Page 3 of Mishaps and Mistletoe

Josie stared at the snowman looking back at her in the giant coffee mug. Caffeinated beverages sure had changed a lot in the years since she’d started coming to Mountain Brew. But the intoxicating scent of fresh-brewed coffee and ground beans, the murmur of voices and laughter, and the smiles of the friendly staff who knew her order by heart—those things had stayed the same, a comfort as soothing as the warm mug she cradled in her hands. Especially on a day like today.

“Whoa—watch out!” one of the younger staff members shouted from atop a giant ladder. The angel topper he’d tried to attach but dropped now hung upside-down from a strand of lights, swaying from side to side in obvious need of a rescue. Josie could relate.

Holiday tunes, jauntily sung by various crooners, filled the shop, singing about everything from white Christmases to the holly jolliest of holidays. Was it her imagination or did the bells above the door even jingle more festively this time of year? What was it about the day after Thanksgiving? With the flip of a switch, the bright lights of the holiday season outshone the regal warmth of fall. Josie wondered where the dimmer switch was.

“Didn’t expect to see you here today,” a man said from behind her, interrupting thoughts that were characteristic of Mount Crumpit’s sole occupant.

“I could say the same about you, Johnny.”

He pulled out the padded seat and joined her at the bistro table. “Black Friday isn’t just a busy day for shoppers.”

She glanced at the surrounding tables, most of which had shopping bags and purses dangling off the backs of the chairs. “Ah, yes.” Today was the biggest shopping day of the year—how could she forget? “The gym gets busy? People working to burn off those Thanksgiving calories?”

“Or get a head-start burning off the Christmas ones.” As he mentioned it, Josie caught a whiff of a nutty cookie from the bakery display case. “Either way, I didn’t have plans and figured I’d cover the shift so someone else could enjoy a little extra holiday time.”

She peeked at him over the rim of her mug as a warm sip of coffee heated her mouth. “That’s awfully kind of you.”

He shrugged. “Ah, no big deal. But enough about me. What about you?” He eyed her outfit. “Looks like you’re headed to work today too.”

She plucked an errant thread from her button-down shirt and flexed her toes in her stiff shoes. Why hadn’t she opted for flats today? Or any other shoes that didn’t make her feet wish they were dead. “I am. The holidays are the busiest time for us at the park. Plus, I’m up for that event-planner promotion at year’s end. Gotta keep making a good impression.”

He lifted a single brow. “You’ve been working at Oglebay for over ten years. I think they’re familiar with your work ethic. It’s probably why you’re up for the promotion. Besides, I thought you said you had it in the bag.”

Sure, she’d been the assistant to the current event director for the past seven years. Now that her boss was retiring, it was a safe assumption the job was hers. She blew out a long sigh. “I think you and I both know that in life, there are no guarantees.” Her eyes fell to her coffee mug, and she ran her finger twice around the rim. “The truth is—my work, specifically related to the holidays, hasn’t been my best. Uninspired is more like it.” Simply uttering the words made her chest tighten. Something about saying the truth out loud made it more real.

Johnny opened his mouth to speak but closed it, reaching a hand across the table to give her hers a squeeze instead.

“When does it get easier?” she whispered. “It’s been almost six years since Courtney’s accident, but sometimes it feels like yesterday. Especially around the holidays. When does that go away?”

“I don’t think it ever does.”

“Great,” she deadpanned, and a light chuckle escaped both of their mouths.

“Hear me out. I don’t think grief ever goes away. You just get better at finding people to help you carry it. That’s what gives you the courage to keep on truckin’.”

She looked down at her naked left hand, a mirthless laugh carrying through the air. “I wish it was that easy.”

“It’s not. Not easy at all.” He shook his head. “That’s why you need really sturdy people to carry the load.” When she looked up, he flexed his biceps with that classic grin that always drew people to him—cheesier than Velveeta, but it lightened the mood.

Most of her female friends were married and/or with children, and it hit her that these chats with Johnny at Mountain Brew were as close to a dependable friendship as she had. To be fair, in recent years, she’d separated herself from a lot of her old friends. But Johnny was the only one who felt the need to claw himself into her life, time and time again.

“You’re a total dork, you know that, right?”

Johnny lowered his arm and rubbed the round muscle. “Yeah, I know. But I also know you love me.”

She nodded lightly as a small grin crawled up her face. “Oh, Johnny. In the nearly thirty years I’ve known you, you’ve progressed from a pain in my butt to a dull ache.”

“Yes! I’ll take it,” he shouted as he pumped his fist in the air.

“But you know I love you too.”

“Shh.” His head whipped around faster than the blades of the blender whirring behind the counter. “Don’t say that too loud.”

She looked around the cafe. “What? Afraid one of your dates for the week will overhear?”

“Har. Har. I was actually worried about that guy at the counter overhearing. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since he walked in five minutes ago.”

Her eyes crawled across the shop to the register, where they fixed themselves on a man she’d never seen before. Or had she?

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