Approximately Yours (North Pole, Minnesota #3)(26)

But Holly had impressed Danny, too, in a way. He couldn’t see her work from where he was sitting during the competition, but he could tell she’d been pushing hard, trying her best not to let Elda down. That took guts to stand next to her more talented cousin and try her best, even though her best was, honestly, pretty terrible.

He glanced over at Elda, who was still standing behind their table, talking to Dinesh, while Holly had flitted off somewhere.

Elda was definitely gorgeous. She was, as Brian was quick to point out, one of the most beautiful girls who’d ever stepped foot in North Pole. And she liked him. She was smart and well-read. She liked history and architecture.

Elda was obviously the perfect girl for him. If someone were to ask Danny to make a list of the most important traits he’d want in a girlfriend, they’d all add up to Elda. The two of them just needed the chance to spend some time alone, without the distraction of Holly.

The room buzzed with life as the other contestants, their friends and families, and the gaggle of tourists who lined the walls chatted and laughed while the judges made their way around the room. When the trio of judges stopped at Danny’s table to evaluate his work, he held his breath, scared to look at them. Giving nothing away, the mayor and his judge buddies whispered “Mmm-hmms” and “Uh-huhs” as they lifted up each cookie and examined Danny’s piping. A few moments later, they’d moved on to Elda’s table, and Danny finally exhaled.

Elda, totally poised and cheerful, smiled at the judges as they came over. She shook their hands and greeted them with a warm hello. From his spot against the wall, Elda’s brother Sal clapped like a trained seal. “Team Page!” he shouted. Elda chuckled.

Danny had to do something nice for her, to thank her for the Take 5 bars.

The perfect idea came to him like a million little Christmas lights blinking on; even though the judging for this round wasn’t over yet, Danny considered bolting straight out of the restaurant and running home as fast as his crutches could carry him.

About a year ago, Elda’s grandmother had given Danny an old, tattered book on architecture, specifically famous Midwestern buildings, since she knew Danny had an interest in the subject. She’d told him then that one of her granddaughters was also well-versed in the subject, which was probably why she’d been so good at the gingerbread contest.

Danny still had the book, along with some other magazines she’d given him over the years. He’d return them to Elda today, accompanied by a romantic invite—he’d buy tickets for the North Pole architecture tour. It’d be the perfect first date.

He glanced over at Elda again. The judges had left her table by now, and she was back to chatting with Dinesh. The two of them were laughing about something. A sour feeling settled in Danny’s stomach. Anxiety, that’s all this was. Giddy nerves and excitement manifesting themselves as sickness. He was about to ask out his dream girl. It was a very good thing, no matter what his gut was trying to tell him.

The mayor and the other judges went to the middle of the floor, and everyone around the room stood up straighter as the mayor started speaking. “We saw so many delicious looking gingerbread people on these tables today. The spirit of Christmas, as always, is alive and well in North Pole.” The mayor’s eyes twinkled as he surveyed the room. “But enough sappiness. Let’s get to the scores.” He glanced down at the paper in his hands. “In third place so far, Ms. Tinka Foster.”

Tinka jumped up and down, squealing, as Sam tried to wrap her in a hug. Tinka was off to a good start. Their scores in this round carried over into the second and third.

Danny’s palms were sweating. He’d never lost this round before. Never ever. Ever.

“In second place,” the mayor said, “Elda and Holly Page. Your grandma would be proud.”

Elda high-fived Dinesh at the table next to her, and Danny’s eyes swooped around the room, instinctively hunting for Holly. She was standing over by the punch bowl, ladling herself a cup of eggnog. She glanced up as if she felt Danny’s eyes on her. She didn’t smile. In fact, she scowled and looked away.

The sickening dread in his stomach was gone, replaced by tingly excitement and disappointment. He hated that she looked at him with such distaste, like she didn’t think he was good enough for Elda or something, like she saw right through him and was completely disenchanted. He desperately wanted to change her mind.

Mayor Sandoval continued, “In first place is…ho, ho, ho! Danny Garland, the comeback kid!”

The crowd cheered loudly for him as Danny accepted a certificate of achievement from the mayor. This gingerbread contest was supposed to be the thing that fixed all his problems, but all he felt was numb.

…

Holly rubbed her temples. “Okay. Maybe we should put this on hold and practice the gingerbread houses instead.” She plucked her pencil and sketch pad out of Elda’s hands and tossed them aside. Elda really, really, really wanted to help Holly with their sketches for the showstopper, but—and it pained Holly to even think this—Elda sucked at gingerbread. Not only had she been awful while piping the frosting earlier today during round one, but she didn’t appear to have an artistic bone in her body. She kept trying to add different ornaments to the sketches that’d completely throw off the balance of the entire showstopper.

Elda popped yet another gumdrop into her mouth, even though Holly had asked her repeatedly to stop eating all their candy. They’d already lost three bags of Skittles to Aunt Vixi’s kids, who had not been deterred by Holly’s threatening note. “This gingerbread thing is hard work, huh?”