《The Christmas At Snow Valley》 Prologue
To perceive Christmas through its wrapping becomes more difficult with every year. ¨C E.B. White,The Second Tree from the Corner
Wreath on the door, enough food on the table, and a cute Christmas Tree in the family room. What can one ask for more during Christmas? Maybe a girlfriend? The weather was changing. Nashville a small town, with few people, was more alive than any other town in the entire US. Simple people, simple living. How can someone be alone on Christmas eve? The family is celebrating, couples have gathered around the fire to listen to old Christmas Horror tales of the town, and children are having their unlimited mocha. The streets of Nashville were filled with snow. All around was heavy, knee-length snow, covering the sheds of the houses, the perfect garden that Aunt Angie took months to grow, and now the cars. Most of the store has been closed except for a few. Those were Christmas stores, toy stores, and cake shops. Even cafes were blistering with life at night. The outside of the shops was decorated with Christmas themes, their welcome mats had a reindeer which they all bought from the same Nashville store. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. All parents¡¯ gave a festive touch to their children¡¯s room and had a big snowman in their backyard. One can hear Christmas music coming from far away shops, also the streets were glittering with red and green Christmas lights. People were pulling out their old Christmas recipes. A beautiful Red Hat Cupcake with a tall swirling mound of red frosting and a little white on the top. The tall and dome-shaped Panettone is light and airy in its texture and rich buttery in taste. And the favorite of all, Nashville Fruitcake with coconut ¡ª lemon frosting. Mr. Sharks, the most famous baker in the entire town is confused. Which one will be best for her customers this Christmas?Cinnamon Coffee Cake? Or maybe the eye-catching Christmas Yul Log with those mocha filling and light buttery frosting on top of it? Maybe Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread cookies would be perfect? Everything has to be perfect. After all, it¡¯s the most wonderful time of the year! Everyone was happy in this festive season. Everyone around was having their happy evening tea with their family, except two. The neighbors. Two Childhood friends. And now the worst enemies of one another. Belle Hoods. Tom Sharks. Since childhood, they both hated the concept of having a Christmas Wedding but soon will end up having one. We have heard a saying ¡ª What we hate the most, is the only thing we get in the end. That¡¯s what this Christmas story is about. A story about two childhood friends, and a secret they share. Love, breakup, friendship, and a little bit of despair! Chapter 1 - Belle Chapter 1 - Belle ¡°Belle, are you up there?¡± Belle turned away from the window and saw her mother walking into her room with a large tray. There was a mug of Hot Chocolate. There were some cupcakes from Sharks¡¯ Sweet Shop. ¡°I know you are angry but I think you should try this. It will make you feel better, you know that.¡± ¡°I am okay.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Mom, I am an adult now.¡± ¡°Seeing you fight with Tom last night, doesn¡¯t seem like that. Who can tell you both are 25 years old!¡± Her mom folded her hands and looked at her. Belle looked back at the luxurious moist sponge cupcake. She knows Tom made those. He was an excellent baker in the entire Nashville after all. ¡°Adults can fight. We had some issues yesterday¡­¡± Belle stopped in the middle. Belle and Tom did their schooling and their graduation from Nashville but after Belle got a job offer from one of the topmost Hotels in Brooklyn, she decided to shift to Brooklyn, without giving it a second thought. She thought it would be fun. And ¡­ Tom didn¡¯t like it at all. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°See, Belle. I know leaving this place is not easy. You have your friends, family, and grandma¡¯s cafe where you have spent your entire life.¡± Who can forget about her grandma¡¯s cafe? She and Tom used to visit her after school and Grandma would teach Tom how to bake. Belle was never interested in Baking and never knew why Tom and Grandma loved baking so much. But all she was interested in was the business side of the cafe. The accounts, the dollars, and the numbers. Everything excited her from the start. Christmas was the time, her cafe would be flourished with all sorts of creative wallpaper. She would even make their family¡¯s favorite dessert ¡ª Nashville Reindeer Cupcake, which only Tom knows how to bake. ¡°¡­ dear,¡± her mother took her hands and said, ¡°whatever you take the decision, I am with you. I want you to be that famous Businesswoman you always dreamed of. You don¡¯t have to become one like us.¡± ¡°Mom, you are getting emotional. It¡¯s Christmas..¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Cannot hold onto my tears. I am going to be saying goodbye to my only daughter. How did you grow so fast?¡± ¡°I can always come back, mom. You know that.¡± Belle hugged her mom. ¡°I know.¡± After mom left, she looked down at the cupcake. She has taken care of her mom, now what about the 25 years old, waiting for her across the street? The scrumptious Kinder Bueno cake was smooth and mouthwatering. It was tickling her taste buds. He knew this was the only thing that could put her on. She took up the courage and went to Sharks place and saw that the smoke was coming out of the chimney. It means that Tom was baking something. He likes the traditional way. He hates modern ovens. That¡¯s the reason he never left Nashville even though the famous Baker Brothers were calling him to join their company. Either Tom Sharks is too intelligent or too much of an idiot. She took a deep breath as she watched the inside of the store glowing through the window which was decorated with all sorts of Christmas-themed cupcakes ¡ª The reindeer, the snowman, the ribbons, the Santa, and the small sweet gifts decorated on the top. Maybe Tom Sharks finds it hard to connect with people emotionally but he shows his emotions well through his baking skills. ¡°When will he make those smooth and creamy Nashville Reindeer Cupcakes which often have her favorite nuts on the top?¡± she wondered. She could hear children screaming, and parents running after them. She took a deep breath. She pushed the store door and walked in. Chapter Two - Tom
Chapter Two
"We count down the days justnearlyIt is so comfortable, familiar, and perfectly nostalgic that, frankly, we have no desire to improve upon it at all
¡°You aren¡¯t angry with her. Are you? Don¡¯t get me wrong but you were not yourself yesterday. It¡¯s Christmas and it¡¯s reallywere supposed
Tom looked up at his friend Lee as he pulled the baking tray from the oven. Tom looked at the gingerbread cookies. Belle likes Miss Gingerbread with pink sprinkles on them, he thought.
