even get one!”
Andi looked across the room to the table where her sister was creating a Santa sleigh and reindeer out of cupcakes. She’d used red string licorice for the reins, pretzels for antlers, and a red gumdrop for Rudolph’s nose.
“I didn’t know you wanted Nathaniel to propose,” she said, glancing at Rachel to see if she knew.
Rachel shook her head, her mouth open in surprise.
“I thought for sure he’d propose when he took me to the Flavel House two nights ago for plum pudding,” Kim said, poking another reindeer cupcake with a chocolate chip nose. “You know I did research on Swedish traditions, and when someone finds an almond in a special rice porridge, it’s supposed to mean they’ll get married in the coming year. I figured plum pudding was kind of like rice porridge, but did I get an almond? No! No almond. No proposal. Nothing. ”
Andi gasped at her sister’s unaccustomed show of emotion. “Do you want me to give him a hint?”
Kim shook her head. “Don’t you dare!”
Andi would have liked to learn more about this new development, but the phone rang, and she was the closest one to answer it. “Hello, Creative Cupcakes.”
She hoped the caller on the other end might be Jake, but it was that dreaded businessman Preston Pennyworth again.
“I’m willing to make you a new offer,” he informed her. “I’ll tack on another two hundred and fifty thousand.”
“One point four five million bucks?” Andi glanced at the wood hutch in the dining area where they had placed all the cupcake-shaped gifts their loyal customers had brought in to give to them: candles, cards, piggy banks, picture frames, salt-and-pepper shakers, plates, bowls, and candy. She let out a low whistle. “That’s a lot of money. I’ll have to think about it.”
“When will you know?” he persisted.
“Well, I’ll have to talk it over with my partners.”
“Can you do it tonight?”
She looked around the shop, filled with customers coming in and out, employees running back and forth, the gifts for the foster kids stacked and ready to go. “No, I’m busy.”
“Then when can I expect an answer?”
Mia ran past her with a stocking that had glitter flying off onto the floor.
Andi placed her hand over the phone’s mouthpiece. “Mia, look what you’re doing!”
Mia held up the stocking, and Andi read the name she’d written on it with glue and gold glitter. Max.
“You made a stocking for your imaginary friend?” Andi asked, shaking her head.
“He’s real , Mom!” Mia argued.
“Andi, did you hear what I said?”
Mr. Pennyworth’s voice drew her attention back to the phone. “Yes, I heard you.”
“I need an answer within the next three days. I want to give Creative Cupcakes to my daughter for Christmas.”
Give Creative Cupcakes away as a Christmas gift? The company she’d worked her sweet bum off to make a success? This was her dream, her inspiration, and she wasn’t about to just let it go to the likes of him.
“You know what? I don’t have to wait another minute. You want an answer? The answer is no .”
As she hung up the phone, Rachel asked, “Who was that?”
Guilt shot through Andi as she realized she’d made another rash decision without consulting her lifelong pals. But her answer to the guy would have been the same.
“Phone solicitor,” she replied.
Rachel scowled. “They’re always asking for money around the holidays.”
“Just like you’re asking for donated gifts?” Ian Lockwell teased, carrying an armload of presents. “These were donated by our division for the foster kids. Where do you want them?”
Andi pointed to the party room. “Mike’s loading up the Cupcake Mobile tonight so we can deliver the gifts first thing in the morning.”
“Hope you lock the truck up tight,” Ian warned. “There’s always a lot of theft this time of year.”
“Don’t worry,” Andi said, giving him a big smile. “We’ve got the best locks on our truck and
Andi looked across the room to the table where her sister was creating a Santa sleigh and reindeer out of cupcakes. She’d used red string licorice for the reins, pretzels for antlers, and a red gumdrop for Rudolph’s nose.
“I didn’t know you wanted Nathaniel to propose,” she said, glancing at Rachel to see if she knew.
Rachel shook her head, her mouth open in surprise.
“I thought for sure he’d propose when he took me to the Flavel House two nights ago for plum pudding,” Kim said, poking another reindeer cupcake with a chocolate chip nose. “You know I did research on Swedish traditions, and when someone finds an almond in a special rice porridge, it’s supposed to mean they’ll get married in the coming year. I figured plum pudding was kind of like rice porridge, but did I get an almond? No! No almond. No proposal. Nothing. ”
Andi gasped at her sister’s unaccustomed show of emotion. “Do you want me to give him a hint?”
Kim shook her head. “Don’t you dare!”
Andi would have liked to learn more about this new development, but the phone rang, and she was the closest one to answer it. “Hello, Creative Cupcakes.”
She hoped the caller on the other end might be Jake, but it was that dreaded businessman Preston Pennyworth again.
“I’m willing to make you a new offer,” he informed her. “I’ll tack on another two hundred and fifty thousand.”
“One point four five million bucks?” Andi glanced at the wood hutch in the dining area where they had placed all the cupcake-shaped gifts their loyal customers had brought in to give to them: candles, cards, piggy banks, picture frames, salt-and-pepper shakers, plates, bowls, and candy. She let out a low whistle. “That’s a lot of money. I’ll have to think about it.”
“When will you know?” he persisted.
“Well, I’ll have to talk it over with my partners.”
“Can you do it tonight?”
She looked around the shop, filled with customers coming in and out, employees running back and forth, the gifts for the foster kids stacked and ready to go. “No, I’m busy.”
“Then when can I expect an answer?”
Mia ran past her with a stocking that had glitter flying off onto the floor.
Andi placed her hand over the phone’s mouthpiece. “Mia, look what you’re doing!”
Mia held up the stocking, and Andi read the name she’d written on it with glue and gold glitter. Max.
“You made a stocking for your imaginary friend?” Andi asked, shaking her head.
“He’s real , Mom!” Mia argued.
“Andi, did you hear what I said?”
Mr. Pennyworth’s voice drew her attention back to the phone. “Yes, I heard you.”
“I need an answer within the next three days. I want to give Creative Cupcakes to my daughter for Christmas.”
Give Creative Cupcakes away as a Christmas gift? The company she’d worked her sweet bum off to make a success? This was her dream, her inspiration, and she wasn’t about to just let it go to the likes of him.
“You know what? I don’t have to wait another minute. You want an answer? The answer is no .”
As she hung up the phone, Rachel asked, “Who was that?”
Guilt shot through Andi as she realized she’d made another rash decision without consulting her lifelong pals. But her answer to the guy would have been the same.
“Phone solicitor,” she replied.
Rachel scowled. “They’re always asking for money around the holidays.”
“Just like you’re asking for donated gifts?” Ian Lockwell teased, carrying an armload of presents. “These were donated by our division for the foster kids. Where do you want them?”
Andi pointed to the party room. “Mike’s loading up the Cupcake Mobile tonight so we can deliver the gifts first thing in the morning.”
“Hope you lock the truck up tight,” Ian warned. “There’s always a lot of theft this time of year.”
“Don’t worry,” Andi said, giving him a big smile. “We’ve got the best locks on our truck and
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