In between the boxes, she had hung shoes. Seventy years of high heels strung in pretty silver and gold ribbon dangled from pine boughs. Winding through it all in place of a garland were feather boas.

Next to her, Noelle heard Hannah gasp. She turned, and Hannah’s hands were on her cheeks, tears streaming down her face. Her own tears welled up. How had Miriam managed this, this tree that was the quintessential celebration of all of Cass’s eccentricity and verve? She could almost hear Cass, throwing confetti at people and cackling in delight at herself.

It was a triumph of Miriam’s art, and it was a gift to all of them. She’d wished for Cass to be here, and Miriam had made her wish come true.

After the unveiling, everyone in the crowd surrounded the tree, picking up the ornament boxes to look at more closely and exclaiming to their loved ones. They trickled home as slowly as they could, as if the lights of the tree had caught them in a spell, slowing down time and making everything warm and a little fuzzy around the edges.

When the final guests finally wandered back to their trucks, she went and put an arm around Miriam’s shoulders, resting her chin on the top of Miriam’s head.

“Not bad,” Noelle said, pulling back so she could look down into Miriam’s face.

Miriam looked up, and their eyes caught. Inevitably, their foreheads touched, then their cold noses. They stood without moving, breathing each other in, letting the moment linger. Miriam giggled, and Noelle grinned even wider. Satisfaction surged through her when Miriam shivered against her. By the time their lips met, time had stopped completely.

“I would say that qualifies as a damn great job,” Miriam agreed after they pulled apart. “And now I’m freezing.”

They walked together into the inn, the dark quiet around them. They found the rest of the Carrigan’s crew waiting in the kitchen, with hot spiced cider.

“I’d like to make a toast,” Hannah said, holding up her mug. Her eyes met Noelle’s, and all their love for each other, all the dreams they’d built and the lives they’d intertwined and secrets they’d only shared with each other, passed between them. Hannah’s mouth quirked up, and Noelle’s heart soared. She knew, even before Hannah finished saying anything.

They weren’t going to lose Carrigan’s.

“I heard back from the Rosensteins, and they thought the event was a huge success. They’re ready to sign on to the plan we present to the bank. To Carrigan’s All Year!” Hannah shouted, and the room erupted.

“To Carrigan’s All Year!”

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Miriam