Free Eggnog and Candy Canes: A Blueberry Springs Christmas Novella by Jean Oram

rum and eggnog at your parents’ place.”
    “Then I’ll call Scott. He’ll…arrest you.” Katie winced. She was grasping at straws. Scott had never arrested a soul—not even Mandy, when he’d busted her spray painting her feelings for her best friend, Frankie, on the town’s water tower. Apprehended her, yes. Arrested? Nope.
    “I think he’s consoling Amber, since her boyfriend, Russell, got stuck in the city.” Mary Alice gave Katie a knowing look. “Again.”
    “She’s not going to cheat on Russell. Mr. Book Deal is The One. Scott is just…he’s…” He was a good friend who looked out for Amber. That was all. And yeah, maybe Scott still had a bit of a schoolboy crush on Amber, but that would never lead to anything between the two of them.
    “Look, Mary Alice, you’ll be endangering my father’s life if you move him. There will be other Christmases.”
    “Not like this there won’t.” She turned to Harvey. “I’ll bet you faked this attack, just like Katie asked to be put on the Christmas shifts.” Mary Alice drew herself up, her snowsuit expanding in an alarming fashion. “You two might not respect the hard work that Angelica went to in order to ensure you have a good holiday season, but I, for one, will not stand here and allow you to ruin it!” The woman’s eyes were damp.
    Katie’s adrenaline surged. Something was wrong. Really, terribly wrong.
    “Mary Alice…” The soft words came from Nash. He walked slowly over and embraced her. To Katie’s surprise, Mary Alice began sobbing.
    He shushed her as he would a baby. Katie, unable to focus on anything else, watched in shock. Finally, she broke her spell by checking on her father. He was sleeping again. Quietly, she began prepping him for the move, hoping not to disturb the hugging duo.
    This was another side of Nash she’d never seen before. He used to come across as cold and professional, but no more, and to mark the change, he was consoling one of the strongest women in town. More importantly, he knew whatever it was that was upsetting her.
    Mary Alice had to be dying.
    Heat flushed through Katie and she nearly fell over. What would Blueberry Springs be like without the woman? Mary Alice knew everyone and their business, and was there for the good, the bad, and the in between, always ready to help in the way she felt was best. And let’s face it, in the case of Beth and Nash—which everyone knew was a bad idea—hinder. She was the core of this town and without her they’d just be someplace out in the wilderness.
    And speaking of wilderness, Jen Kulak, the nature guide who worked at Wally’s Sporting Goods, was tracking massive amounts of snow through the halls as though all was right with the world. The woman paused and stared through the doorway, ski goggles half buried in her snow laden hat.
    “Is there a doctor here today?” she asked.
    “I’m a doctor.” Nash released Mary Alice, who surreptitiously wiped her eyes.
    “Who are you?” Jen inquired.
    “Dr. Leham,” Katie said. “He used to work here a few years back.”
    “Oh, right. Used to be engaged to Beth and all that. Well, I have an injured bird and couldn’t get as far as the vet. Could you take a peek at it?”
    “Where’s your man, Jen?” asked Mary Alice. “Not out in the forest, is he?”
    “Rob’s shoveling the hospital walk. A ton of snow’s come down already.”
    “How’d you get here?” Katie asked. She was fairly certain the outdoors hadn’t turned to sunshine and rainbows in the ten minutes since she’d left the howling doorway.
    “Snowshoes.”
    “Where is the bird?” Nash asked.
    Katie sighed. Didn’t anyone see how ridiculous this was? Everyone risking their lives in a blizzard?
    “It flew into my window,” Jen said. She glanced at Harvey. “Is that your dad? Is he okay?”
    “Just had his appendix removed,” Mary Alice interjected. “He’s going home in a few minutes. I have my snowmobile out front. I just need to get him