THE GINGERBREAD GIRLS
Coming together in time for Christmas
The Gingerbread Inn is where best friends Emily, Andrea and Casey spent much of their childhood. Now all grown up, theyâre backâolder, wiser, but still with as much need of a little Massachusetts magic than ever.
As Christmas approaches, and three gorgeous men appear on the scene, is it time to create some new treasured memories?
THE CHRISTMAS BABY SURPRISE
by Shirley Jump in October 2013
MARRY ME UNDER THE MISTLETOE
by Rebecca Winters in November 2013
SNOWFLAKES AND SILVER LININGS
by Cara Colter in December 2013
REBECCA WINTERS, whose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favourite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.
Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website: www.cleanromances.com.
CHAPTER ONE
JUST TWO WEEKS until Christmas and so-o much to do.
The latest merchandise from suppliers needed to be put in the window. The Hansel and Gretel shop located on Lemon Street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, was a favorite place all year long for customers wanting imported hand-painted wooden gifts, nutcrackers, little girlsâ Bavarian dirndls and little boysâ Tyrolean hats. But especially at Christmas.
Andrea Fleming finished her morning coffee, then quickly dressed in a navy wool skirt and a long-sleeved navy pullover with Snoopy on the front wearing a Santaâs hat. After running a brush through her shoulder-length gilt-blond hair, she slipped into her comfortable wedgies and hurried downstairs to the shop below.
Sheâd been living here since her husbandâs death fourteen months ago. Theyâd been married only three weeks and had been staying with his parents in Braunschweig, Germany, when theyâd been in a car accident and he was killed outright. Sheâd survived, but had been forced to stay in hospital following an operation.
Her mother had been there to help her recover enough so that she could board a plane. When she returned home it was without her husband and no hope of ever having children.
Though her divorced mom wanted Andrea to live at home with her, sheâd preferred to renovate the loft above the shop so she could stay there. She felt closer to Gunter somehow in the store sheâd always felt was enchanted.
Sheâd been twenty-three when heâd first brought merchandise to her familyâs store in place of his father. His grandparents were the original creators of the world-famous Braunschweig nutcrackers and wooden pyramids. His dark blond good looks and blue eyes had captivated her and theyâd fallen in love. Within the year they were married.
Theyâd had a wedding reception here in Providence with all her family and friends. His family had held another one for them in Germany. It had been a picture-perfect wedding for both sets of families.
No one could have foreseen the crash that took Andreaâs husband. In one moment sheâd lost him as well as her ability to conceive. Never would she have a child with him. Never would she have a child of her own body. A sob escaped her.
Donât dwell on that right now, Andrea.
After checking the thermostat to make sure the shop was warm enough, she walked out back to start unpacking the boxes from their suppliers that had arrived yesterday afternoon. In the first one she discovered an exquisitely made Braunschweig wooden rocking chair and put the price tag on it.
Without hesitation she carried it through the shop to the window and set it next to the decorated Christmas tree that was part of the Santaâs workshop display. The chair needed something special. She had dozens of dolls, floppy elves and Christmas angels. Any one of them would look cute sitting in it. She would have to think about it while she finished unpacking.
âOh!â she cried when she opened the last box and found a three-foot-tall gingerbread boy. It was made of dark chocolate-colored dotted Swiss fabric. A red, green and gold plaid ribbon was tied around his neck at a jaunty angle with a little golden bell hanging down.
He had large, shiny blue buttons for eyes, round pink felt cheeks and an impish smiley mouth done in red ribbon as if to say, âYou can run and run as fast as you can, but you canât catch me. Iâm the gingerbread man.â The body was outlined in white bric-a-brac trim.
âYouâre so perfect I canât believe it!â She attached the price tag to it. âIf Gunter hadnât had that accident, weâd have a little boy or girl who would love you as much as I do.â Tears stung her eyes as sorrow overwhelmed her.