Free The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Simon.”
    “John,” she corrected. “Simon’s the matchmaker.”
    “Right.” That gleam was back in his eyes and Cassie suspected the slip had been intentional.
    An hour later, Cassie had the Christmas tree in its stand and set by the window that overlooked the city. The big star above Macy’s glowed in the dim light of late afternoon. She dragged her ornaments out from the guest room closet and decided to give Angie a call. Trimming a tree all alone wasn’t any fun.
    Her friend answered immediately. “Come on over,” Cassie invited her. “Shawn stopped by to drop off a Christmas tree and then abandoned me to decorate it by myself. I’ve got hot apple cider and popcorn popping in the microwave.”
    “Oh, Cassie, I’d love to but I can’t.”
    “Are you off shopping again?”
    “No, I’m meeting an old friend. Sort of a last-minute thing. You could join us if you want.”
    “Anyone I know?”
    “Um, not really.”
    “Oh, well, I’ve got an appointment with a box of ornaments, a bowl of popcorn and the DVD of The Bishop’s Wife. ”
    Angie sounded regretful. “I hate the thought of you trimming the tree alone.”
    “Oh, I don’t mind.” And that was true. She was in a good mood; in fact, she planned to give Mrs. Mullinex the Sunday paper when she’d finished—and she’d leave the crossword untouched.
    “Think of next year,” Angie urged. “You’ll most likely be married by then.”
    “John and me.” She filled her head with happy thoughts of a Christmas photo in front of next year’s tree, the two of them smiling blissfully into the camera. The perfect Christmas. The first card she mailed out would be to Jill and Tom.
    “You might even be pregnant by then.”
    “Whoa, you’re moving a little too fast.”
    “Why? You’re getting the best husband money can buy, aren’t you?”
    Cassie laughed. She hadn’t thought of it in those terms but Angie was right. She was paying top dollar to meet John-the-engineer; by the same token, he’d been willing to pay top dollar to meet her.
    And the one walking away with fistfuls of cash was Simon Dodson.
    As far as Cassie was concerned, he would have earned every penny.

Chapter 8
    A t the end of their brief telephone conversation, Angie had said she’d call Cassie once she got home Sunday evening. Although it’d been an offhand comment, Cassie was surprised when she didn’t hear from her. Apparently Angie’s last-minute meeting with her friend had turned into more of an event.
    Cassie didn’t think much about it until Angie showed up at the lab Monday morning. Her friend’s face radiated…joy. Unmistakable joy.
    “Well, well, well,” Cassie said, watching Angie closely. Something was up, and it didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that a man was involved. Clearly Angie had met someone special. The “old friend” from yesterday evening?
    “Stop looking at me like that,” Angie said, blushing.
    “You’re in love, aren’t you?”
    Angie’s eyes widened. “You can tell? Really?”
    Cassie nodded. “You’ve got the happy look. You know, the one we all get when we first realize we’re falling for someone.” She knew it had to be the “friend” Angie had seen last night.
    Angie shyly glanced away. “The most incredible feeling came over me this morning.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “It’s like…a sixth sense, a knowledge, that this man could be the one.”
    “That’s the feeling I’m talking about.” Cassie had never experienced it herself, but she’d seen it again and again with her friends.
    A wistful happiness shone from Angie’s eyes, but she didn’t say anything else.
    After several minutes Cassie couldn’t stand it anymore. “Well?” she asked.
    The reflective look disappeared and was instantly replaced by one that was far more guarded. “Well, what?”
    “Aren’t you going to give me details?”
    Angie hesitated. “Of course…but not yet.”
    This confused Cassie. First, there was very little they