Читать книгу Christmas in Evergreen - Nancy Naigle - Страница 6

Chapter Two

Allie stepped out onto the porch of her clinic, Evergreen Veterinarian Care. She glanced at Frank, then back at the blue-and-white sign behind her. She still remembered like it was yesterday the day she and Grandpa had hung that sign there. It had been a cold, snowy day just like today. Everyone else in town had been home, hunkered down that wintry night. Mom and Dad had insisted on closing the diner early so they could be a part of it, too. They’d stood out in the cold, watching until that last screw had gone into the wall. They’d applauded wildly, but Allie had barely heard them because of their gloves. It had been like watching a silent film, and she was the star.

And now she was leaving it behind. For something new. Something bigger, and different, in the city.

For a moment, she tried to imagine the bustling streets of Washington, D.C., leaving work in her lab coat—not to just walk across the street to check in with her folks. No quiet little block where she knew most everyone by name. Would strangers smile and say hello?

Her throat tightened.

Soon, someone else would take over this office and chase their dreams just like she had. She hugged Frank closer, silently wishing the new business good luck.

She locked the door behind her and carefully navigated the steps down to the street.

A fluffy snowman wearing a top hat stood next to the stairs, waving a welcoming hello to customers, and past that, three lighted wire reindeer, one with a red nose, frolicked in front of the bookstore. Rudolph the well-read reindeer, she amused herself. Those same decorations had been there every year since she’d been back. But she liked the way things stayed the same here in Evergreen. That was all the more reason to make the big change—to experience new things in a new town.

She looked both ways then headed across the street. Frank’s water sloshed against her coat as she twisted to avoid collision with a young man hurrying past with his collar pulled high around his neck to ward off the cold wind.

At the end of Main Street, the town Christmas tree dazzled with colorful decorations. Each year, families added an ornament to the tree that became part of the collection going forward. That connection made the tree seem more personal. Not new was the giant, gold star on top, designed by the shop teacher at the local high school. How would the Evergreen Christmas tree compare to the big, fancy one at the White House?

The town had planted the Balsam Fir in front of the gazebo about ten years ago when a farmer up on the hill, in exchange for the privilege to sell his trees there, had donated it. It hadn’t been a huge tree then, but now it rose to the height of the gazebo. Before this, the town had cut and tractored a tree in each year for the holiday lighting.

Allie zipped past the post office, noticing how many people were lined up with packages to send. She was glad she didn’t have anything to mail out this week. She was carrying her gift to Spencer with her on the plane—that was, if she ever got out of Evergreen.

She glanced at her watch and almost ran into one of the giant red, blue, and gold ornaments that brightened the sidewalk in front of Home Bakery. The door chimed again and again, reminding her of a Christmas handbell concert, as customers came out with bags of freshly baked goods. Business was brisk for the middle of the afternoon.

The three-foot-tall, carved nutcrackers that used to guard Grandpa’s porch now stood sentry in front of Chris Kringle Kitchen—a nice addition in honor of him. All combined, it made for a cheerful sight. She never tired of Christmas in Evergreen.

She pulled the Chris Kringle Kitchen door open and stepped inside the warm diner.

“Joe! She’s here.” Mom rushed toward her, wearing a sweater set the color of a balsam fir, and Dad came through the green-and-white curtain that separated the kitchen from the dining area, catching up to her in long strides.

“Hi, honey.” Dad wore his signature red apron, and he must have been in the middle of cooking something, because he was still carrying a red and white checkered hand towel. This restaurant had been in Dad’s family for three generations, and he was the best cook she knew.

“Oh, Allie!” Carol stopped, tears spilling down her cheeks as she cocked her head as if it would be the last time they’d ever see each other. “My baby.” She lunged forward, pulling Allie in for a hug.

“Mom, this is not goodbye.” Allie gave her dad a pleading look as her mother clung to her neck. “I’m just dropping off Frank. Besides, you promised you wouldn’t cry.”

“I’m not!” Carol swept at her tears and then took the fish bowl from Allie. “I was just…chopping onions.”

Dad snickered.

“I’m going to be home right after Christmas.”

“Mm-hmm.” Carol clung to the goldfish bowl. “And then you’re leaving again right after that…for good. And all I’ll have to remember you by is a goldfish.”

“Maybe I should, uh…” Joe tossed the towel over his shoulder and took the goldfish bowl from Carol. “…take care of Frank, okay?”

Oh gosh, was he teary-eyed, too? Allie’s heart clenched.

“Thanks, honey,” Carol said to Joe.

He headed for the kitchen, and Allie placed her hands on her mother’s shoulders. “Mom, Washington D.C. has modern conveniences.” Allie rubbed her shoulders, encouraging her to relax.

“I know.” But Carol’s words were unconvincing.

“Phone.”

“I know,” Carol whispered.

“I hear they even have an airport now,” Allie teased.

Carol granted Allie a small smile, then took a breath. “Honey, I just want to make sure…that you’re sure. Because this is a big change, Allie.”

