“Thank you!” said Elly. “I’m so glad you could make it!”
Kim smiled and whispered in her ear. “I’m so glad that Sean’s parents’ flight got stuck in Chicago. Thank the Lord for small miracles. I’m not sure I could have handled them today.” She leaned back. “Hadley has been crying non-stop.”
Elly looked over into the car seat, resting comfortably on a chair. Hadley dozed peacefully, his tiny mouth open as he wandered through his dreams.
“I can’t imagine that” she said to Kim. “He’s perfect. And he’s getting so big!”
Kim rolled her eyes. “Just you wait. It’s all oohs and ahhs until you accidentally wipe poop on your face. Can you babysit from now until he is eighteen?”
Elly laughed and walked over to the car seat and ran her finger over his rounded chin. “I hope so. I’m a little in love with him.”
Kim put her head against Elly’s as they stared down at her child. “Me too.”
Kim looked across the room and pinched Elly’s side. “He looks good today.”
She mouthed back, “I know.”
Anthony came around the corner from the backroom, walking slowly with Keith’s help. Elly ran over to him. He hadn’t recovered well from his appendicitis, but each day he showed hopeful signs. Elly had put him in charge of the front desk and consultations for the time being. She liked being in the back with Snarky Teenager. The new air conditioning unit didn’t hurt either.
“Anthony! You could have waited for us! Geez, here, I’ll help you.” She led him over to a chair with a hand-made pillow cover. “Sit down. You’re a nightmare!”
Anthony grinned at her. “I know, I just can’t stand not being able to move around in this place. I want to design! I missed the biggest event of the year and now I can’t even help with Christmas dinner.”
Elly laid her hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. Just try not to have another health crisis the next time we have a giant wedding, okay? I just booked a huge one for June – the daughter of the District Attorney! It’s going to be Kepke-sized.”
Anthony pumped his fist. He nodded and turned to Keith, who was making quick work of a beer. “I can’t believe I missed that wedding. Did you hear that Ardelle scratched someone? I’m sad I never met her - that woman is caahh-rayzy.”
Keith laughed good-naturedly. “I’m convinced that all women are crazy.”
The bells on the door clanked and Elly turned with a smile. Snarky Teenager walked in, looking gorgeous as always in a fur-topped sweater, skintight jeans and brown riding boots. She was leading her new boyfriend by the hand, who blushed when Elly looked at him.
“What’s up everybody? Merry Christmas!”
Elly gave her an awkward side-hug. “I’m glad you came today.” Snarky Teenager gave a shrug. “My mom and dad decided it would be more fun to be wasted in Florida than at home with me.”
Elly rubbed her shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here. Want to come to Christmas Eve Service with us later?”
She gave Elly a subversive nod and trained her eyes on Kim. “KIM! Let me see Hadley!!” She made a beeline for the baby, her boyfriend trailing helplessly behind her. “This is Basir. He’s from…um, where are you from again? Like Uzbekistan or something?”
“Russia.”
“Right. Russia!”
Elly snickered and sat down by Anthony. “How long do you give them? They’ve been together about a month now…I’m amazed!”
He whispered, “I know. Maybe another month?”
She whispered back. “I say two more weeks.”
“You’re on.”
They shook hands under the table as Snarky Teenager cooed over the baby.
Anthony gestured to the table. “This looks amazing…and so does the studio!”
Elly grinned. She was particularly proud of her spread for today. The consultation table had been transformed into a Christmas fantasy. A deep red tablecloth accented a table-long spread of flowers mixed with Christmas pines and cedar. There were three towering bundles of Candy Cane Poinsettas on the table, the base of each one circled by Black Magic Roses, twisting gently around pinecone place holders. Elly’s white china, which had been her mother’s, reflected the glow of dozens of tiny votives. Elly sat back in her chair, admiring. The shop reflected the theme, centering around a huge white Christmas tree that danced and twinkled with tiny rice lights in the window. Branches frosted with snow hung from the ceiling and sugared pears covered every surface. Anthony looked up at the décor around him.
“I feel like there should be lamppost in here. Elly, you’ve created a winter wonderland.”