¡°You should bake them more. It¡¯s undercooked,¡± Tom said as he went back to his work. Grandma¡¯s Reindeer Cupcake was in his mind. He never forgets that.
Lee pushed the tray back and snapped the door shut.
been taught to help selflessly but when it comes to his two best friends, he doesn¡¯t know what to do
¡°I bought it new, Lee.¡± Tom pointed towards the oven.
¡°Seeing both of you like this, I cannot control my anger,¡± Lee said.
¡°It¡¯s between us. It will get all right soon. Nothing new.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think that¡­¡±
What do you have to do with it?¡± Tom asked. Now irritated by the fact that Lee was again bringing up the old stuff that he wished to forget.
¡°You both are my friends. And I don¡¯t know whom to side with?¡± Lee filled his mug with coffee that he desperatelyLee already had four cups since morning, if one doesn¡¯t include two mochas that he drank in the afternoon time with Tom¡¯s father
¡°Be on hers. She is the one who started it as always.¡± Tom whipped some cream over the white cupcake. He topped it with a cherry. God, he hates cherry so much now. It reminds him of hers.
¡°Don¡¯t you think you are acting a little possessive these days?¡± Lee ran his fingers through his hair. His hair is soft, unlike Tom¡¯s curly hair.
¡°I have no idea where you get that.¡±
¡°Everyone can see that except you and Belle.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just
¡°Yeah, yeah. Say that to yourself. Try to be straight, Tom. Games won¡¯t work on Belle.¡±
Tom was about to pass the tray to his co-worker when his hands stopped in mid-air. He turned towards his friend. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±
¡°I am talking about the game you have been playing around for the past couple of days. Dude, say to her directly
¡°You don¡¯t have to shout. I already know.¡±
¡°Then I thinkis done Chapter Three - Belle "It¡¯s Christmas Eve. It¡¯s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be." ¨C Frank Cross Belle walked into the store and she was stunned by the Christmas Tree placed right in the middle of the shop. It was a Flocked Christmas tree which had ribbons all around with gnomes and elves figurines hanging. The bakery was a lovely display of white and pastels. ¡°Tom is making good money these days. How did he become so rich without me knowing?¡± Belle asked herself. She turned around and saw that the whole shop was still filled with some people. It is always hard for Mr and Mrs. Sharks to close their lovely shop early during Christmas. Ohh! She would miss this place so much! She was the only cake taster that Sharks ever had! They like her honesty. No sugar coating at all. ¡°Hey Belle!¡± She quickly cleared her eyes and turned. She saw Mr. Sharks calling her from behind the reception area. She approached him with a smile. ¡°Hello, Mr. Sharks. You have a nice Christmas tree there.¡± She pointed to the center of the bakery. ¡°Yeah, Tom wanted something big for this Christmas. He was saving money for this.¡± Mr. Sharks took the money from the customer and placed it slowly inside the drawer. ¡°Well, then that has paid off. It has attracted more customers this year.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Right. Tom often comes up with crazy ideas but this time he wanted something elegant.¡± He nodded. Elegant? That¡¯s her word! ¡°You wanna try Panettone?¡± Mr. Sharks asked. She was confused with the name at first. It was an Italian Christmas dome-shaped cake that was light and airy in texture and had a buttery taste. It was Mrs. Sharks¡¯ favorite dessert as she is from Italy. She shook her head. ¡°No, actually ¡­¡± ¡°...or maybe you will like Baked Alaska?¡± Yum..who can forget the light meringue topping? ¡°Mr. Sharks..¡± ¡°Okay, then at least try Trifle? I made it just now!¡± Mr. Sharks took a glass of Trifle and placed it on the counter, in front of her. It was a boozy British Desert that was luscious and indulgent. There were pieces of sherry-soaked cake and fruit, custard, jelly and some whipped cream on the top. ¡°Susie and I were thinking of trying our hands on one of your Grandma¡¯s favorite cupcakes. Susie still remembers the first time she tasted Irish Cream and white Chocolate tart at your cafe.¡± Belle smiled. She doesn''t like to bake but knows all the recipes her grandma told her to remember. The tart was tangy in flavor. She would always use extra double cream to balance the sweetness of the dessert. ¡°Or maybe Gingerbread Latte Tear and Share Bread?¡± Hmm..gingerbread latte with warm spiced buns¡­ ¡°We have Black Forest Mess too¡­ with Kirsch and brandy. Espresso Martini tart?¡± Belle looked at the place where Mr. Sharks were pointing. At his back was a large glass cake with new desserts for display. There was their marking dessert, Meringue Kiss Tower, dusted with edible white glitter that looked stunning at the center. The other side was placed a large bowl of Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding. And there was also one of her favorite figs, pear traditional pudding with lots of hazel nuts in them. She could see some cranberries and orange zest on the top. Her mouth was watering¡­ but she is here for.. The door opened and her nightmare began.