Page 29 of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch
“Absolutely, I’m starving,” Holly says. She and Aiden walk side by side, companionably, down Krimbo’s Main Street and soon reach a café with a quaint red, white, and green striped awning and an artfully painted sign that says “Seventh Heaven” in cursive script.
Inside, holiday music is piping from the stereo, and there are delicious smells emanating from the kitchen. “Coffee?” Aiden asks, walking casually behind the counter and reaching for the pot and two mugs.
“Guess you’re familiar enough with the owner?”
Holly hears the light tinkle of a laugh. “You could say that!” A willowy woman with high cheekbones, wide-setdark eyes, and a welcoming smile pushes her way through the forest green swinging doors leading from the kitchen into the café. She’s carrying a tray of cookies.
“Hi, I’m Sidra.” Her smile widens. “Aiden’s sister-in-law. I own this café with Aiden’s sister, Alexa.”
“And this is Holly Beech—an old high school friend,” Aiden says. “She’s renting the cabin up on the North Service Road for the holidays.”
“Nice spot,” says Sidra.
Aiden pours two steaming mugs of coffee and hands one to Holly with a jug of cream. Holly stirs, sips, says, “Wow. This might just be the best coffee I’ve ever had.”
“Sidra roasts the beans herself,” Aiden says proudly, taking a sip of his own brew. “Where’s Alexa today, Sid?”
“Mondays are her enforced day off,” Sidra says with a smile.
“And she’sactuallynot here? You’re sure she’s not hiding behind the door in there?”
“I left her at home with the weekendNew York Times, which she of course didn’t get to over the weekend, and strict instructions to relax.”
Aiden and Sidra both laugh, as if the idea of Alexa relaxing is highly unlikely.
“What can I get you two?” Sidra asks. “Daily sandwich?”
Aiden turns to Holly. “Sidra and Alex bake their own bread, raise their own chickens, pickle their own everything. Whatever the special is today, you’re guaranteed to love it.”
Sidra heads back into the kitchen and soon emerges withtwo sandwiches on white plates dotted with a holly-berry pattern. “It’s your favorite today, Aiden. The Krimbo Klub.”
Two customers have entered and taken seats, waving hello to both Sidra and Aiden. “Two specials?” Sidra calls out. “Coming right up!”
Sidra busies herself with a few more customers as Holly takes a bite of her sandwich. “What isinthis? It’s incredible—and not just because I’m starving.”
“The Krimbo Klub has turkey, turkey bacon, avocado…” He’s counting the ingredients off on his fingers, and pauses. “House cream cheese, pickled onions, peperoncini. Their secret sauce, which my own sister won’t even tell me the ingredients for—all on their home-baked sweet French roll.”
“You sound like a sandwich board.”
“I would wear a sandwich board for this sandwich.”
They eat in silence for a while, watching townspeople walk by in the soft snow. Most people either wave in greeting or come inside. Everyone orders the sandwich of the day, and either coffee or hot chocolate—and most people cast curious glances over at Holly.
When Holly crumples up her wax paper, Aiden asks if she’s ready for dessert.
She groans. “I’m stuffed, but also totally down for dessert.”
“That’s the right attitude.”
“I’m a team player, Aiden.”
He laughs and stands. When he goes behind the counter,he effortlessly serves a few customers in the increasingly crowded café, pouring coffees and using rose gold tongs to place cookies and pastries on little plates before returning to their table holding a plate with two cookies. They’re thick, dark chocolate, coated in icing and covered in red and green sprinkles.
“I just ate an entire hoagie,” Holly says, eyes wide. “I’m not sure I’m ready for a cookie of that size.”
“Just one bite, see how you feel.”
She goes ahead.
