“Yes, I needyourhelp. I…”
She placed the hot chocolate on the counter, and he trapped her hand there, rubbing his index finger gently on top of it. “I don’t have a date for the Winter Formal next weekend, and I was hoping you would consider going with me?”
Georgia bit her lip before responding but knew the widening of her eyes and barely suppressed smile gave her away. “As your friend?”
Lake flipped her hand over and connected their fingers, letting his thumb lightly swipe back and forth over her palm. Studying it. Taking his time to respond. Looking at their hands linked together with a tenderness Georgia had never seen or experienced.
“No, Peaches. Not asfriends.”
15
JOY TO THE WORLD
CHRIS TOMLIN
NOW
Georgia spentmuch of December swept up in a blur of obligations. Something she became more and more aware of with every passing day. Glaringly obvious, in fact, after her discussions with Lake, Caroline, and Sadie and growing more painful as she was committed to fulfilling those previous obligations while also pursuing her work with the Best in Snow Show.
However, Georgia hadn’t anticipated the handsome curveball she’d been thrown in the shape of Lakeland Lovett or how much of a distraction daydreaming about him would be. She tried not to let her feelings regarding Lake get ahead of her. To not let her mind drift back to the unexpected, but enjoyable dinner with Lake’s family. To the insinuation that he, after all this time, might be interested in her. How he’d unabashedly looked at her over the table and given her one nod of his head.
Game on,his nod had said.I’ll fight toddler Spider-Man.
Even after he’d walked her to her car that night and let his hand just lightly slide down her arm with the simplest, sweetest squeeze before tucking her into the car, she wouldn’t acknowledge how her heart felt as if it had been squeezed tightly, too.
Could hand squeezes be tantalizing?Georgia thought decidedly, yes—but wouldnotdwell on it.
When Lake had leaned over her car door, his uniquely cinnamon and cedarwood scent drifting into her ancient Honda, making it smell like an intoxicating cozy cabin she wanted to curl up in, she hadnotbudged! When she awoke the next morning to another present on her doorstep—a gift certificate to the local day spa—she only half-heartedly scolded herself for allowing the man to so easily wiggle his way back into her heart.
No, Georgia needed to focus on the tasks at hand. The items highlighted, circled, and noted across her calendar and especially those she’d become increasingly excited about.
She looked forward to the days she would focus on networking with all of the small business owners—getting their partnerships and donations for the Winter Formal sponsored by the high school while also collaborating for the larger event and what she hoped would become a long-standing tradition.
And after brainstorming the Best in Snow Show with Lana, they’d decided to expand what was formerly a simple shop decor competition into a city-wide event. Thanks to the graphics Georgia had made, the initiation of a social media campaign, and the enlistment of assistance from Ginny and some of her friends from school to canvas, marketing had been a breeze.
The small business owners and the local community had jumped on the idea and theme:Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland. All participating shops would decorate for the traditional Best in Snow Show, where a winner would be chosen based on customer votes. They’d also coordinated a Best Beard competition, Santa impersonators, a Christmas parade, a Holly Jolly Cake competition, and the donation of hundreds of gifts for children in the community who otherwise would go without. And as a group, the small business owners had committed to donating fifty percent of their sales during the event to the Sugartree foster care system, creating a scholarship for high school students in the system who were hoping to pursue secondary education.
Georgia felt proud to be doing such work. Not because she’d done it herself, but because she was finally using those gifts she’d suppressed for so long, doing something she felt was worthwhile. Thankful God had given her a unique opportunity to serve. Her family and friends had jumped on board to offer support in various ways, and Lake had become irreplaceable as a source of information for the needs of the community, thanks to his volunteer work at the local foster center.
In an effort to step back from her role at Good Start, ever so slightly, and after speaking to her parents at length about the conflict between her heart and head, she’d promoted Sadie to manager. Sadie had graciously accepted, and Georgia felt as though she could take deeper breaths, sharing the load and, subsequently, relieving her of a weight she hadn’t realized she’d been carrying.
“Is everything set for tonight?” she asked Sadie as she bustled through the hallway door and into the kitchen. Georgia had been fighting a headache since early that morning. She thought it’d grown from the excruciatingly long conversation with Lana Peters over her husband’s desire to play the official role of Sugartree Santa from this year forward, but Georgia couldn’t be sure. Hours had passed, and she still couldn’t seem to shake the pounding in her head. Thankfully, Sadie had taken over set-up duties, so Georgia could rest.
Sadie stepped away from the counter used to prep food and began to check things off the list they’d compiled. “Yes, ma’am. You feelin’ any better? You look kinda peaky. Maybe you should just keep restin’.”
“No, no.” Georgia waved her off, the casual flick of her wrist feeling heavier than it should. “I’m alright. I’ve just gotta get through tonight.” She blew out a deep breath and wiped the same hand over her forehead. “After the holidays… I’ll sleep for a week.”
Georgia leaned her elbows on the counter. “But hey, no morema’ams, okay? We’re friends… You’re helping me and my family run this business. You’re basically a Remillard now. You’re one of us.”
Surprising tears shone in Sadie’s eyes but, just as quickly, disappeared as she shook them off and agreed, “Oh, um… okay, and… thank you, Georgia. No morema’ams…”
Georgia nodded, her head pounding with the movement, and Sadie continued, “So, supplies… We’ve got two hundred perfectly buttery, sugar cookies, icing piped and ready to go, tooth pics, sprinkles, plates, and napkins.” She pointed at each item, ticking them off the list. “Your siblings are out front setting up the tables to accommodate more people and…” she paused, wiggling her eyebrows, “you have a visitor out front.”
Georgia perked up, headache nearly forgotten. “I do?”
“Mmhmm.” Sadie skipped around the counter and grabbed Georgia’s hands. “Please, please,pleasetell me you have kissed that man, Georgia. I won't tell a soul. I promise!”
“What man?” Georgia asked coyly.
