Page 5 of A Perfectly Splendid Christmas (On the Way to Christmas)
Drew peered through the glass door of Morningside Bakery shortly after six that evening and saw Kacey wiping down the tables
while her mother cleaned the counter. Kacey looked beautiful with her blonde hair pulled up in a long, thick ponytail with
wisps falling around her face. Excitement coursed through him at the thought of spending the evening with her, talking and
laughing like old times.
When he yanked on the door, he found it locked. He rapped on the glass, and her gaze darted to his. Her pink lips turned up
in a grin, and she waved as she hurried over. The lock clicked and then she opened the door wide.
“I was just finishing up. I’ll only need a few more minutes.”
He stepped into the store and inhaled the heavenly scents of the baked goods. “Take your time.”
“Drew!” Mrs.Williams hurried over. “It’s so good to see you. How are your folks doing?”
“They’re doing just fine, Mrs.Williams.”
She swatted his arm. “You and Kacey are twenty-six years old. It’s time you called me Monica.”
“That will take some getting used to,” he said, and they both chuckled.
Kacey flitted behind the counter and then returned with a bright-blue bakery box. “I have a gift for you.” She held out the
box to him.
He opened it and found it half-full of chocolate chip cookies.
“Your favorite,” she declared, beaming.
Warmth swirled in his chest as he closed the box. “You remembered.”
“Of course!”
“Thank you.” He balanced the box in one hand and pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. “How much do I owe you?”
“Oh please. I told you it’s a gift.” She waved him off. Then she glanced down at her blue apron, which was splattered with
strawberry icing, sparkles, and flour. “I’m a mess. I wish I had a change of clothes here.”
He shook his head. “You look great, Kace.” And she did. She was even more beautiful than he recalled.
“Let me freshen up. I’ll be quick.” She took off toward the back of the bakery, through the doorway that led to the kitchen.
Drew set the box on a nearby table and then nodded at Monica. “How are things at the elementary school?”
“The kids are getting excited about the holidays. I overhear quite a few discussions about making a list for Santa, and it’s
not even Thanksgiving yet.”
“The middle school kids are just as excited.”
“Hey there!” Dani walked out from the kitchen. Her blue apron was dotted with even more colorful spills and splatters than
Kacey’s, evidence she was the baker. “I hear you’re directing the community choir. How do you like it so far?”
“It’s even more fun than I expected.”
“That’s great. Riley didn’t say much about choir practice, except that she liked it.” Dani wiped her hands on a paper towel.
“Thank you for taking over for Mrs.Hansen.”
“You’re welcome, but I’m just grateful that she thought of me.”
Monica’s smile seemed nostalgic as she turned toward her older daughter. “I love the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival. I remember
all those times we went when you were little and you sat on your father’s shoulders so you could see the choir. Then when
Kacey was old enough, she took her turn on your dad’s shoulders. There’s just something magical when the mayor flips the switch
and the giant tree lights up Main Street and all the decorations are glowing on the light poles and the storefronts. It truly
feels like the Christmas season is here.”
“I agree.” Dani pointed to the windows at the front of the store. “I’m planning to decorate and give out hot chocolate.”
“Well, I’ll help after I see Riley sing with the choir,” Monica said.
Drew smiled. “I think it’s going to be a magical night like it always is.”
Kacey hurried out from the back room with her purse and coat slung over her arm. Her shiny blonde hair was down, cascading
over her shoulders, and her makeup seemed to be refreshed, making her eyes look even bluer than usual. “Well, this is the
best I can do. Thank goodness you keep some makeup here, Dani.”
Dani scoffed. “As if you even need it, Kace.”
“You look great,” Drew agreed with Dani, but he kept the rest of his thoughts to himself.
Kacey blushed. “Thanks.” She set her purse on a chair and then pulled on her coat over her blue T-shirt featuring the bakery’s
logo. “I’ll see you all later.” She looked up at Drew. “Will you drop me off on your way home?”
“Nah. You can walk,” he teased with a wink.
She laughed.
He’d missed that sweet lilt!
“Good seeing you,” Drew told Kacey’s mother and sister.
They both grinned and waved.
“Have fun,” Dani sang, and he noticed a look pass between the sisters.
He pushed open the door and held it for Kacey as she slipped through. “Would you like to eat here in town or go somewhere
else?”
“Why would we go anywhere else when we’re here?” Kacey spun on the sidewalk with her arms outstretched. “Let’s eat at the
Splendid Kitchen.” She pointed to the family restaurant halfway down the block and across the street. “They have the best
fried chicken.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Drew felt as if he’d stepped back in time as they walked together down the street. He breathed in the cool November air and
glanced around at couples and families also enjoying the evening.
