The cold is biting and the snow crunches under our booted feet, but I’ve never been as happy. Tanner holds my gloved hand in his as we walk along the sidewalk. It’s busier than I thought it would be with shoppers weighed down by heavy bags, an elderly woman across the street has help with her dolly from a police officer. It must be too heavy with groceries for her to pull in the cold.

Trees are planted along the sidewalk with festive lights strung up, the branches showing the overnight snow we had. A number of storefronts have striped awnings with colorful and welcoming displays. Tanner told me all the businesses along this main street are family owned—the deli, coffeehouse, bakery, and of course, one of my favorite stores, a bookstore.

“Look,” Tanner whispers, his word leaving a trail of vapor in the cold as he tugs me closer to a store. “Look through the window.”

Excited at what he wants me to see, I place the arch of my palm against the glass store window and peer inside. I smile in delight at the beautiful display to fascinate children and adults alike. The Christmas train is slowly moving around the large figure eight track. It has bright parcels overflowing from the open carriages, with people, dressed in Victorian clothing, in the windows of the passenger cars. It’s magical to watch and has me transfixed.

Tanner moves behind me, wraps his arms around my midriff, and places his chin on my shoulder. “Every Christmas since I was small, my mother would bring me to this store to watch this exact train.” He pauses. “It took a long time for me to come back after she died. It became easier as the years moved on, but she would have liked me sharing this with you.”

Tears hover on my lashes as I think about him coming here alone, and the memories his visit would hold.

“Lets go inside,” he suggests and taking my hand, leads me into the store.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, delighted. “It’s like a treasure trove of all things past.”

Tanner hums in my ear. “It is, and I think we’ll find something amazing in here for Garret and Sirena’s son.”

I clap my hands with glee. Thirty minutes later, we’re leaving the store with a large package held in Tanners hand. Elias’s first train set. “We’ll take him this after Christmas.” I meet his gaze and add, “You will come back with me, right? For a little while?”

He cups my face with a gloved hand. “I’ve been thinking, as we’re having Christmas here, I thought that we could have New Year with your family in Lexington. My dad can come with us. I don’t really want him alone around the holidays.”

I smile and go up on my tiptoes, kissing his cold lips. “I love that idea, and I agree about your dad.”

I shove my thoughts to the back of my mind for now, because I don’t want doubt or my insecurities to creep in while I’m spending the day out with the man I love. We do have to talk though. If we want to live together, then we need to decide where that will be. I have no problem relocating, although I will have things to work out at McKenzies if that happens.

“You’re thinking too hard.” Tanner kisses my forehead. “We’ll talk, but not right now.” He kisses me again and tugs me along. “I think I’m going to grab a coffee and relax while you browse.”

I raise a brow and all I get in return is a smirk. “Trust me, you’ll love it…we’re here.”

Seconds later, I’m standing in front of green trimmed double doors with ‘Books, Books, and Coffee’ engraved into the glass. The minute Tanner pushes open one of the doors and I step inside, my senses are assailed with a mixture of festive smells: coffee, spices: cinnamon, nutmeg. The smell of yeast as fresh bread bakes in the large oven I can see behind the counter of the small coffee area. The scent of hot chocolate and coffee has a sigh leaving my mouth. Just standing at the door, I feel like I’m in heaven.

“It smells delicious.”

Tanner chuckles. “Yes, it does. I sometimes come in here and sit right over there,” he points to a corner chair, “having a cup of coffee while I let the silence surround me. It’s peaceful.” He shrugs, a blush on his cheeks, and then his blush deepens as a lady behind him says, “Tanner, is that you?” She laughs. “Of course it is.”

He turns and wraps the older woman up in a warm embrace. It looks like she doesn’t want to let him go, but once he finally untangles himself, he wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Denise, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Charlotte McKenzie.”

She looks me over and then beams. “About time,” she mumbles smacking Tanner on his chest, “that you finally came to your senses.”

The pleasantry over with she goes back to work as I give Tanner a quizzical glance.

“She owns the store and has known me from the day I was born.”

“Ah!” I wait, knowing there is more.

“She helped me a lot. I don’t know what I’d have done without her.”

I look at Denise. The woman is petite with grey streaked hair, tided at the nape of her neck. When she’d hugged Tanner, the top of her head hadn’t reached his shoulders. She was slender, and had an air of strength about her. As for age, I’d put her in her sixties.

Glancing up to Tanner, he smirks. “Not my type.” He laughs. “Go and enjoy yourself and when you’re finished, I’ll buy you a hot chocolate.”

