Kissmas Wishes (Love In All Seasons 3)

“Good morning,” I say. “You both got in early.” Jody and Isaiah share a look I don't quite understand.

“Yeah, about that,” Isaiah says. “There's already a line out the front door. Crazy because last night it was totally dead.”

I nod. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Isaiah gives me a smile. “No, Jody and I had it covered.” He’s a good-looking guy with dark blond hair and a lean build. He’s a few years older than me and works from home. He builds apps and when he's not doing that, he donates his time working at the soup kitchen. Jody, though, is my one and only paid employee and I know the income matters to her in ways it doesn't for Isaiah. She has short brown hair and a warm smile, with dark brown eyes that looked like chocolate.

She’s a single mom who works her tail off for less than she's worth and she supplements that with child support and somehow makes ends meet. The irresponsibility of not coming up with a solution to save the kitchen weighs heavily on my chest. Never have I felt so beaten down.

“I have to tell you both something,” I admit.

“Maybe we could get some coffee and sit down for a second before we open?” Isaiah suggests.

“Is everything okay?” Jody asks, pouring us cups of coffee. Isaiah grabs the cream. The three of us have been working together for the last seven months since Granny Charlene died. Before that, I was away at college and living in the big city. After she passed, I moved here, and I took over her responsibilities. It wasn't a burden. It was a blessing. I never liked the city. It was far too loud and too busy. Snowy Valley holds a special charm with the looming mountains surrounding us, making us feel safe in the world. It’s where I always wanted to end up. I just never expected to end up here the way I did, without my granny.

Sitting down with my two coworkers-turned-friends, I exhale. “There's no easy way to say this, but after Christmas, we have to shut our doors.”

They share a look that shocks me. They act as if they knew this was coming.

“Wait, why aren't you having a bigger reaction?” I ask them.

Isaiah clears his throat. “Hey, don't get mad, but I called Foodsellers, Inc., yesterday. I asked about why the delivery wasn’t made and they said that there hadn’t been a payment in months. After you were so devastated over not getting the grant this summer, I figured our time was short.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I wasn’t sure what to say. But the bank called yesterday and come New Year’s, I have to close the doors. I just kept thinking something would give. That this wouldn’t be the end.”

“You may be Snowy Valley’s sweetheart,” Jody says. “But you can be pretty stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn,” I say.

Jody laughs. “Maple, it’s not a criticism. It's a compliment. You are firm and determined and have a lot of faith in people. We can use that during these next few weeks.”

“I just wish there was a cash flow instead of just… well, instead of us having to close our doors.”

Isaiah drinks his coffee. “Are we sure there isn’t? How has it been running for ten years?”

“The truth is, there has never been a lot of cash coming in. We’ve gotten donations over the years, but not enough to maintain anything. My granny was floating the soup kitchen from my grandfather’s life insurance for the last decade.”

Isaiah and Jody cover their mouths at this. Apparently, that wasn't a piece of information they expected.

“I know, right? Granny was doing it out of the goodness of her heart, wanting to open this kitchen for the town of Snowy Valley, except she was doing it at her own expense. She hasn't even been paying her mortgage. She's going to lose the house. I am going to lose everything.”

“Oh, Maple,” Jody says, reaching her hand out to mine. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea it was so bad.”

“Don't apologize to me. I'm the one who is embarrassed. Who’s mortified. I don't want you to tell anyone about this. I am so ashamed that I didn't take better care of the accounting. Once I took over granny's house, I should have kept a better eye on things. I was just hoping the grant would work and I’ve been living in denial. The last thing I want is Granny Charlene's memory to be tarnished. Granny was the best person I know. She took me in when I was a little girl and raised me. I’m just really sorry I'm putting you out of work.”

I know Isaiah will land on two feet, but Jody, she's going to have to find some other business that will hire her.