Charlotte surveyed the pile of papers on her desk. “I regret this already,” she said.

“Running the charity lunch does look daunting, since we lost our last coordinator,” Hal said, with a half smile. “But you’ll have lots of help.”

She turned her eyes up toward the handsome man wearing an apron dusted with flour and powdered sugar. “We good?”

***

— So tell me about the Santa Lunch, Charlotte texted to the elderly librarian.

— Oh it’s always great fun, Lydia replied. — You’ll have plenty of help. 🤗

— I keep hearing that.

— it was started in the early 80s if I recall correctly. Raises money for the local orphanage. Last year it raised $25K!!! 🤩🎊🎉

— I don’t think I can promise that.

— you’ll do great! 👍🏻🎊🥰🎈🙏

If Lydia texts me one more emoji, Charlotte thought, I will stab her with a branch of misteletoe.

She looked through the stack of papers.

Got herself a hot cocoa with a generous splash of Kahlua.

Then she got to work.