Snowflakes and Coffee Cakes Read Online Free

scarecrows. Brooke tucks hers in her denim jacket pocket as they cross the street. “Let’s stop on The Green, I brought us something to eat.”
    They settle on a garden bench with their pumpkin spice lattes to-go and Brooke reaches into a large tote, her French braid falling over her shoulder. She pulls out a plastic tray of mini cinnamon-crumb coffee cakes.
    “Employed or not, I can count on you to keep me fed, regardless,” Vera says as she peels the lid off her coffee.
    Brooke hands her two cakes and a napkin. “I just don’t get what you’re doing, Vera. You need a job, and fast now. It’s been so long since you had a paycheck come in.”
    “No kidding,” Vera says around a mouthful of the coffee cake. “And you’ll be happy to know money is on its way because I’ve lined up freelance assignments with the Addison Weekly .” She nudges her sister’s arm, pointing to the medical building nearby. A scarecrow doctor clad in a white jacket holds a stethoscope to a worried looking patient, her straw hair standing on end. “One of which is a profile of the Annual Scarecrow Competition.”
    “Really? You’ve gone from Boston news to Addison scarecrows? I don’t know, Vera. The longer you’re away from journalism, the more out of touch you’ll be with the field. I’m worried about you.”
    “Well I’ll get paid for this piece, so don’t worry too much.”
    “Come on, how much can they pay you? You’re kind of slumming it a little. Because there’s no way freelancing for the town newspaper will cover your bills.”
    “I’ve got a few leads I’m following up on. And I was thinking of renting out my barn. Lots of people need that kind of storage space, so it’ll help until something breaks.”
    “The barn, the house. I’m sorry, but it’s all kind of a dump and it seems like you’re in way over your head. I still don’t understand why you want to renovate it instead of move into a nice townhouse, maybe?”
    Vera sips her hot coffee, letting her sister ramble while talking with her hands, a turquoise-ringed finger hammering home a point. Vera stopped listening somewhere around townhouse. Because she’s done the whole condo thing already. And really, what did Brooke know about being single and unemployed, when you’ll take any comfort you can find, even if it’s only in the hope of what can be? Her vision of her big colonial dream home hasn’t wavered, even though her checkbook is beginning to.
    “Tell me you’re at least thinking of flipping that house to help pay off your college loans.” Brooke stands and they cross to Main Street, stopping in front of the elementary school to rate the teacher scarecrow writing at a portable chalkboard. “Did you ever think about teaching?” Brooke asks as she rates the school display on her ballot. “Like maybe a journalism class at the community college?”
    Vera considers the teacher scarecrow with a bandana around its neck and a couple old-fashioned wooden desks set out behind her. “Two-stars to your suggestion. And four to the display,” she says as she notes her voting ballot.
    They walk on in the late September sunlight, approaching a New York Yankees batter facing off a Boston Red Sox pitcher, the mini-stadium set up in front of Joel’s Bar and Grille. The Yankee player’s arms are overstuffed with straw, ready to hit the ball out of the park. Vera lifts her sunglasses on top of her head. “Oh now this one is fun. There’s definitely going to be a rivalry in the votes here.” She discreetly notes her five-star Yankee rating with a Go Yankees addendum.
    “Hey look, it’s me and Brett.” Brooke nudges her arm as they near Wedding Wishes. Bride and groom scarecrows stand side-by-side in the afternoon sunlight, the bride wearing a cream pleated gown and a birdcage veil similar to the one Brooke wore. Satin gloves are tucked on the end of the bride’s straw arms. They see Amy through the shop window and give her display a thumbs-up, and