Holiday Reunion (Hollyberry Harbor #1)

Chapter 1

ONE

Hollyberry Harbor was a place where people escaped the monotony and stress of the real world. Sarah Winters had only left her hometown once in her life for a senior orchestra trip and what she’d witnessed outside of her quaint small town was nothing short of terrifying.

What her orchestra teacher had been thinking when he’d booked them for a trip to New York was beyond her comprehension. If New York was what the real world had to offer, she wanted none of it. She’d take the two-lane roads, the small country stores, and the town where everyone knew her name over all of that.

She shoved her gloved hands into her coat pockets and grinned at the passersby as she headed down Lake Harbor Avenue toward her bakery. The sun hadn’t quite come up and those she passed were either heading home from a night shift or off to work just like she was.

Everyone in this town was friendly, well-mannered, and cared about their community. She couldn’t think of a more perfect place to raise a family—if she’d ever managed to find love.

Right now, that wasn’t something she needed to find. There were bigger issues at play. Her father now lived with her, his life savings depleted. The nest egg Sarah had been working to build was also down to zero. Her current financial situation left much to be desired, but she persevered. She would make it out of this tight spot just like she had before.

Sarah pulled out her keys and shoved them into the shop door, then pulled it open and stepped inside. The bakery still smelled like flour, sugar, vanilla, and sourdough starter. It was the smell her dreams were made of.

She breathed in deeply and exhaled, letting the peace and quiet envelope her. This was her home, and no one was going to take it from her. Not even the bank. She just had to make a little more money by the end of December. Mr. Goldberg had promised her that much. She might be behind in her payments now, but she had faith that in the next forty-five days, she’d be all caught up.

Pulling her apron from the hook just inside the kitchen, she glanced around the shiny stainless steel countertops and appliances with pride. She put the apron over her head and got to work, mixing the dough for the breads, cookies, and other goodies she planned on selling today.

For the next hour, she worked at a steady pace. The front door knocked the bell that hung above it, announcing the arrival of her only employee and subsequently, her best friend.

Brie was petite, with a blonde pixie cut. Her bright blue eyes shined like they were the source of magic itself. She’d only lived in Hollyberry Harbor for a few years, but already they’d become close friends.

Her friend materialized in the doorway with a look of exasperation. “You said you were opening at six. It’s five-forty-five and by the looks of it, I bet you’ve been here for at least two hours.” She worked at tying the strings at her back. “I told you, if you’re going to come in early, tell me so I can meet you here.”

Sarah laughed. “I haven’t been her for two hours. Only one.”

Brie rolled her eyes.

“And I wasn’t going to come in until six, but I couldn’t sleep.”

Her friend moved immediately to the dough rising in the warmers and was nearly ready to be put in the oven. “You could have still texted me. I would’ve met you here.”

“Next time,” Sarah smiled, placing a tray of cookies on a rack to go into the oven.

Brie spun around, her eyes wide. “I almost forgot. Did you hear about what’s happening on Lake Harbor Avenue?”

“Well, right now at the Cocoa Cottage, we’re fixing to bake a days’ worth of sweets to sell.”

“I’m not joking. About sixty percent of the shops on this street were bought out. The other forty decided to partner with the company who did.”

“Well, I didn’t. So it’s not the full forty percent.” Sarah gave her friend a knowing look. “I’d rather die than give this place up to anyone who wants to change it. I really hope whoever it was who bought those buildings is planning on keeping the charm.”

Brie grimaced. “That’s not what I heard.”

Despite being in the middle of frosting a cookie, Sarah froze. “What did you hear?”

Her friend pressed her lips together and glanced away as if she expected someone to overhear what she was going to say. “Do you remember James?”

“James? You mean, James Stetson?”

She nodded.

“The James Stetson who took off right after high school to move to the city and didn’t look back? That James Stetson?”

“The very same.”

“Brie,” Emily laughed nervously. “Clearly I know who you’re talking about. Just tell me what’s going on.”

“He’s back.”

“So? He must have realized he couldn’t hack it in the city and now he’s returned with his tail between his legs.”

“Far from it, actually.” Brie shifted uncomfortably. “He’s the one buying up all the shops. Well, actually it’s his company. Apparently, he made it big and now he wants to change the whole harbor.”

“What do you mean he wants to change the whole harbor? This place is an institution to Hollyberry Harbor. He can’t just come in and change everything.”

“I don’t think he wants to change everything… it’s more like he wants to make improvements.”

“Sounds an awful lot like changing everything. The harbor is perfect the way it is. We don’t need improvements.”

The look Brie gave her made it appear as though Brie didn’t agree. Her lips pressed into a thin line and she lifted one brow. “I don’t know, Sarah. This place is pretty dead. Don’t you think it would be nice to finally have customers again?”

“We have customers,” Sarah scoffed.

Brie gave her a pointed look. “You know what I mean. I’ve heard the stories. Back when you were a kid, this place was so packed with people you couldn’t move two feet without bumping into someone.”

She was right. One of the reasons Sarah had insisted on getting a location on Lake Harbor Avenue was because of those memories. She couldn’t recall a single bad day when her father would bring her here. “We just need some new businesses to come in and take over the empty spaces.”

“Maybe that’s what James is doing.”

Sara scrunched up her nose with disgust. “You and I both know when he says he wants to make this place more modern, he’s going to do something that'll change this place so much we won’t be able to recognize it.”

Brie shrugged. “I think maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt.”

“You do that. I’m going to stick to tradition and get these butter cookies put in the oven.” As soon as Sarah did that, she hurried to the front of the store. She couldn’t show just how worried she was about this place failing and Brie’s talk about making changes only made those concerns a bigger reality.

She placed her hands on the front counter and hung her head for all of two minutes before the door opened. Sarah glanced up. “Speak of the devil,” she muttered.

James smiled wide and swept into the room like the snake oil salesman he was. He placed his briefcase on the countertop and flipped it open. “I wanted to talk to you about something. I’m glad I caught you.”

“Whatever it is, the answer is no.”

The charming grin coupled with his perfect hair and his stylish suit might have made a weaker woman swoon. He leaned one elbow on the counter, getting so close she stumbled backward to avoid touching him by accident. “I’m sure you’ve heard of the plans for this strip.”

“I’m. Not. Interested.” She ground out.

“It’s going to be the facelift this place needs to get this town back on its feet.”

“This town is doing just fine. It doesn’t need your modern take on things.”

James poked the counter with his finger. “And since you the last one to hold out on me, I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You know what they say about selling your soul to the devil, right?”

He chuckled. The sound was like warm caramel drizzled over a fresh cup of hot cocoa. “Who’s the devil in this scenario?” James waved his hand through the air dismissively. “Doesn’t matter. Here, take a look at this.” He pulled out a folder and flipped it open.

Her eyes flicked to the document, seeing a hand drawn sketch of Lake Harbor but she pushed it away just as quickly. “Not. Interested.”

“Not even if it meant all your financial debts would be paid free and clear? And all you would have to do is follow the plan laid out by my project manager. You could even maintain majority ownership.”

Sarah had a momentary lapse of judgement. She’d be able to keep her bakery and she wouldn’t have to worry about paying back the bank.

She shook her head, coming around the counter to help him gather his things. “I’m not going to let you manipulate me into changing my values just so I fit your cookie cutter idea of the perfect harbor front scene. Please leave.”