Chapter Seven

''Well, all I can say is, hope you like BBQ sauce, ''says Liam, smirking,'' my family owns a Barbecue restaurant in San Francisco, so it's tough not to, ''says Hazel smiling and probably feeling the best she has in a very long time. Secondly, she misjudged this town, that's for sure, which is why she has heard the saying'' you can't judge a book by its cover'' nor could she just this place by its cover and Hazel was also wrong about this town. You can tell that everyone in this town cares about one another and is always there to lend a helping hand whenever a neighbor needs something. Plus, when the sheriff invites you over to his parent's house on the same day that he meets you. Mostly lets you near his child and family without even questioning it?

'' Oh really, guess I will be planning a trip to San Francisco to see whose is better, ''says Liam. However, he adds something that gives his sauce and a sweet yet savory flavor,'' that almost sounds like a competition. Maybe you Browns are more competitive than I thought you all were, or perhaps you are more like your dad. Then you thought you were ''says Hazel; Liam then thinks about it and is about to speak when ''good morning everyone can we have Sheriff Liam Brown to the stage please?'' asks Mayor Moore into the microphone.'' That's my cue ''says Liam, not wanting to head on stage, mostly to stay right here and continue talking to Hazel. However, being right now is killing but not going on that stage is letting Zoey down. Usually, it's him standing in the crowd with Thomas on his shoulders while watching his wife on the rostrum.

'' You can do this babe, I'm right here with you, ''says Zoey as she appears right next to him.No one can see her but him, which makes it look as he is talking to himself. When talking to his wife's spirit,'' this doesn't feel right me going on that stage when it is supposed to be you ''says Liam.''Babe, this is your big moment, although I do have one question though? Do you like this Hazel girl?'' asks Zoey curiously wondering who this mystery woman is around her two men?''Honestly, I don't know, and it's strange, but when I am talking to Hazel. It's almost as I am talking to you ''says Liam, admitting why he likes talking to Hazel. That wasn't though the whole truth, but it's also too early to tell since he only met her yesterday, plus yesterday just being a year since the anniversary of when he lost his wife. Even though he is not cheating, it almost feels as he is.

''Once he gets up on the rostrum,'' alright, now that we have Liam here, everyone is ready to see what Liam Brown has planned for us. Today is his first year taking over as the coordinator for our town's 90 th Maple Festival. Let's see if he can better than our lovely Zoey, who unfortunately passed away a year ago yesterday & whose great-grandmother Margaret started our annual festival in 1920''says Mayor Moore. Enthusiastically clapping his hands which makes a sound effect in the mic '' thank you, Mayor Moore. I know that this year is different without my lovely wife. Still, her picture is over by the Maple tarts since she has been the judge of the Peppermint Winter Baking Competition, and I will be taste testing what our contents will be making for us today. Also, he will be announcing the Gingerbread House Competition winner, ''says Liam as he then sees Zoey in the crowd smiling & cheering him on, whispering, ''I knew you could do it''.Honestly, though, seeing her spirit in the crowds makes him miss her even more deeply, which almost makes it to where his heart is shattering into a million pieces to where he almost cannot even breathe. His heart is pounding; it wasn't supposed to be like this, not yet. Never once did Liam ever picture himself thirty-eight already widowed. Hopefully, today helps him by feeling closer to the love of his life. Or it could crush him by being around something that she was passionate about. Everything about this festival reminds him of her in every way. It's a family day that meant so much to her, sharing and passing on years of traditions of the past three generations of Davis woman, which hopefully Thomas will continue it on. However, now that she is gone? Will he carry on the traditions?

''Bubba''calls Avery walking up to her son as he goes down the rostrum stairs.''Hey, momma, when did you and dad get here? I didn't see you in the crowd?'' wonders Liam, curiously relieved to see his family there to support because at the moment he is barely holding it together.''No, we were watching just were more to the back. She would've been proud of you ''says Avery, seeing how much he is hurting and that her baby boy is hanging by a thread by how much being here right now without her here.''I miss her so much, momma ''says Liam, not telling anyone that he has been seeing his wife or talking to her. The last thing that he would want to be known as is the widowed sheriff of Peppermint who sees the spirit of his dead late wife.''I know you do; I also know that Zoey wouldn't want you nor Thomas to blame yourselves for her death. There was nothing you or he could've done to make anything different. None of us would have known by picking Thomas up from a sleepover would be at the end of her life?'' tells Avery. She wants her son and grandson to move on from this but mostly her son because if they don't, neither one of them will be happy in life.'' I should find Tom and start judging the Winter Baking Competition''says Liam walking away from his mom with a smile on his face when breaking on the inside.

