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Chapter 1

Angela headed into Santa’s Café, brushing the snow off her coat. “Good morning, Mrs. Claus!” she chirped as she hurried through to the breakroom.
“Good morning, darling,” the woman chirped, dressed in perfect Mrs. Claus attire, smiling as she walked by.
“Has it been busy this morning?”
Mrs. Claus shook her head. “No, not yet. It’s still early yet. But with the holidays around the corner, it will be.”
Angela laughed. “Oh, I’m sure it will! Make sure you have plenty of cookies ready for the customers!”
Mrs. Claus laughed. “Oh, you can count on it! In fact, they’re all ready to go!” Surprisingly, a plate of Mrs. Claus’s famous Christmas cookies was the main appetizers at Santa’s Café. But here in Christmas Cove, cookies weren’t just for dessert.
Of course, Angela knew the woman wasn’t the real Mrs. Claus—she wasn’t crazy—but everyone at the diner played their part, adding to the mystique. Santa’s Café was one of the oldest establishments in Christmas Cove, the town where Christmas never sleeps.
Angela got a job there in high school, not only as a waitress, but spreading Christmas cheer. And when she graduated, she liked it there so much that she just continued working there. She made good money, and she had gotten to know everyone in town. Also, spreading Christmas cheer was one of her favorite things to do in the world and the perfect job for her.
But now, she was twenty-four and wondering when her life was going to start.
Although she loved her job, it was hardly a career. But each time she thought of going to work in a “serious” job, it broke her heart.
Angela slipped her coat on a peg in the employee breakroom that also remained perpetually decorated. A Christmas tree sat in the corner where presents would magically appear from Christmas Eve until Christmas morning, and a white tablecloth adorned the only table, along with a festive centerpiece.
Angela smiled as she tied her apron around her waist as a flash of excitement ran through her. She loved Christmas and she loved Christmas Cove.
Knowing the diner would fill up soon, she grabbed a notepad and pencil, shoved them into her apron, and headed out.
“Morning, Angela!” Frank, one of the cooks, looked up and smiled, waving his spatula as she passed. He was an older man who had moved there from Hawaii and had been working there for years.
“Good morning, Frank!” She leaned in conspiratorially across the high waitress pass through. “So, gone surfing lately?”
He burst out laughing. “In the snow? You’ve got to be kidding! But this summer, I’m donning my wet suit and heading to the shore.” He shrugged. “You should come with me, too, if you like.”
She laughed. “I’d fall flat on my face… er… in the water.”
His laughter echoed through the area again. “You know, I have a son—”
“Don’t start.” Angela held up her hand, cutting him off. The last thing she wanted right now was to be set up with anyone. But then again, if his son was Hawaiian… but she quickly pushed the thought from her mind.
“You have station five today, Angela,” the dining room manager said when she walked out.
“Thanks, Serina!” Angela chirped, and headed into the dining room to check on her tables and to see if she had customers yet.
Station five only had two tables and two booths—easy to keep up with during the rush. So, if she wanted to make any money, she had to keep the tables rotating, which wasn’t hard this time of year. But Angela never rushed anyone out, enjoying getting to know her regular customers. She believed that if she enjoyed her work, then the money would come along with it. And so far, it had.
A young woman with blonde hair that just brushed her shoulders sat in the back corner booth. She smiled at Angela when she came out.
Angela looked around, wondering why no one had helped her yet, since her table was bare. Usually, the other waitresses helped out before their fellow employees came on their shift, but no one seemed to notice this woman. Angela shrugged, knowing that she must have just walked in.
“Welcome to Santa’s Café!” Angela chirped, giving her the whole experience. “Would you like a cup of hot cocoa or hot apple cider to get you started?”
The woman smiled, shaking her head. “No, thanks. Would you mind if I just sat here for a moment? I just came in to get out of the cold.”
“No! Not at all!” A broad smile spread across her face. “I’m Angela, if you need anything.”
“Emma.” The woman smiled.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” Angela headed off and looked around the room. At the moment, the restaurant was nearly empty with just a few people sitting at a few tables, and they looked as if they had already been helped. On a whim, Angela poured Emma a cup of coffee and carried it out. “Here. Even if you don’t drink it, everyone will know you’ve been helped.” Angela leaned in conspiratorially, and Emma smelled like cherries and mistletoe. “And it’s on me.”
“That’s very kind of you.” Emma tilted her head to the side and smiled. “So, have you been working here long?”
Angela nodded, shoving her hands into her apron. “I started working here in high school.”
“And how old are you now?” Emma asked, and then quickly added, “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“No! Not at all!” Angela smiled. “Twenty-four.”
