A Christmas Delight

8. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Maisie

A young man enters the shop.

“Hi, there,” I say, trying to keep myself from glancing at Joel. He seems to be enjoying his donut, which pleases me of course, but every time I glance at him, our eyes meet. I both want to stare into those brown eyes and hide behind the counter. He’s not as scary as I thought he was. There’s a bit of sense of humor under that grizzly bear appearance.

“Hi.” The young man smiles, showing a perfect row of teeth. His eyes must be the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. He seems a little familiar, but I can’t quite place him.

“What can I get you?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Finn, I own the café across the street.”

“Oh, hi. It’s nice to meet you.”

He raises his eyebrows at me and waits for a beat. “And your name is?”

“Oh, sorry. Maisie. I’m Maisie.”

“Are you trying to compete with us?”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

“With the coffee,” he adds.

“Oh, right.” I really need to stop saying ‘oh.’ It makes me sound stupid. “We don’t make super fancy coffee or anything. It’s mostly about donuts.”

Finn looks at me for a moment, and it takes me a lot of energy not to squirm or look somewhere else. He’s nice and all but I have things to do.

“I was joking,” he finally says. “Welcome to Brindlewood.”

“Thank you. Are you sure you don’t want anything while you’re here?”

“Uh,” he looks at the display of donuts, hesitating. “I don’t really like that stuff.”

I shrug. To each their own. “That’s okay.”

“Hey, would you like to hang out one of these days? Since you just moved here, you probably don’t know the area. I could show you around. Or we could eat out or something.”

I didn’t see that coming at all. “Um, I’m not sure…”

“There’s a really nice Italian restaurant not far. My favorite.”

I stammer, glancing around for help, but Nina’s in the kitchen. My eyes meet Joel’s briefly. He’s stopped eating and intently stares at Finn, and I realize why Finn looks familiar. He was the driver cutting off Joel, and the two got into a shouting match on my first day of work. “I mean, sure. Why not? I don’t know when, though. I’ve been pretty busy.”

Finn smiles, leaning against the counter. “Come on, I’m sure you can find a little bit of time. It’ll be fun.”

A thought strikes me. “Wait. How do you know I just moved in?”

He shrugs. “You just opened this shop.”

“That doesn’t mean I just moved in.”

“But you did though, right?”

I did, but he seemed awfully sure of himself. Did Nina talk to this guy at some point? Did Randall tell him? Randall seems to know everyone, maybe they got to talking about us.

The bell above the door tinkles, and Mom enters the shop, her blonde hair shining in the sun. Her face lights up when she sees us. “Finn, I see you already dropped by.”

He chuckles. “I sure did. You weren’t lying.” His blue eyes fix on me. “Your daughter is very pretty.”

My cheeks burn, and it’s hard not to squirm. I’m not used to getting compliments, and I’m not even sure I like it. And it surprises me that my mom would tell someone else I’m pretty.

“Have you been getting to know each other?” Mom turns to me. “Isn’t he nice, honey?”

I look at them back and forth. “Sure. So, you’ve met?”

“I gotta go,” Finn says, flashing us both a smile. “Think about what I said, okay? I’ll text you.” He opens the door, letting an icy breeze sneak into the shop.

I scoff, shaking my head. “He said he’ll text me. The dude didn’t even get my number.”

“He already has your number. I gave it to him,” Mom says, wriggling her eyebrows.

“You what?”

“I went to get coffee across the street—”

“We have coffee here. Why did you go there?”

She cocks her head. “Oh, honey. I wanted real coffee. He was really nice, and we started talking, and I found out he was single.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“You’re single too.”

“By choice.”

She scoffs. “No one’s alone by choice.”

“I am. I can’t believe you gave him my number.”

Her face falls, and she shakes her head slightly, letting out a dramatic, drawn-out sigh. “I thought I was doing something good, but with you, it’s like I can’t do anything right.”

“Oh, come on…”

“I was trying to help. To do something nice for you. You’re alone in this new town—”

“I have Nina.”

“—and I thought it’d be nice for you to know someone else, that’s all.”

I squint at her. Her performance is great, but I know better. “You just want me to date real bad, don’t you?”

She crosses her arms against her chest. “My daughter will not become a lonely cat lady who spends her nights in her pajamas watching TV, eating frozen lasagna, and knitting scarves like a grandma. Not on my watch.”

My gaze fleets to Joel, Brent, and Randall, and to my horror, they’re all looking at us. They quickly turn away, making a show of looking somewhere else as soon as our eyes meet, but the Donut Delight is pretty small, and my astonishment made me forget to whisper. They heard everything without a doubt. If one could die of embarrassment, I’d be on the floor right now.

Chairs scrape against the floor as the three men stand up and head to the door.

“Coffee was delicious, sweetheart,” Randall says, winking at me.

