Candlelight Christmas

Signs of autumn and back-to-school were already popping up. Suzanne Bailey of Zuzu’s Petals boutique was on the sidewalk in front of her shop, arguing with Adam Bellamy, a newcomer to town who happened to be from an old Avalon family. He’d recently moved to Avalon and worked as a fireman. He and Logan were buddies, both of them fans of outdoor sports—mountain biking, snowboarding, white-water kayaking, rock and ice climbing. Suzanne’s husband, Jeff, was also a firefighter, probably on duty at the moment. She and Adam were like oil and water; at the moment they appeared to be bickering about the placement of her sidewalk sale racks.

“Sorry to interrupt the fun,” said Logan, “but I brought Charlie to say goodbye.”

Adam turned, his scowl at Suzanne turning to a grin for Charlie. “Hate to see you go, my brother. I’ll keep an eye on your old man while you’re away.”

“Cool,” said Charlie. “Don’t let him give you any trouble.”

“He’s always trouble, but I think I can handle him.” Adam looked like the kind of guy who could handle anything. Built like a linebacker, he was a three-time winner of a seventy-story stair-running marathon in the city.

Suzanne gave Charlie a quick hug. “I remember when you got all your back-to-school clothes from me. I miss that.”

Something must have shown on Charlie’s face, because she added hastily, “Here’s a little something for you.” She handed him a small solar-powered reading light, something she sold in her shop. “For your travels.”

“Wow, thanks,” said Charlie.

“Will you be back for Thanksgiving?” she asked.

“We always go to Florida.”

“That’s rough,” Adam said, patting him on the shoulder.

“Christmas, then?” Suzanne asked. “Or will you be basking in the Florida sun then, too?”

“Unless we get a better offer,” Logan said.

Charlie tugged at his sleeve. “Bakery next, Dad?”

“Bakery next.”

“Cool, I’ll get a table.” Charlie headed down the block toward the Sky River Bakery for his last visit to the beloved place for the holy grail of pastries, the iced maple bar.

“He’s really grown this summer,” said Suzanne. “He acts more grown-up, too.”

Logan nodded. “I guess having to shuttle back and forth between parents is making him grow up fast.”

“Charlie’s an awesome kid,” said Adam. “If I ever have kids, I’m coming to you for advice.”

“Thanks. I’m trying to get used to the part-time parenting thing, but it sucks. Love that little guy, and I miss him so damn much when he’s not around.”

“Dive into work,” Suzanne suggested. “That’s what I do.”

“What, to escape your humdrum existence?” Adam asked. “I’ll be sure to tell Jeff that.”

“Hey.” She swatted him with a coat hanger.

“Diving into my work isn’t exactly an escape,” said Logan.

“You’re a good businessman,” Adam pointed out. “That must feel good, right? Everybody I know uses you.”

“‘For all your insurance needs,’” Logan finished, quoting his own slogan. “I’m so freaking bored with my business, I can’t even tell you. I got into it because I wanted to be near Charlie. It’s a stable, predictable racket with regular hours. But since he moved away with his mom, it’s just a job.”

“Then find a job you like,” Adam said simply. “That’s what I did.” He’d been an executive for a big multinational corporation, but seemed a lot more content these days as a firefighter and an arson investigator.

“I’m thinking about taking over Saddle Mountain,” said Logan. Every time he thought about it, the idea fixed itself more firmly in his mind.

“The ski resort?” asked Suzanne. “You’re joking.”

“Maybe not.”

“You’re crazy,” she said.

“I bet people told you that when you said you were opening your shop,” Adam pointed out.

“You’d lose,” she retorted, though she seemed to like his teasing.

“I’d better catch up with Charlie,” said Logan.

“I’ll join you,” Adam said. “Hungry again. And I want to hear more about your new plan.”

They found Charlie waiting at the bakery, seated at a painted enamel table and eyeing the fragrant, glistening contents in the display case. The café seating area was busy with its morning crowd of locals and tourists. The walls featured a series of stunning photographs by Daisy Bellamy—Logan’s ex. Even though she’d moved away, reminders of her lingered everywhere. She was a Bellamy, after all; in Avalon, they were ubiquitous.

As he studied the beautifully photographed nature scenes, Logan felt a curious detachment. He didn’t miss her. He didn’t still love her. But he missed the life of the family they’d made, the day-to-day routines, the companionship, the fun they’d had with Charlie.

Adam went to the counter and ordered coffee and kolaches, and Charlie’s usual—an iced maple bar and a mug of hot chocolate. “So, when are you going to set this new plan in motion?” he asked Logan.

“New plan doing what?” Charlie asked, then took a big bite of the soft pastry.

Logan gave a slight shake of his head. Not now.

“His new plan to be as awesome as me,” Adam said, clinking cups with Charlie. “Your dad says he needs a cooler job.” He consumed half a kolache in one bite.

“Yeah, like a time traveler or a shape-shifter,” Charlie suggested.

“I already do that,” said Logan. “But don’t tell anybody.”

“Really?”

“You don’t think I sit at a desk all day studying actuary tables, do you? That’s just a cover for my true identity.”

“What’s your true identity?”

“The Silver Snowboarder.”

“You like snowboarding with your dad?” Adam asked him.

Charlie nodded. “It’s the best.”

“Better than that maple bar?”