Spoonful of Christmas Read Online Free PDF

His first thought was that he’d find his mother. But he didn’t know where she was and doubted money would make a difference. “I guess I’d . . . have a good time.”
    “Let’s see if we can have a good time now,” Jake said and nodded to his music store friend. “Ready?”
    M AX HAD NEVER jammed with old people before, but for a couple of guys in their thirties, Jake and his friend weren’t half bad. And the drum set they’d allowed him to play was awesome, so awesome he was quick to express his thanks.
    “Anytime,” the store owner replied.
    Max thanked Mia’s stepdad, too. Mia was right; Jake was fun. And he didn’t hound him with stupid questions. Max took a step toward his bike, wishing he didn’t have to go back.
    “Hey, Max,” Jake called and stuck a thumb toward the restaurant on the corner. “Are you hungry?”
    Starving. Okay, maybe he could hang with the old guy a little longer. At least until after lunch.
    Max grinned, his mouth already watering from the smell of charbroiled hamburgers and French fries. “You buying?”
    A NDI SWAYED HER hips as she danced around the kitchen of Creative Cupcakes to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and now, her personal favorite—“Home for the Holidays.”
    She measured out a spoonful of sugar into one bowl, a spoonful of lemon extract into another, and a spoonful of almond cream into a third. Then she took a tray of gingerbread molasses cupcakes out of the oven, slid it onto one of the multilevel wire racks to cool, and carried another tray through the double doors to the front counter.
    “I’ve got the phone,” Rachel called, as it rang for the millionth time that afternoon. “A dozen sugarplum cupcakes?”
    Two of their college employees, Heather and Theresa, whisked past in their new, bright red aprons, which had been ordered for the Christmas season.
    “Coming through with a batch of cinnamon spice,” Theresa warned, carrying the tray to the back table, where Kim was decorating with fondant and different colored food gels.
    Behind Andi, the double doors to the kitchen reopened, and Eric, their third college-age employee, poked his head out. “Where’s Mike with the Cupcake Mobile? I’ve boxed up ten more orders ready for delivery.”
    “He’ll be back soon,” Rachel informed him, hanging up the phone. “Make sure the packaged mixes of brandy butter-cream frosting are ready to be dropped off for shipping.”
    “Andi,” Heather said, “there’s a customer to see you.”
    She put down the tray of rum ball cupcakes she intended to load into the glass display case and approached the elderly lady who waited for her. “Bernice! How are you?”
    “Rachel’s busy, so I wanted to give you this,” she said, handing her a box wrapped in Santa print Christmas paper. “It’s from me and Rachel’s grandpa Lewy.”
    “A gift?” Andi took out the ceramic cupcake-shaped frame with a picture of Rachel, Kim, and her inside. In the photo they were wearing pink bandanas over their hair and pink aprons over their clothes with “Creative Cupcakes” embroidered across the front. “This was taken when we bought the building.”
    Her heart quickened thinking of that special day. It had been a milestone in their journey to open the cupcake shop and fulfill their dreams.
    “It’s to remind you that some things in life are more important than money.” Bernice patted her hand. “What you girls have here is special, and you were right to turn down the offer from that businessman.”
    “Thank you, Bernice. I’ll put it in the hutch here for everyone to see.”
    A short while later after Bernice had left, Andi and Kim’s father, William Burke, entered the shop. “Glad to see you didn’t quit when you got so busy.”
    Andi stiffened at the sound of his dry, begrudging tone. Old habits were hard to overcome.
    “Of course we didn’t quit,” she said, forcing a smile. “We aren’t quitters.”
    “Not anymore,” her