Page 4 of Wicked Christmas Eve

3

Once away from the inquisition of my family, I heaved a sigh of relief. I love my family, I really do, but I prefer them in smaller doses.

I grabbed the bowl with my covered dough and a rolling pin and got to work on the fancy layers I was creating on my top crust. This year I had planned to up my game with not only an elaborate weave but I was cutting out small pieces to layer a Christmas tree down the center and would follow that up with snowflakes around the rim.

I’d seen a similar, albeit less detailed design, on Pinterest and couldn’t resist adding my own flourishes.

I loved to bake, and the more elaborate the better. My mom may have requested a simple cherry pie for dessert, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t get creative with all of the layers on the top.

“Are you sure you want to be a lawyer someday? Because it feels like you’ve missed your calling.”

I smiled at my mother’s unexpected arrival and compliment, letting the warmth of it wash over me.

“Baking is my creative outlet. You know that. I love it far too much to turn it into work.”

“I know, honey. You’re just so darn good at it. And ever since Beatrice decided to retire and move to the beach, we haven’t had any decent baked goods around here.”

I looked up. “Beatrice retired? Seriously? I thought she was going to work until she died.”

My mother leaned in and lowered her voice. “Between you and me I think she met a man. Right before she closed up shop she started acting strange.”

I tried not to laugh, but my mother’s flair for the dramatic was too good. “Strange how?” I asked, knowing full well I was drawing my mother deep into gossip mode.

“Oh you know. Just distracted. And closing up the shop at odd hours in the middle of the day.”

This news put ideas in my head that I immediately regretted. I did not need to imagine geriatric Beatrice running off in the middle of a day for a nooner with her new man.

I shrugged. “Good for her though. As much as I loved her bakery, the woman deserves a retirement.”

My mother nodded. “I guess you’re right. But that does leave a vacancy for someone new to open shop and make a killing. Even a small town needs good coffee cake and muffins. Getting them from the supermarket just isn’t the same.”

I made a slight agreeing noise, choosing to minimally acknowledge my mother’s attempt to push me into a new career.

“Anyways,” she started, digging into her pocket. “I came to give you this.” She thrust a business card into my hand that I glanced at before accepting it.

Law Offices of Jackson and Jackson

1500 Main Street

Rockridge, North Carolina

It was a discreet black card with fancy gold foil lettering. No weird promises about taking on your worker’s comp case or contesting a family will. And no picture of a man sitting on the edge of his desk with his arms crossed looking at the camera with his most intense glare.

“What’s this?” I hesitated in asking, because I was pretty sure I already knew the answer.

“If you still want to go the paralegal route, then you need to go here. I’ve already spoken to Teddy and he’s expecting you this afternoon.”

“What?!” I was pretty sure my head had just exploded, but I put down the rolling pin down first before I got any rage induced ideas like smashing it into the middle of my pie.

“Yes, he’s quite eager.”

“But it’s Christmas Eve. Surely they have more important things to do than see me. Besides, I have a life in Charlotte.” Well, that wasn’t exactly true. I didn’t have much to go back to, but I knew I could get back on my feet eventually. If that meant a little couch surfing with friends to get me through my rough patch, I could deal.

“I’m not sure Teddy has any big plans for the holiday. His wife died around Christmas a few years ago and while he has a grown son here in town, I’ve heard neither of them do much other than work these days.”

I rubbed my temples. Now she was laying it on thick. “Mother, I really wish you wouldn’t have done this. My plans to leave after Christmas haven’t changed.”

She frowned, thrusting the card again for me to take. “It’s not going to hurt anything to go and talk to them. You never know. You might change your mind.”

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