My mom rolls her eyes discreetly, eyeing me. She doesn’t know that I know him, and she doesn’t know that what he just said could make me cry from gratitude. At least he appreciates our coffee here.

“And those donuts are to die for,” Brent adds.

I fix a smile on my face. “Thank you, guys. Come again soon.”

They walk out the door, but Joel lingers in the doorway for a moment. He looks back at me with those deep brown eyes of his, and it feels like he can stare at my soul. He doesn’t smile, glancing briefly at my mom, as though he can feel how flustered I am.

“Take care, Maisie,” he says gently, his voice low, then walks out the door. That little banter between him and me was fun, but the fact that he decided to call me Maisie just now fills me with warmth.

Mom rolls her eyes again. “Sweetheart,” she says, repeating Randall’s word. “How rude, right?”

“He’s actually really nice. Been coming every day since we opened. He owns the Christmas tree farm in Brindlewood.”

A part of me wants to tell her that Randall, a perfect stranger just a week ago, has been nicer to me than she is most times. It makes me feel seen. Joel’s lucky to have a dad like that. And they all like our donuts. Mom wouldn’t touch a donut with a five-foot pole.

I don’t have the time to voice any of it when Nina comes back from the kitchen. “Hi, Doris, how are you?”

Seeing Nina instantly puts a smile on Mom’s face, and she completely forgets about me to talk to my best friend. It’s just as well. I excuse myself and go to the kitchen. My head swirls. I can’t believe she’d give a stranger my phone number. Is she that desperate to make me not single? Maybe instead, she should take care of her own business and make sure she doesn’t end up single like me. Without thinking about it, I take my phone out and call Frank.

He answers on the second ring. “Hi, Maisie.”

“Hi. Not bothering you, am I?”

“No, you’re fine.” He sounds tired. Or maybe I really am bothering him. He and I always got along but we were never particularly close. “What can I do for you?”

“Do you know where Mom is?”

His sigh makes the phone break into loud statics. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Thanks. Now if you could tell her that and resolve whatever it is that you need to resolve, I would be so very grateful. She’s been with me for six days and is already driving me crazy.”

“I’m sorry, Maisie. Not this time. She’s…”

“Unbearable, yes, I know. But you married her, not me. So, can’t you find it in your kind heart to forgive her?”

“Do you know what she did? Because I am a very patient man, but this where I draw the line.”

“I don’t, actually. She refused to tell me.”

“She stomped on my gingerbread house.”

I wait, thinking more is coming, but silence follows his statement. “Is that it?”

“No. But that’s already crossing the line.”

“Okay, what happened?”

“She gained two pounds.”

Two pounds is nothing. Two pounds is ridiculous. My body has been fluctuating way more than that in the last few years. But a gasp catches in my throat, nonetheless, and my hand flies to my chest. “No.”

“She blamed me and the Thanksgiving dinner I made. She declared there would be no Christmas treats this year.”

“There never were Christmas treats with her.”

“She allowed them for Liz, Dave, and the kids. This time, she was being serious though. But I make a gingerbread house every year, you know that. My grandkids love it.”

“I know.”

“They were going to come for the weekend, so I made one. When Doris saw it, she lost her marbles. Screamed that it was my own fault that I was so fat, and that I was now making her fat, and next thing I knew she smashed my gingerbread house on the floor and stomped on it. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

My mother likes to control things and people around her. I didn’t think she’d lose it over a gingerbread house, though. “So that’s why she left? Because you made dessert?”

“Oh, no. She left because I, well, I said she was a control freak. And, um…”

“And?”

Another sigh. “I told her it was because of that kind of behavior that you moved away and weren’t talking to her as much. I guess she wanted to prove a point by going to your place. I’m sorry.”

I close my eyes, registering his words. That’s not Frank’s fault, of course, but I wish he wouldn’t have said that. “I’ll try to talk to her. Convince her to go back, somehow.” I hesitate a second. “You do want her back, right? Please, don’t say no. I’ll faint if you say no.”

“I’d gladly take her back if for once she apologized, but I don’t see that happening. I suppose I’ll have to find a way to get over myself and call her.”

“Who knows, maybe she’ll come around.”

A chuckle escapes him. “That’d be a first, but sure, go right ahead and try to reason with her.”

After I hang up the phone, I stand where I am, my thoughts swirling. All that speech that she gave me the other night now seems so ridiculous. She made me feel bad for her while the truth is that she destroyed a gingerbread house like a petulant child.

Nina pops her head in. “She’s gone.”

“Finally, some good news.”

She joins me, standing by my side. “I know it’s been a rough week with her at home.”

“She wants to set me up with the guy who works at the café. She gave him my number. Can you believe that?”

“Knowing your mom, I can, yeah. I caught a glimpse of him. That’s the guy your neighbor was shouting at, right?”

I nod.

