Page 33 of Stuck in Christmas

Bonnie and I nodded enthusiastically as if he needed to ask before heading toward the kitchen to prepare a few slices.

The kind, older woman motioned toward a table at the back of the diner, and we both sat. “He’s in a great mood. I haven’t seen him smile that much in a long time. I think you must have something to do with that,” Bonnie chuckled.

“Maybe,” I admitted. “But I need to ask you about something else. The carnival. Do you know Kris?”

“Kris?”

I rolled my eyes. “Um. Santa?”

“Oh yes, indeed. He’s been coming to the carnival,well - for as long as I can remember,” Bonnie said.

I looked again at Bonnie’s Christmas pin. “Ten lords a’ leaping.”

Bonnie touched the enamel and metal pin. “Isn’t it sweet? Joe got it for me on…”

“Your tenth Christmas together,” I finished.

She smiled. “What a great guess.”

“I’m also guessing you have twelve of them,” I added.

“Well, the song isThe Twelve Days of Christmas,” Bonnie laughed.

A cold chill reached my spine. “What happens when you run out of pins?”

“That’s a strange question.”

I sighed. “Never mind. I think that means I only have two do-overs left.”

“I was following along until you got to do-overs. What kind of do-overs are you talking about?” Bonnie asked.

“Tries to get this romance thing right,” I explained. “I only have two left.”

“Why do you need do-overs?” Bonnie swatted my arm playfully. “I’ve seen the way Eli looks at you.”

I nodded. “I know, right? So what am I doing wrong?”

A serene calm fell over the woman. “There’s only one wrong way to fall in love.”

Here we go. “What’s that?”

“The wrong way to fall in love is tonotfall in love at all, but that’s a danger I don’t think you’re facing right now.” Bonnie busied herself by straightening the centerpiece on the table. Hermovement caused the pin to glint in the overhead lights.

“How did you and Joe meet? He told me it was a chance encounter at Christmas.”

She stopped straightening the table and sighed dreamily. “He’s right, and we have Santa… er… Kris to thank for it.”

“I’d love to hear that story.”

She folded her hands on the table. “Well, many moons ago, back before there was a word for fire.”

I laughed. “Oh, Bonnie, you’re not that old.”

She waved me off. “Hush, child, I’m spinning a yarn.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Many moons ago, there was this beautiful young woman who had the world figured out,” Bonnie began. “She was going to be a world-famous chef and travel the world. In those days, there weren’t many chefs of color and fewer women chefs, but she didn’t care - she would be one of the first and pave the way for others to come behind her.

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