Chapter 14

14

The upstairs light switched on, and there stood Adele in her fuzzy pink bathrobe, smoothing down her hair and frowning. "What on earth are you doing?" she called down to Frankie.

"Bringing you your phone, which you left behind," Frankie replied. She grabbed a shoe and held it up. "And what are you doing?"

Adele's chin lifted. "None of your business."

"I come in here and trip over a shoe twice as big as yours, and it's none of my business?" Frankie demanded. "What's going on, Mom?"

"I have company," Adele replied stiffly.

Mr. Bellagamba appeared behind Adele looking red-faced. His sparse dark hair was mussed, and his hefty stomach was hanging over red reindeer-dotted pajama bottoms like a giant mushroom cap.

Frankie dropped the shoe. "Mr. Bellagamba, um, Merry Christmas?" she tried. It was the best she could come up with.

"Oh, go home," Adele said irritably.

"I want to marry your mother," Mr. Bellagamba assured Frankie, and put an arm around Adele's shoulders. His expression begged Frankie for absolution.

Adele was right. Frankie needed to go home. She managed a nod, then left.

This was... She couldn't even find the right word. Weird? Unexpected? Naughty? Nice? Where did Adele's behavior fall on Santa's list?

Naughty. Adele should have told her family she was seeing someone—a lot of someone in this case, more than Frankie had wanted to see, for sure—instead of sneaking around like a misbehaving teenager. Or at least hung a Do Not Disturb sign on the front door.

Once home, Frankie called Stef. Stef needed to know what their mother was up to.

She could hear voices and music in the background as Stef answered, "Heyyyy." She was obviously enjoying her night out with the girls. Everyone except Frankie was enjoying the night with someone. The thought didn't improve her mood.

Stef was in no condition to digest this news, so instead of sharing it, Frankie demanded, "Do you have a designated driver?"

"Calling Uber," Stef assured her, clearly buzzed. "Why don't you come join us? I can crash at your house afterward."

"I have too much to do tomorrow. And you do, too. Don't stay out all night," Frankie snapped, and then ended the call.

Okay, that had been bossy. But somebody needed to watch over Stef, and obviously their own mother was too busy to. Sheesh. Frankie wandered into the kitchen, found some leftover scraps of gingerbread from her earlier baking and wolfed them down. Then she went upstairs to take a long, hot bath.

The woman staring back at her from the bathroom mirror looked downright cranky.

"Shame on you," she scolded her reflection. "You have no reason to be cranky."

It took her a long while to settle down for sleep. Concern for her mother eclipsed self-pity, and she began to worry that Adele had rushed into this relationship and would wind up getting hurt. Mr. Bellagamba was a widower, had been for several years, and he seemed nice enough. But would this last? Would he last? In spite of all that walking around the neighborhood, delivering letters, he wasn't in the best of shape. What was Adele thinking?

Every time Frankie closed her eyes she either saw that big shoe or Mr. Bellagamba's reindeer pajama bottoms.

If Mitch had been around, she'd have discussed her feelings with him. The thought of Mitch not being around had her punching her pillow.

"Oh, stop," she told herself. "Go to sleep."

She and Mitch would catch up the next day after all the festivities. As for her mother...mother knew best, right?

True to her word, Adele was already at the shop the next morning and making cider for their Santa Walk customers in the electric hot pot in the back room when Frankie arrived. She didn't turn around when Frankie walked in.

Frankie suddenly found herself at a loss for how to start this conversation. Did you sleep well? Uh, no. How long has this been going on? Too accusatory. This was more awkward than she'd thought it would be.

She didn't have to say anything. Adele launched them into it. "I love him," she said softly, still not looking Frankie's way. "And he loves me."

That said it all. Frankie put an arm around her shoulder. Just like Mr. Bellagamba had done the night before. "I'm glad, Mom."

Adele finally looked at her, her brows pulled together. "Are you really?"

"Of course. You deserve to be happy. But why didn't you tell me?"

Adele let out a sigh. "I worried that maybe you'd think I was being disloyal to your father."

"This from the woman who's been telling me that Ike would want me to move on?"

"Doesn't make sense, does it? Do as I say, not as I do."

"So, you thought I'd be mad."

"I wasn't sure. I was waiting for the right time to tell you girls."

Frankie frowned. "When you first started seeing him would have been the right time."

Adele nodded. "I know. I thought we were going to be friends at first. But then, things changed. He's such a lovely man. And I am going to marry him. We're not just fooling around. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I have a lot of good years left in me, and I don't want to spend them alone."

"And you shouldn't," Frankie said, and kissed her mother's cheek. "I want you to be happy, Mom."

"I am. Can you say the same thing?"

"Of course I can," Frankie said, blocking out the memory of her sour attitude from the night before.

