Page 17 of Once Upon a Christmas Carol

They ordered to-go coffees and were soon pushing a squeaky cart through the dollar store.

In the seasonal section, Carol browsed and then, feeling like she’d won the Michigan lottery, held up a small red-enamel lantern, testing to see that the golden flickering light actually worked.

“Look at all these cute things. We could put one on each table.” She picked up a small wreath of faux greens and fruit trimmed with a cheery plaid bow.

Holding it horizontally in one hand, she placed the lantern in the center.

“See? This could be a centerpiece. I’ll put one on each table. ”

He looked a bit uncertain. “Uh-huh ...”

She eagerly picked up another decoration. “A lot of these pieces really lend themselves to the motif I’m trying to achieve.”

His brow creased slightly. “What motif is that?”

She grinned and playfully poked his arm. “You mean you can’t see it?”

He grimaced. “Not exactly.”

“Well, it’s probably a bit on the nose, but I’m thinking old-fashioned country Christmas.

You know, like the olden days, with lots of country chic charm, like patchwork quilts and lanterns and canning jars and other sweet, homey things.

Maybe an antique or two borrowed from Maria’s house.

I just wish I had an electric fireplace or a woodstove we could use near the entrance with one of Maria’s braided rugs. ”

He nodded like he was catching her vision now. “Okay, I get it. And I just happen to have an electric fireplace stored in the barn. It’s got an old-world look. I used it in my restaurant in the wintertime to keep the chill off.”

“That sounds absolutely perfect!” She put more items in their cart. “Can we borrow it?”

“Of course.” He grinned.

She clapped with the excitement of a child, then threw her arms around him. “Thank you, thank you! It’s all going to look great.”

She was surprised by her unexpected display of affection but even more surprised that he returned her hug with enthusiasm.

And that it felt nice! But suddenly he stiffened, and his arms dropped to his sides.

She stepped back self-consciously. “Excuse my enthusiasm, but pulling all this together is a lot more fun than I expected.” She tried to read his expression.

Clearly, she’d made him uncomfortable. “I, uh, I’m surprised we haven’t heard from urgent care yet.

” She fumbled to extract her phone from her pocket, pretending to focus on it but obsessing over his strange reaction just now.

“Hey, there, Victor,” a very feminine voice cooed from behind Carol.

“Victoria.” Victor’s response sounded stiff. “What’re you doing here?”

“Good point. I don’t usually shop at the dollar store.” The woman’s tone sounded slightly arrogant. She laughed lightly. “But I saw you and your, uh, friend coming in here, and I thought I’d pop in and say hey. So what’s up, old man? The dollar store doesn’t seem like your usual haunt either.”

Carol slowly turned, forcing an awkward smile as she put on her polite business veneer. “You must be Victoria Snyder,” she said pleasantly, extending a hand. “I’m Maria’s niece, Carol. Nice to meet you.”

Victoria submitted to a weak handshake, then tipped her head to one side. “So what are you two doing in here?”

“Carol was looking for electric candles.” For some reason he quickly segued to explaining Maria’s injury, but while he rambled, Carol took a fast inventory of Victoria’s appearance.

Hollywood pretty in that fashionable blue-eyed blond sort of way, and her well-coordinated and probably expensive winter wear looked like something you’d see in Aspen.

Although, Carol noted, it didn’t look sturdy enough for skiing.

“In fact, we probably need to go check on her in urgent care right now,” Victor told Victoria. “She’s been there for several hours.” He nodded to Carol. “We were scouting decorations for the cotillion since Carol has stepped in for her aunt.”

Carol blinked, trying to think of an intelligent response. “That’s right.”

Now Victoria turned her attention from Victor to Carol with a slight frown.

“The dollar store for cotillion decorations? That’s a new twist. I thought the old ladies liked a rather traditional style.

Are you sure they’ll approve?” She picked up a lantern and dangled it over a finger with a pearly manicured nail, her brows arching with disapproval. “This is, uh, interesting .”

The put-down was obvious but, not about to roll over, Carol stood straighter. “Well, I guess you have to use your imagination.”

