“Maybe we could do that another day?” Noel suggested.
Gabby stopped and turned to her, one perfectly painted brow arched. “But you love A Store for All Seasons.”
“I do, but there are a bunch of stores we never hit. I was thinking it might be nice to dispense our money evenly among the local businesses.”
“Uh-huh,” Gabby said.
By the look on Gabby’s face, Noel knew she wasn’t getting out of this one. “Fine, fine. We will play favorites.”
“I feel like you’re avoiding Holly for some unknown reason.”
“No, that’s not it. I was just trying to be a good neighbor. Not put our chickens in one basket.” Gabby kept staring at her without blinking and Noel finally groaned, “Can’t you just accept that going to her shop is going to make things awkward for me without knowing all the details?”
“Nope. You’re hiding secrets from me. Wild horses couldn’t keep me from finding out what they are.”
Gabby skipped ahead of her gleefully and Noel ground her teeth in irritation. She caught up to Gabby around the corner, standing in front of the large window of A Shop for All Seasons. The store title painted across the glass window in classic gold lettering, with snow-covered trees ate up the space around the script. A beautiful green wreath adorned the front door, with silver, gold, and white baubles decorating the evergreen circle. It was a welcoming store front, but Noel’s stomach knotted nervously.
Gabby grabbed the door and held it for her. “After you, my dear.”
Noel stepped over the threshold, the smell of cinnamon tickling her nostrils. Holiday music played merrily. Shelves of knickknacks and décor lined the walls and center of the shop, with two brightly lit Christmas trees set up in the far corners. Ornaments hung from every branch. In a separate room off the back, two long tables sat parallel. Once a week, sometimes more, Holly hosted how-to classes people could pay to attend. She taught them how to make various holiday décor, which were quite popular among the women of Mistletoe because tasting local wines was usually included. Noel took a few over the years and loved them, although her creations ended up in a Christmas tote she never opened.
Holly leaned against the counter by the computer, speaking to Declan Gallagher. Declan’s family owned Mistletoe Hardware, located next door to Holly’s shop, and from the expressions on their faces, Noel figured they were having quite the disagreement.
Declan’s face flushed red above his brown beard, his burly arms crossed over his flannel-clad chest. “I only asked you to turn down that annoying crap. The walls are thin and I can hear every holly fucking jolly ring-a-ding-ding!”
“Like I told you, Mr. Grinch,” Holly snapped, tossing her long red hair over her shoulder, “plug your ears if it bothers you, but the music is at a perfectly acceptable volume. So take your bah humbug attitude, and shove it up your bahookie!”
Gabby burst out laughing. “Yeah! You tell em, Holly!”
Holly and Declan swung their way, as though completely oblivious to their presence before she spoke.
“Hi ladies,” Holly greeted them cheerfully.
“Hey, everything okay here?” Noel asked.
Declan nodded gruffly. “I was just leaving.”
He turned his back on Holly and headed toward Noel and Gabby. Holly called out louder than necessary, “You have a wonderful day, Scrooge!”
Noel thought she caught a smile on Declan’s face, but the way he slammed out the door, she must have been mistaken.
“That visit seemed friendly,” Gabby said.
Holly came around the corner, waving her hand casually. “Just a little neighborly spat. Nothing I can’t handle.” Holly grinned at Noel. “So, given any thought to being our official sister yet?”
Gabby glanced at Noel, confusion written all over her face. “What’s this now?”
“Nothing.”
Gabby’s eyes widened. “Wait, did Nick ask you to…” Gabby hummed the wedding march and Noel groaned.
“Of course not. Does Nick seem crazy to you?”
Gabby poked her in the arm. “Whoa, hold up, it is not crazy to want to get married.”
“Not when you have been together for years, but Nick asking me now? Lunacy.”
“Not really,” Holly interjected. “You’ve been friends since you were babies. It actually makes a lot of sense.”
“Friendship is different than being in a romantic partnership, and you are not helping!”
“Actually, it’s beneficial that the two of you were friends first. Makes for a solid foundation for romance.” Gabby winked at Holly, who nodded enthusiastically.