"Don't wait as long as I did to let your heart be happy, daughter dear. The joy far outweighs the risk."

Did it? Did she really want to risk starting a life with a new man only to lose him?

"I'm glad to see you joyful," Frankie said, "but make sure Mr. Bellagamba knows that his kids have to share you two on the holidays."

Adele smiled. "They've all scattered to the wind, and none of them are making it back for Christmas. He's looking forward to your open house."

"Good. I'm looking forward to getting to know him better."

Adele hesitated, then asked, "Have you told Stef?"

"Did I tattle?" Frankie translated. "No. I'll let you tell her."

"Thank you. Mario and I will tell her on Christmas Eve."

"Mario? Like the game?"

Adele shrugged. "He saves the princess, right? Well, this Mario saved me."

So sweet, so romantic! That comment deserved a hug.

Then it was time to put the mini candy canes and chocolate Santas in the big bowl they used for downtown trick-or-treating and open the shop. It would be just the two of them in charge as Elinor would be busy being Mrs. Claus, and Natalie had the day off to be with her family.

"I can handle things here on my own for a while if you want to go on over and see how Elinor and Mitch are doing later," Adele said, and Frankie decided that would be a good idea. They'd get some shoppers after the parade, but many would be standing in line with their children to see Santa or checking out the artisan vendors and food booths in the town square, so Adele should be able to handle things.

The parade wouldn't start until eleven, but by ten in the morning, when the shop officially opened, people were already setting up camp chairs along the parade route and dropping into shops to take advantage of bargains and enjoy the various treats shop owners were offering. Snow was predicted for later, but for the moment it was holding off, hiding in a gray sky and merely breathing down cold drafts to keep everyone stamping feet and clapping mittened hands to stay warm.

"Hot cider, just what we need," said one shopper as she and a friend entered the shop.

"And bargains," added her friend.

"We've got both," Frankie assured them as a young couple wandered in, both ready for the cold in their parkas, jeans and boots. He wore a Santa hat, and she had on a plush brown reindeer one.

Chatting with them, Frankie learned they were newly engaged and wanted to buy something special to commemorate their first official Christmas. Frankie had the perfect ornament for them, a rustic wood circle with Our First Christmas carved into it, along with two connected hearts.

"Perfect," said the woman, and smiled at her man.

Watching them brought back the memory of Frankie and Ike decorating their first tree. Adele, who was into the Precious Moments brand, had bought them a first Christmas ornament that they'd proudly hung on the tree, right next to the personalized one his mother had sent them with their wedding picture on it. After they'd decorated the tree, they'd started Christmas music playing and made love under it. They'd also made Natalie that night.

Other customers were coming in, and there was no time left to hang out on Memory Lane. Frankie rang up the couple's purchase, wished them a Merry Christmas and then got busy helping the next person in line.

The hour before the parade went faster than a reindeer on speed, and before Frankie knew it, Viola was at the store, informing her she was going to miss seeing Santa if she didn't get outside.

Frankie could hear the Carol High School marching band playing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" as she and Viola squeezed into the crowd.

There they marched, in all their red uniformed glory, almost in tune. Behind them came the drill team, in black leggings and boots and red sweaters, Santa hats perched on their heads. They were followed by the local dance school, which had a gaggle of sugar plum fairies and little lords a'leaping.

Grandma's Tree Farm had a truck decked out for the holidays with a giant decorated tree in the truck bed, surrounded by elves tossing out candy for the kids.

The nearby equestrian riding school followed, the pooper scoopers walking behind with their shovels. Actors from the community theater, who had been performing A Christmas Carol , were walking behind them, with Bob Cratchit holding Tiny Tim's hand as the boy limped along beside him. They were followed by a scowling Scrooge and other Dickensian characters.

The police and fire department were out in force, the firefighters waving and throwing candy—more sugar overload for every child in town—while the police looked properly serious. Except on seeing Viola, Terrill grinned and waved as his wife jumped up and down and blew him kisses.

Two floats from neighboring towns lumbered by with their local princesses waving white gloved hands at everyone, then came the main attraction—Santa and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh.

Even that scraggly white beard and the padding couldn't hide the fact that Mitch was a handsome man, and Frankie's heart gave an appreciative flutter as he waved in her direction. Elinor made a cute Mrs. Claus in her red cape worn over her Mrs. Santa outfit that Frankie had loaned her. She, too, should have been waving, but instead she was snuggled up against Mitch with her arms threaded through one of his.

"Wave," Frankie called to her.

Elinor probably hadn't heard because she stayed glued to Santa.

Frankie's mouth dipped down at the corners. What was Elinor doing, for crying out loud? And why was Mitch letting her do it?

"They're sure cozy," Viola observed as Mitch smiled at Elinor.

Frankie's frown embedded itself more deeply.

"I thought you said she was into William Sharp," Viola continued.

