Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

I f she ate another candy apple or piece of pie she might need an ambulance. Or a very sexy firefighter to save her from herself, she quipped, taking another bite with a deep moan.

Ivy turned on her heel to a growing crowd behind her, all in line for their own slice and some hot cocoa. “Thank you, Mr. Mason.” She waved and moved to the side for the next person in line.

Pecan pie. Her eyes rolled back and she caught sight of pure Neve in that sugary goodness. She was tempted to get back in line.

Instead, Ivy dipped and swayed around running kids and scrambling parents. Circling young lovers with their arms wrapped tightly around one another. She could understand how the soft carols and atmosphere crafted a sense of community and friendship. Love. It was a time for love, after all.

White twinkle lights lit up the entire square. She bet the space station could see their little town. Street lamps, store windows and every booth…all the town had taken the time to wind them around the trunks of trees and string them across the expanse of the square.

She wouldn’t be surprised if they had to make a special order to outfit the place with so many bulbs.

“Magic,” she sighed.

Everywhere she stepped she bumped into a smiling couple. The tiny square overflowed with laughter from people of all ages. Some faces she recognized and there were those she didn’t. Visitors from her gran’s holiday efforts, she supposed.

She had to give it to her. The lady knew how to draw a gathering. Window dressings along the streets beyond the square created a halo of lights to surround the festivities. Booth after booth offered everything from homemade sweets tied up with pretty ribbons and warm beverages to toys and handcrafted souvenirs. Many of them featuring their very own Rocco.

Speaking of, she wondered where the mischievous critter was now. Her gaze followed giggly laughter and found her on the opposite side of the square accepting carrots from bubbly kids. If they were not careful he’d have the best night of his life with all the low hanging lights strung across the square.

On the far end she caught sight of the empty stage where the second main attraction would take place marked with a large red banner across the front that read Annual Cookie Contest.

To the right, booths offering knickknacks and holiday baubles. And across from those she spied Hardt’s booth decked out with a large white and gold banner announcing his bakery and world-famous recipes. Opposite him, Mr. December’s banner flashed with lights and a life-sized dancing Santa singing “Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer.” Both men bustled behind the counters as they prepared for the Christmas cookie contest.

She read over the flyer she’d received from Mrs. December on the activities planned for the evening. First up came the ugly sweater contest, then the pie eating contest and a small play that would be performed by the elementary school followed up by the cookie contest and ending with the main attraction—the Christmas tree lighting. In all, a couple of hours of delightful fun.

Ms. Lucille emerged from the crowd with Charlie at her side.

“Wow. They really went all out this year. I don’t remember a tree this tall growing up.” Ivy tilted her head back to take in the entire height of the town’s tree.

“Joe really came through for us this year.”

“I’ve been told it pays to be connected.” Referring to Aspen’s earlier statement. Ivy handed Ms. Lucille the second slice of pie and hot cocoa. They finished their treats in a comfortable silence, as Ivy absorbed the contagious wave of happiness that infected everyone within a hundred yards of all the smiling people.

Flashing red lights and bubbly laughter drew her gaze to the far end of the square next to the stage. A red engine slowly crept to a full stop. Five firefighters descended from the rig, but only one caught her eye.

Unaware that she watched, Ivy took her time sipping her cocoa as Aspen bent and lifted a little tike up to sit behind the wheel of the fire engine. Another came up and wanted to pull the horn and he laughed, indulging them all. Horn blasts and flashing lights filled the night as every kid had the chance to experience the excitement of meeting firefighters.

“He has a heart of gold, that man.”

And the hardest, hottest body she couldn’t get enough of. But she kept that to herself.

Ivy nodded at Ms. Lucille’s words. “He does. He’ll make a good husband one day.”

“I agree. You guys will make the perfect team. It’s about time you guys got your second chance.”

That had her choking on the last bite of pie. “You sound so sure.”

“I saw that kiss in the gazebo. He’s not playing. From the look in her gaze and the way you kissed him back, you’re not fooling anyone, missy.”

That gave Ivy pause. “Am I crazy to think it’s possible, Ms. Lucille?”

“Anything is possible if you want it bad enough, dear. Sometimes it just takes knowing what you don’t want to see what you really want. You need to remember, I knew you when you were youngsters. And I know real love when I see it.” She paused and patted Ivy’s hand before standing. “Enough of the mushy stuff. Let’s have some fun. It’s almost time for the ugly sweater contest and we need to get you in the running. Don’t want all that hard knitting time to go to waste. Plus, Santa has a hard-on for this kind of stuff.” Out came the sweater she desperately didn’t want to wear.

“Look, it even matches your red skirt and white blouse. Oh, honey, you missed a button.”

“What?” Ivy looked down. “Oh!”

Ms. Lucille’s eyes lit with mischief. “Nice sleigh ride?”

The heat that hit Ivy’s face had to be glowing bright red.

“Come, let’s see if that sweater of yours can beat mine and Charlie’s. We both can use a new set of frying pans. Those always come in handy for newly married couples.”

Ivy opened her mouth and then shut it when Ms. Lucille challenged her to say anything with her renowned stare honed from years of teaching.

She looped her arms through hers, Santa’s knitted hard-on on full display hanging down her chest. “Yes, ma’am. Lead the way.”

They made their way through the crowd and she slipped out of her coat and passed it to Mr. Murphy.

“Wish me luck.”

“Oh dear.” Ms. Lucille and Mrs. Murphy cringed in unison. “Yes, I think you have a real chance of winning this one.”

