Chapter 58

VOLUME TWO: FINDING LOVE IN CHRISTMAS COVE
"Are you sure you don't want to come over tonight?" Jocelyn asked Kiki Long after the Christmas Eve service. They both sang in the church choir together and had been friends for years. "After all, it's Christmas Eve."
Kiki shook her head as she slid her purse over her arm. "No, I don't want to intrude." Jocelyn and Caden had a rough road getting together and she and her sister were actually getting along now. Kiki didn't want to spoil anything for them. Jocelyn needed this holiday with her family. "Besides, I don't want to be a third wheel."
"Yeah, right." Jocelyn scoffed. "Caden and I would love to have you, and so would Malory. Caden thinks the world of you, and his parents are coming over, too."
"I promised Evelyn that I'd go over to the Children's Home today. They're expecting me, and I don't want to let down the kids." Since her parents moved to California and left her alone, she had spent just about every holiday at the Christmas Cove Children's Home. The North Pole Lodge--a local ski resort built to look like a castle--collected gifts for the children all season and then Santa delivered them on Christmas Eve. "Besides, seeing the children open their gifts is the highlight of my Christmas." She wrapped her arms around Jocelyn and pulled her in for a hug. She and Jocelyn had been friends since high school, and now they worked together. Jocelyn was her best friend. Kiki could tell her anything, knowing that Jocelyn would take it to the grave before she would tell anyone.
"Okay," Jocelyn replied just as Caden and his parents approached. "But if you change your mind--"
"I know where you are." Kiki slid into her warm winter coat. "You all have fun tonight. I know I will." She gave her an impish smile and leaned in to whisper, "And don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Jocelyn laughed. "Merry Christmas!"
"You, too!"
Kiki headed out the door and a cold wind blew through her coat. She hurried to button it up and adjusted the scarf around her neck. She looked around at the town and the colorful lights, enjoying the Danish and Swiss architecture of the houses and shops, reminiscent of the North Pole. Even though she had grown up in Christmas Cove--having moved here from California at a young age--she still never ceased to be amazed by the town known for celebrating Christmas all year long. There was nowhere in the world that she would rather live.
When another gust of wind and snow rushed toward her, she hurried to her dark blue Mustang, unlocked the door, and slid inside, then set her purse on the driver's seat. She hurried to turn on the engine and listened as it roared to life. Even though she came from an affluent family, she lived on what she made from working at the jewelry store. She couldn't afford a lot, but her Mustang was her baby and the one luxury that she afforded herself. Sparkling snow fell through the headlights when she turned the lights on and pulled onto the street, headed toward the Christmas Cove Children's Home.
Years before, there hadn't been enough foster families to take the children in, so a wonderful couple, Mr. and Mrs. Chaisen, opened the Children's Home. Soon, the townspeople took the home under their wing and made sure the children were well cared for. Ever since her parents had moved to California, leaving her alone, she spent most of her free time volunteering at the Children's Home or at the church, singing in the choir. She had made a lot of great memories for herself in Christmas Cove. When she visited the children at the Children's Home, not only was it good for the children, but she didn't feel quite so alone, either.
Kiki pulled past Santa's Workshop, a local toy store where the employees took their jobs as Santa's elves very seriously; and past the other shops, reminiscent of Santa Claus and the North Pole. She made a left and drove past Mario's Italian Pizzeria, and soon pulled down the driveway leading to the huge yellow house that had become the Christmas Cove Children's Home.
Mr. and Mrs. Chaisen had both passed away a few months before--first Mr. Chaisen and then his wife--and their wills stated that they had donated the home and the ten acres surrounding it to the town to be used for the sole purpose of providing a home for children in need. It was the only Children's Home around, so they took in children from the surrounding communities, as well.
Lights were strung all around the house, illuminating the back as well as the front, casting a riot of colorful light across the pristine white snow. Cars were parked in the back parking lot and along the side of the house. Looks like the whole town came out, Kiki thought to herself as she miraculously found an open parking spot. Kiki looked up and said a quick prayer of thanks, grateful that she didn't have to park far away and walk in the falling snow. With the ten acres of land, there was always room to park. But on busy occasions, the walk may be farther than expected.
Kiki locked her purse in the trunk so she wouldn't have to worry about it, and then hurried inside, out of the cold. A gust of wind and snow followed her as she quickly closed the door behind her. "Man, it's cold out there!"
"It sure is." Evelyn Davis reached for her coat, greeting her at the door. "You go on in and warm yourself by the fire. Everyone's here."
"Thank you, Mrs. Davis."
Kiki had known Mrs. Davis since high school. Her son, Taren, had been a senior when she was a junior. He had been the town football star and jock, playing every sport imaginable. Kiki's crush on him since high school had never faded, but he had married his high school sweetheart, Scarlett Young.
In high school, the only class Kiki and Taren had together was study hall. During the course of the year, they had become friends, but Taren had been completely out of reach. He and Scarlet had been together throughout high school, and Kiki would never have done anything to come between them. But Scarlet had been a cheerleader and Kiki- wasn't. At that time, she was going through an Emo phase and had immersed herself into her art. She loved to paint, draw, and sculpt. If it was art, Kiki had tried it and had succeeded at all of it.
Over the years, every man Kiki had ever dated had never quite measured up to Taren. But besides being muscular and overly handsome, he had a good heart. In class, when they became bored, she and Taren had shared many laughs at the expense of Mrs. Li, their no-nonsense Asian study hall teacher. In high school, Kiki had considered Taren a friend.
As an adult, Kiki stopped dying her hair black, letting it go back to her natural auburn color, stopped wearing black eyeliner, threw away her skull T-shirts, and started volunteering at the Children's Home. She was surprised when his mother started working there, too.