"She should be," said Frankie. All those times he'd been coming into the store, all those cozy conversations. What had that been about?

"It doesn't look like it."

It sure didn't.

"You did want Mitch to find someone," Viola reminded her, and Frankie forced her lips into a smile.

"I did," she said. "But..."

"But what?"

"Elinor's not right for Mitch." That was the problem. There was no jealousy here. Frankie could feel Viola's assessing gaze on her. "What?"

Viola pointed a finger at her. "You're jealous."

"Of Elinor? I certainly am not."

"You certainly are. All that talk about finding someone for Mitch," Viola mocked.

"I did want to find someone for Mitch. Do," Frankie corrected herself.

"Looks like you succeeded," said Viola.

"Don't be ridiculous. He's just giving her confidence a boost."

"That's some boost."

"They are Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. They have to look the part." Although Elinor was playing her part a little too well, if you asked Frankie.

"I guess. I've gotta go meet Terrill at the station," said Viola. "He's off tonight. See you at the Santa pub crawl later?"

"Probably," Frankie said. She and Mitch had done the pub crawl for the last two years. It was a tradition. They could crawl and drink and talk, and she'd find out exactly what he was thinking encouraging Elinor. And if need be, she'd explain that Elinor wasn't right for him. Elinor was too quiet, too shy.

Except she hadn't exactly looked shy in that sleigh.

The sleigh trundled on, and the crowd closed in after it, moving like a human wave in its wake. Frankie left Adele in charge of the store and joined them, making her way to the gazebo in the town center where Santa would be seeing children. Just to make sure Elinor was doing her job properly.

There was a crowd of parents and hyped-up children waiting to see Santa. Mitch was already on his Santa throne, listening intently as a little girl shared her holiday wish list, gesturing excitedly with mittened hands while Elinor stood nearby, beaming, looking like she was born to be Santa's missus.

Well, good, Frankie told herself. This was good for Elinor, and Frankie had done a good deed by helping her get bold and get out there. That was all Elinor was doing, just getting into her part. Frankie had been imagining things.

In the background, she caught sight of Stef and the paper's photographer. He was taking pictures while she interviewed parents, recording the event for local history. Elinor was doing a good job. Everyone was happy. Yes, all was well. Frankie couldn't help but feel proud as she watched Elinor bend down and talk to a little girl who was next in line.

Behind the little girl and her mother stood a red-haired little boy, bouncing up and down with excitement as he waited his turn. With the boy stood a tallish man with short rust-red hair, wearing a parka and a frown. Next to him stood...Frankie's coconspirator, the woman she had talked to about Stef in the shop. She hurried over to where they stood to say a casual hello.

"Hello there," Frankie said to the woman. "Merry Christmas."

The woman smiled in recognition. "Merry Christmas to you, too. I hope you have some good sales going on at Holiday Happiness. I want to get over there later today."

"We do," Frankie assured her.

"I never introduced myself. I'm Jenn, and this is my brother, Griff."

The man looked vaguely familiar. Where had Frankie seen him before?

Frankie introduced herself, and he said a polite hello and shook hands with her. He was a fine-looking specimen, for sure—not much of a smiler, though. Of course, from what his sister had told Frankie, that was understandable. Stef was just the person to help this man find his smile again.

"And this is Corky," continued Jenn.

"Hi, Corky," Frankie said, smiling down at the boy.

"I'm going to see Santa," he informed her. "Daddy says I can't ask for a mommy." He brightened. "But I think he'll bring me one if I ask."

"He won't, so don't," said the father sternly, losing his forced smile.

Stef might be what this man needed, but Frankie wasn't so sure he was what Stef needed.

"Is your sister here?" Jenn asked Elinor.

"Sister?" the man repeated, looking suspiciously at her.

"Just someone I thought you'd like to meet," she said.

Here came the someone, right on cue, all rosy-cheeked and smiling. Stef looked properly adorable in black leggings and boots under a Christmas-red coat, and she wore a red stocking cap.

"Well, hello again," she said to Griff.

"Hello again to you, too," he replied, mirroring her smile, proving that he knew how.

Hello again? Frankie took a closer look and realized why this man looked familiar. Her sister had pointed him out only a few days earlier at Warner's concert. This was the coffee shop mystery man. Well, well.

"Griff, do you two know each other?" Jenn asked her brother.

"Not really," he said, still smiling at Stef. "I'm Griffin Marks. This is my sister, Jenn."

Griffin Marks, what a great name. It sounded like a name out of the novels their mom loved to read.

"I'm Stefanie Ludlow," said Stef, "and I think you might owe me a latte."

"Stef works for the Clarion ," Frankie bragged.

As they were speaking, Griff's eyes got big, then narrowed to... Whoa, eyes really could narrow to slits. "Stefanie Ludlow?"