and then shook her head. “I suppose you’re right. If they wanted to reveal themselves to me, they would on their own. It might be better this way.”
“My thoughts exactly. Now, do you want the tree or not? In case you didn’t notice, it’s about ten degrees out here.”
Cora opened the door wider to let him in and led him up the back stairs, her lips pursing at the way he laughed heartily at her Christmas-themed kitchen.
“Look, I end up keeping all the stuff that doesn’t sell,” she replied in her defense.
Bart gave her a long look over his shoulder when he reached the top floor, balancing the tree on the landing. “I almost believe that. So why don’t you have a tree? Now that I’m here, I’m actually curious.”
“I’m surrounded by trees all day,” Cora replied, as she padded down the hall to her living room. She pushed aside an armchair to make space for the tree in the corner near the great big window that overlooked Main Street in all its wintery glory. “I mean, do you have a tree?”
He cut her a look. “Yeah. I have a tree. Of course, I do.”
Oh. Cora sniffed and backed away as Bart began expertly setting it up. She had to admit that it looked huge and beautiful and festive among the other decorations that, like the items in her kitchen, were mostly leftover from the shop.
“So you really don’t know who called about it?” she asked. Maybe she should ask him to check the order form, just so she could stop wondering and get on with her day.
“Maybe it’s a secret admirer,” Bart teased.
“Or maybe it’s my sister feeling guilty because she bailed on our Christmas Eve traditions.” Amelia had clearly felt bad about breaking the news to her. It would be just like Amelia to try to do something to cheer her up or smooth over the disappointment.
Bart shrugged. “Anyway, enjoy it. I should probably get down to the lot before someone comes along and swipes a tree.”
Cora considered this. There was never any crime in Blue Harbor, other than some occasional misdemeanors with teenagers or over-served tourists in the summer. “Has that ever happened?”
He laughed. “There’s a first for everything, right?”
Cora turned back to look at her great, big, beautiful tree that was all hers, in her home, and nodded. Yes, there really was a first for everything.
Even a new tradition.
*
A few hours later, after sending Natalie home to pick up her daughter from the sitter, Cora handled the last few customers of what would be a short work day and turned the sign on the door. Yes, she was closing early, but there was little point in staying open when the entire town would soon be heading over to the town hall for the gingerbread event.
And a few out-of-towners would hopefully show up, too, Cora thought.
She arrived ten minutes before the doors officially opened, telling herself that it wasn’t because she was excited at the prospect of seeing Phil and Georgie again, but because she wanted to have a chance to thank Amelia properly for gifting her the tree, before the day turned too chaotic. The more Cora considered the sender, the more she was certain it was her sweet-natured sister. (While Candy wasn’t shy about grand gestures, she would never be able to resist wanting credit.)
But when she arrived at the town hall, Amelia was frantically setting up the various stations, assisted by Maddie and, of course, Candy.
“Oh, another helper!” Candy cried out as soon as she spotted Cora across the room.
Amelia and Maddie both looked relieved, though Cora couldn’t be sure if it was because she had two extra hands or because she might be able to provide a buffer with their father’s girlfriend. Cora refrained from pointing out to Amelia that she never had to hire her to work at the café, but then, Candy was quite helpful, and eager to please.
Candy smiled at her and held up her flour-coated hands. “I’d hug you but I wouldn’t want to get you all messy.”
Saved! Not that there was anything wrong with a hug. It was just that lately, the person Cora wanted to be hugging her was…Phil. She could still feel his arms when he caught her on Thanksgiving, and she wasn’t about to admit how many times she’d replayed that day in her mind ever since.
“That’s okay, Candy. I understand,” Cora said politely. She glanced at Amelia, who gave her a pointed look, and