Stuck in Christmas (Holiday Magic #1)

Chapter 9

Nine

I didn’t sleep very well after the reset and subsequent reintroduction of myself to Bonnie, Joe, and Eli. No matter what I said or did, we always ended up right back here in the diner on a bright December morning.

It was the same as yesterday - the smell of bacon, the energy of the townsfolk, the sound of Christmas carols, and the jingle bells over the door.

Bonnie held court in the middle of it all, wearing her fifth wedding anniversary present - the five golden rings pin. I approached her with a sinking feeling as I eyed the rings. I knew time was slipping away, even though I kept restarting my day. I just didn’t know how to fix it. Maybe Bonnie had an idea.

“I have an idea,” Bonnie said as I joined her at the counter.

My spirits soared. “You do?”

“Yes. I need a favor.” She smiled.

“Let me guess.” I tilted my head and tapped my finger to my lip. “Go get your Christmas Tree?”

“No. The Dinkins’ boy brought mine earlier this morning. It’s right over there.” Bonnie gestured toward the decorated tree that filled the space with holiday cheer.

I frowned. This was different. “Oh. I thought he had the flu.”

Bonnie chuckled lightly, the warmth of her laughter easing my tense shoulders. “Well, the one has the flu, but his brother brought me this one.” She stepped closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. “I need your help in the kitchen today. Well, Eli needs your help.”

“Does he now?” My mind returned to the ruggedly handsome not-lumberjack leaning against a red truck. I could almost smell his cologne as I conjured up the memory. And it was getting hot in here.

“Yes. We’re baking cookies for the Christmas Carnival. I usually help him, but since my hip surgery, it’s hard for me to stand for very long. I need someone I trust to make sure he doesn’t go all ‘HOO-RAH’ on the cookies.”

“HOO RAH?”

Bonnie’s laugh rang in the dining room. “Yes—you know, making stuff up as he goes along.”

“Oh, like he did as a Marine cook,” I offered.

“You know about that?” Bonnie leaned in, her curiosity piqued.

“Yes, he told me. Yesterday,” I trailed off. It would actually be later today if things played out like they had in my yesterday. But it seemed the holiday movie gods weren’t into repeating scenes.

“Well, he hardly ever talks about his time in the Corps, except to Joe. Joe’s the reason he joined the Marines in the first place.” A hint of memory flickered in Bonnie’s eyes.

“Joe was a Marine?”

Bonnie laughed. “I know he doesn’t look it now with his hippie hair,” she remarked, laughing as she brushed a stray strand from her face. “But he was awarded the Navy Cross in Operation Desert Storm. He was a Marine pilot.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “My dad was a Marine pilot in Desert Storm.”

“What a small world. Where is your dad now? I bet Joe would love to trade war stories with him,” she replied.

My heart clenched in my chest. “He died in a helicopter crash during the war.”

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear about that.” Bonnie placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. Her kind eyes took on a sadness far from the pitiful looks I got from many people. It’s as if she empathized with my pain. It had been so long since I received comfort that I leaned into her touch.

“He died serving his country, and I couldn’t be prouder of him for that.”

“I know he’s got to be pretty proud of you right now,” Bonnie said softly.

A smile returned to my lips, though it was tinged with sadness. “Well, I certainly hope so.” I wiped a stray tear from my cheek. “Now, talk to me about these cookies because they sound vital for the carnival.”

Bonnie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Yes. They are. And to make sure we do them right, I will open my secret files.”

“Secret files?” I could barely contain my excitement—another story.

“My secret recipes for the cookies,” she replied.

“That is serious.” I tried to give her my most serious face, but it was useless. She and I were in on a caper, and I was here for it.

“Yes. Come with me.” Bonnie turned toward the kitchen and gestured for me to follow. Together, we moved toward her hidden treasure trove of holiday delights and the hot former Marines of our hearts.