I walked over to Seth in a daze, grinning. “I’ve never won anything before,” I told him.
He handed me the scented candle. “Well, I’m sorry this isn’t a better prize.”
I smiled at him, taking the candle and clutching it to my chest as I leaned in to smell thepumpkin-marshmallow scent. It was pretty strong, but I was proud of my win.
Everyone clapped, even the twin boys, but then they quickly started fighting over who would get to smell my candle first.
“Okay, I think it’s time for bed, you two.” Sarah swooped in and grabbed the boys, one on each hip. She looked back at me, smiling. “Loved meeting you, Ella. Hope to see you at the Fourth of July BBQ.”
“She’ll be there,” Maggie told Sarah.
“I will?” I asked.
Seth nodded. “You will. I need you on my team.”
I frowned in confusion.
Maggie leaned in close to me. “There is a cookout in town with three awards. Best BBQ, best chili, and best savory pie. Seth’s never won all three.”
“Ahh, I see,” I told her.
“He needs the best pie,” she whispered.
Now, it made sense. “You’re just using me for my baking?” I shot across the room at Seth.
He patted his belly. “Can you blame me?”
“Why don’t you enter with him?” I asked Maggie.
She grinned proudly. “I’m one of the judges.”
I smiled at her, feeling my cheeks hurt from so much happiness. Then a yawn pulled at my lips and I covered my mouth.
“Let me drive you home. Roads are icy,” Seth said as he crossed the room.
It was only eight p.m., but I was exhausted. Pregnancy took more out of my energy than I’d thought it would.
I nodded to him, pulling out my keys and handingthem over. I wasn’t going to argue. I hated driving on ice, even when it was just down the road.
“Bye, darling.” Maggie pulled me in for a giant hug. “See you Wednesday?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I told her. Widow group was my only social life. If I stopped going, I’d never leave the house but for work.
I held on to her, forgetting how much I loved hugs and how good James had been at them. Every day, at least three times a day, he’d just pull me into his arms and hug me. And now…other than Honey, no one touched me.
Maggie held on for as long as I did, and I began to grow embarrassed. Pulling away from her, I gave a nervous laugh.
But she just beamed at me in her usual way. “Merry Christmas, darling.”
I said goodbye to everyone else and then followed Seth out to my car, where he opened the door for me before getting in himself.
It was indeed icy. “You okay to walk back?” I asked him.
He nodded. “Brought my crampons.”
I frowned. “Crampons?”
He laughed. “Little metal spike attachments for the bottom of your shoe. I’ll have to get you some.”
