Christmas in Bayberry

This was not the way Wes liked his weeks to begin—especially the week before Christmas. This was the last week the candle company would be in operation before it shut down for the holidays. This was supposed to be the season of Christmas spirit, not of “Bah, humbug.

Wes sat at his desk and scowled at the demanding email from his irate boss. The city seemed so far away after a few weeks in Bayberry. The corporate rush and fuss that required a solid string of coffees from start to finish each day was not the way things got done in Bayberry. The constant pressure to hurry, hurry, hurry felt unfamiliar to him now.

Yesterday, after helping to decorate the community hall for the dance, Wes had spent the remainder of the day working in his makeshift office. This town and the candle company had become so important to him that he wanted to know where things stood as soon as possible.

And then there was Kate. Her whole world was Bayberry. She loved this place and the people who lived here. He couldn’t blame her. This was a very special town.

He’d revised his initial projections with the numbers from the new supplier quotes, but it hadn’t been enough to sway the overall conclusion. In fact, he’d spent Sunday evening trying different scenarios to make the conclusion anything other than what it was: the candle company would need to be sold to a larger entity with the resources to invest in the business.

Wes knew that if a big corporation took over, Bayberry Candles would never be the same. His shoulders drooped under the weight of this knowledge. A corporate parent would outsource jobs, slashing the workforce to a small percentage of what it was now.

Faces of the friendly Bayberry employees flashed in his mind. There weren’t many employment opportunities in this small town. They’d have to pack up their families and move. Their houses wouldn’t sell, because there wouldn’t be anyone to buy them. It would be devastating, like falling dominoes.

But maybe there was another answer. Maybe the buyer didn’t have to be a heartless corporation focused on nothing but the bottom line. What if there was a buyer who valued employees and traditions?

He picked up his phone and called Penney. It was time they went over his findings and discussed the future of the Bayberry Candle Company.

The new dress was amazing.

On Sunday afternoon, she’d been thrilled with what Penney and Martha had accomplished in just one week. Now Christmas Eve was just three days away. She smiled as she thought of the dazzling dress. While the two women had marked it for adjustments, Fred had snagged a sneak preview. He’d insisted that Wes would be knocked out when he saw her wearing it.

She hoped Fred was right. After waiting all these years for this date, Wes deserved something extra special. She had picked up new silver heels the other day in town. And that left her hair. She couldn’t decide if she should wear it up. Or did it look better down?

Her stomach quivered with nerves. Kate hadn’t been this nervous about a date since, well, ever. And she feared she was making too much of it. Or was she?

All day yesterday, the citizens of Bayberry had put the finishing touches on the community hall. And by chance, a last-minute cancellation at a florist meant they could have fresh flowers for the dance instead of the usual silk flowers, which were starting to look their age.

The only catch was that Kate had to pick up the flowers in Burlington before the dance. Somehow, she’d fit it into her hectic schedule. It was the one time of year when she didn’t mind being so busy.

Speaking of busy, Wes had worked such long hours all week that she’d hardly seen him. And since she’d already distracted him so much during his stay, she decided to keep her distance and let him finish his report.

She had her own priority: completing the Christmas baskets. She had already distributed the food donations among them. Her special delivery had just arrived, so now it was time to finish things up.

Kate had wanted to personalize each gift, and she’d had the perfect idea. She just didn’t know if she had time to accomplish her goal, but she wouldn’t know unless she tried.

She’d just gathered all the supplies and settled at the table when there was a knock at her door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but maybe it was her aunt with a question about the dress.

Kate crossed to the door and swung it open to find Wes standing there. His hair was scattered, as though he’d been raking his fingers through it. And his brow was knit with worry.

Her initial elation dissolved. “Wes, is something wrong?”

He shook his head. “I just needed to get away from the office for a while.”

She opened the door wide. “Come in.”

He entered, stamping his boots on the doormat. “I hope I’m not bothering you.” He glanced toward the table and then back at her. “Maybe I should have called first.”

“Nonsense. Take your coat off.”

He took off his coat and slipped off his boots, then followed her to the table where she had a pile of craft supplies.

“Looks like you’re busy,” he said.

“I am. Do you want to help?”

He held up his hands and took a step back. “I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.”