“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. I received a card from Rudolph.” Two, actually. But who was counting? And who was hoping for a reply today? This girl! In the second card I’d written to my secret holiday pen pal, I’d printed,“Christmas in your heart has put Christmas in the air.”
So corny. But also, somewhat true.
I’d caught myself humming along with the café’s Christmas music several times today, mentally choreographing a dance performance. Rudolph had put Christmas in my air.
Or maybe that was just my good friend Nick.
I sighed. I still felt guilty for the words we’d exchanged this morning and the realization that I was a bad friend. But Nick? Nick acted as if everything was the same between us.
What would he think if he knew I couldn’t stop thinking about kissing him?
Mrs. Smith leaned forward, whispering despite no one else being in the café but the two of us. “My card was from Max.”
“Max?” I searched my memories for a holiday character by that name and all I could think of was my cousin Joy’s son.
She lifted her card from her purse and showed me the front – the cartoon Grinch stood next to his dog…Max.
“Do you have a dog?” I asked.
The older woman nodded, wiping at a tear. “Caesar crossed over the Rainbow Bridge earlier this year.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s why I wondered how this worked. My message was so kind. So…personal.” She half-turned her head, as if she had trouble hearing and wanted me to speak toward her good ear.
“All I can tell you is that every card seems to be from a holiday character. Most of the cards get dropped off while my back is turned to make a coffee.” Was that why so many people were ordering specialty drinks? They took longer to make. I paused to ponder…
“And…” Mrs. Smith seemed to sense I had more to the story.
“There’s not much more to tell. I pin them to the board, and they get claimed. Frankly, you’re the first person to ask me about them.” Even my mother had come by and picked up her card without a word to me. “But if the message touched you, I recommend you drop a card of your own in the box.”
“Written to who?”
I shrugged. “Whoever you feel needs a bit of holiday cheer.”
Laney came into the café carrying a backpack and her work apron. She greeted us both before disappearing into the kitchen. I heard the deep rumble of Nick’s voice.
“Maybe you should ask yourself why it’s important to know who sent the card to you.” I knew what had amped up my curiosity about Rudolph. I had more motivation now than just uncovering Christmas magic. I wanted to know what Nick dreamed about at night.
Laney came back in, tying her apron behind her back. “Nick said he’s ready to go when you are, Allie.”
“Where are you going?” Mrs. Smith tucked her Christmas card back in her purse, gossipy radar back up and running.
There was no way I was going to tell the biggest gossip in town that I was moving Mom’s merchandise to her store.
I smiled as I poured two cups of black coffee in to-go cups. “Nick and I are taking a coffee break.” It didn’t matter if she was satisfied with my answer or not. I put lids on the cups and made my exit.
“I heard you talking to Mrs. Smith,” Nick said as we walked in the alley toward his truck. “You gave her some of the same advice I gave you.”
“It doesn’t mean I’m going to follow it.” I grinned.
He made a non-committal noise, then glanced at my foot. “You’re walking better today.”
“I told you being here is easier on my foot than what I usually put it through.” I glanced around the back alley as I made my way to Nick’s truck.
Even here, it felt like Christmas. There were lights strung two stories up from one building to the next. Someone had hung a wreath on the back door to Rudolph Reads. The back door to the combination furniture store and salon was open. Instrumental Christmas music spilled out. A man’s baritone sangWhite Christmas.
“Your foot feels better despite the fact that you walked here this morning and – ”