A Christmas Charm by Gretchen Rose

Author:Gretchen Rose [Rose, Gretchen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798886530834
Publisher: Melange Books, LLC

Fifty-one hours after Olivia had handed off her cell phone to Annabelle, found the two of them seated at opposite ends of the innkeeper’s kitchen table, dozens of decorated sugar cookies on sheets of waxed paper spread before them. Annabelle dipped an index finger in a nearly empty bowl of icing and popped the digit into her mouth. “Well, that’s the lot of them,” she said. “Between the three batches we made the other night, I’d say we’re well-stocked. Time for wine.”

“Ugh, I don’t care if I never see another sugar cookie,” Olivia said. “Wine sounds good, though.”

“Ha!” Annabelle gained her legs, crossed to the kitchen counter, and proceeded to uncork a bottle of white. “Pinot okay with you?”

“Perfect.” Olivia gathered up the bowls of frosting and carried them to the sink.

“Just put them in the dishwasher,” Annabelle instructed. “I’ll store the cookies in containers once the icing’s set.

“Yes, ma’am.” Olivia did as she was told and then sat back down at the table. “Do you know, yours were the first Christmas cookies I ever decorated?”

“No!” Annabelle placed a wineglass before her and proceeded to fill it.

“Uh-huh. Mom wasn’t much for holiday baking, but we always had a beautiful tree.”

“Every family’s different.” Annabelle poured herself a glass of wine and then set the bottle at the end of the table.

“Here’s to you.” Olivia raised her glass in a toast. “You saved me.”

“Hardly.” Annabelle pulled a chair across from Olivia’s. “But right back at you, dear.” Annabelle clinked glasses with Olivia. “It’s been wonderful having you here.” She patted Olivia’s hand. “You’re like the daughter I never had.”

“And you’re like the mother I always wished for.”

“A compliment, indeed.” In the next instant, Annabelle seemed to grow pensive. “So, as someone who cares for you, and doesn’t mean to meddle…would you mind if I speak frankly?”

“Of course not.”

Annabelle set her glass down and paused, gathering her thoughts. Then she looked hard at Olivia, “Please don’t take offense.”

“Definitely will not.” Olivia’s brows knit up, nonetheless.

“I realize you’ve been through a lot, that your faith in men has been shaken.”

Olivia nodded. “True.”

“Given my own unfortunate history, my man troubles, so to speak, I believe I’m uniquely suited to offer advice.”

“Go for it. God knows I’m in a quandary.”

“Okay, here it is: Don’t let a bad experience sour you on the male species.”

“Uh-oh!” Olivia took a sip of her wine. “You’re on to me.”

“I’m dead serious.” Annabelle looked away, momentarily lost in another time. Then she turned back to Olivia. “If you do, you might fail to recognize the very best thing to have ever come your way.”

“Lance?”

“Precisely. Livy, I understand how you might feel that now’s not the right time to be embarking on another relationship.” Olivia nodded, and Annabelle continued. “But I want you to think about something. Will you humor me?”

“Annabelle, I would do anything for you. What is it?”

“How was it that you landed in the Crawford hayfield?”

“A momentary lapse in concentration,” Olivia said. “If you must know, I’d flipped down the visor to take a quick peek at my shiner.

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