The Christmas Café by Eliza Evans

Author:Eliza Evans [Evans, Eliza]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2023-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

“I can’t believe there’re only nine days until Christmas.”

Teagan filled the water glasses on the café table Sylvie had set up for her brunch with Gramps and Claire and Brando.

“All I can think about right now is getting through this morning.” Who had time to even start thinking about Christmas Day right now? Not her. She couldn’t think too much about anything. Not about the café. Not about Royce. Not about Abe. Right now she had to focus on getting through this meal.

Claire had informed Gramps and Brando they’d better be at the café by ten o’clock sharp so they could enjoy some “quality family time.”

Sylvie figured a family gathering would be better off here anyway. In public. Hopefully no one would get too loud with other customers nearby, and she’d also be able to escape to the kitchen if she needed a moment’s reprieve.

If nothing else, maybe the chocolate fudge cake donuts she’d made would keep everyone on their best behavior. “This should be a good trial run for Christmas dinner at least,” she decided. Brando had missed the last two years and who knew what throwing him back into the mix now would do to the family dynamics.

“At least you don’t have two sets of grandparents who are at opposite ends of the political spectrum,” Teagan muttered. “Talk about ruining Christmas.”

“Thankfully our issues have nothing to do with politics.”

“You could always do what I do.” Teagan stole a chocolate donut from the platter. “Keep your earbuds in and turn on some music to tune people out. They seriously have no idea. Just make sure you nod once in a while.”

Oh, to be sixteen years old again. Actually . . . scratch that. Sixteen hadn’t been her favorite year, what with the braces and the unfortunate perm. Maybe eighteen. Yes, she could go back and do eighteen again. That was the year she discovered she could do what she loved for a living. Earning money to bake treats for people? It seemed like a dream! But then she’d won the Silver Bells Christmas Bake-Off with her boozy eggnog fruitcake (assisted by Grams, of course), and Jerry had offered her a job the next day.

“I’m afraid earbuds won’t help me today,” she told Teagan. Mostly because she couldn’t let Brando and Gramps fend for themselves. She would have to claim her rightful place as the family referee. “Thanks for helping me set up. We should have a signal in case I need you to interrupt a heated discussion.”

“I’m in.” The girl shot her a conspiratorial smirk. “If things get dicey, move your water glass to the right side of your plate, and I’ll refill glasses while I chat with everyone.”

“Perfect.” If any of them remained employed after the New Year, Sylvie would have to talk to Jerry about giving the girl a raise.

“I’ll be watching.” Teagan whirled with a swing of her braid and went to check on a nearby table.

“Where are Gramps and Brando?” Claire asked, somehow directly behind Sylvie.

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