Christmas In The Cove. Carol Ross

Aubrey corrected. Being a rescue swimmer might be one of the toughest jobs in the Coast Guard, but there was no way she could do it without her crew. Yesterday’s rescue had gone smoothly. Aside from Eli being deployed to assist her, she was feeling good about it.

      Upon returning to base, she’d tried not to glare at Eli as she’d discussed the rescue with her team. She’d learned that after being rolled by the wave and hit by debris, coupled with the amount of time both she and the survivor had been in the water, the crew’s concern had escalated. The decision had been made to send down another swimmer, in this case Eli. She understood, yet it troubled her just the same.

      Because it was Eli. She couldn’t help but wonder how hard he had pushed for it.

      Even though as kids they’d both been wild and adventurous, and often competitive with one another, he’d always had an overly cautious streak where she was concerned. Trying to protect her, help her, save her. She couldn’t stop wondering exactly what had happened on that helo.

      She’d been tempted to ask Jay, but didn’t want to give away the fact that she and Eli had any kind of romantic past. It wasn’t relevant and she didn’t need to be ribbed about it. Or have anyone thinking she was receiving special treatment. Anxiety bubbled within her at the thought. She needed to put it out of her mind for now and focus on the task at hand.

      “You’re going to take a nap? Right,” Nina drawled wryly. Nina had been living with her for almost a year now and knew that she didn’t do naps. Aubrey powered through fatigue, shaking it off like a beesting or a twisted ankle.

      She couldn’t help but be touched by her sisters’ concern, but enough already. She lifted her arms and held them aloft. “You guys, please stop worrying. I promise it was no big deal. Just another day at the office. Did you count these books?”

      Nina answered, “Yes, I’ve counted them several times. You love using that office line, don’t you?”

      Aubrey shrugged a shoulder and grinned. “I do.” She couldn’t help it. She loved that her “office” was the ocean. She loved her job, too. She was proud of what she and her fellow Coasties accomplished on a daily basis.

      “Okay, but I could have handled this work party, you know?”

      “Of course I know that,” Aubrey said. And she could have. But Aubrey needed everything to be perfect. “What kind of an example would that be setting for the rest of the team if I bailed in this crucial time?”

      Camile snorted. “The team? The Christmas committee is a team? Do you even know how much you sound like Dad right now?” Camile had only returned home from college a few days ago for winter break, so this was the first Christmas committee meeting she’d been able to attend.

      She deepened her voice and added an uncanny impersonation of their father. “‘To expect commitment and one-hundred-percent effort from your team members, a good leader needs to be an example.’”

      In tandem, she and Nina burst into laughter.

      Aubrey couldn’t help but grin herself. “Thank you,” she said, even though they all knew it wasn’t really a compliment. The sisters disagreed on the effectiveness of their now-retired Coast Guard father’s parenting techniques as they’d been growing up. Aubrey had hung on his every word while doing her level best to emulate him. Nina had not. Camile had fallen somewhere in the middle.

      Aubrey looked down at her clipboard. “How are we doing with the goodies?”

      Nina flipped a page in her own notebook. “Two hundred and twenty-six Baggies—three pieces of saltwater taffy per bag for a total of six hundred and seventy-eight pieces. Two hundred and thirteen pouches of roasted almonds and three hundred string cheese sticks.”

      “Perfect.”

      “Ah, yes, almonds and cheese, those most traditional of holiday treats,” Camile drawled sarcastically. “Couldn’t we have scored some fudge or a frosted sugar cookie or something? You know that June, the owner of Bakery-by-the-Sea, is a friend of mine, right? She makes the prettiest cookies.”

      “I know, and that’s a sweet offer. But we have plenty of candy with the taffy. Why not take the opportunity to show kids that healthy foods can be treats, too? Sandpiper Nut Roasters donated the almonds. Cove Aged Cheeses donated the cheese. And Salmon Crackers made the crackers’ whole-grain deliciousness. It’s good stuff. And tucked into these little stockings that Mom’s quilt club made? Not only are the kids going to love them, they’re going to be a hit with the contest judges—a super-high scorer.”

      Each event would be attended by a member from DeBolt Realty’s judging panel. Input from attendees would be encouraged and factored into the final scoring, as well.

      Events included everything from Christmas concerts and plays to fancy dinners and wine-and-cheese tastings—anything that would “generate a feeling of community and holiday enthusiasm.” Scores were based on creativity, attendance, execution and Christmas spirit.

      “Whole-grain crackers?” Camile shot a horrified look at Nina. “Next thing you know, she’s going to be passing out those little boxes of raisins on Halloween. She’ll be that house...”

      Nina reached out and placed a hand on Camile’s shoulder. With exaggerated solemnity she said, “Camile, honey, I hate to tell you this, but she’s already that house. I begged her, but... She passed out protein bars this year.”

      “They were chocolate chip!” Aubrey protested. “Plenty of sugar in there to constitute a treat, but the protein and fiber mixed with the sugar helps to prevent that blood sugar crash that no parent wants their child to be subjected to.”

      “Protein bars?” Camile pressed her fingers against her temples. “And her house didn’t get egged?”

      “I’m sure it was only because everyone in the neighborhood knows she’s Coast Guard. Most of them also know she’s Captain Brian Wynn’s daughter.” She added a slow, sad head shake. “But I’m afraid that will only shield her for so long before—”

      Aubrey rolled her eyes. “You are both hilarious. I will admit they weren’t that popular with the trick-or-treaters. Next year I’m thinking about fruit cups. Now, can we get back on track? Our volunteers should be showing up any minute now. I want to have everything ready so we can start stuffing these stockings. I need to win this thing.”

      When Aubrey had heard about the competition, she’d pounced on the opportunity, teaming up with Mayor Jack Hobbes as co-chair. The mayor was on a quest to attract wealthy tourists as well as new property-tax-paying residents to Pacific Cove. Aubrey wanted Pacific Cove to win the community improvement money. The town council had agreed to a deal where the bulk of the prize money would go to a project that was dear to her heart, the refurbishment of Pacific Cove’s swimming pool. Their combined efforts would bring exposure to the town and its businesses and, if things went smoothly, would also save the pool in the process.

      “So, who’s going to be your Santa?” Camile asked as she scooped up a box of taffy and set it off to one side. In addition to her position as co-chair, Aubrey had taken the lead on this fun-for-the-family event, “A Visit with Santa.”

      “Pete Stahl has committed to doing it. Isn’t that perfect? He even looks like Santa.”

      “He’s a great choice. And I do like the books,” Camile said, opening a cardboard box to reveal a collection of holiday titles for kids. “And the coupons for bowling at Fast Lanes and free admission to Saturday Swim at the pool. I can see what you’re trying to accomplish here. Not only is a visit with Santa family friendly, so are these activities.”

      “Not to mention, she’s drawing attention to the plight of her pool,” Nina added.

      “You guys can stop trying to appease me. I’m confident.”

      “Isn’t she always?” Nina added, exchanging a smile with Camile.

      Camile laughed. “I can see how jumping from helicopters and dangling from