’t just mean playing with Harvey. I wanted to make some magic.
I finished my breakfast and put on my boots. Every step jingled. The bells invigorated me to grab a shovel, pop in my earbuds to listen to Christmas carols, and clear my aunts’ driveways. I scraped and sweated, singing under my breath between snow hauls.
Aunt Coral’s door banged open, startling me enough to straighten my spine. An earbud swung out of my ear as I turned around.
Zack froze on the front stoop, his gaze darting across the driveways and his jacket hanging open. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you a Christmas present.” I beamed and propped my fist on my hip. “What do you think?”
He blinked a couple of times and furrowed his brow. “You didn’t have to do that.”
