The trio of teenage girls gathered around the table, waiting for her before digging into the plates of sumptuous treats. “We’ve made five different kinds of cookies. Gingerbread, and rum balls, and they really have rum in them; they’re Dad’s favorite,” Lacey added. “Of course, I had to have mom’s chocolate-chip crunchies, and Char likes the candy-cane snowball cookies. So, what do you want?”

Lauren laughed. “Well, if I said one of each, I don’t think I’d be able to keep the top button of my jeans fastened, so how about a gingerbread cookie? They’re one of my favorites.”

Beth placed a tray with five cups of tea in the center of the table. Cream, sugar, lemon, plus a pot of honey, along with a few types of artificial sweeteners. “This smells incredible,” Lauren said, nodding at the display of cookies and tea. “Definitely worth missing dinner for.”

“Mom would never let me have dessert before dinner,” Lacey said.

“True, most of the time,” Beth said.

Over tea and cookies, the girls asked her many questions, some about the store, including why didn’t they have the Internet, and Kiley asked why she still lived with her parents. Lacey was very interested in the fact that she wasn’t married.

Lauren chuckled. “I guess I haven’t found the right guy. Sometimes it takes a while, and I’m in no hurry.”

“So you can’t go to the library and get on one of those online dating sites to look for a date?” Lacey asked.

“Lacey Anne! Stop being so nosy,” Beth said, smiling.

The teenager was a miniature of her mother. In a few years, her parents would have to keep a close eye on this budding beauty. “Sorry, I was just curious. I mean she is thirty-five, and you’re thirty-seven, not much older.”

Lauren couldn’t hold back her laughter, almost choking on her gingerbread cookie.

“Lacey, that’s very rude,” Beth admonished in a firm tone.

“Sorry,” Lacey replied. “Lauren, I don’t mean to be nibby.”

Lauren cleared the remaining cookie crumbs from her throat, then took a small sip of tea. “It’s fine. Really. I don’t think I’d do very well with a dating service. I’d rather go the old-fashioned route,” she said in what she hoped was a humorous way.

She changed the topic before poor Lacey got into any more trouble. “Charlotte, how is your mom? Is she willing to stay in the hospital a few more days?”

“She was kinda tired-sounding, but I could tell she was relieved. I think she’ll do the transplant. I told her it would be the best Christmas present in the world.”