Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
“Someone’s chipper,” Bethany says.
Shimmying my shoulders, I grin and say, “Yep. Christmas is coming, business is doing well, and the place next to me has finally sold.”
She jumps up and down, nearly dropping her bag on the floor. “Oh, that’s great news. Celeste’s probably doing cartwheels.”
“Well, not in her condition,” I say. Celeste just found out she’s pregnant and is really starting to show with her twins.
“No. Definitely not in her condition, but she could use the money from the sale.” The house was left to her since she’s the only one left her family, which made her quite sad. They never got to know each other.
“Absolutely. Girl, any news on who the baby daddy is?”
“No. Unfortunately it was one of those drunken one-night stand things after her grandfather died, or at least that’s what she said.”
“Do you think there’s more to her story?”
“I don’t know, but she’s not that kind of a girl.”
“You never know. Maybe he’s fine as hell. I know I might fall into a hot guy’s arms if I was drunk and sad.”
“True. Well, we don’t have time to think about it. Let’s get to baking, girl.”
“Let’s do this.”
“So, where’s Glen?”
“Right here.” He comes in with his gear on. “I’m ready to get this baking on. My wife is ready for an entire house full of treats for her kitchen when her family stops by next week, so I need to get some each day.”
“Oh, goodness. Your house is going to be overflowing again.”
“Tell me about it, but maybe it will keep my mother-in-law’s mouth so stuffed she’ll be quiet.” We laugh and get to work. She can be a real pain in the neck. Glen and his wife have been married for nearly twenty years, and she’s still telling them how to do things as a married couple.
“So, guess what, Glen? The Manchester place has finally sold.” I’m equally excited and nervous about getting new neighbors.
“I know. My wife told me this morning.”
“What? How did she find out?”
“That’s what took me so long. Sheila saw Sanders on the way there while she was grabbing the newspaper.”
“Oh, yeah. You’re his neighbor, right? Totally forgot,” I say. He’s one neighbor I’m glad doesn’t live next door. If he did, I’d sell and move upstairs in the apartment above the bakery. Right now, it’s used for storage and a temporary bed when it gets too crazy and driving through a blizzard seems too much to handle.
The oven’s preheat setting goes off, letting me know it’s ready. “Time to get these in the oven.”
“I got them.” Glen grabs the trays while I open the doors, and we load the first two batches of cookies into the oven.
We work like a well-oiled machine, and by the time the doors open for business, we’re ready with fresh baked goods and hot drinks.
My morning and afternoon pass by in a blur. I grab the marker for my dry-erase calendar on the wall and swipe another day off. We have two weeks until Christmas. A smile spreads across my face.
A clicking sound comes from the side, and I turn to see Bethany standing there with her phone. “What? You should see your face. So cute.” I smile, and she snaps another.
“Quit it.” I swat at her from a distance, missing her by a mile, but it did stop her and she tucks her camera away.
“These are going up in the shop. You could be a model. Seriously. Gorgeous. Maybe we can find you a husband.” I roll my eyes and pout because she’s no better than I am. At least I have the excuse of being the owner of the bakery. She chooses to hang around and come back after her shift and classes end.
“I’m not looking for one.”
“Stop lying.” She’s right. I want a husband and a family to share the holidays with, but I haven’t found the right guy. Still, I won’t admit it. “Now go home and get ready because I’m sure there’s a team of people waiting to help you set up your decorations.” So many people have been waiting for me to get my decorations up. I’m one of the last individuals, and I’ve been sad. Work has left me so busy that I haven’t had a chance.
“I’m leaving now. Are you sure you have it all for tomorrow?”
“Absolutely. Now go.” I rush out the door and into my car. And just like Beth says, the second I get home, I have several of the town’s most eligible men there to help. I feel guilty using them for their brawn when I’ve turned them all down for dates, some as most recently as today.
“Thanks, fellas, but I totally got this.”
“We know you do, Holiday, but why not have help?” Heath asks, giving me smirk.
I feel like a jerk after they’ve all taken time out of their day to come here, and maybe their motives are just to be nice. I can’t assume everyone wants me to go out with them. “Okay.”