Page 27 of Just for the Holidays

Teddy prepares her doughnuts and coffee, “Do you take cream or milk?” he asks.

“A good amount of cream… and honey, if you have it?”

“You got it,” Teddy says, floating back to the fridge and then around the workbench, to add a generous pour of local honey from his personal stash on a shelf, before reporting back to the counter and handing the cup off to Meghan. “I’ll have your cake ready in two weeks.”

“Perfect!” She squeaks, taking a sip and grinning. “You may be my new morning coffee spot too.” She winks at Nichol.

“We better be.” He matches her energy with a coy smirk.

Meghan gathers her pastry box with the pink bow and saunters out the door.

“You two know each other?” Teddy tears the order off the notepad and waddles it back to the corkboard.

“Nope…’’ Nichol shrugs. “But she’s family.”

Teddy crinkles his brow. “Long lost cousin?”

“No,” Nichol laughs. “Family.” He folds his wrist, dangling a limp hand in the air.

“Meghan?” Teddy says, tilting his head, confused.

“She has a Bi Pride pin on her bag.”

“Ohhh . . .” Teddy’s eyes light up with clarity. “I may need you to teach me how to charm the customers like that.”

“Training begins after lunch,” Nichol says, winging a brow and flashing a half smile.

Chapter 15

Nichol

Divine Burgers and Cheap Drinks

Nichol’s second but first official day on the job was a repeat of yesterday. Customers came and went, placing holiday orders, grabbing free cups of coffee, and nearly cleaning out all the pre-boxed cookies and cupcakes that Teddy was sure he’d be donating to the food pantry.

In between the sporadic bursts of business, Teddy went over practices his grandmother had set into place. She believedeveryone deserves free coffee, even if they’re not buying anything.

“They’re guests in the shop, so it’s customary to offer a warm drink,” Teddy recited. “Seriously Nichol, I think you’re my lucky charm. I haven’t seen business like this since Gram passed.” The baker’s eyes sparkle with the twinkling rainbow lights strung around the storefront window. “I’m going to have to keep you around.”

“It’s the holidays,” Nichol shrugs. “I’m sure it's a coincidence… But you can still take me to dinner if you’d like?” He snickers. “It’s too early to retire to my sister’s dungeon.”

Teddy chuckles, “There’s a little bar around the corner that makes a pretty decent burger and fries?” he suggests.

“Perfect!” Nichol chimes, clapping his hands, pleased that he’s in for a night out on the town.

“I’ll clean up when I get back.” Teddy gathers his fleece-lined denim jacket from the office. “I’ve still got to make doughnuts for tomorrow.”

Nichol grabs his pea coat off the rack, next to the collection of ruffled pink aprons, and twirls into it. The pair parade out the front door—Teddy locks up behind them—and they stroll down the sidewalk.

The winter air bites their rosy cheeks and ears. Tiny snowflakes materialize ahead of their path, tickling the tips of their noses, melting on their shoulders and in their hair. Nichol’s wool coat is no match for December in Minnesota, but he’d had it tailored to hug his torso perfectly, and that’s what counts.

They turn the corner at the end of the block and carry on, descending around the back of Main Street’s row of buildings, toward the basement levels of each. Teddy skips ahead, grabbing the long silver handle of an old wooden door with a blacked-out glass porthole, and hauls it open.

“Here we are.” He smiles and waves Nichol through.

Nichol had been hoping to avoid dungeon basements, but Teddy must have missed that part.

A short wood-paneled foyer, opens to the dingy bar, reeking of booze and regret. Its low raftered ceilings are littered with odd memorabilia, dangling between wooden beams. Discarded license plates and banged-up street signs are mounted on concrete block walls. Nichol imagines the eclectic seating, scattered about, is hand-me-down dining sets, collected from local yard sales.

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