Page 4 of By Candlelight

A flocked Christmas tree stood against the back wall, gold and purple lights covering every inch. Silver ornaments and clear glass balls hung from the branches, and what seemed to be hundreds of carefully wrapped presents sat underneath, next to a hand-painted sign that read “Gift Donations Here.” Upon closer inspection, the instructions were simple. Donate a gift for an under-priveleged child or teen, and receive a free coffee or tea. The shop would be hosting a party on Christmas for the Boys and Girls club. My chest warmed in appreciation and I made a mental note to grab something and drop it off first thing in the morning.

I got in line and glanced around at the rest of the cafe, still mostly filled with what looked to be tourists enjoying their warm drinks and treats. Little Christmas tree candle holders sat on each mismatched table and gold bows decorated the back of each chair. As I reached the counter, I noticed one large sugar cookie left in the display case. It was shaped like a Christmas stocking and decorated with red icing and white sugar sprinkles. I needed it.

The woman behind the counter smiled at me. “Hello, what can I get for you this evening?”

“I desperately need that stocking cookie.”

She laughed, and punched a button on the ipad register. “Good choice. Anything else?”

I perused the overhead menu, wondering whether peppermint or hazelnut hot chocolate would compliment the cookie better.

“And a peppermint hot chocolate, please.” I’d try hazelnut tomorrow. The woman nodded and rung me up. I paid and watched as she made the drink from scratch, steaming and frothing the milk, adding the flavors, placing a peppermint stick into the mug and a huge dollop of whipped cream on top.

“Oh my god, this is heaven in a cup,” I said as she smiled and plated my cookie.

“Thank you, I hope it tastes as good as it looks,” she replied with a wink.

“Oh, I’m sure it will. Is this your cafe?” I chanced a guess as she looked too practiced at making drinks and welcoming guests to simply be an employee.

“It is. I’m Sara. Are you in town for the festival?” I didn’t know if this was one of those small-town-everyone-knows-everyone-else-things or if I just looked wildly out of place. But I shook my head.

“Happy coincidence. I just wanted to get away for the holiday and found a cute place to stay on CozyHost.”

“Ah, that app has brought a lot of business to our town. We’re always happy to host tourists.”

“Well you’re the perfect demographic for it. The whole town looks like a postcard.”

She laughed. “It sure does, at least on the surface.”

“I’m Mia.” I stuck my hand out and she took it, shaking it firmly. “I’ve read about your cafe online.”

“Well, I’m happy you stopped by, Mia. I hope your stay here in Moon Harbor is everything you need it to be.” Her smile was warm, but her eyes held a knowing look to them. I nodded in thanks and turned to find a table. I didn’t know if Sara was good at reading people or if I was giving off desperation vibes, but the truth was, I did need Moon Harbor. Not just as a cute place to spend Christmas, but as something much more. I needed it to be my safe haven. I needed it to protect me.

three

DREW

I’d gone backto the hospital to check in with my team and finish up some paperwork, but by the time I left, I was ready for a shower and bed. It wasn’t even late, just past nine o’clock, but the stress of the day had gotten to me. Maybe I’d have a shower beer and then cook that steak I’d picked up from the butcher’s. Sounded like a perfect night to me, even perking up my perpetually bad mood a little bit.

Too bad that didn’t last. After turning onto Millhouse, the dirt road the cottage’s driveway sat on, I hit a deep divot and heard my tire pop.

“Fuck!” I pulled off to the only open area I could find on the tree-lined road. It was a small patch of grass about as big as my Charger, but it was good enough. There were only a few houses on this road, and I didn’t know if they were even occupied this time of year, but the last thing I needed was to block the path and have someone tow my car.

I got out and walked around to the trunk only to remember my spare tire was gone. I’d given it to an elderly woman stuck on the highway a couple months ago. She didn’t have a spare, and didn’t know how to change a tire anyway. So when I’d come across her standing in the dark, tearful and afraid, I hadn’t thought twice about it. I grabbed my spare and popped it on her sedan. I even admitted to myself at the time, the fact I could help her made me feel…good. A feeling I definitely hadn’t been used to.

Tonight, though, it had bitten me in the ass. I cursed as I kicked the flat tire. Grabbing my phone, I called Rick, the owner of the only tire shop we had in town, but it went straight to voicemail. It was dark as shit out here, but I was less than a mile from the cottage, so I grabbed my stuff, locked my car, and trekked the rest of the way. I’d deal with that mess tomorrow.

* * *

Twenty minutes later, I was back at the cottage. My phone rang from in my pocket and I grabbed it, swiping on the answer button.

“Rick, hey. Thanks for calling me back.”

“Don’t thank me yet. What’s going on?” I heard his kids yelling in the background. It sounded like a battleground but I figured that’s just what a house full of kids under ten sounded like.

“I’m staying out at my sister’s cottage, you know the one on Millhouse?” My tongue almost tripped over the word sister, but I was surprised it didn’t. Rick paused though, probably processing it.

“Yeah, yeah I know the one.”

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