page15 (1/2)
Noelle laughed “That sounds like her Don’t worry I’m happy to be the attendant friend Really”
“If you’re sure”
“I am”
They returned to theplanner, arrived with both arms full of flowers She put down the bouquets, looked at all of them, then put her hands on her hips
“What?” she de Don’t try to tell me you haven’t been And I’d better not hear so up”
“They were trying on dresses and looked so beautiful, we lost it,” Noelle said
Patience grinned “No, Felicia looked so beautiful they started crying I didn’t inspire any great emotion”
“You were stunning,” Felicia told her “Lovely and delicate L-like those flowers” Tears filled her eyes
Dellina shook her head “Was there wine involved?”
“No,” Isabel said cheerfully “We did all this completely sober”
“A frightening thought,” Dellina ether now? I canhysterical?”
The three brides nodded “I was never hysterical,” Noelle pointed out
“Good Then we have work to do, ladies These are so we’d pick a color scheme for the flowers and then each of you would have a variation of that color That way you can have your favorites without clashing”
Noelle listened as Dellina explained which floould work best in a bouquet, then showed thes
Less than two years ago she’d been planning her oedding, she thought wistfully She and Jereest disagreeown She’d wanted to wear her grand the fitted heart-shaped bodice in place The seamstress she’d worked with had carefully reapplied the lace flowers and had added so But when Noelle had tried it on for Jeremy, he’d said it was too old-fashioned
In the end, it hadn’t otten sick and eventually he’d left her He’d told her she wasn’t enough of a sure thing for him
She shook off the memories and returned her attention to the flower discussion
“While you’re e tote and touching the screen, “I’ll mention some other details Evie Jefferson and I talked After the Dance of the Winter King, the girls will start a new dance she taught thee and then Mayor Marsha will take the stage to explain what’s happening”
She went through the events of the evening How the three grooms would take their places, and Noelle would be the first down the aisle
“I have a list of preweddingfor a sheet of paper “I’ , kiss and we invite everyone to a late supper before we all head to church for ht services”
“You’re doing the supper?” Noelle asked
“I’et the cooking gene Ana Raquel and Greg are handling the food It’s going to be delicious”
Felicia pulled her own tablet out of her bag “I have a list of what’s been ordered,” she said “Including the chane”
Noelle glanced at the clock on the wall “If you guys don’t needto head back to e”
“Thanks for everything,” Isabel told her “You’ve been great”
“I’m happy to help Let me know the details”
She waved at her friends, then left the store As she hurried toward The Christmas Attic, she told herself to revel in their happiness and not think about the fact that the day after Christ would be different Her friends would leave on their honeyet quiet again While her friends would return, they would be s
As for Gabriel, well, she doubted she would ever see hiularly And ere the odds of that? So not getting involved really made sense Only she wasn’t sure she was in a place where she wanted to be sensible
She was about to turn the corner when Patience caught up with her “I have to get back, too,” she said “And I completely trust Dellina with the menu” She pointed to thefor da bump Maternity “Oh, look She’s added an animated Santa”
Noelle glanced at theand saw a dancing Santa There were elves, too Cute elves she didn’t reo
“She’s getting to her decorating late,” she said “It’s a tough time of year”
“She’s not late,” Patience said “It’s the co and all, there’s no way Maybe next year Although Josh usually wins I think he brings in people from outside to decorate He’s a professional competitor The rest of us don’t take it that seriously”
Noelle stopped to face her “What are you talking about?”
“The competition for best holidaydisplay,” Patience told her “It’s silly, really The prize is some little statue It’s just for fun”
“Why didn’t I know about this?” Noelle asked, gazing at thedisplay “I have a Christmas store I should be a contender”
“Uh-oh” Patience held up both hands “I see that look of deter out of your way”
Chapter 8
Gabriel closed the cash register and handed over the bag “Thanks for stopping by,” he said “Merry Christmas”
Unexpectedly, he enjoyed working in the store People were really happy when they found what they were looking for and he liked the idea of seeing the transaction through In his day job, he patched his patients up as best he could and then they were gone Even in Germany, when his patients left the hospital, they still had healing to do But here, he could sell a Christmas CD and feel a sense of accomplishment
The front door opened and Noelle burst in She was flushed and wide-eyed, her scarf falling off her shoulder
“What happened?” he deh him as he wondered if there’d been a car accident or soedy he would have to deal with He didn’t have awith him, which would limit what he could do but—
“There’s acompetition,” she announced “How did I not know about this? There are prizes and everything We have to win”
Gabriel drew in a breath and consciously relaxed his body The chemical rush would take a while to fade, but at his least brain knew she was okay
“A competition?” he asked “For s?”
“Window displays I wish Melissa was here I could ask her about it There was a flyer, but I guess I didn’t get it” She walked over to the co on to the internet, then searched
“Here it is,” she said triu is the eleventh That’s next Wednesday and doesn’t give us anized”
“You’re going to try to win?”
She gave hi look “Of course This is important Not only is this my first year in business, I’m the Christmas store I need to at least be in the competition, even if I don’t win”
An unexpected side of Noelle, he thought, liking her fierceness
“How can I help?”