Small Town Christmas (Blue Harbor #4) - Olivia Miles Page 0,8

store.”

“Oh, I’ll be careful. I already found something I want, too.”

Phil glanced at Cora with a bemused grin and let his daughter lead him to the back of the store. Cora watched with a quickening of her heart. She couldn’t help it. Tourists came through Blue Harbor all the time. Summer season here was like a Midwest playground. No one had ever caught her attention like this before.

Before she had time to turn her thoughts back to reality, Georgie was back, holding a stuffed toy in the shape of a reindeer.

“We’ll take the toy,” Phil said.

“Of course!” Cora stepped behind the counter, wishing that their visit to the shop wasn’t ending so quickly.

She took her time wrapping up the package. Georgie had swiped another cookie, not that she minded. She decided to use the opportunity to feel out the situation.

“Is this your first time in Blue Harbor?” she asked.

“I used to visit as a kid,” Phil said distractedly. He pulled his wallet from his pocket and retrieved a credit card before changing his mind and pulling out some cash instead.

“Daddy lives in Chicago,” Georgie informed her.

Cora hated the way her heart sank. Blue Harbor saw many tourists from Chicago. Her own sister Britt had lived there for years. It was just that Chicago was about half a day’s drive away. And this man, well, he was just a Christmas fantasy, wasn’t he?

She forced a smile. “Well, if you have a chance, you might want to stop by Buttercream Bakery. My younger sister owns it and she made those delicious cookies you like so much, Georgie. And I happen to know that right now, her store is full of Christmas treats.”

“Can we, Daddy?” Georgie asked excitedly.

“I’m not sure we’ll have time while we’re in town, honey,” Phil said, much to Cora’s regret as much as Georgie’s.

Georgie frowned dramatically and then shifted her stare to the snow globe on the counter. “Is this the wishing ball?” she asked Cora.

Cora was happy to prolong their visit. She leaned into the counter and waggled her eyebrows, playing along. “It is. Now, it doesn’t play music anymore, but I think that’s because it’s more interested in listening than telling us something.”

Georgie studied the snowy scene in the globe. “It looks like Blue Harbor.”

Cora smiled, knowing this was why her mother loved it. “It does.”

Georgie stood up straight and gave her father a stern look, one that said she meant business. “I know what I want, Daddy. To make up for pizza on Thanksgiving,” she clarified.

Pizza on Thanksgiving? Cora raised an eyebrow and Phil winced. Adorable. And clearly guilty.

“I thought this toy was your make-up treat,” he said, motioning the object that Cora was slowly wrapping.

Georgie shook her head. “This toy is because I can’t have a dog, because you and Mommy live in separate houses and because Mommy’s new husband is allergic.”

Now it was Phil’s turn to look pink in the cheeks. He flashed Cora a look of apology, but she just smiled and continued her wrapping. Slowly. So slowly.

“Okay, then, what’ll it be? A trip to the bakery?” Phil’s smile looked a little pained.

Georgie picked up the snow globe and said, “I want to spend my Christmas break here, in this town in the snow globe. In Blue Harbor.”

Phil let out a tense laugh and scraped a hand through his hair. “Honey, remember what I said about asking for something within reason? I have business waiting for me in the city.”

“You’re always working!” Georgie cried. “Even at Christmas!”

“Christmas is just one day of the year, Georgie.” Phil seemed to stiffen.

It took all of Cora’s might not to comment on that. Christmas was an entire season. She should know. She’d made a business of it.

“You said you have business here,” Georgie pointed out. “And you said that you would make up Thanksgiving to me. And this is our first Christmas together in a long time! And I don’t have any school or anything because of the move!”

Phil blinked at his daughter while Cora held her breath at the exchange and pretended to be more interested in the toy she was wrapping.

“And besides, this is a Christmas wishing ball,” Georgie said, smiling triumphantly. “And the nice lady said that whatever you wish for with this has to come true.”

Phil flashed a look on Cora. Cora winced and held up her hands. Obviously, her vote was with Georgie, and her motive was only partly ulterior.

Phil shifted his gaze down to his daughter, a long, hard look that