Christmas Bells of Creekside by Ciara Knight

Author:Ciara Knight [Knight, Ciara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Defy the Dark Publishing LLC

13

The aroma and warmth of Café Bliss always soothed Noelle’s nerves. She set the cardboard carrier full of beverages on the long counter under the large windows that stretched down two sides of the café. She grabbed sugars and creamer since she didn’t know how Ashley and Keith took their coffees.

The glass only shielded from the weather, not from the sights. In one direction she’d be able to enjoy the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, but in the other direction she faced Ashley holding tight to Keith and leaning into him as if using him as a human shield to the cold.

Noelle watched Ashley turn from wannabe professional caregiver to amateur stripper ready to use him as her pole.

“She always was obvious in her affections.” Cathy West set her own cup of joe on the counter and pulled a Splenda from the square bin.

Noelle averted her gaze and dumped an unwanted packet of sugar into her cup, as if that would explain why she stood there like a puppy at the pound on adoption day. “I hadn’t noticed.”

Cathy swirled her brew with a wooden stick. “Really? I guess you don’t care, then, that her cheating on him was the best and worst thing that ever happened to my son.”

“No. Doesn’t matter. All I care about is if she’s going to be a good nanny for Micha.” Noelle waited for Cathy’s response, but she didn’t give it. “You did recommend her.”

“I said I knew her and that we could talk about it.” Cathy stopped stirring. “I’ll tell you one thing. She’ll never be as good with your son as Keith is. He doesn’t know it, but he was born to be a father. It would only take the right woman to show him.”

Noelle popped the top onto the drink and grabbed the carton, ready to run to Egypt or Antarctica to escape that thought. “I better go.” She rushed out the door and across the street, leaving Cathy’s words far behind and willed them to never catch up.

The cold air circulated around the park, but Ashley’s flirting could heat a six-thousand-square-foot warehouse during an arctic blast. “Sorry to interrupt, but here’s your drinks.” She set them down on the bench.

Ashley slid her hand in the crook of Keith’s arm. “Two creams and no sugar. I remember.” She hip bumped him. “I also remember huddling together under the bleachers after a football game with our coffees and each other to keep us warm.”

The aroma of coffee and grass and desperation filled the air. Noelle snagged her cup and faced the field where Micha played and considered calling him so she could get away from Ashley and Keith’s reunion. The one she’d encouraged but now didn’t appreciate watching. Why? She didn’t know. Okay, she did, but she didn’t want to admit that she didn’t like seeing a woman all over Keith.

“We certainly steamed up the windows of the car after the game, too.” Ashley spoke loud enough for Riverbend, the neighboring town forty-five minutes away, to hear.

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