“I’m sure.” She held Mom’s gaze, hoping to calm her down. “It’s a great job. And besides, I’m ready for a change.”

Carol leveled a stare. The one Allie knew so well. “And I’m not just talking about the job.”

“No. Mom.” Allie raised a finger in the air, shaking her head. “No. We’ve been over this.” She took a step back, as if the space between them would erase the comment. She was tiring of this discussion. It had been Spencer who’d found her the amazing job opportunity in Washington, D.C., and yes, he wanted her closer to him, but applying for that position had been one hundred percent her choosing. If things worked out with Spencer, that was great, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. Sure, she was giving up her own vet practice here in Evergreen, but she was going to be doubling her salary in the city. There was so much opportunity in Washington, D.C. So much to see and do. It was a good change. The chance of a lifetime. “Spencer and I are just testing the waters.”

“Mm-hmm. And there was a reason you two broke up, honey.”

“Yeah, we couldn’t handle the long-distance thing. So, now we’re going to be in the same city, and…it’s not a big deal,” Allie said. We’ll figure it out.

“You’re going to be spending Christmas with him, Allie. That is a very big deal.”

The bells on the door jingled as more customers poured in behind them, and Allie hugged Mom again.

Sniffling back tears, Mom said, “You’re hugging me right now just to hush me up, aren’t you?” She giggled.

“No.” Her mother knew her so well. “I’m hugging you because I love you. The hushing is just a bonus.” When she stepped back, she was glad to see her mom was still laughing, too.

Mom ran her fingers through Allie’s hair. Her crooked smile and furrowed brow said things she didn’t need to vocalize.

“I gotta go,” Allie said. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

She kissed her mom on the cheek and headed for the door. She glanced back, watching her mom race-walk to the kitchen. She didn’t have to stick around and check to know that Mom would be crying in Dad’s arms in a matter of seconds. That tugged at her heart. She was tempted to run back and hug Mom one more time.

It was hard to leave, but she knew she was doing the right thing. She hoped everything would fall into place. She didn’t like seeing Mom sad—especially at the holidays.

Allie reached the door, then turned and scanned the diner. So many wonderful years and memories had been made here. She’d miss this place. All the charming shelves Grandpa had built and painted white to give the diner a warm country feeling and to give Mom a spot to show off her teapot collections. The life-sized Santa sign just inside the door. The candy jar next to the register that was filled with something different every month—candy canes for December. And the snow globe.

The snow globe was a legend around here. Mom said she’d wished for a daughter on it one Christmas after she and Dad had been trying for years with no luck. Allie had been born the following September.

It wasn’t to be taken lightly. Only wishes your heart truly wanted even had a chance of being granted.

Mom was nowhere in sight.

Allie dashed over to the snow globe. She lifted the glass ball from its place of honor next to the cash register and held it in her hands reverently.

Following one deep breath, she turned it upside down and gave it a good shake, then flipped it back upright, sending the snow inside twisting and swirling like a blizzard around the exact replica of the Evergreen church.

She closed her eyes and silently made her wish.

As she opened her eyes, a calm washed over her, as if there was no doubt her wish would come true. She set the snow globe down and gave it a gentle pat on the top, then headed for the door before her parents came back and saw her.

In a hurry, she almost plowed right over a sixty-something man wearing a dark suit and jaunty red scarf.

“Whoa,” he said, coming to an abrupt halt.

“Oh, my gosh!” Allie exclaimed. “So sorry.” She patted his arm, then, taking in his appearance—the perfectly shaped, snow-white beard and laughing eyes—she realized he was the spitting image of Santa. Come to think of it, his Whoa! had sounded a lot like a ho-ho-ho that a certain red-suited Christmas guy was known for. Thank goodness he hadn’t fallen. That would have landed her on the naughty list for sure.

“In a hurry to get your Christmas plans started?” His blue eyes twinkled with every word, and his fluffy beard looked like the real deal. She was tempted to reach out and touch it.

“Yes.” Allie couldn’t believe how much this man favored jolly old St. Nicholas. It had her stumbling for words. “Just about to head out of town.”

“Well…” A flash of concern crossed his face. “Be sure to check the weather before you go to the airport. Mother Nature can be unpredictable.” He leaned back and gave a hearty laugh and a wink, like it was some kind of inside joke.

How did he know where she was headed? Had she said that? It didn’t matter. The joke was on him. It was snowing, but that was just another wintry day in Evergreen. No problem. She couldn’t wait to set out on this journey. It was both exciting and scary to leave this place she’d called home her whole life.

The bells on the diner door jingle-jangled as the man went inside. Would he order cookies and milk? Maybe cocoa in this weather?

Allie smiled at the sweet man. Nice of him to offer his concern for her when she was the one who’d nearly knocked him over.

She walked to her truck, checking off her mental list of things to do before heading to the airport this afternoon. So far, everything was right on schedule.