The brass key turned in the lock with a solid click. Cami felt the door give way as she pushed it open. It creaked with the impact as if the room had been locked for fifty years.

Cami stared at the open space. The black and white tiles were coated in dust. Over head the decorative tin tiles were rusted in spots where the roof had leaked. How had things gotten so bad? She crossed the threshold, mustering up the courage to stand in the middle of the room she now owned. She wasn’t an intruder. This was hers now.

The store front windows ran the entire length of her part of the building, facing the main downtown drag. Just like her loft apartment upstairs, one side was all brick. To her right was an arched doorway that led to the shoppette. Well, what used to be the candy shop. She wondered when the last time her aunt actually sold a piece of candy from one of the glass cases.

They used to be filled with fudge and macaroons. Homemade peppermints and rock candy on sticks. There was nothing more beautiful at Christmas than to stare inside the deep oak cabinet and eye the displays her aunt would make. There was even a tiny train that would make a loop around mint trees, carrying box cars of marshmallow gift boxes. Everyone in Harpers Point always stopped to look in the window at that year’s gingerbread house. Cami’s aunt made every dot, every wreath, every flake of snow out of her special sugar recipes. There was nothing like that display.

But now the great antique case stood empty. The train was packed in a box somewhere. And Cami wasn’t even sure the ovens were in working condition.

She glanced at the empty room adjoining the candy shop. Where did she start first?

* * *

“Hello? Hello?”

Cami looked up from the floor. “Oh hi. Sorry, we aren’t open yet.”

She had just dipped her latex gloved hand in a soapy bucket of water. The only way to get the marble floor clean again was on her hands and knees. She had posted Closed signs on the storefront doors, but had forgotten to relock them after taking out a load of trash.

“Cami Addison, is that you?”

Cami wiped her forehead with the dry part of the back of her hand. She squinted, trying to get her bearings. “Yes.”

“It’s me. Samantha.”

Cami pushed off the floor and faced the woman who used to be her best friend. “Oh my God, Samantha . It’s so good to see you.”

She pulled her into a hug, assaulting Cami’s nose with a pungent expensive French perfume.

“I heard you were back in town, but I wanted to see it for myself. The famous Cami has returned.”

Cami’s eyes fell to the floor. The embarrassment flooded her. “Yeah. I’m back. I inherited all this from Aunt Sophie.” She waved her hands around the empty store.

“Aren’t you lucky?”

Cami didn’t know whether to take the comment seriously or not. It seemed more like a ton of hard work, frustration, and financial risk. Not to mention, her homecoming meant she had accepted defeat. She wasn’t singing anymore.

She smiled weakly. “I sure am.”

“Are you going to be ready in time for Christmas? The store looks a little…” Samantha looked around. Her fur vest hanging off one shoulder.

“You can say it. It’s a disaster, isn’t it?”

“Oh no. It’s not that bad. A few coats of paint. Maybe some new light fixtures. It will be like it used to be.”

Cami sighed. “That’s sweet of you, but I’m not sure any of this will ever be like it used to be.”

“But you’re home now. That’s what’s really important.” Samantha smiled.

Cami didn’t have the heart or the energy to explain home was a confusing word. Was she in Harpers Point because she wanted to be, or because she had to be?

“Right.”

“You know I bought your first album. It was great. We were really proud of you.”

Cami nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“My girls are big Cami fans. They’d love to meet you. I’d love to have you over for dinner. Nate wants to see you too, of course,” she added.

Cami hadn’t missed the rock on Samantha ’s finger. It was like a big piece of play jewelry. Would it be rude to ask how many carats it was?

“Girls?”

Samantha held up her phone and scrolled through a few pictures. “Two and three. Nate didn’t want to wait. Plus, you know…baby sex is amazing.”

She had no idea about baby sex. She spent her sex life doing everything she could not to get pregnant.

“They’re beautiful. That’s great.”

“So what about dinner?” she prodded.

Cami looked around the dingy room. “That would be nice. Maybe when I get a few things done. I have to finish cleaning the shop so I can get some inventory in, and I’m still debating on whether or not to bring in candy.”

“Bring in candy?” Samantha ’s mouth hung open. “You’re not going to make it? Your aunt made everything from scratch. The Sweet Spot was famous for that.”

Cami chewed on her bottom lip. “I don’t know that I have time this year. It’s a lot. I don’t have any help. Plus, I need permits to get the kitchen operating. I stopped making candy years ago. I think I’ll have better luck getting the shop open.”

Samantha pouted. “What are you planning on selling? Oh, tell me it’s all Christmas.”

If there was one thing Harpers Point didn’t need it was another Christmas store. “No, actually, I was thinking about following a business model of a friend of mine in Nashville. I thought I could try it here.”

“Oh? Really? What kind?”

“Sort of like antiques, but vintage pieces. Sort of a shabby chic farmhouse feel.”

Samantha twisted her lips together. “But no Christmas?”

Cami knew she was going to have to cave on that part at least seasonally. “Of course there will be some Christmas.” She smiled. “It will be very festive in here. I promise.”

“Good.” Samantha clutched her Kate Spade bag. “Well, I have to run some errands for Nate and the girls, but I’ll check back for dinner?”

Cami nodded. “Definitely. I’d love to catch up more.”

They hugged and Cami watched her friend sashay onto Tinsel Avenue.

She stood for a few seconds as Samantha faded from view. Just when Cami was getting ready to return to her bucket of sudsy water, her heart stopped.

On the other side of the sidewalk was a man in a rich charcoal coat with a red scarf draped around his neck. He was tall and broad, with shocking black hair. Even from this far away Cami felt the butterflies. Her throat tightened and she let the scrub brush fall from her hand. It hit the floor with a thud, splattering bubbles on the marble.

There was only one man who had ever made her feel that way. Just one look. One glance and her belly flipped and danced. That man was Evan Jacobs.