Christmas Retreat Read Online Free PDF Page A

She found a small wooden plaque and smiled. It read 'Sometimes what you are seeking is right in front of you.' She caught a glimpse of the curly haired woman with thick glasses and followed her back to her register. “Can I pay for this here?” asked Sidney as she set the plaque down on the counter.
                  “Yes, honey. Of course. I rarely get customers back here. Most people don't even know this register's here. I'm glad to help.”
                  “I'll take this, too,” said Sidney as she grabbed a twenty-dollar gift card.
                  “Sure. No problem,” said the woman as she rang up her items.
                  By the time Baxter returned, she had a bag full of poinsettias. “Whatcha got there?” asked Baxter when she saw Sidney with her items already paid for in a bag in her hands.
                  “I bought my secret Santa gift,” said Sidney.
                  “Secret Santa! I forgot all about that. I better get something.” Baxter looked around and her eyes fell upon a ceramic teddy bear bank. It came complete with two small brushes and three small plastic containers of paint. “Let me pay for this real quick. I'll be right back.”
                  Baxter hurried off towards the back where the curly haired woman eagerly helped her. When she returned with all of her bags, Sidney smiled. “Why is it that you have a giant back of poinsettias?”
                  “The flower lady was convincing,” said Baxter. “She insisted that I should buy some for the cabin.”
                  “How did she know about the retreat?”
                  “I guess I let it slip out,” said Baxter. “The next thing I knew she was telling me how great they'd look around the Christmas tree in the cabin, and I was paying for a few handfuls at her register.”
                  Sidney laughed. “We better get back to the bus before the picture frame guy convinces you to buy a house full of eight-by-tens and eleven-by-seventeen poster frames.”
                  The two young women laughed as they exited the store and headed back to the bus where the other women were already boarding.
                  When the bus pulled up near the cabin, everyone was bouncing with energy and joy. All the women were eager to wrap their secret Santa gifts. They headed into the lobby where Olivia and Patty took out the scissors, wrapping paper, tape, tags, and bows. Baxter ran upstairs to hide her gift to Sidney while Sidney placed her gift to Baxter underneath the tree.
                  As soon as Baxter starting coming back downstairs, Olivia came out from behind the kitchen door. “Okay everyone. Supper's ready! We're having ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, macaroni and cheese, and steamed vegetables. Don't forget to get your fresh buttered rolls and either coffee or iced tea.”
                  Baxter ran to the front of the line and Sidney ran up to join her. “I had to run up before the tray of rolls disappeared into someone's purse,” whispered Baxter.
                  “Sh! She'll hear you,” said Sidney. They both looked around to look for Elaine but she was sitting by the fireplace still trying to wrap an oddly shaped gift. She appeared frustrated and the wrapping paper was crinkled.
                  Baxter fixed an extra plate of food and walked on over to Elaine and sat beside her. “I can wrap that for you if you want. I brought you a plate of food.”
                  “Aw, that was so nice of you. I just couldn't get it right and I didn't want to eat until I could put it under the tree.”
                  “I'm sure no one would mind if you placed it under the tree just the way it is,” said Sidney as she sat down next to Baxter. She placed her plate of food on her lap and set her iced tea