Above them, the sun had begun to set, bringing with it its daily explosion of colors. He glanced over at his beautiful date,
and a warm glow moved through him. He’d never expected to have Kacey back in his life. This time he hoped he could find a
way to keep her there.
“So, tell me everything that’s happened to you since high school graduation. Go!” Kacey said after they’d ordered dinner.
She and Drew sat in a corner booth at the busy restaurant. Servers dressed in jeans and Splendid Kitchen T-shirts wove through
the tables and booths while murmurs of conversations floated around them. The delicious smells of homecooked meat loaf, chicken,
and beef, mixed with pies, wafted over Kacey.
The family-owned restaurant had been in business for as long as Kacey could remember and it was a favorite among locals and
visitors.
Drew lifted a dark eyebrow. “ Everything since high school graduation?”
“Yup.”
“Huh.” He rubbed his angular jaw. “You know I went to Appalachian State and studied music. And I earned my teaching certificate.”
She picked up her glass of Diet Coke and took a long drink.
“Then I came back home and started teaching. That’s pretty much it.”
She traced the condensation on her glass and studied him. He was handsome, but it wasn’t just his rugged good looks. There
was something about him tonight.
“You’re staring at me.” He leaned forward. “What are you thinking about?”
Uh-oh! Heat crawled up her neck. “What do you mean?”
“You have this strange look on your face.”
“I was just thinking about middle school,” she said quickly. “Remember that Halloween when we had a party in your parents’
enormous basement?”
“Eighth grade.”
“Right! I dressed up like Wilma Flintstone, and you were Fred.”
He chuckled. “Yes. And then those popular kids crashed our little party, and the food fight started.”
“Oh yes!” Kacey groaned. “And we were up almost all night cleaning up the mess.”
“You were the only one who stayed to help. Everyone else left.”
“I can still smell that carpet cleaner we used trying to scrub the soda and dip out of the carpet.”
“My mom wound up replacing it.” He lifted his glass of Coke. “And my dad never let me forget that.”
“He still blames you for what those idiots did?”
He took a long draw from the glass and shrugged. “Of course he does.”
“Those guys who started throwing the food weren’t even our friends.”
“But it was my idea to have the party.”
“No, it wasn’t.” She pointed to her chest. “It was my idea. I suggested we have a party with just our friends, but my house was too small.” She clucked her tongue as guilt washed
over her. “I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head. “Kace, that was a million years ago.”
“Yeah, but I still feel responsible.” She took another drink. “At least I wasn’t the one who suggested we go hiking without
a map during that one camping trip! Was that Jake or Wanda?”
“Oh yeah! That was definitely Jake’s idea. We were lost for four hours before we finally found our campsite.”
The two of them laughed at the memory.
He wiped his eyes and hooted. “I’d never been so hungry in my life.”
“Me neither!” She shook her head.
Drew pointed at her. “But you were the culprit for why we were stranded in Charlotte after that concert.”
“You’re right about that one.” Kacey shook her head. “My mom didn’t want me to go because it was more than three hours away,
but she agreed because you were taking me.” She smiled. “But then Mallory and Bennett backed out because they both got food
poisoning from that sushi place where they ate the night before.” She grimaced. “Ugh.”
“And we got stuck in line at the T-shirt stand after the concert so by the time we got out to the parking lot it was nearly
empty. Which was the prime opportunity for my car to not start because someone had to check her makeup before we went into the arena and someone had left the dome light on.”
Kacey held her hand up. “Guilty as charged.”
“Didn’t it take, like, three hours for the roadside service to show up?”
“Yeah. But we had fun sitting on the hood of your car, looking at the stars.” She smiled recalling how romantic it was. Then
she frowned. “Gosh, Mom was frantic with worry, even though I called her and told her we were safe.”
“But she forgave you. My dad, however, decided to ground me for a month.”
Kacey blew out a puff of air. “Once again, my fault.”
He opened his mouth to respond just as the server appeared with their meals.
“Fried chicken, loaded baked potato, and mixed vegetables for you, ma’am.” The young woman set the plate in front of Kacey.
“Thank you.” Kacey inhaled the mouthwatering fragrance of her supper.
“And then steak and fries for you, sir.” The woman gave Drew his meal.
“That’s right. Thank you.”
The woman looked back and forth between them. “Do you need anything else?”