Page 55 of Christmas Chemistry


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“I might.”

“Tell me!”

“Would you believe me if I said it was juggling?”

“Nope.”

“Well, too bad, because my lips are sealed. Anyway, I’ll watch the video when I get back. I might even pop onto YouTube to check it out. Something tells me it’ll be there.”

Okay, now that was interesting as heck. “Can you give me a hint?”

“Not even a tiny one. And I’m not gonna budge, so just drop it.” She smiled at my misery as I pouted. “Like I said, I have your gift.”

“Fine. Keep your secrets. I can wait until Friday. And I have your gift, too. Let me go grab it from the bedroom.”

I came back with the wrapped box containing the smoked salmon and chocolates I’d purchased in Seattle, along with a set of Kraken potholders I knew she’d like. “Don’t open it until Christmas.”

“You got it,” she replied, handing me a wrapped box that looked just big enough for a sweater, or maybe a hat and gloves. “Same rules apply to you.”

“Do you want coffee?”

“That would be lovely, Marley. It’s crazy how the older I get, the more I feel it. Maybe all those old folks are onto something retiring in Florida or Arizona.”

I laughed. “You would hate both those places.”

“I know. What is it about Coleman Creek?”

“Exactly.”

I went into the kitchen to start the coffee and came out to find Mrs. Allen standing in front of the bookshelf, studying the picture of my mom and dad from the Christmas party so long ago.

“Did you know I went to high school with Alice? We were pretty good friends in our early twenties, before the burdens of raising young families took over, as they do.”

“I remember. She mentioned it when you were my teacher.”

“She’d be proud of you.”

“I hope so.”

“And she’d like James.”

I didn’t reply, merely gave her a watery smile.

“People thought Alice and Frank were a strange idea, too.” She picked up the frame to hold the picture closer, examining it. “Not that you and James together is strange. Mr. Wymack is just very different from most folks around here, and you’re not exactly known for stepping outside your comfort zone.”

“Yeah, I’m kind of known for being boring.” I tried to laugh a little, but Mrs. Allen wasn’t having it.

“You arenotboring. Just because you’re honest and can take pleasure in the little things. Not everyone needs to jump out of a proverbial airplane to feel alive. I just worry you think that means you’re obligated to end up with someone more—”

“Like Kasen?”

She winced. “I didn’t say it. But James is not like Kasen, is he?”

“No, he’s not.” I smiled wider, trying to picture Kasen with a nose ring or blasting Radiohead from his truck instead of country. Nope. Couldn’t even imagine it.

“That’s why I think Alice would approve. She was a lot like you. Really happy to simply spend time with family and friends. She dated a lot in high school, could have had her pick of Coleman’s men, honestly. But then she met your dad, and that was it. A reason to step off her usual path and take a risk.”

“You remember my parents together?”