Christmas in Bayberry

“Or figuring out what to get me for Christmas.” Kate sent her friend a teasing smile.

“Don’t you wish.” Abby grinned and shook her head.

Kate moved to their usual table. She wasn’t sure when it had become “their” table for their work day chit-chat, but it had become a routine. It was something she looked forward to each morning.

Abby made her way out from behind the counter and placed a purple coffee mug in front of Kate, who breathed in the aroma and exhaled a contented sigh.

“Go ahead,” Abby said. “I put an ice cube in it just the way you like.” She looked at Kate expectantly.

Kate narrowed her gaze. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing. I just know you don’t talk much until you’ve had a dose of caffeine.”

“And? What is it you want to know?”

Abby’s gaze moved to Kate’s untouched coffee as though she wasn’t going to say more until Kate had her first sip. Kate didn’t need much coaxing. She’d been anticipating this cup of coffee since she’d hit the shower.

She picked up the cup and took a sip, letting it roll over her tongue before she swallowed. She did have a coffee maker at home and one at the office, but neither made coffee that tasted this good.

“Okay. What’s going on?”

Abby worried her bottom lip. “You’d better take another drink.”

“That serious, huh?” She sent her friend a teasing smile, but when Abby didn’t return the smile, Kate’s heart sank. She hurriedly gulped coffee. “Okay, tell me.”

“There’s a rumor going around Bayberry that…” Abby trailed off.

Kate couldn’t take Abby’s dragging this out any longer. If something was wrong, they all needed to pull together. It was the Bayberry way. And then she wondered if somehow news had leaked about the candle company’s financial woes.

“Abby, just say it. What’s wrong?”

“It’s been said the white candles for the Candlelight Dance are going to be red this year.”

“What?” It took Kate a second to compute what her friend was saying. There was nothing wrong?

Abby wore a mischievous grin.

“That’s the gossip. You know how Bayberry loves its traditions. So, is it true? Are we going red this year?”

Kate’s gaze narrowed. “Are you serious?”

“Very serious. I heard it from Ester Holmes, who heard it from Mary Thompson, who heard it from—”

“Stop.” Kate held up a hand in defense. She knew just how long the gossip chain was in Bayberry. “I get the idea. And the answer is no.”

Abby made a big deal of sighing and leaning back in the wooden chair as if she’d been seriously worried. “The whole town will be so relieved to hear the news.”

Kate smiled and shook her head. It was always amazing what could get this small town of nine hundred and six residents excited. And then Kate mentally corrected herself. With the addition of Tucker and Jane Johnson’s son, born last night, the population was now nine hundred and seven.

She took a long drink of her cooling coffee. “Now that we’ve brought peace back to Bayberry, it’s time to move on to important matters.” She reached in her purse, pulled out a stack of coupons wrapped with a rubber band, and slid them across the table. “Here are the coupons for this weekend’s holiday warehouse sale. Would you mind putting them next to the register?”

“Like you have to ask.” Abby scooped them up. “You know I would do anything for you.” She looked them over. “Wow! Forty percent off this year.”

“Yeah. It’s going to be our biggest and best sale.”

“With that much of a discount, I can see folks flocking to it. I know I’ll be there. I’m out of votive candles and I could use some jar candles.”

“You know you don’t have to buy all of that just because we’re friends—”