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Chapter 01
« I love Christmas, but I hate winter. If the two could just stay apart— »
« Then it wouldn’t truly be Christmas! » Bev countered, her voice playful. « Jack Frost nipping at your nose, icicles hanging off the roofs, the twinkling lights on all the houses! »
Summer shot her a look of mock horror. « Influenza, death rods, and Christmas’ number one cause of fire, » she summarized, making Bev laugh.
« Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas decorations, just not the snow. Now let’s get back to the shop, we open in less than an hour. »
Bev sighed longingly as she stared out of the window. « Well, it’s not snowing yet. But you’re right, let’s get back. I wanna get my shift over with so I can get home and sleep. »
Summer pulled out of the parking lot, her tires crunching over the ice. « That is if we don’t skid on the road back and die first. Blasted ice. »
Bev only laughed. « You’re dramatic, you know that? »
Summer shot her a quick grin. « I’ve earned the right to be. »
The car ride was quiet for a while, just the hum of the engine and the occasional comment about the weather. They passed houses with Christmas lights already twinkling against the early morning light, but Summer kept her focus on the icy road ahead. It wasn’t just the snow and the ice that made her uneasy—it was the fact that it seemed like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Christmas was approaching, and the pressure to make everything perfect was always overwhelming.
She pulled into the coffee shop parking lot, the small building nestled between a bakery and a bookstore. The warm glow of the shop’s lights and the scent of freshly ground coffee and sweet pastries promised refuge from the cold outside.
Bev gathered the bags of ingredients, and Summer unlocked the door, holding it open for her friend.
The shop was empty at this early hour, just the way they liked it. A quiet calm before the storm of customers arrived for their morning caffeine fix. Summer moved behind the counter and started preparing the coffee machine, setting the milk frother in place while Bev went to the back to store the ingredients.
The bell above the door jingled, signaling the arrival of their first customer.
« And what’s your name? »
« Jack. »
Summer glanced up to see a lumberjack-looking man with a thick beard and plaid shirt standing at the counter. He was tall, his broad shoulders taking up most of the space in front of the register. She smiled at him.
« Alright Jack, I’ll call your name when your order is ready, » she said warmly. « It’ll just be a few minutes. »
Jack nodded and moved to the side, stepping aside just as a young couple walked up to the counter. The girl seemed hesitant, her hands wrapped tightly around her purse as she glanced up at Summer. Her boyfriend, a skinny guy in a hoodie, stood close behind her, fidgeting nervously.
« Hi, » the girl spoke softly, her voice barely audible.
Summer smiled warmly, leaning over the counter to make her feel more comfortable. « Hi, how can I help you today? »
The girl looked up at the menu, her finger tracing over the options as if she were trying to decide. « Uhm, two hot chocolates, please. With whipped cream. »
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