Page 37 of Once Upon a Winter
Laura’s stomach sank.No, please. Not another warning.
“Steve mentioned once that the snow globes had a way of finding their way to the person who needs them.”
Laura nervously glanced at Cooper, wondering what Jessica’s cryptic words meant.What’s it going to do, hitchhike back to my house?She bit her lip and accepted the warning. “Oh. Well, I don’t need it, so… problem solved.”
Cooper ran his fingers through his hair. “Maybe it was a mistake and Laura wasn’t the person it was meant for. So we’re doing our part to get it back to where it belongs.”
Jessica didn’t look like she was buying Cooper’s interpretation, but she returned the snow globe to its shelf.
Once it was safely in its place, Cooper said, “Thank you, Jessica.”
“Yes, thank you,” echoed Laura.
After wishing Jessica a merry Christmas, Laura and Cooper left the store. Outside, Laura shivered from more than the cold winter air.
Cooper said, “Well, that’s done.”
Laura sighed with relief. “Yeah, it is.”I hope.
Cooper pulled Laura into his arms and gave her a reassuring hug and a kiss on the cheek. He paused, his eyes fixed on hers. “What are you doing the day after tomorrow?”
“That’s Christmas Eve.”
“I know. But that doesn’t answer my question.”
He’d caught her by surprise. “I don’t really have plans. I used to go over to my parents’ house on Christmas Eve, but since I’ve moved, I don’t think they’d expect me to drive back and forth two days in a row, so… I don’t know. I guess I’ll be here.”
“What about spending Christmas Eve at my house? Nothing fancy, but I promise I’ll feed you. There might be a fire and possibly movies. What do you think?”
“Oh.” What did she think? In the back of her mind, she’d had the idea that he might lose interest in her once the snow globe was gone. But his invitation had planted a seed of hope. “I guess I assumed you’d spend Christmas Eve with your mother.”
“It’s a fair assumption, but she volunteers Christmas Eve delivering toys from a toy drive, so we always get together on Christmas Day. So if you haven’t got plans…”
Laura’s heart filled with warmth. “Yes—I mean, no. I haven’t got plans.”
“Good. Then it’s a date.”
A date.“Good.”
They stood smiling at one another until it became awkward. Cooper broke the silence with a grin. “Okay, then. Christmas Eve. See you later.”
“Bye.” Laura turned and started walking, barely able to remember where she was going. She was overreacting, yet she didn’t care. She was thrilled at the thought of spending Christmas Eve with Cooper. Then she remembered she hadn’t even asked what she could bring. And on Christmas Eve, she couldn’t show up without a gift. She still had some last-minute Christmas shopping to do, so she added one more item to the list and headed for her favorite shops.
Fifteen
The scentof fresh-brewed coffee and cinnamon filled the air as Cooper pushed open the door to the coffee shop. He spotted Enzo by the window and slid into the seat across from him.
Enzo spent the first fifteen minutes filling Cooper in on his life. Despite the endless flurry of child-centered activity that drove his friend to apparent exhaustion, Cooper envied him. Enzo might complain of fatigue, but to Cooper, it seemed like a very full life.
“Hey, don’t forget you’re babysitting next Friday.”
Cooper grinned. “It’s hard to forget since you remind me every time I see you.”
Enzo’s eyes darkened. “Look at me. This is the face of a desperate man. The wife and I need a night out, or we’ll both go insane.” His face brightened. “Not that they aren’t three little angels.”
Cooper chuckled. “Relax. I promise I won’t bail on you.”
Enzo exhaled. “Thank God.” He grinned, took a drink of his coffee, and set the cup down with a clink. “So. You and Laura…” Enzo suppressed a smile as he leaned on his elbows.