“Charming, I know,” she shrugged and stepped in line with the other contestants. Smiling faces looked back at her and the fun commenced.

Two hundred eyeballs looked on and she swore she could hear the seconds tick by and the tiny gasps. The mayor walked across the stage with his clipboard and took notes, taking extra time when he noticed Santa’s nipples also blinked. Ten minutes later she walked away with second place winner and a blender for her efforts. Ms. Lucille and Charles, on the other hand, made working as a duo look easy with their matching ugly sweaters.

As the cheers died down the flock of on-lookers migrated to the cookie contest a few feet over.

Silence fell over the crowd as the mayor ascended the stairs once again to perform the taste test that would determine if the Hardt and December feud would finally come to an end. Or if it would continue for another year. She predicted the latter, but she kept that to herself. If she mumbled even a word of her suspicions, Mr. December might need smelling salts with how the color had leached from his cheeks from worry.

From beside her Mrs. December made a sound of impatience and tugged Ivy’s hand into her own for support. “I think if this goes on for another year I might up and move to Florida. At least there I won’t have to worry about baking. It would be too hot!”

Ivy laughed lightly and wrapped her arms around her friend’s shoulders for support as they watched Dixen’s mayor take the first bite of Hardt’s then the second of Mr. December’s cookies.

Yep, she could tell by the way he equally rolled his eyes.

Mrs. December didn’t find the mayor’s expression at all funny. If she had known it would be so nerve-wracking Ivy would have offered to bring some of her eggnog and wine.

“TIE!” A commotion of cheers, whoops and boos rang out through the throng of people to the shocked expressions of Hardt and December.

“Called it!” Aspen hollered from beside her and confirmed her exact thoughts.

“Yep. I think everyone but the Decembers and Hardts saw that coming.”

“I think the mayor knows his answer before he even takes a bite.”

“True. He’s probably keeping the cookie feud going so he can get reelected each year. You know, so in the hopes of one day finally picking a favorite.”

“You have a twisted mind, Ivy Sunday.”

“I’ve been told. I’ve also been told my mind will eventually lead me to lonely crazy cat lady status.”

“Not if I can help it.” She smiled up at Aspen.

“Ivy? Is that you?”

Ivy turned and her heart sank to her feet as her stomach rolled into her throat.

Rage roared to life in her like a bolt of lightning struck.

“Lewis. What are you doing here?” Disgusted, she let it show on her face with every ounce she could muster.

“I…ugh…was hoping we could talk. I made a mistake.” His words came out a jumbled rush and for a second she thought she heard him wrong.

“A mistake?”

“I miss you, sweetheart. I didn’t realize how much I loved you.” Lewis looked between her and Aspen and she felt more than saw Aspen pull away from her.

Lewis dropped to one knee and her eyes nearly fell from their sockets. “What are you doing, Lewis? Get eh fuck up.”

Everyone was staring. This could not be happening. “Lewis. Get. The. Fuck. Up. You’re not wanted here.” She pulled at his arm.

This could not be happening. What did she ever do in her past life to muster the wrath of her Ivy Effect!

“Hey, Aspen,” called one of his crew. “We’re needed. Something is faulty with the switch to the tree. There’s smoke and sparks.”

Aspen quickly excused himself and she was left alone with Lewis on one knee and a crowd gathering thinking she was being proposed to.

“Ivy Sunday Winters.” He pulled a ring from his pocket, the one she’d mailed back to him, unable to actually face him after he humiliated her. She looked at the diamond, no longer caught in the shiny beauty of the rock or the passion she once had for all the plans she had worked out. But more disgusted with herself than him for not seeing past his slimy exterior. How could she have ever seen anything in him?

“There’s nothing to see here folks,” she turned and addressed the crowd, catching a glimpse of Aspen as he looked her way from the fire engine.

Fury from the depths of all those nights she’d wasted crying over Lewis came out in a fiery string. “No, Lewis. Not now and not ever.” She paused for a moment, looking into his eyes. “Actually, I’m glad you’re here. This way I get to look into your eyes and tell you how much your actions hurt me. How much I trusted you and you betrayed that trust, you slimeball. You don’t get that back once it’s gone. I wish you happiness and I take mine back from you, Lewis. My fate and future are no longer held captive by you. I will not marry you, take you back or even entertain the idea of being friends. That’s earned, just like my trust, doucheface.” She turned on her heel to the sound of cheers and atta-girls from the crowd. One, in particular, caught her attention and she stopped midstride.

“Gran?” She gasped, shocked.

“Yes, sweetie.” Warm, comforting arms wrapped around her as the crowd dispersed and Lewis lumbered across the square to a waiting car and slipped from her life. Adios bitch! A weight lifted and she felt a million times lighter. As though anything could happen now. Anything in the world.

Ivy pulled back, “What are you doing here? I’ve only called you a thousand times!”

“Harry and I just arrived. I got each of your calls, but I see you handled everything with a magnificent Winters flare. That’s my girl.” Gran hugged her again. “Now, let’s catch the tree lighting and then we can have a nice long chat back at the B&B. You can tell me how you and Aspen are doing and I’ll tell you all about how Harry proposed.”

“Gran!”

“Surprise.” Gran flashed a beautiful golden band with a solitaire diamond that caught the light.

“You never disappoint, Gran. You know they sent me here to keep you from doing crazy shit. I’m going to get fired.”

“Not if I can help it. Besides, who says what’s crazy and what’s not?” They found a place in the crowd and watched as the mayor once again performed his duty.

Lights went on and the crowd cheered, but Ivy couldn’t focus or enjoy the magical moment.

Aspen was gone.