“Two white peppermint mochas,” said the girl at the counter.

“Of course, Pandora,” said Joy. “You know, you two are regulars. You can just ask me for ‘the usual.’”

“You’re so attentive,” said Pandora. “I tried that with the last Christmas employee, way back last year, and she never got my order right.”

“Same goes for you, Jack,” said Joy.

Joy made the coffees and put them on the counter. The young woman and young man took their beverages out to the patio. Other than Avery, they were the only two that regularly used the space.

“Joy, you free?” asked Avery, peeking in from the kitchen.

“Yeah, what’s up?” said Joy, letting the other employee man the counter while she went to the kitchen.

“Operation Milk and Cookies,” said Avery. “I’m ready for you to start working on it. Here’s a list of our cookies. You’ve made all of them with me, so you know how long a batch takes to make. In case you forgot, I put two numbers by each cookie name. One is for how many cookies are in a batch, one is for how long it takes to cook a batch. Don’t worry about ingredient cost. It’s a tax write-off or something. Either way, not our problem. My boss said we can spend as much as we need to. I’ve already figured out the math regarding how many of the non-cookie pastries we’ll be making. It ain’t pretty. Speaking of pretty, I’ll be taking care of packaging with a local gift shop, so all you have to do is figure out what the heck we’re gonna be baking.”

“You sure there’s nothing else you want me to handle?” asked Joy.

“Well, there is one thing,” admitted Avery. “We need people to help us with the deliveries. Volunteers.”

“Volunteers? Got it,” said Joy. “How many?”

“Three more people should do it,” said Avery. “Here.”

Avery handed Joy the stack of office supplies.

“Where can I work?” asked Joy.

“I think the only free tables are out on the patio,” said Avery. “Sorry. Grab yourself some coffee or something to stay warm.”

“No problem, boss,” said Joy.

Joy took a mug of coffee out to the patio and then brought the office supplies outside and spread out.

“Hey, Joy,” said Pandora, walking over to Joy’s table. “Whatcha working on?”

“Oh, sorry to bug you guys,” said Joy. “We don’t have a free office right now.”

“You’re not bugging us,” said Jack, walking over and sitting across from Joy. “Whatcha working on?”

“It’s this thing called Operation Milk and Cookies,” said Joy. “You see —”

“Don’t have to explain,” said Pandora. “I know all about it. So does Jack.”

“How?” asked Joy, confused.

“My dad is Avery’s boss,” said Pandora. “You know, Santana? You haven’t met him yet.”

“Oh, that’s cool,” said Joy. “Didn’t know that. Jack, does your father also work for Pandora’s dad? Avery mentioned him in passing.”

“My father knows Pandora’s dad, but they don’t exactly work ‘together,’” said Jack. “My dad’s a bit of an ice king.”

“Got it, won’t ask,” said Joy.

“So what’s the problem with Operation Milk and Cookies?,” asked Pandora.

“We need volunteer bakers and delivery people,” explained Joy. “We’re understaffed as it is.”

“I can help,” said Pandora.

“Really?” asked Joy.

“Yes, no problem,” said Pandora.

“I’ll help too,” said Jack.

“Great, we just need one more volunteer,” said Joy.

“There’s nobody else you can ask?” asked Pandora. “Nobody special? Nobody that owes you a favor?”

“Kinda, but it would be unprofessional of me to share the details with customers,” said Joy.

“Joy, we’re more than just regulars,” said Pandora. “We’re down to be your friends too. Right?”

“Absolutely,” said Jack, taking a seat across from Joy.

“Alright, so there’s this guy,” said Joy. “There are actually two guys. This one guy, he defended me from a jerk. It was some reindeer shifter who ran away before I could thank him. I can’t ask him for help because I don’t know his name. The other guy was there too, or at least, he was. When the jerk hassled me, this guy was nowhere to be found, but, at least I know his name. Sean. He’s a regular. Comes over every day from Camp Kringle to pick up an order for his boss.”

“Good start,” said Pandora.

“He works for this guy, Krampus,” said Joy.

“I know Krampus,” said Pandora. “Works for my dad. Anyone who works for Krampus must be trouble. Let me guess. Bad boy?”

“Yup,” said Joy. “He said he’d do anything to get a date with me.”

“Easy,” said Pandora. “Ask him to help you. After all, he did say he’d do anything.”

“There’s just one problem,” said Joy. “I can’t date him. Well. I won’t date him.”

“Why? Does he smell like rancid eggnog?” asked Pandora. “Is his candy cane busted?”

“He’s a bear shifter,” said Joy.

“I’m a bear shifter,” said Pandora, arms crossed. “Well, panda, but I think that counts.”

“He’s a grizzly,” explained Joy. “Well, he’s kind of a bear shifter. It’s complicated. He’s in a bear shifter Clan, and in my opinion, that counts. I’ve dated two other grizzly bear shifters in the last few years. You know what happened? Do the math. I’m single, with a heart that was broken twice in a row. I’m not stupid. I know Fate doesn’t want me to try this a third time. You touch a hot stove once, okay, you’re silly. You touch a hot stove twice? You’re certifiably insane. I’m not touching Fate’s stove again.”

“But he likes you?” asked Jack.

“Yes,” said Joy.

“Then he’ll do anything for you,” said Jack. “Trust me. When a guy likes a girl, like really likes her? He’ll do anything for her. I’m not talking about lust. I’m talking about something more.”

“You really think so?” asked Joy.

“I know so,” said Jack. “When you see him next, play it cool. Don’t agree to date him in exchange for him helping you. Make it clear that if he helps you, nothing is promised. If this guy does this for you anyway, out of the goodness of his own heart? Maybe he’s a nice guy.”

