Page 101 of A Very Merry Enemy
She guides me to a stool and tilts my head to examine the damage. “Wow. He really went for it, huh?”
“Shut up.”
“I’m not judging.Too much.” She uncaps concealer and starts dabbing it on my neck. “You never forget your first love, do you?”
“No,” I whisper. “You really don’t.”
Wendy meets my eyes in the small compact mirror she’s holding. “There you go. Can’t even tell. This stuff will cover up anything.”
“Thank you,” I say, letting out a relieved breath.
“Don’t mess it up this time,” Bella says, examining her older sister’s work. “Can’t even see them now.”
“What is that stuff called?” Bethany asks.
I glare at her. “No, ma’am.”
I bring the turtleneck back up, happy they’re now invisible.
Wendy squeezes my shoulder. “Now let’s bake some cookies.”
The rest of the day flies by. We sell out right after lunch, and I’m not even stressed about it. The girls handle the disappointed customers with grace. Bethany leaves for her afternoon classeswhile Bella and Wendy take the lead on prep. I only step in when they ask for help.
It feels good to let go and actually manage. It’s almost like I’ve been carrying a weight on my back and someone just lifted it off me.
Customers comment on my good mood all morning. One woman says I’m glowing. Another asks if I’m in love. I deflect and smile and box up cookies while humming along to the Christmas music playing overhead. Lucas would notice and make a comment about it. The thought makes me smile wider.
Around two, I lean against the counter, watching Bella and Wendy clean up. Through the window, I can see how packed the farm is. There’s a line leading to Santa’s workshop, where Lucas’s dad is posing for photos with customers.
This place. This town. This life. It’s everything I ran away from and everything I spent fifteen years trying to recreate somewhere else. The magic of Merryville was always here, waiting for me to be ready for it.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
Lucas
How’s your neck?
I bite my lip to keep from grinning like a lovesick fool.
Holiday
I owe you one. Actually, three.
Lucas
Don’t tempt me with a good time, Peaches.
Holiday
You couldn’t handle it.
Lucas
Probably. Good day?
Holiday
Actually yes. Really good. Don’t need help prepping.
