Page 12 of Nicky

"Thanks, I am," Markus replied, returning the gesture. "It’s beautiful here."

We kept walking, and as we passed a booth selling festive candles, a woman waved at me. "Nicholas, looking good today! Hope you’re doing alright."

I waved back. "Hey, Karen! Doing fine, thanks."

Markus glanced at me, eyes dancing with curiosity. "Seems like everyone knows you here."

"Small town," I muttered. "People talk. And I work at the senior living center, so..."

"So, you’re the unofficial mayor," he teased with a smirk.

I shot him a look. "Hardly," I said, gesturing toward a booth selling candied apples. "You want a sweet treat?"

He laughed, a warm, genuine sound that made my cheeks flush just a little. "You’re one of a kind."

CHAPTER 8

Nicholas

An hour later, I pushed open the door to Sugar & Spice Café, the familiar scent of cinnamon and sugar filling the air. The holiday decorations were in full swing—red ribbons, garlands of holly, and twinkling lights hanging from the rafters. It was a cozy place, with mismatched chairs and a fireplace crackling softly in the corner. The upbeat sound of a classic Christmas carol played softly in the background, a nice contrast to the crisp winter air outside.

Behind the counter, Jamie, the barista, caught sight of me and flashed a smile. "Hey, Nicholas. The usual?"

"Yeah, thanks." I nodded, already pulling out my wallet. "Extra shot of peppermint today, though, and two orders."

Markus stepped in behind me, looking around the café, his eyes catching the holiday cheer in every corner. “So this is where you get your fix, huh?”

“Yup,” I said, glancing at him. “Best peppermint mocha in Washington State, hands down.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

Jamie quickly prepared our drinks, sliding them across the counter with practiced ease. We grabbed our cups and foundseats by the window, the street outside dusted with snow. People bustled about, shopping for gifts, and I relaxed into the atmosphere. There was something comforting about the low hum of conversation and the steady stream of locals dropping by for their daily caffeine fix.

I took a sip of my drink, the warm rush of peppermint and chocolate hitting me just right.

Markus took a careful sip of his own drink, eyes narrowing as he assessed it. “Not bad,” he said, though his grin told me he was just trying to be polite. “I’ll give it to you—it’s good. Not sure it’s the best, though.”

I shook my head. “Clearly, you need more time in the Hollow. You’ll be convinced.”

It wasn’t long before someone called my name.

"Hi, Nicholas! How’ve you been?"

I looked up to see Sharon, her warm smile instantly lifting the mood. She was a fixture of the town—mid-fifties, with a heart of gold. She owned the local florist shop and had been part of the fabric of Juniper Hollow for as long as I could remember. She and Mom were two peas in a pod, best friends since middle school, all the way up to the day my mom passed.

“Sharon, hey!” I waved her over, and she joined us with a friendly nod. “Busy day?” I asked, already knowing the answer. The holidays always had people running around more than usual.

“Oh yes, it is,” she said with a wink. “I just finished up a big order for a Christmas wedding and thought I’d stop in for a quick break.” Her eyes flicked over to Markus, and her expression softened. “Well, look at you. You must be Dr. Webber, huh?”

Markus extended his hand with a smile. “That’s me. Nice to meet you.”

Sharon took his hand, shaking it firmly. “You’ve made quite the impression around here already,” she said, with a teasing glint in her eye. “It’s a small town, so word travels fast.”

Markus shot a quick look at me. “Guess I’m becoming the talk of the town, huh?” His tone was light, but I noticed the way he lingered on the question, as if trying to gauge my reaction.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it,” I deadpanned.

Markus chuckled softly, but there was a hint of something more in his eyes. “I’ll try to blend in, but I’m guessing that’ll be a little harder here than I’m used to.”

---