Not only had it taught her daughters about giving to others, but it had given them lifelong memories of spending Christmas with everyone they loved.
“I’m sure our local fire station will be pleased to get a bunch of cookies. Those guys work so hard for the community!”
“Yes, they do. I can’t wait to plan this party. I think Colleen and Meg will be excited too.”
Dixie stacked the disposable cups beside the coffee machine. “Carrie and I are supposed to make fruitcakes together this afternoon.”
“Sounds like you two are making strides in your relationship?”
“Somewhat. It comes and goes,” Dixie said, opening a roll of quarters and dropping them into the cash register. The old register needed to be updated desperately, but Julie hadn’t talked Dixie into buying a new one.
“What do you mean?”
“We get along better now, but there are moments I feel like she pulls back a bit. Of course, my personality can be a little much I suppose.”
Julie laughed. “No. Not possible.”
“We’re going to make fruitcakes for the Christmas festival. From what I understand, Carrie has never cooked much, so this ought to be interesting.”
“And you’re starting her out on fruitcakes, of all things?” Julie said, laughing as she removed some books from one shelf and replaced them with newer ones. One thing she’d learned about working in a bookstore was that nothing was static. There were always new books coming, and the older books had to make way for them. Those that didn’t sell well got thrown onto the clearance table and then donated.
Since she was slowly working on her first novel, she wondered if her book would be one of the ones that survived or would end up with a big red sticker, lying on a clearance table, begging someone to read it.
“Oh, fruitcake isn’t that hard. Plus, I’ll be right beside her.”
The front door chimed as SuAnn walked into the store. She rarely came to Down Yonder because she was so busy at her bakery.
“Mom, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
“Why would something be wrong?” She asked.
“You normally don’t come down here.”
“Well, this is a bookstore, Julie. Maybe I just need a book?”
Dixie laughed. “We sure have plenty of those. Can I interest you in a book on Kama Sutra?”
“Dixie!” Julie said, her mouth dropping open. She tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t help it.
“The woman has a new boyfriend. I’m just trying to be helpful. Just because we’re old doesn’t mean…”
“Please,” Julie said, holding up her hand.
SuAnn chuckled. “I might grab a copy of that one, Dixie. But, for now, I just wanted to get a cookbook.”
“A cookbook? What kind of cookbook?” Julie asked. Her mother had never been a skilled cook. She was a wonderful baker, but the cooking part had been hit or miss over the years. She remembered many impossible to chew pot roasts from her childhood.
“French cooking.”
“French cooking? Since when did you get an interest in that?”
SuAnn almost looked like she was about to blush. “Fine. Nicholas loves French food. He was stationed there at one time. I would like to make him beef bourguignon with garlic mashed potatoes and maybe even a baguette.”
“Oh my gosh, this is so adorable…” Julie said under her breath.
“Now, don’t you be making fun of your momma. The possibility of falling in love at our age is right up there with getting struck by lightning or being run over by a stampede of rogue sheep!” Dixie sure had a way with words.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Julie said, squeezing SuAnn’s shoulder. “But, why don’t you let Christian teach you? I’m sure he knows how to make all of that more authentically than a book.”
SuAnn shook her head. “He’s a nice boy, but I can’t understand a word he says. I just want to do this in the peace of my own kitchen.” Since moving to Seagrove, SuAnn had found a great rental cottage near the square that allowed her to walk to work. It was a good thing because it kept her from needing a car. She was one of the worst drivers Julie knew.
“I know of some great books in the cooking section. Follow me, SuAnn” Dixie said, leading her toward the back of the store.
As Julie watched the two of them disappear behind several shelves of books, she marveled at their improving relationship with each other. They hadn’t been friends at the beginning. More than that, she was so happy that each of them had found love and new beginnings in the golden years of their lives. Sometimes, her heart felt like it might explode when she thought about all the ways her life and the lives of those she loved had changed just because she was brave enough to take a leap of faith, move to an unknown place and start her life again. It made her proud.
* * *
Dawson sat down at the dining room table next to Dylan. “What’re you doing?”
“Drawing a picture of my family,” he said.
“That’s really nice. Is that a tree?” Dawson asked, pointing at a tall skinny thing with four limbs.
“No, Daddy, that’s you, silly!” Dylan said, giggling.
“Oh… Good job, son!” He loved calling him son. When he’d lost his child so many years ago, he never thought he’d have another son to love. God had surely blessed him.
“I wanted to send this picture with my letter to Santa Claus so he’d know where I live now.”
“Good idea.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Tina said as she came downstairs. “I was just going to make myself a cup of tea, if that’s okay.”
Dawson smiled. “Tina, we want you to think of this place as your own while you’re here. You are free to do whatever you need.”
She nodded. “Thank you again for your hospitality.” She walked over to the tea cart that Julie had set up and pressed the button to heat up the electric kettle. Julie kept a large assortment of tea bags on hand for guests. She had everything from peppermint to more exotic flavors like ginger-orange.
“Care for a gingerbread muffin with your tea?” Dawson asked, holding up a basket full of the delectable treats Lucy had made for the guests.
“Sure. Thanks,” she said, taking one from the basket.
“Please, join us.”
Tina sat down and took a bite of the muffin. “Wow. This is amazing.”
“Lucy is a genius in the kitchen,” Dawson said, taking a muffin for himself.
“She made me blueberry pancakes this morning with crunched up bacon in them,” Dylan said, licking his lips.
“Oh, that sounds very good.” Tina blew on her tea and then took a sip.
“Did you enjoy shopping with the ladies the other day?”
“I did. They are a fun group. Julie has been so welcoming to me. Honestly, I thought I might end up alone for Christmas, so this has been a blessing to me.”
Dawson hadn’t heard her say that many words since she’d been there, so he was glad she was finally talking.
“Dawson?” Lucy called from the kitchen.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
He pushed open the door and saw Lucy standing in a pool of water beside the dishwasher. “Guess what’s wrong?” she said, her hands on her hips.