Small Town Christmas (Blue Harbor #4) - Olivia Miles Page 0,46
was clear he was struggling.
“Like what?” Georgie asked excitedly.
“Oh, like…Christmas shopping,” Cora said. She hadn’t even started shopping for her sisters yet, or her cousins. She supposed she’d have to think about what Candy might like, too.
She sighed. Gifts in her family were carefully chosen and sentimental. Did she really know Candy well enough to know just what she might like?
Sadly, if she didn’t, that might just be her doing.
“Oh, shopping.” Phil looked stricken. “Yes, I suppose that is a very important tradition.”
Sensing he might need a little help in that department, Cora took a breath and offered, “I’m going shopping Saturday afternoon. If you guys want to join me. I know all the best spots in town.”
Phil grinned. “It’s a date.”
Cora winked at Georgie, who skated off happily.
A date, Cora thought, fighting off the smile that made her heart beat just a little faster. And just in time for Christmas.
9
It wasn’t like Cora to rely on an assistant quite so much, especially with Christmas being less than two weeks away. But then, it also wasn’t much like Cora to have social plans that didn’t include one of her sisters or cousins, either.
“You sure you don’t mind?” she said to Natalie as she wound her scarf around her neck.
Natalie laughed. “You sound like a new mother about to leave her baby behind so she can get her nails done. I was the same way when Zoe was born.”
Cora gave her a rueful grin. “This store is my baby. It’s more than that, even. It’s…well, it’s everything to me.”
“All the more reason to go do something nice for yourself. You work hard. And the store will be fine. I do know what I’m doing, you know.” Natalie’s look was pointed.
It was true. Natalie had excellent customer service skills from her more permanent job at the big hotel on Evening Island. She knew all the merchandise, and where it was located, and could field any questions someone might have.
Cora felt the tension in her shoulders relax. “Thanks. And you know where to reach me if you get swamped.”
“Anything exciting planned?” Natalie asked as Cora finished sliding on her gloves and straightening a few displays.
She skirted her eyes, focusing instead on setting up a few of the holiday themed stuffed animals in an open toy chest. She was doing something exciting today. Something thrilling, really. And out of character. And she didn’t want to get too ahead of herself considering that Christmas was less than two weeks away, and that it would be the last day that Phil would be in town.
Still, her stomach fluttered when she stood up. “Oh, just a little shopping.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “Don’t remind me.”
“Still have to tend to Santa’s list?” Cora knew that Natalie’s seven-year-old-daughter was the light of her life.
“Oh, she’s easy,” Natalie said, with a brush of her hand. “No, I still have to buy for my sisters. Bella is easy because I always get her something related to literature, but Heidi is trickier. And of course I need to get something for my mother, and she never uses anything I buy her. Last year, she regifted one of my gifts to her to Aunt Miriam! Like I didn’t notice! She tried to say it was because she liked it so much that she thought her sister would too, but I knew better.” Catching Cora’s eyes, she clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide in horror.
“Oh my, Cora,” she pleaded, swallowing hard. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. That was so insensitive of me.”
Cora brushed away her apology. “Please. I’ve listened to my friends and cousins talk about their mothers for years now. You shouldn’t feel uncomfortable.”
“I know, but—” Natalie looked on the verge of tears.
“My mother has been gone for nearly half my life,” Cora told her matter-of-factly. “Please don’t tiptoe around me.”
Natalie pulled in a steadying breath. “Let me at least make it up to you.”
Cora gave her a little smile. “You already are. I opened this store because my mother loved the holidays, and it was my way of honoring her. The fact that you love it as much as I do is the best thing I could have hoped for from any assistant.”
Natalie grinned. “Too bad you don’t need me full time. But then, I do like island life eight months of the year, and the ferry ride is a good way to scout out eligible men.”
Cora laughed. Unlike herself, Natalie wasn’t quiet about her hunt for a romantic partner.