Doreen tsked. “Remember when you were little, and you tried to wait up for Santa?”
I nodded. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“Yep. And you probably didn’t catch Santa then either.” Doreen raised her coffee cup in mock salute and left. “Don’t take it too hard.”
Things must have been bustling down the block at the book and toy stores, because a lot of cars pulled up and parked nearby, but hardly anyone came in the café for an hour or so. Carmen appreciated the slower pace, advising me not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Around eight o’clock, Nick brought me a Santa Breakfast Bowl. “I know that look. What’s bothering you?” He led me to a table, made me sit down, and then took my right foot and rested it on his thigh.
I could get used to this.
I drew a deep breath, chastising myself back toward the friendship zone whileI Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clausplayed in the background.
“Tell your good friend Nick what’s on your mind.”
I sighed, torn between feeling good about Nick’s hand resting on my ankle and my holiday missive being snatched from under my nose. “All the customers this morning weren’t here yesterday morning. And my card to Rudolph is missing.”
“Ah. You probably don’t know that friends sometimes drop off or pick up cards for friends.” He almost smiled, pushing the meal closer to me. “And you’re down because you lack a list of suspects.”
I nodded, taking a bite of the breakfast bowl, momentarily distracted. “Oh, man. This is good.”
“You’re just saying that because you don’t normally eat breakfast.” Nick didn’t smile, which was unusual. He practically smiled 24/7.
I set my fork down. “Why are you belittling your cooking?” I pointed at my bowl. “This is fantastic. I admit, I expected a soggy bowl. But the potatoes are crisp. The cheese is deliciously melted and gooey. And the sausage doesn’t taste greasy or like cardboard that’s been frozen.”
He drew up in his seat, seemingly offended. “You expected soggy? And cardboard?”
I reached across the table and swatted his arm. “Is that all you heard? The negative?”
Instead of arguing with me, he stared out the front window. “I’m in a weird, transitional place. The negative is easier to believe than the positive.”
“Well, it shouldn’t be. Everything you put your mind to will work out.” I was sure of it.
A trio of women bustled in. They carried big bags loaded with toys and smaller bags from the bookstore.
“We need three breakfast specials and three pumpkin spice lattes.” The tallest woman stepped forward when Carmen directed them to a sleigh table. “I’m paying today, ladies. Merry Christmas.”
“Three Santa Breakfast Bowls coming right up.” Nick set my foot down and then returned to the kitchen.
Carrying my bowl behind the counter, I made a mental note to ask him about his confidence issues later. What was wrong with him? He was a rock star chef!
“Look, Tisha.” One of the women pointed at the bulletin board. “There’s a Christmas card for you.”
The tall woman turned, gasping. “I always wanted a Christmas card here. I should write one for someone else.”
“I bought a box of Christmas cards at the bookstore,” the woman who’d spotted Tisha’s name said. “Let’s decide who to send one to while we wait for our food.”
“You bought a box.” Tisha chuckled. “Why limit us to just one secret card? It’s such a kind gesture and it’s the season to make people feel good.”
The ladies laughed and I laughed along with them. Because Tisha was right. More people needed to receive a card in the Sleigh Café program. I could think of two right off the bat – my mother, who needed encouragement, and Carol, who was working her tail off at the bookstore.
While Carmen got them glasses of water, I started their lattes, thinking about the messages I could send if only I had a box of Christmas cards.
But then I got distracted. All these pumpkin spice lattes. They smelled so good. They made me want some pumpkin pie. Nick had made pumpkin tarts for the pastry case, and I had my eye on one.
After I’d made the trio’s coffees, I ate the rest of my Santa Breakfast Bowl and went through the Christmas card box. Again, I was surprised that there were cards inside when I hadn’t seen anyone drop them off.
“Listen to this.” Tisha read from her Christmas card, “You add to the holiday sparkle.”