“I think he’s more Naughty than Nice,” said Joy. “Thanks for the advice, you two, and thanks for volunteering to help out with Operation Milk and Cookies.”

“No sweat,” said Jack, getting up from the table and following Pandora back to their table, nursing their drinks so they could watch the sparks fly between the BBW and the werebear.

“Well, jingle my bells, and call me a Christmas tree,” said Sean. “Is that Joy taking a break?”

“Ha-ha,” said Joy, looking up from the table on the patio.

Sean walked up from the dock to the patio. Joy was sitting outside by herself, with a notepad and a pen, looking over a piece of paper intently. The only other people sitting outside were a young woman and a young man. Sean assumed they must be dating. They looked like they had a connection. It only served to remind him of his own loneliness, his own lack of a mate. Maybe the council of Clan Elders had been right. Maybe he was close to falling for mate madness. It was too bad the only woman he’d met at The Wreath wanted nothing to do with him.

“I’m working,” said Joy. “Avery can get your order ready.”

“Whatcha working on?” asked Sean.

“None of your business,” said Joy.

The air had been still, but suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the patio. The piece of paper Joy was looking at flew into the air. Joy reached for it and missed, falling on her knees.

Sean reached into the air and grabbed the paper. He had the advantage of height and shifter reflexes. Sean looked over the paper.

“Huh. Cookie names?” asked Sean.

Sean walked over to Joy and helped her up from the ground.

Joy accepted Sean’s help getting up. As soon as their hands touched, she felt a spark. It was the same spark she’d felt before when she’d accidentally bucked up onto him. It was the same spark she wanted to ignore, but couldn’t.

“I’m doing a project for Avery,” said Joy, brushing herself off before taking the paper. “At least, I’m trying to.”

“What seems to be the problem?” asked Sean, taking a seat across from Joy. “Also, here. This is for your boss.”

Sean put a green velvet bag on the table.

“Look, Sean, if you’re trying to get in my pants, you can stop,” said Joy. “You know I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”

“You got any rules against making friends with me?” asked Sean. “Just friends. Nothing more.”

“Really?” asked Joy, crossing her arms. “You’d be satisfied with just being friends with me?”

“Yes,” said Sean. “Look, Joy. I won’t hide the fact I’m out here looking for my fated mate. But who knows? Maybe you have a friend I end up clicking with. Maybe not. Maybe we ‘just’ end up being friends, but I don’t see it as a ‘just.’ It gets lonely out there on the island. I don’t think you’d get it.”

“No,” admitted Joy. “I get it. This town’s small. Quiet. Well, usually quiet. You missed quite the fight the other day. There are regulars, like those two over there, Pandora and Jack, but…you’re right. I could use a friend too.”

“Alright, now, you willing to let your friend in on what the problem is?” asked Sean.

“I’m helping Avery with a not-so-secret project,” said Joy. “It’s called Operation Milk and Cookies. What we’re doing is baking baskets of baked goods and plates of cookies for families that can’t afford to buy those things themselves. Everyone deserves a sweet treat on Christmas. Each family will get food for themselves, as well as a plate of cookies and a pint of milk to leave out for Santa.”

“Sound great,” said Sean. “What’s the problem?”

“Logistics,” said Joy. “The bakery’s big, but that doesn’t mean it has a lot of employees. I transferred up here for the holidays because the bakery was understaffed, and it still is. How are we going to bake enough baked goods in time for Christmas? And how are we going to manage to make all these deliveries?”

“I…might know something about making deliveries,” said Sean. “I can bake too.”

“What?” asked Joy.

“I mean, I was a runner,” said Sean. “Professionally. You probably never heard of me. But I’m fast, Joy. Real fast. I also cooked my own food. Made my own granola bars. Better than most of the junk out there, in fact.”

“So you’ll help us make the deliveries and do the baking?” asked Joy. “Great!”

“Sean?” called Avery from the back of the bakery. “Your order’s ready. Don’t distract Joy. She’s busy.”

“Gotta go,” said Sean, getting up from the table. “See you tomorrow, Joy.”

Sean went into the bakery to get the goods.

Avery came out to the patio and sat across from Joy.

“That boy bothering you?” asked Avery. “I can have a word with his boss.”

“No, actually,” said Joy. “Color me surprised. He actually offered to help us with Operation Milk and Cookies.”

“Really?” asked Avery with a frown. “I know it’s Krampus’ busy season. I’m surprised Krampus would let us steal Sean for all that time.”

“Me too,” admitted Joy. “Speaking of Krampus, apparently, he sent this for you.”

Joy passed Avery the green velvet bag. Avery frowned and opened it.

“There’s a note,” said Avery. “‘To help you trim your tree.’ What on Earth could that mean? Isn’t he the one who’s busy trimming trees?”

Avery pulled out the large item in the bag. Joy’s face went bright red when she saw the thing.

“Is that…a dildo?” asked Joy in a whisper, looking over the big green item in Avery’s hand.

“No,” said Avery. “There’s a hook on the tip. It’s an ornament for the tree.”

“What’s it supposed to be?” asked Joy.

“I think…it’s a pickle,” guessed Avery, showing Joy the knobby green ornament.

“Krampus just gave you his pickle?” asked Joy. “And you don’t think he’s got a huge raging crush on you?”

“Whatever,” said Avery, blushing. “Get back to work Joy. I’m going to go…find a place to hang this.”

“Uh-huh,” said Joy. “To ‘hang’ it.”