Anna Adams - A Christmas Miracle

“Good,” he said. “The sooner you commit to your business, the better.” He looked at his watch, not even seeing it. “I should get back to work, too. Good night, Fleming.”

“Night.”

Her cheery voice irritated him. He set his cup on her counter and looked at her, not hiding his awareness of what they were truly saying to each other. She belonged here. He was leaving.

Neither spoke again as he exited the store and walked away.

* * *

FLEMING FELT THE silence in the shop as if it were a pillow smothering her. She sent her email to the bank’s loan attorney and closed the laptop, not even tempted to open her story file for a change.

Her heart felt a little broken. She and Jason had talked a lot since she’d first met him in his office that day. They’d never been as personal or as honest as in these last few moments.

She’d met other men, been interested in other men, but laughed to herself now, recognizing that she’d never felt like this before. Attracted, afraid, grateful for the sound of his voice, at a loss when he left her.

But she’d always been clear about where she stood, where she’d stand forever. In Bliss, her home.

Her phone rang, startling her as it vibrated in her pocket. She reached for it and tears burned in her eyes. “Mom,” she said, answering.

“Am I too late? Why haven’t you called me?”

Fleming picked up her coffee cup and carried it to the back room, where she put it in the sink. “The grapevine got hold of you?”

“I’ve heard a few things. Is it true about the loan?”

“Absolutely true, but everything’s fine. I have a new one that I’ll be able to cover, and the shop will be fine.”

“I don’t care about the shop.” Her mother paused. “Right now, anyway. You sound sad.”

“No.” Fleming lied as she never had to her mother before. She couldn’t explain that her heart had gotten involved without her permission. “I’m fine. Where are you calling from?”

Her mom didn’t answer.

“Hello?” Fleming glanced at the phone. It was a long way to a beach hut, but the call remained connected.

“I asked Hugh if we could come home early. Just a few days. I’m on my way from Knoxville right now. I hope you won’t be upset with me for being concerned, but we both thought you might need me.”

Fleming didn’t know how to respond. “I’m twenty-four, Mom, not a child. Hugh will think—”

“That I wanted to see my daughter. He’s part of our family now, too. He understands what the shop means to us both. Besides, he’s excited about getting back to the hospital in the morning. Who knows how cardiology might have changed since the great Dr. Belford tempted fate by taking a vacation?”

Her mom was rightly proud of her new husband, who’d never go out for pastry and disappear. “Thank him for me,” Fleming said, “and be careful getting here. It’s starting to snow.”

“Oh, that’ll be good for business.”

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