Christmas in Bayberry

“Is that what you’re having for lunch?” Kate’s nose scrunched up.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“I think Bayberry can do better than that.” She beckoned for him to come with her.

“Aren’t you still upset with me for stealing your office?”

Her lips pursed together and then she shook her head. “I talked to my aunt. You were just doing what she said. I’m sorry I didn’t take it well.” Kate stepped farther in the room. “I’m really a nice person. Most of the time. I’m just a little worked up about the holiday sale this weekend. Can we start over?”

Wes swallowed hard and got to his feet. “Sure. Hi.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Wes Adams.”

She shook his hand. “I’m Kate Taylor. Would you like to go grab some lunch?”

He looked at the heap of work stacked on his desk. This place had more hard copy reports than digital files. Being here was like stepping back into the Stone Age. Well, maybe the Floppy Disk Age.

“The work will be here when we get back,” Kate said. “I promise.”

She was right. What would it hurt to have a hot lunch? After all, this was Kate Taylor—the girl he’d had a crush on in junior high. It would be nice to get to know the grown-up Kate.

“Okay.” He smiled. “Let’s do lunch.” He got up and put on his coat. “Where do you suggest?”

“Oh, that’s easy. Mel’s Grille. They can make just about any sandwich you can think of. Come on.” She turned, but then paused and looked back at him. “You do eat sandwiches, don’t you?”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, I eat sandwiches.”

“Good. Come on before the lunch crowd takes all the good seats. And after lunch, I’ll give you a quick tour of the town.”

He didn’t know which to be more surprised about: that there were good seats in a diner, or that Bayberry had a lunch crowd. Or that Kate had volunteered to spend more time with him? The way Kate rushed toward the exit, apparently that was the case.

He hurried out of the office, hot on her heels. Did her change of mood mean she’d remembered him? Unlikely. She’d have said something.

Besides, it wasn’t like he ever did much to stand out in junior high. He hadn’t been able to take her to the Candlelight Dance like he’d hoped. His father’s new job had come through right before the holiday—before Wes had worked up the courage to ask her. He wondered if the town still held the Candlelight Dance. That had been a lot of years ago. And things do change. Like Kate. She’d grown into a strong, confident woman.

A light snow fell as they walked down the street. In the not-so-far distance stood a tall picturesque mountain with its peak all white. Everyone they passed said hello. He looked for any familiar faces, but it’d been so many years since he lived here that he couldn’t put a name to any of them.

“Do you know all of these people?” Living in a big city since he’d gone to college had made him forget what life was like in a small town.

She nodded. “With less than a thousand people in Bayberry, everyone knows everyone else.”

So the town hadn’t grown much since he’d lived here. Interesting.

“Do you ever get bored living in a small town?”

“Not at all. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.”

“But aren’t you curious about what else is out there? Different adventures? Different jobs? Different opportunities?”

She shook her head. “I don’t have to go away to know my neighbors are some of the best people in the world. My life is here in Bayberry working at the family business. I’m the last of the Taylors, so some day it’ll hopefully be mine to run.”

He wanted to ask what she’d do if her aunt had to sell it off, but he didn’t want to ruin this reunion of sorts. And it was none of his concern.

“Where are you from?” Her voice drew him from his thoughts.

His first thought was to say Bayberry, but that wasn’t exactly true. He’d lived in many states, many towns growing up. Bayberry just happened to be his favorite.

Rather than explain his complicated past, he said, “I live in New York City.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy your visit to our little town.”