“Blame it on the wonders of modern technology.” Stacie chuckled and hopped forward to avoid an errant snowball thrown from a side street. “Anna called me from her cell on her way into town. I need details. The only thing specific I got from Anna was that Seth was wearing a Santa suit.”
Lauren smiled, remembering the softness of the red velour and the intoxicating taste of Seth’s warm, sweet lips. “There’s something about a man in a Santa suit that is incredibly appealing.”
“I agree.” Stacie sighed. “The only thing that trumps it for sexiness is a cowboy wearing nothing but a Stetson.”
“I wouldn’t know about that.” Lauren ignored the twinkle in her friend’s eyes and kept her tone offhand. “We didn’t get naked. We only kissed.”
“Bet you liked it, though.”
“The kiss?” Lauren’s heart picked up speed. “It was okay.”
“Methinks it was more than okay.”
“You’re right,” Lauren admitted, knowing Stacie wouldn’t give up until she told the truth. “On a scale of one to ten, I’d give it a twenty.”
“Wow. Sizzling hot. It really didn’t go further?” Stacie paused and slanted a sideways glance at Lauren.
Lauren shook her head. “Ivy came out of her bedroom and saw me kissing Santa—er, Seth.”
“It’s like something out of a movie.” Stacie’s eyes turned dreamy. “Wouldn’t it be fabulous if you and Seth fell in love, got married, settled in Sweet—”
“Stop right there,” Lauren said, finding the scenario way too appealing. “My plans don’t include Sweet River or handsome cowboys.”
“Oh, so you think Seth is handsome.”
Lauren let a groan be her answer.
“I had plans, remember?” Stacie’s expression was suddenly serious. “But I figured out a way I could have Josh and my dreams, too.”
“It worked for you,” Lauren admitted. “I’m happy it did. But there is no way—”
“Where there’s a will, there’s always a way,” Stacie said, punctuating the cliché with a decisive nod.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Lauren offered a wry smile as she climbed the steps of the church, repositioning the box in her hands so she could open the door.
When Lauren had first heard Sweet River had a homeless shelter, she’d been surprised. She hadn’t thought there would be much of a need in the area. The cots set up in several Sunday-school classrooms and the fifteen or so people waiting for food in the church’s makeshift dining hall challenged that assumption.
Stacie stopped to speak with the minister about an upcoming fund-raiser and Lauren began unpacking the food. She’d started on the second box when Stacie touched her shoulder.
“A volunteer who was supposed to help serve didn’t show,” Stacie said in a low tone. “I’m going to stay for a bit. Shirley should be able to handle the café alone for the next hour or so.”
“I can stay and help, too.”
“That’s sweet of you to offer, but they only need one more body, and you should get back to Anna and the shop.” Stacie touched her arm. “If you’d just tell Shirley I’ll be back in time for the supper rush, I’d appreciate it.”
“Consider it done.”
“Tell her to give you a couple dozen sugar cookies to go with that cider,” Stacie added before turning her attention back to the minister.
Lauren visited with a couple of the shelter residents for several minutes, then strolled back to the café, enjoying the sound of the snow crunching beneath her feet.
Her destination was in sight when a fire truck shot down Main Street, sirens screaming. The door to the community center burst open as a second truck zoomed by. Lauren jumped back as a bunch of cowboys spilled out onto the sidewalk and scattered.
“What’s going on?” she called out to one of Seth’s friends as he raced by.
“Fire on Elmwood,” Wes Danker yelled without breaking stride.
A chill traveled up Lauren’s spine. If she wasn’t mistaken, Elmwood was the next street over from where Mitch and Seth were working. Instead of entering the café, Lauren wrapped her coat more tightly around her and watched each man pile into his truck, put a flashing light on the dash and take off down the street.
When they’d first moved to Sweet River, Anna had mentioned that the town was too small to have professional firefighters. Instead, it depended on trained volunteers. Hadn’t she also said Seth was one of those volunteers?
The apple cider forgotten, Lauren turned and ran down the street to Sew-fisticated. Though she hadn’t been gone all that long, the shop was deserted. Miranda was nowhere to be seen. Anna was missing, too. In fact, the front part of the store was empty save for Marg Millstead, Mitch’s stepmother, manning the cash register.
“Where’s Anna?” Lauren asked, her breath coming in short puffs. “And Miranda?”
“They had to run an errand,” Ivy called out from the back room.
“They took my mom’s car,” Brandon added.
Marg put a finger to her lips. She grabbed Lauren’s arm and propelled her to the very front of the store, far from little ears. “We need to talk.”
Lauren’s heart skipped a beat at the worry furrowing the older woman’s brow. “Tell me.”
“There was a fire at the house Miranda rents.” Marg spoke in a whisper. “The sheriff called not long after you left. Seth and Mitch were the first to respond. They thought the house was empty, but—”
“Trenton was upstairs.” The words spilled from Lauren’s lips as she remembered what Miranda had said earlier. “He hadn’t been feeling well and stayed home in bed.”
“When Seth and Mitch heard him calling for help, they went in without waiting for backup.” Marg paused and drew a shuddering breath. “Trenton and Mitch got out just as part of the roof collapsed. They were very lucky.”
“What about Seth?” Lauren’s entire body turned to ice. Her heart beat so hard and fast, the room began to spin.
“Seth was trapped by the falling debris.”
Lauren covered her mouth. Only the knowledge that she needed to stay strong for the little
