Catherine Nicolai

But she was ready for a bit of company, for the house to hum with life again, for the good scents of coffee cake and scones to rise up from the kitchen, and for guests to come and celebrate the end of one year. and the beginning of another.

But she was ready for a bit of company, for the house to hum with life again, for the good scents of coffee cake and scones to rise up from the kitchen, and for guests to come and celebrate the end of one year. and the beginning of another.

But she was ready for a bit of company, for the house to hum with life again, for the good scents of coffee cake and scones to rise up from the kitchen, and for guests to come and celebrate the end of one year. and the beginning of another.

She set her boxes of decorations down at the foot of the staircase and pulled her overcoat from the hook in the front office and went out to help Chef with the food. They embraced in the cold air and caught up as they carried the food and wine down the long hallway and into the kitchen. Chef had been traveling, as they always did during the off-season.

She set her boxes of decorations down at the foot of the staircase and pulled her overcoat from the hook in the front office and went out to help Chef with the food. They embraced in the cold air and caught up as they carried the food and wine down the long hallway and into the kitchen. Chef had been traveling, as they always did during the off-season.

She set her boxes of decorations down at the foot of the staircase and pulled her overcoat from the hook in the front office and went out to help Chef with the food. They embraced in the cold air and caught up as they carried the food and wine down the long hallway and into the kitchen. Chef had been traveling, as they always did during the off-season.

Some of it for rest and vacation, and some to cook in other kitchens. They'd been somewhere sunny and warm, and after the holidays were headed to a ski chalet for the rest of the winter. In the boxes were jars of beautiful green olives, packets of pine nuts, bags of red onions, and sleeves of fancy crisp crackers.

Some of it for rest and vacation, and some to cook in other kitchens. They'd been somewhere sunny and warm, and after the holidays were headed to a ski chalet for the rest of the winter. In the boxes were jars of beautiful green olives, packets of pine nuts, bags of red onions, and sleeves of fancy crisp crackers.

Some of it for rest and vacation, and some to cook in other kitchens. They'd been somewhere sunny and warm, and after the holidays were headed to a ski chalet for the rest of the winter. In the boxes were jars of beautiful green olives, packets of pine nuts, bags of red onions, and sleeves of fancy crisp crackers.

The innkeeper recognized the ingredients for Chef's fancy green olive pâté that they served as past appetizers for their guests. There were lots of other things, too. They'd be making a few big meals and afternoon teas and breakfast over the week or so that the inn was full.

The innkeeper recognized the ingredients for Chef's fancy green olive pâté that they served as past appetizers for their guests. There were lots of other things, too. They'd be making a few big meals and afternoon teas and breakfast over the week or so that the inn was full.

The innkeeper recognized the ingredients for Chef's fancy green olive pâté that they served as past appetizers for their guests. There were lots of other things, too. They'd be making a few big meals and afternoon teas and breakfast over the week or so that the inn was full.

Chef would make a gingerbread inn that would sit on the entryway table and plates of their dark chocolate truffles with flakes of sea salt on top. She left Chef to their work and got back to decorating. She was dusting the reindeer and setting them in a scene on the long mantle above the fireplace. when she realized music would make her work a little merrier.

Chef would make a gingerbread inn that would sit on the entryway table and plates of their dark chocolate truffles with flakes of sea salt on top. She left Chef to their work and got back to decorating. She was dusting the reindeer and setting them in a scene on the long mantle above the fireplace. when she realized music would make her work a little merrier.

Chef would make a gingerbread inn that would sit on the entryway table and plates of their dark chocolate truffles with flakes of sea salt on top. She left Chef to their work and got back to decorating. She was dusting the reindeer and setting them in a scene on the long mantle above the fireplace. when she realized music would make her work a little merrier.

They had a fancy sound system with speakers in all the common rooms, but she also kept a turntable on the desk by the window, and in the boxes she'd brought down were a few holiday albums in cardboard sleeves. She took one out, holding it carefully along its edges with her fingertips, and spun it to read the list of songs on each side.

They had a fancy sound system with speakers in all the common rooms, but she also kept a turntable on the desk by the window, and in the boxes she'd brought down were a few holiday albums in cardboard sleeves. She took one out, holding it carefully along its edges with her fingertips, and spun it to read the list of songs on each side.

They had a fancy sound system with speakers in all the common rooms, but she also kept a turntable on the desk by the window, and in the boxes she'd brought down were a few holiday albums in cardboard sleeves. She took one out, holding it carefully along its edges with her fingertips, and spun it to read the list of songs on each side.

They were old, jazzy versions, sung by crooners and sirens, and she set it on the player and flipped the switch to start it turning. she laid the needle carefully into the groove and listened to the piano and horns and jingle bells as she looked at the cover art.

They were old, jazzy versions, sung by crooners and sirens, and she set it on the player and flipped the switch to start it turning. she laid the needle carefully into the groove and listened to the piano and horns and jingle bells as she looked at the cover art.