A Newport Christmas by Cindy Nichols

Author:Cindy Nichols
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prickly Pear Press

CHAPTER 15

Faith had set out on foot toward the pier after she left Jen’s house—it was a glorious, clear day and she loved walking on the boardwalk. As she passed the fancy houses that lined the beach, the festive Christmas decorations caught her eye. There were palm trees wrapped in twinkle lights, all the way up to the top, and life-sized Santas holding surfboards.

But she started to notice all the decorations that had a snowy theme—reindeer in snow, snow-dusted pine trees, cut-outs of people ice skating with fuzzy hats and mittens. She’d lived in Southern California her whole life, and it was more likely to be too hot on Christmas with a zero percent chance of snow. But the Christmas fever was alive and well, even if in people's fantasies.

She passed through the parking lot of the pier and glanced toward the space she’d parked in—and cried in—when she’d met Gene, and smiled. He’d really saved her that day and she was still grateful, although she hadn’t seen him much since then. She’d missed several calls, though, and she was looking forward to seeing him now.

“Hey, Faith, over here.”

She looked around and saw Gene waving from in front of one of the coffee spots. She waved back and headed in that direction, the seagulls waiting for scraps from the Dory Fish Market scattering in front of her.

She gave him a hug, and it felt good to see him. So she told him so.

“I am so sorry that I missed your calls. For the sewing ladies to be off on vacation, I sure seem have been busy. But it’s very nice to see you now. Thanks for trying again.”

Gene nodded and smiled. “I’ve been anxious to hear about your new plans for after Christmas, and if you’re going to be able to increase production.”

So much had been going on at the beach house that Faith hadn’t really felt like she could or should talk about the business much. Jen was having such a rotten time pulling off her Christmas plans that it just didn’t feel right to be so excited about her business, and the opportunities that were unfolding.

But telling Gene was a different story entirely. Since they’d met he’d been keenly interested in everything she talked about, as if he knew what it was like to run a business. He had fantastic suggestions, and Faith had followed through on every single one of them and was anxious to tell him about how they’d worked out—or hadn’t. He had the same business spirit and was the first one to say, “If the first thing doesn’t work, try the next ten on your list. Something will.”

“My pleasure. Anxious to hear what’s going on. But first, let’s check out this mushroom thing. A friend mentioned it and said it’s good.”

“I’m always up to try something new. At least once,” she said as they entered the shop and ordered.

They took their drinks back outside and began to stroll down the pier. “Okay, you try it,” Faith said with a laugh.

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