Page 3 of Mountain Gift

"I promise I'm fine,” I say. “Let’s get to work.”

Kristine heads back out onto the floor, giving me one last look over her shoulder before she goes. Once she’s gone, I put my coat and winter boots away and pull on one of the uniform aprons.

My shift goes smoothly from there. Well, as smoothly as a shift at the Chocolate Moose can go during the busy holiday season.

I zip around from place to place, refilling glasses and taking orders. Each time I bring out a delicious hot meal to a table full of customers, I smile with them, taking in their joy. Interacting with people is my favorite part of the job.

Finally, I get to my last table for the day. As I head over to take their order, I find the two of them with their menus held high, obscuring their faces.

“Hello and welcome to the Chocolate Moose Cafe,” I say, going into my usual spiel. “My name is Caroline, and I will be your server. Can I start you off with any drinks?”

“Actually, we’d like to order now if that’s okay,” one of the patrons says in an oddly deep voice. “I’d like one sister-in-law to go, please.”

I wrinkle my eyebrows. “Um… what was that?”

Before I can blink away my confusion, the two customers drop their menus to the table, revealing their cheeky grins.

It’s Penny and Sophia. Penny is married to my brother, Callum and Sophia is married to my brother, Colt.

When I got married, all four of my brothers were still single. They all sat at one table together, throwing wadded-up napkins at each other and my new husband. They were all going through their “lone wolf” phase, believing that this would be the only wedding they’d ever dare to attend. They believed they’d never get married themselves.

But the joke’s on them on that one. Over the past few years, after they opened their fitness resort on the nearby mountain, all of them have tied the knot one by one.

"What a pleasant surprise!" I exclaim as I see their familiar faces. "What are you both doing here?"

Sophia grins at me. "We thought we'd stop by and give you some company."

Penny leans forward, her brown eyes shining with concern. “How did it go with Lucy and her grandparents?"

I sigh. “It was fine for the most part.”

Sophia tilts her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you mean, 'for the most part'?"

"Nothing major, really," I assure her. "It's just that Jack's mom thinks I should start dating again."

Penny’s eyes widen as she lowers her voice. “You didn’t tell her about Boone, did you?”

My cheeks flush. “No, I didn’t tell her about Boone. Besides, that was years ago.”

I hate talking about Boone, Callum’s best friend.

Boone and I met at Callum and Penny’s wedding reception three years ago.His strong physique, piercing blue eyes and militaryuniform all made me feel something that had been missing for a long time.

From the moment our eyes met, I knew that Boone was different. His gaze was intense, yet tender, possessive yet caring. It rendered me breathless - a feeling that was both terrifying and exhilarating. The rest of the world seemed to fade away.

At the end of the night, we shared a passionate kiss and for a moment, I felt alive again.

Afterward, Boone asked to see me again before the end of his leave. But I got cold feet, and we haven’t spoken since then.

Penny reaches across the table and gives my hand a firm shake, tearing me from my thoughts.

“Earth to Caroline? What are you up to after work?” she asks.

Caught off guard by the question, I can only shrug. “Nothing, I guess. Why?”

It’s Sophia who answers, her eyes twinkling with kindness.

“Well, we were thinking about having an early Christmas dinner at your place to cheer you up. We’ll bring all the food.”

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