“I mean, he’s cute, right? You could do a lot worse.”

“Yeah, I guess he is.” But he’s not Joel. The thought almost startles me. “But I’m not interested.”

“Why not?”

“You know why.”

“Ah,” she says. “Because you’re so unworthy of love.”

“I didn’t say it like that.”

“But that’s what you think. And deep down I know it’s the real reason you stay alone. Not because you want to, but because you think you’re not good enough.”

I look away, chewing on my lip. I steady my breathing, then look back at her, scowling. “Why do you know me so well?”

Nina smiles. “Because I’m your bestie and I’ve known you for years.”

“I’m just not enough even for my own mother. So why would I be enough for a man?”

Nina hooks an arm around my neck. “You are enough. And you and I just opened our own donut shop. We’re badasses. And one day, you’ll find someone who will see that as well.”

I smile. “Thank you. At least I have you.”

“That’s all you need, really.”

“You and some donuts.”

She laughs. “And a cat. You need a cat.”

“Will you shop for a Christmas tree with me this weekend after work?”

“Sure. That’ll be fun.”

“Hello?” A voice floats through the door. “Is there anyone here?”

We shoot each other a look, then scramble out of the kitchen to go back inside the shop. Nina’s ahead of me and lets out a high-pitched squeal before rushing to the man and hugging him. Nina never squeals. She’s quiet and shy and likes to pretend she has a dark soul. There’s only one person that will make her react this way.

“Andy!” I exclaim as Nina releases him. “I can’t believe you’re here.” I hug him too, my heart so full that my two best friends are here with me. His sandy blond hair shines in the light, and he flashes a brilliant smile.

“I wish I could have come earlier,” he says. “But, you know, life happened. I’m here now. This place looks amazing! And I love this town, maybe I should move here.”

Andy still lives in our childhood town, an hour away. Nina and I excitedly show him the shop as well as the kitchen where the magic happens. Customers keep coming in, though, so it’s hard to sit down and talk. Andy decides to order a combo—even though we keep insisting that he doesn't have to pay—and sits down until the end of our shift.

As I buzz around, I see the furtive glances he gives Nina. She’s so oblivious, it’s painful to watch. Andy might see me as a sister, but Nina definitely doesn’t fit in that category for him. I wish she could see it. They’d be great together. Opposites attract. He’s like a golden retriever, and she’s a black cat.

The three of us walk through the main street after the Donut Delight is closed, a hot coffee in our hands.

“Are you staying in town for a bit or are you driving back tonight?” I ask Andy.

“I’ll be staying a while. There’s a motel not far.”

Nina whips her head toward him. “A motel? These usually come with cockroaches.”

“Great. They’ll keep me company.”

“Just sleep at my place, you idiot.”

Color rises to his cheeks, and he tries to hide it by looking at the Christmas lights adorning the shops and the streetlights. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“What are you rambling on about? It’ll be just like when we were kids. Except you’ll have your own room. And a bed instead of a mattress on the floor.”

“Okay then,” he says, smiling.

I wish I could yell at them to kiss already but keep my mouth shut. For now. “A sleepover. I wish I could join.”

Nina shrugs. “You could.”

“Nah, I guess I have to go home. My mom would be mad. By the way, I called Frank.”

I summarize my conversation with him, and Andy and Nina can’t hold their laughter. They’ve known my mom since they were kids and aren’t really surprised by her emotional outburst.

“Now I have to go home and prepare myself to argue about why I don’t want to go on a date with Finn.”

“Yeah,” Nina says, clasping a hand on my shoulder. “Stand your ground.”

“Or maybe don’t,” Andy says.

We stop walking, looking at him.

“What?”

“Maybe you can use that as a way to force her to talk to Frank.”

“How so?”

“Tell her you’ll go on a date with Finn on one condition. That she calls Frank and tries to work things out.”

A smile spreads over Nina’s face. “That’s genius, actually.”

“I don’t see how I can bring this up without her accusing me of wanting her out of the house. It’ll cause more drama.”

“Not if you put it the right way,” Nina adds, apparently fully on board with the idea. “Tell her he called you crying or something. That you’re sad to see her hurt and she shouldn’t stay like that.”

“And keep trying to achieve your perfect Christmas,” Andy says, eyes sparkling. “Bake all the sweet treats you can and add more decorations. Hell, make your own gingerbread house. Make it uncomfortable for her.”

“You guys are little devils,” I say, chuckling. “What about Finn, though? I really am not interested.”

“Just go out with him once,” Nina says. “Make sure your mom calls Frank first. Then have dinner or coffee with the guy and call it quits. He works right across the street from us, it’d be good to get to know him, even if you guys stay friends.”

“Hm.” I resume walking, taking a sip of coffee. “I could do that. If that makes her go home, it’ll certainly be worth it.”

“And who knows,” Nina says, grinning. “You may just like him.”