“Thanks, Bea, but I’m going to take it easy tomorrow. The girls will be up the day after, so we’ll celebrate then. I need to get their rooms ready and do some cooking. Aidan dragged the old stove and fridge back into the kitchen for me.”

“Are you sure being alone on Christmas is a good idea?”

“I’ll be fine, but I appreciate the invite.”

“Well, if you change your mind, just give me a call in the morning,” Bea said as she hauled herself out of the chair to begin straightening up the store, which looked like a blitzkrieg had gone through it.

“You’ll be okay without me next week? I can come in if you get busy.”

“It’ll be slow. Mostly returns, so have fun with your girls and don’t worry about this place.”

Clare had come to enjoy the job—and her time with Bea—so much that she’d been relieved when Bea asked her to stay on at least through the Winter Festival in late January. Clare tugged on her parka, hat, and gloves for the walk home.

“Thanks again for all the help this month.” Bea gave Clare a quick hug. “You really saved me.”

“I think it was quite the other way around. Have a wonderful Christmas.”

“You, too.”

Clare stepped out into the cold. The tiny village twinkled with white lights in the shop windows. The sidewalks bustled with last-minute shoppers and the usual groups of skiers. Christmas music coming from speakers in front of the grocery store added to the festive atmosphere.

From the corner of Maple Street, Clare noticed Aidan had plugged in the lights on the Christmas tree she’d put in the front window. The white lights glowed against the gold ornaments she had bought. Everything about this Christmas was foreign to her, but she was determined to make the best of it. Next year she would be back in Rhode Island with the girls. Maybe by then she’d be comfortable with the idea of spending the holiday with Jack, Andi, and their combined families. Hey, it’s a goal. That would be best for the girls. She hated the idea of them shuttling back and forth between their divorced parents on holidays.

If she’d ever had doubt about her decision to temporarily move to Stowe, she could now say she’d done the right thing. She felt stronger every day, both physically and emotionally. Lately, she’d been surprised to find herself thinking of Jack less frequently. In fact, she’d been startled to realize her thoughts seemed to revolve around Aidan rather than Jack these days. An interesting development, she mused.