Page 7 of Once Upon A Christmas Song

“The Well-Bred Baker and His Cake?”

“Now that one might actually be a bit too sweet. I prefer some raunchy sack time in my romance and in real––”

“No. No.” I stopped her. “I don’t wanna hear that.”

She shrugged.

“Okay, the books are up, I helped you unpack, I’m outta here before the ick gets on me.”

“It’s love and romance, and you could do with getting some of that on you.”

I rolled my eyes and made it to the stairs.

“Christopher.”

Turning, I looked at Cybil who was sitting in the driver’s seat sorting books.

“Love is returning for you, my dear.”

“Do me a favor and get some books on science and history in here.”

“Never,” she vowed with a flourish.

“Chris?” Simone said my name, returning me to the present.

“Those two ladies are old busybodies is what they are,” I told her. “They just want free food, and everybody in here takes them plates throughout the day.”

“That part is true.”

“See? If they forecasted doom and gloom, do you think we’d be giving them Georgine’s food? I think not.”

“You used to be a romantic,” she said flatly. “I blame Dawson’s leaving for this.”

We were not talking about him today. “Can you get back to your point?”

“That we’re part of the community. Those ladies sit that bus over by the park when they come to town, and it’s nice to walk over there at eleven at night and look at books. I get to do that because we’re open, because we are a live-music venue that stays loud and fun until two in the morning on Friday and Saturday.”

“So you’re saying what?”

“That yes, we can become a full-time restaurant, but that’s not what either of us wants.”

“Agreed.”

“Then you have to bite the bullet and call the booker,” she concluded.

“Or,” I said because I had another idea, “we could invite street musicians.”

Instantly her face scrunched up.

“Why is that not a good idea?”

She shook her head.

“Wait, listen, I⁠—”

“They are used to working their own hours, with people they want to work with, and you know as well as I do that so many of them are unreliable and⁠—”

“That’s not true,” I argued. “Take Justice and Molly. They⁠—”