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Chapter 58
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Christmas Cove Chapter 59
"Call me Evelyn." She turned and hung up Kiki's coat on the coat rack in the foyer. "We've known each other far too long to be so formal.""Thanks, M- er- Evelyn." Old habits die hard.Evelyn placed her hand on her back and gingerly guided her toward the living room filled with people. "Now, go warm up and I'll be right there with some hot chocolate.""Thank you." Kiki walked into the living room, which was well lit with candles and soft light, and stood by the fire, the brightest light in the room. People chatted animatedly, drinking their coffee, hot cocoa, or hot apple cider while playing with or talking to the children, all dressed in their finest attire. The ladies of the town had either made dresses for the children or had donated store-bought clothing for them. Kiki had thought that it would be fun to work there with the children full time, but she had been working at the Christmas Cove Jewelry Shop far too long to think about leaving. But if they ever made her an offer she c
Christmas Cove Chapter 60
Kiki looked down at her, surprised. Then she checked the board. She was right. "You know how to play?"The little girl shrugged. "I play with my dad." She reached over and moved the piece for Kiki.Kiki's eyes opened wide. "You don't live here- at the Children's Home?""Nope." The little girl leaned forward, studying the board.Lines formed along Case's forehead as he concentrated. After a moment, he moved a piece.The little girl reached over and moved another piece, then looked up at Case. "Check."Case's eyes almost bulged out of his head. "No way!""I'm afraid so." The little girl sighed.Kiki bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. Case had turned into a regular Chess master over the past few months and here this little girl was beating them both.Case studied the board and then moved another piece."I see you've met my granddaughter, Abby," Evelyn said as she set a cup of hot chocolate at the edge of the table near Kiki. Then she leaned in and stage whispered, "Don't
Christmas Cove Chapter 61
Kiki waved back and then slid into the driver's seat of her own car, quickly turned the engine over, and listened as it roared to life. As she pulled the car out of the driveway and headed toward home, somehow, she didn't feel quite so alone.Snow continued to fall through the headlights as she drove home, enjoying the Christmas decorations that stayed up all year long in support of the town, in an effort to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for the tourists.A few minutes later, she pulled down the road leading to her ranch house. After her parents left, she bought the house from them, and made the payments directly to them. It seemed that over the past few years, the only time she ever heard from them was about the house. Kiki had thought of taking out a loan and paying her parents off, but never had enough money to make the down payment. Also, what bank would give a twenty-one-year-old woman a loan? But she had been saving and had good credit and was nearly ready. She made a ment
Christmas Cove Chapter 62
"Okay, guys. That's enough," Taren Davis said as he sat in the kitchen of the firehouse, watching the antics of his fellow firefighters."I'm telling you, Taren. My guns are bigger. Look!" Bret flexed his bicep and held it up to Dylan's."In your dreams," Dylan replied, relaxing his muscles. "You don't bench press three hundred pounds a day like I do.""Yeah, right." Bret laughed. "You've never benched three hundred pounds in your life. Let alone every day.""Okay. This is too much testosterone for me. I think you're all crazy." Erica rose from her seat at the table and opened the refrigerator door. She looked through the shelves and pulled out a package of cookie dough. She was the only female firefighter on the Christmas Cove Fire Department, but no one messed with her. She could definitely hold her own against these Neanderthals. "Anyone want some cookies?""Me!" Bret and Dylan yelled in unison."What? Are you two twins?" Erica teased.Patrick peeked around the corner. "Did I
Christmas Cove Chapter 63
"Let's roll!" Taren hurried to the bunkroom, pulled on his fire trousers, and slipped the suspenders over his shoulders as he kicked off his shoes. Then he pulled on his boots, slipped into his bright yellow jacket, and grabbed his hat and headed out the door. "Let's go, people!" Taren yelled into the station as he ran out the door and jumped into the passenger side of the fire truck. Erica and Bret jumped in the back."We're gone!" Dylan warned everyone as he threw the truck into gear and sounded the horn. "Ten-seventy-two in progress at 7877 Candy Cane Lane. Suspected people still inside," the dispatch agent's voice resonated over the radio as the fire truck barreled down the road."House fire," Taren announced.Dylan slowed down and blared the horn as they approached a traffic light in the town square. Once they were sure the oncoming traffic had stopped, they proceeded through and then picked up speed again on the other side. Then they turned down a few more streets and soon t
Christmas Cove Chapter 64
The next morning, Kiki opened her eyes and recognized the surroundings of a hospital. She took a deep breath and the cold rush of pure oxygen filled her lungs, but it hurt. Yes, she was wearing an oxygen mask. She took shallow breaths instead. She felt groggy and the pounding in her head wouldn't stop, so she closed her eyes."She has smoke inhalation. But other than that, she's going to be fine," the voice of a doctor carried throughout the room. Kiki's eyes were so heavy she couldn't open them, but she was strangely aware of the sounds of the machines beeping and the clean antiseptic smell. Yes, she was definitely in a hospital. "We'll need to keep her here for a few days until she's recovered enough to leave.""Yes, doctor," a woman replied in a professional voice. She must have been a nurse."Poor thing." The doctor's voice was sympathetic. In her incoherent state, Kiki wondered why. "I have no idea where she's going to go, once she recovers. From what I heard, her house burned
Christmas Cove Chapter 65
"Right now, you need to get some rest." The nurse's lips curled into a concerned smile. "My name is Olivia. If you need anything, just push this button right here." She placed a slender rectangular object with a call button next to Kiki's hand. "I'll be right back.""Thank you," Kiki replied and watched as the woman walked out.Jocelyn sat in the chair next to her bed and Caden stood behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders."See? I knew you should have come over to my house last night." Jocelyn patted Kiki's hand."No. I had a great time at the Children's Home." Kiki tried to sit up and Jocelyn helped her, adjusting the pillows behind her back. "I lit a fire in the fireplace and some candles and laid down on the couch. I must have fallen asleep without putting the fire screen back in place." She let out a deep breath. "My mother's going to kill me."Jocelyn's eyebrows pulled together in concern. "But you bought the house from them, didn't you?"Kiki nodded. "Yes, but they'
Christmas Cove Chapter 66
Once the last of the fire was out, Taren looked over the smoldering rubble that had been Kiki's house. They had fought the blaze for most of the night. Technically, his shift was over, but he wasn't going to leave until the last of the flames were out. In the light of day, Taren could see that the damage was extensive.As he was working, his thoughts went to Kiki, wondering if she had a place to stay. He made a mental note to see what he could do about that when he could. Suddenly, an orange and blonde cat with white socks walked timidly over to the edge of the rubble and laid down, mewing loudly."Come here, buddy." Taren walked over to the cat, but when he reached down to pick it up, the cat hissed and swatted at his gloved hand. "I know your upset, but your Mama's okay. She's in the hospital." Taren stooped down and took off his glove. Then he held out his hand to let the cat sniff him. "See? You can trust me. I'm not going to hurt you."The cat crawled toward him, her eyes wide,
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