“I imagine you do.” She let out another uppity laugh. “I’m surprised they gave you a budget. I don’t want to burst your bubble, but those old Grange girls can be pretty conservative, not to mention tight with their purse strings.”

Carol attempted what sounded like a rather phony laugh. “Well, I’m happy to donate these as my contribution to the dance. The dollar store is surprisingly affordable.”

“I must agree they do carry some cheap merchandise.” Victoria’s smile looked superior, or maybe it was victorious, as she linked her arm with Victor’s and began to lead him away.

“Speaking of Cotillion, Mr. Clarkson, we need to talk. Outside, if you don’t mind.

The aroma in here gives me a major headache. ”

Victor looked slightly trapped but he didn’t pull away.

“You go on ahead,” Carol told him. “I’ll pay for these.

” She smiled, but as she wheeled the cart to the front of the store, she felt slightly shaken.

She wasn’t quite sure why. Oh, sure, the put-down wasn’t nice, but she knew people back in Seattle who acted like that all the time.

She suspected she felt somewhat territorial over Victor.

But what right did she have to feel that way?

And, really, what was the big deal? She already knew that he was involved with this Victoria character.

Carol thought she understood why her aunt didn’t care for the woman, but what was it to Carol if Victor liked Victoria?

Suddenly, it hit her. Those two names together almost seemed as if their union were written in stone.

Of course, why hadn’t that occurred to her before?

Victor and Victoria ... they went together like coffee and donuts, sugar and cream, peanut butter and jelly . .. war and peace.

“Can I help you?” a young woman with lime green hair and a tattoo running around her whole neck asked.

“Yes.” Carol fumbled to set her items on the conveyor belt, and the girl rang them up.

She had just finished paying when she received a call from an unknown number.

The cashier bagged her multitude of random purchases, while an urgent care nurse let Carol know that Maria was ready to be picked up.

Promising they’d be there as soon as possible and, with loaded bags in hand, Carol hurried out to tell Victor.

“Don’t forget what I said,” Victoria called out sweetly as Victor took some of Carol’s bags. They headed back toward the Grange.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Carol told him.

He assured her it was no problem and then mumbled something about pulling the pickup around. Then he took off, leaving her with the bags. Feeling somewhat abandoned and weirdly dismayed, she watched him run down the recently shoveled sidewalk, hoping he wouldn’t slip and fall.

Neither spoke as Victor drove them to the other side of town. By the time Carol could think of anything to say, he was pulling into the urgent care parking lot. “What about locking up the Grange?” she blurted out as he parked right next to the entrance.

“I locked it,” he informed her in a no-nonsense tone. “This is where we pick up Maria. They’ll bring her out in a wheelchair.”

“A wheelchair? Is she okay?” She opened the passenger door.

“Well, she did break her arm, but I’ve brought Dad here before. The wheelchair is routine. You get her. I’ll wait.”

It took a while, but eventually, they were all back in the cab. Maria looked worn-out. “How are you feeling?” Carol asked tentatively.

“A bit tuckered out.” Maria sighed. “But that might be the pain meds they gave me. At least I’m not in pain right now.”

“Do you think you can do any grocery shopping?” Carol glanced at Victor. “We were going to stop and get a few things.”

“I’ll be fine.” She patted Carol’s arm with her good hand. “Now tell me, how did it go at the Grange?”

Carol briefly described what they’d accomplished as well as what she hoped to do next. “I guess the rest will have to wait until tomorrow. But at this rate, I’m sure it’ll be done in time for the big night.”

“That all sounds wonderful.” Maria looked relieved. “Thank you so much.”

They were able to complete their grocery shopping before poor Maria ran out of energy. Carol wasn’t surprised to see her aunt dozing on the way home. Nobody spoke.

At the farmhouse, Victor helped Maria inside, but when Carol invited him to stay a bit while she prepared a late lunch, he made excuses about needing to get his groceries home.

Carol didn’t buy it since his perishables would stay cold in the pickup.

But she thought she understood his reasoning.

His friendship with her had turned awkward at the dollar store—right after Victoria entered the picture.

Well, there wasn’t much she could do about that!

****