Christmas in Bayberry

“Here you go.” The young woman behind the counter smiled brightly as she handed over a green to-go cup. Her name tag read Abby. “Can I get you anything else? We have some fresh donuts.”

“This is good. Thank you. How much do I owe you?”

Wes paid for his coffee and Abby handed him yet another coupon for the Bayberry Candle sale. He had to wonder about the reason behind the sale and the huge discount. He wouldn’t have recommended such a generous drop in price.

He headed out through the coffee shop door and down the sidewalk. Because he’d forgotten to pack his toothbrush, he decided a stop at the Feel Better Pharmacy was in order. He vaguely r

emembered going there as a kid on his mother’s Saturday morning shopping trips. Sure enough, there was the big red neon sign, still hanging in the window.

He opened the door and came to an abrupt halt. There stood Kate.

“Oops. Sorry.” She smiled at him. Not just any smile, but a big beautiful one that warmed everything around her, including him. “It looks like we keep running into each other.” She held out her hand. “Hi. I’m Kate.”

His pulse picked up its pace as his mouth suddenly grew dry. Just treat her like she’s a client. Be professional. Junior high was a long, long time ago.

He took her hand as his gaze met hers. He cleared his throat. “Nice to meet you. I’m Wesley. Wesley Adams. But only my mother calls me that.” Stop rambling. “My friends call me Wes.”

Her eyes twinkled when she smiled at him. “May I call you Wes, then?”

It took him a second to realize she’d asked him a question. After all these years, this woman still had the ability to turn his usually analytical mind into a jumbled mess.

Wes shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Yes. Yes, you can.”

“Are you visiting someone in town?”

He shook his head. “I’m here for work.”

“Oh. Okay.” She reached in her jacket pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper. “If you’re still in town this weekend, we’re having a big sale—the biggest of the year. Maybe you could stop by and pick up a Christmas present…or two.”

He decided not to point out that she’d already given him one. It was simpler to just take it.

“Well, it was nice to meet you.” She bestowed another dazzling smile on him. “Maybe we’ll meet again soon.”

“It was nice to meet you, too.” But there was nowhere for him to go because she was once again blocking the doorway. “I, um, just need to grab a toothbrush.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks bloomed a delicate shade of pink. “Sorry. I’m in the way.”

She moved to the side, but the entrance to the store was a tight squeeze. He made it past her, but not before catching the softest whiff of lavender. He couldn’t resist inhaling deeply as she moved away.

He wondered how many more times they would bump into each other before he left town. Considering she was handing out Bayberry Candle Company coupons and posting flyers, he was pretty certain he hadn’t seen the last of her.

Chapter Three

They really needed to talk.

Her aunt had been far too quiet lately.

As evening settled over Bayberry, Kate sensed something was afoot. She didn’t know what her aunt planned to do about the problems at the candle company. Maybe Aunt Penney was hoping their end-of-year sale would be enough to get them through this rough patch. Kate sure hoped so.

“Penney,” Kate called as she let herself into her aunt’s house. The place was quiet. “Aunt Penney, are you here?”

“In the kitchen, dear.”

Kate followed the voice to the large kitchen with its gas range, generous counter space, and double oven, where her aunt loved to cook and bake in equal portions. Her aunt pulled a tray of muffins from the top oven and placed it on a wire rack to cool.

Aunt Penney’s salt and pepper hair was kept short. Every strand was in place. She’d worn the same straight hairstyle as far back as Kate could remember. Just as the same red-and-white gingham curtains hung by the kitchen windows and a cherry-red tea kettle sat on the stove.

Aunt Penney smiled when her gaze landed on Kate. “You’re just in time.”