“Hmm, sounds good.” I reach up and kiss his cheek.

“Take as long as you want, okay? I’ll be fine waiting.”

“God, how did I get so lucky?” I whisper against his lips before pulling away. “No chatting the women up.”

He rolls his eyes and heads toward the counter while I stand for a moment and look around.

There are floor to ceiling shelves against the walls, filled with books, bright signs for different categories pinned to the wood. Walking through the store there are shoulder-high bookshelves on the floor with round tables holding books on display.

I find myself in the colorful children’s section filled with seasonal books, and a selection of board games and puzzles, and plush toys. Settling on the floor near the seasonal books, I select an interactive ‘Night Before Christmas’, running my fingers over the raised bumps on the cover. Another book I select is ‘The Snowman’ both for my nephew Elias. He’ll love the bright colors of the books and should enjoy them as he gets older.

Pushing myself up from the floor, I spot the romance section. Slipping past a couple of teenage girls reading a book together, I let my finger slide across the difference color spines, coming to a stop on a novel by Rona Jameson, Summer at Rose Cottage. I slowly pull it from the shelf and read the synopsis on the back…

Set in the beautiful coastal town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, ‘Summer at Rose Cottage’ explores two love stories—one lost in time and the other flourishing in the present. McKenzie (Mack) Harper needs to get away and the small cottage just outside of Cape Elizabeth is the perfect location to unwind and bond with her six-year-old nephew, Lucas. It’s here at this quaint summer rental that Mack discovers a diary dated March 4^th, 1947, which pulls her into a world of love and heartache.

Each entry into the diary is brought to life through the words written by nineteen-year-old, Rose Degan, who falls in love with a man her parents disapprove of. Her heart knows what and whom it wants, Jacob Evans, a fire fighter in Cape Elizabeth. He hasn’t been in town long when they meet on the cliffs while she watches the rescue of a crew from a collier ship that went aground during a fierce storm.

Back in the present, Mack discovers that Jacob is still alive and tries to find him. She leaves a message that falls into the hands of Jacob’s grandson, Dean Evans. With his curiosity piqued, Dean decides the mystery woman, along with her diary, is an excellent excuse to slip away from home, earning a break from his mother’s matchmaking shenanigans—a grandchild being her sole focus.

All these characters come together in a story of love and friendship. It shows that love and family can transcend time.

As soon as I read the last line, I know this book is meant to be mine, so, with a smile, I head toward the counter to pay.

I smile at the young girl behind the counter as the scanner beeps with my purchases. Sliding my bankcard into the machine, I quickly pay and collect my package.

Turning, I head over to the coffee section and smile at Tanner with his head stuck inside a newspaper and a coffee cup in his hand. The grinding of the coffee beans catches my attention, and so does Denise, who waves me over to her.

“I saw you at the cash register, so I started on your hot chocolate.” She glances at Tanner. “He ordered it when he paid for his own.” She shakes her head. “That boy only ever allows me to make him a coffee on the house when it’s his birthday.” She grins. “But nothing says I can’t give you a plate of treats on the house, now does it.”

Laughing, I take the plate of cookies. “Thank you for this, it’s lovely of you.”

“Nonsense. He’s a good man and until you showed up, he’s been missing what he deserves. Happiness.” She surprises me with a kiss to the cheek. “Let’s take these over to him.”

Placing the plate onto the table, Denise puts my hot chocolate in front of my seat smiling. She doesn’t say anything before retreating.

“I see she’s given us some of her Christmas cookies.” Tanner grins. “I’ve eaten these every Christmas since I was a kid.”

Sitting beside him, I lean over and kiss his rough cheek. I smooth my hand over his jaw. “I love feeling this scruff. It’s sexy,” I whisper.

“Hmm, I think you better stop giving me ideas while I’m sitting here.”

Chuckling, I pick the sugar cookie up and take a large bite. My eyes pop wide when the flavor bursts on my tongue and then I moan, closing my eyes as I munch on the cookie.

When I open my eyes, Tanner’s gaze is fixed on me, and the look he’s giving me makes me forget everything but him.

“You are driving me nuts with your little moans,” he admits, fidgeting in his chair.

Picking my drink up, I take a sip and moan again, holding Tanner’s gaze above the tall glass. Chuckling, I take another sip and sigh in pleasure as the cinnamon-flavored foam hits my taste buds. “God, I’m going to be in a sugar coma later.”

“Just as long as we’re at home when that hits you, then I might just survive it,” he mumbles, his eyes tracking my tongue, licking the cream from my lips.