''Is he alright?'' asks Hazel walking up to Avery curiously since she had seen him down yesterday but nothing compared to this?''Unfortunately, no, and I wish that he would be honest with himself on how he is genuinely feeling instead of brushing it off all the time. I suggested for him to attend a Grief group maybe to talk his feelings about losing her but always that I'm fine and don't need to ''explains Avery to Hazel. Missing the person he used to be, there used to be a twinkle of spark in his eye; when Zoey left, she took his spark of joy with her.''Could I talk to him about it? Maybe I can get through to Liam about the idea of opening up how he is feeling in Grief group?'' offers Hazel. Mainly with the fact that she can quickly get him to open up on how he has been feeling the past year with her gone.''Are you sure? I wouldn't want to inconvenience you? says Avery, not wanting to drag a stranger into their family issues. However, Hazel has grown closer to her son, is she a stranger either.''' I don't mind at all; he and I have this connection with one another through the loss of losing someone that we both deeply cared about' 'tells Hazel. Somewhat relieving how she got him to start opening up.''Then yes, please mention the idea about joining a Grief group ''says Avery.

When Liam searches for his little buddy and catches him red-handed, reaching for another Maple cupcake hints at the crumbs all around his mouth. Confirming that this is his second trip to the dessert stand.''Freeze, put your little hands in the air where I can see them, ''says Liam catching his little boy in the action of being a cupcake thief. Thomas then steps away from the cupcake and puts his little hands in the air, realizing he isn't as sneaky as he thought he was. With either parent to mention when your dad is the sheriff.'' No more treats until after, okay ''says Liam crouching down to Thomas's level. Tom looks at his dad and points down to his dry erase board, asking if he can put his arms down since he still isn't speaking.''Yes, you may put your arms down and grab your dry erase board, but no more cupcakes, ''says Liam smiling, unable to keep a stern face with his little buddy. Tom shows his daddy the board,'' if I don't have another cupcake, can I help you judge the Winter Bake-off?'' writes Thomas, which he used to do with his mommy.''Absolutely ''says an excited Liam to create new memories with his son while still looking back at old memories.

''The first contestant for the Bake-off is right here from Peppermint, Vermont; we have Holly Brown from Candy Cane Cafe making their famous Maple Tarts,'' says Mayor Moore. After they have announced the next to contestants, it's time for Sheriff Liam Brown to taste each of their treats.

''After judge, Liam has tasted the Maple Tart, Snowball cookie, and Gingerbread man, it's time to announce the winner as Liam hands it to Mayor Moore, and the winner is for the 10 th year; in a row, The Candy Cane cafe ''tells Mayor Moore.'Before mayor Moore judges the Gingerbread house competition, we have something new this year at Santa's workshop. You are now able to have your very own gnome. That money also goes towards the Peppermint Children's Hospital, which is another thing that my wife loved. This festival helps give something to children who need it, and that is treatment ''says Liam, proud of how they are still helping sick children in need every year.

Thomas listens to his dad and realizes he can't enter his Gingerbread house in the contest since he and his grandpa never finished their's last night. His smile then turns to a frown; he let his grandpa down. After his dad finishes speaking, all of the teams place their houses on their tables; Tom just stares at the blank space. Just like the empty spot in his heart without his mom here.'' Team Brown, where is your Gingerbread house?'' asks Mayor Moore, as Liam is smiling because he can't wait to see the look on his little boy's face. When he finds out that he has something to enter in the competition after all.''We don't have anything ''says Jeremy as Thomas then just shakes his head.''You do,'' says Hazel walking up to them carrying their completed Gingerbread house. Thomas then starts to write on his dry erase board,'' you did this all for me, ''writes Thomas. Ecstatic while jumping up and down because he can't believe that Hazel did this for him, and by how tired she looks, she probably stayed up all night to finish this.''Your welcome. I knew how much this meant to me, so. I decided to take it upon myself and finish it myself ''says Hazel, glad that she could help.

Now that Mayor Moore has seen all of the Team's houses, it's time to announce the winner of this year's Gingerbread House Contest.''Okay, and the winner of this year's winner is Team Brown''says, Mayor Moore.