Chapter Twenty-Two

Delaney drove a Dodge Charger, and since she wasn’t sure she could attach the Christmas tree to the top of her car, she’d borrowed her dad’s old work truck. Even though it was almost twice as old as they were, it was in good running condition, thanks to her dad’s constant repair. Still, as they chugged along down the highway, every bump sent Melody clutching the dashboard to steady herself, and before they were even a mile out of town, she’d given up on trying to drink the hot cocoa Delaney had brought her. The chocolate chip muffin, however, she had managed to devour. There were some perks to being best friends with the most talented baker in town.

They were a few miles from Shepherdstown, the dusting of snow they’d gotten in Charles Town looking more like an inch or two here, though the main roads were clear, and the sky was dropping large, fluffy flakes on them. The GPS reminded Delaney to turn left in one mile, and