Page 29 of A Taste of Christmas Magic

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Grandma Millie said drily.

“You want to try what we…well, what I made? I have a plate already. I was hoping we could have dinner later tonight and review some other recipes to try because I want your feedback, but I wanted to check in with Rustin first. I’ve been worried and confused all day.”

“I would enjoy eating dinner with you, my darling Chloe, but the decisions about what you are going to serve at the Movable Feast are yours,” she said tartly.

“But Grandma Millie, it’s me! And the Maye name and tradition! I don’t want to mess it up!”

“Dear girl, I have no doubt you will hold up your end. Shall we say dinner at my house at seven? Invite Rustin. Not sure he’ll want to come, but since you’ll be using my kitchen, I’ve no doubt he will be full of opinions.”

*

“No,” Rustin crossedhis arms when Lucas and Rebekah approached him, Rebekah with a budget request and Lucas with his unrequited crush on Rebekah, supporting her every idea.

“Absolutely not. I will not have cheesy red and green or tinsel sparkling anything.”

“The Wild Side is kicking off the holiday season in this dinky town. This is no time to play a too-cool heathen,” Rebekah shot back. “The next town over is called McAdenville and in December it becomes Christmas Town, USA. and has a huge light show. I’ve seen it online.”

“I’ve been there,” Lucas said. “It was the one Christmas thing we could afford when we were kids. We should do the pop-up there too.”

“I’ve applied for a permit for that event too, for several nights.”

“What? No. We’re not open,” Rustin reminded. “We’ve already been dragged unwillingly into the Movable Feast.”

“Speak for yourself. The rest of us are thrilled you will be creating an aperitif with a sweet edible garnish to kick off the feast.”

“And a cherry bounce cocktail,” Lucas added.

Rustin heard the excitement, but also the sarcasm in his brother’s voice—he knew it burned his ass that Miss Millie had issued an edict, and though he was now a man, he didn’t have it in him to ignore her.

“So, we need decorations.” Rebekah pushed her agenda, clicking her red nails together.

Rustin pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d felt off-balance since last night. What had he been thinking—that he was in love with Chloe Maye Cramer? Absurd. He hadn’t been idiotically in love since he’d been sixteen. He was just tired. Hungry. Slammed with so many memories—many of them unpleasant—since he’d returned to Belmont.

“We are absolutely not decorating for Christmas. Final answer,” he told his crew, trying to ignore their disappointed expressions and slumped shoulders.

“Oh no, Rustin, absolutely you need to decorate for Christmas.”

Chloe marched into his restaurant from the outside deck, holding the book and something in Tupperware.

God, no.

She was here to poison him again.

“The Wild Side will be ground zero. It will set the stage for the Movable Feast,” she smiled at him. That cute little dent in her chin tempted him to reach out and caress it.

Her eyes were liquid with emotion, sparkling with excitement.

“But I can see why you want to do something different.” She put down the book and Tupperware on the long, family-style table, and then draped her pink coat over a chair.

She turned a circle. “You want to really make a big WOW.” She swung her arms wide. “Lean into the industrial vibe you’re rocking with a pop of festive that’s unexpected, unique, and yet sings Christmas. Oh! I know!” Chloe snapped her fingers, and he found himself totally charmed. “A rebar tree. I could talk to the high school shop teacher. She has a welding class. I have some students who are talented metal artists. They could make you an unconventional tree, maybe even a little abstract, that you could mount on the wall with vintage lights. We could paint the two-story side wall with a glossy red. Vibrant, with the tree and lights. And then we’d need a smaller tree where we hang the giving cards.”

Her ideas flowed like the Catawba River in spring. How did she have so many? And she walked around his main dining room, the bar, and the outdoor patio, her petite frame and elfin figure seemed to glow with happiness. Rebekah actually followed her, phone out taking notes.

“Poinsettias are probably too traditional, and I bet swags of evergreen are out too.” She smiled across the room at him, while he stood watching her, helpless to look away even as he prompted himself to walk.

“Maybe holly twined around bare branches, or… I know!” Chloe bounced to her toes. “Large, matte black pots and white birch branches—white pots would emanate a sterile hospital vibe—so white birch branches in big black pots, black stones, and tiny LED twinkle lights. Not twinkling; they could be programmed to change colors for different seasons or events. Those could go on the patio. Visual interest and light source and holiday without the holiday.”

“Huh?” Lucas said. “I can’t see it.”

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