with yet another Evergreen resident who seemed to believe in Christmas magic, but someone was crazy, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t her. Then again, if she did run across that snow globe, it couldn’t hurt to make a wish just in case. If that snow globe grants wishes, that would make one bestselling novel!
From up on the porch, a woman called out, “A little help?” She struggled with an armful of garland already adorned with silver ornaments. Definitely a two-person job.
“Oh! Excuse me. I’m helping Megan.” Elliott touched Hannah’s arm before acknowledging Katie. “Welcome to Evergreen.” He took the stairs two at a time to the rescue.
Katie wished someone looked at her the way Elliott had just looked at Hannah. “You two are the cutest couple.”
“Huh?” Hannah stepped back as if what Katie had just said made no sense at all.
“You two.” She pointed toward Elliott up on the porch.
“Oh. Us? A couple? No. We’re just friends,” Hannah insisted. “That’s it.”
“Oh. Sorry. The smiling and the banter and the back and forth…y’know, just the overall demeanor. I thought—”
Hannah gave an insistent, “No.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t buying that at all.
“Common mistake, but we’ve been friends since we were little. He runs the arts center, and he’s way too handso—Busy. We’re both very busy. Let’s get Megan to check you in. Shall we?”
Katie caught the stumble over Hannah’s words. That girl was more interested than she was letting on. From here, it was more than obvious. She watched Hannah trip over herself trying to deny it all the way to the steps, where Elliott stood smiling at her. This was adorable. “Sure. Let’s get me checked in.”
“Megan,” Hannah called up to the porch. “You have a guest. Who needs—you need to check her in.”
Katie wasn’t buying Hannah’s act that she was completely unaware of a little something between her and Elliott for one second. She followed her onto the porch, and before they got inside, all the lights in the garland and on the house came on at once.
Elliott stood there proudly with the cord in his hand, smiling.
Hannah lit up as bright as all of those lights. “Ahhh. It’s so pretty.”
His smile broad, he nodded, clearly pleased with himself.
Katie was pretty sure by the look on Elliott’s face that he was thinking something like, And so are you, Hannah.
Friends? Sure.
“Come in.” Megan opened the door.
Katie followed her inside.
Inside, the warmth from the brick fireplace in the living room washed over them. It felt so good after being in the cold damp air, and the room smelled good, too—like fresh-baked goods and Christmas. Tiny white lights blinked on the tree in the corner of the room, the light dancing off of dozens of clear glass ornaments. Fluffy white hydrangea and deep red poinsettias, almost the color of the exterior of the house, peeked from between the branches. Gorgeous golden ribbons swept in and out of the limbs from bottom to top in a flourish beneath a beautiful white feather-winged angel.
Megan pulled a card with Katie’s name on it from the card file on the desk. She handed her a barrel key on a ring in the shape of the sign out front.
Katie admired the old key. “How pretty.”
“Thank you. We’re so glad to have you here at Barbara’s Country Inn. You’re in the Holly room. It’s one of my favorites. I think you’ll be very comfortable in there. The light is wonderful in the afternoon. I’m Megan. My sister owns the place. Welcome again.”
“Nice to meet you,” Katie said. “I’m looking forward to my visit.”
“It wouldn’t be a B&B without breakfast. You’ll find everything you need to know about that on the desk in your room. If you’ll just leave the slip on your doorknob before you go to bed tonight, or bring it down and drop it off here anytime, we’ll take care of that. We host a gathering every night here at the inn with hors d’oeuvres and desserts. I call it Meet and Mingle, because it’s not just for the guests—locals stop in too.” Megan’s face was animated as she spoke. “I love how people always find common ground. It’s so lovely. I hope you’ll be able to squeeze in at least one night with us, but I understand with so much going on.”
“It sounds wonderful.”
“Good. There’s a complete calendar in your room of things to do in Evergreen during your stay. It’s right next to the complimentary basket of goodies.”
“You’ve really thought of everything.”
“We try.” Megan stepped