Emma nodded thoughtfully. “Do you have anyone special?”
Angela was taken back by the directness of her question. After all, she had just met the woman. And she thought she knew everyone in Christmas Cove, but didn’t recognize her, so thought that she was probably a tourist.
“I’m so sorry if I’m being too forward.” Emma shrugged, giving her a reassuring smile. “Just making conversation. Passing the time.”
“It’s okay. No, I don’t.” Angela chuckled. “I haven’t even been on a date in a long time.”
A crease formed between Emma’s eyes. “Why not? You’re a beautiful, wonderful young woman.”
Angela chuckled. “That’s very kind of you to say, but I guess I’d never met anyone who….”
“Fills your heart?” Emma asked, her eyebrows raising, knowing exactly what she was going to say.
Angela nodded. “Yes.” She let out a deep breath. “I don’t know. I guess I’m old-fashioned. I want fireworks and true love, and I won’t settle for anything less.”
“Nor should you.” Emma chuckled. “And there’s nothing old-fashioned about that.”
Just then, a couple was seated at one of her tables. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.” Emma smiled as she glanced around the restaurant, but Angela noticed that she didn’t touch her coffee.
Before she knew it, her tables had filled up quickly, leaving little time for chit chat. A station next to hers was free, so she seated people there, too, and took their orders. Usually, the waitresses took turns with the free tables when customers came in, to be fair. Nearly all the waitresses at Santa’s Café worked very well together, helping each other out when needed.
“Hi, Dan! May I help you?” Angela grabbed a menu as she walked up to the front. “One for breakfast?”
“Yes, please.” Dan worked at the tree lot across the street and came in occasionally in the evening or the afternoon to pick up meals for the other workers. Him being there in the morning was a first. That Angela knew of, anyway.
Although he was tall and good-looking with light brown hair with blonde streaks and blue eyes, he wore an old work coat and boots. The expression on his face was serious. He didn’t seem accustomed to smiling.
Angela took that as a challenge. “Right this way!” she chirped, heading over to the booth in front of Emma. Angela looked over and smiled, and Emma returned the smile, but Dan just slid into his booth, facing the front.
“Welcome to Santa’s Café!” Angela went into her usual spiel in her usual sing-song voice. “May I get you a cup of hot cocoa or hot apple cider today? Or perhaps a plate full of Mrs. Claus’s Christmas cookies? They’re hot out of the oven!”
Dan frowned, looking at her as if she had lost her mind. “I’m going to order something to eat here, but I’ll put in an order to take back to the tree lot before I go. If that’s okay?”
“Sure!” A broad grin spread across her face. “Just let me know whenever you’re ready!”
A small smile cracked his lips. “I’ll go ahead and put in both orders now.” He shrugged. “I’ll just pick up the order for the tree lot at the front counter before I go.”
“Sounds good!” Angela quickly scribbled down his orders. “I’ll get that out in a jiffy!”
He returned the smile as he handed back the menu. “Thanks, Angela.”
A thrill ran through her as she quickly headed toward the front. “Frank, Dan from the tree lot put in two orders. One is for him for here, and one is to go.”
Frank nodded, smiling. “You want me to put both of them in now?”
She nodded. “Yes, please! I’m sure it won’t take him long to eat.”
“Okay,” he replied, turning back to the grill. “Coming right up!”
Angela poured a cup of coffee and took it to Dan. “Here you go! Would you like a plate of Mrs. Claus’s homemade Christmas cookies while you wait? Fresh out of the oven!”
Dan chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief as he smiled. “Sure. Why not?”
“Well, alrighty then!” she trilled. “I’ll be right back!”
Dan nodded, taking a sip of his coffee as she walked away.
“Care for a warmup?” she asked Emma in the booth behind him, facing the front just like Dan.
Emma smiled as she shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”
Angela headed toward the front, and Dan’s meal was up. She grabbed a bottle of ketchup to go along with his home fries and turned around. Suddenly, a man she hadn’t noticed grabbed her from behind, causing her to drop the plate, sending it crashing onto the floor.
Silence filled the room.
“Nobody move, or she dies!” the man yelled.
The cold, hard steel of metal was pressed against her temple. Angela glanced toward Emma, and her lips formed a straight line. Then her head snapped to Dan, her eyes pleading, as anger filled his eyes, the broken plate forgotten.
Of all the time Angela had lived in Christmas Cove, nothing like this had ever happened before. You might know, it would happen to her. She had been lucky up until this point in her life. Angela just hoped her luck hadn’t just run out.