Here comes santa claus!

[callmeemily]

The holiday this year is so incredibly different than the last.

Last year? Raleigh was holed up in the boarding house, no one in 300 miles but her shitty boss knew her name, and she was so poor that she was eating rice, beans, and leftovers from the Seaside bakery.

This year, everything's changed. Orchard House is chugging along astoundingly well; Raleigh puts in long hours, but it's paying off. She's been able to hire somebody else to work the register, she's getting custom orders - the whole thing. She has friends. Honest to god friends, and she's got enough money that she's actually got presents for people. For a lot of people - it's a mix of cookies and things, but there's a little something for everybody piled on the table in the back corner, and one mass-text later she's humming through the bakery, music playing from the speakers, warm cider in a carafe, and everything's warm and cozy.

She looks at it, at this business that she's made with the help of this whole town, and she can't help but smile. Tonight? Spending tonight with friends and found-family? That's what this whole thing's about.

Gathering post! Raleigh will tag everyone who tags in, but feel free to tag one another, too. :) It's up to you if they have gotten a text, or just heard the music and seen the crowd. Everyone'll get something!

Comments

[starsfallen]

When Corry gets Raleigh's text, she practically jumps for the bakery. The past few days Corry has practically thrown herself into work with the Waterhouse, helping oversee the contracters to make sure they can get a break for the holidays, and doing absolutely anything she can to avoid thinking about... things. Particularly Leslie Parker and Will Cabot shaped things.

Everything in the bakery smells amazing, sweet pastry and sugar mixed with the cinnamon of cider. Corry is quite certain she wants one of everything, at least. She clearly has cause for some chocolate therapy.

But the bakery is filled with festivity and Raleigh is practically glowing and it's hard not to fall into the holiday spirit. When Corrine walks in, she picks up on Raleigh's humming and begins to sing-along before pulling her into a hug.

"Merry Christmas Raleigh."

[callmeemily]

Tonight, there's no one at the register, and nothing's for sale. It's a celebration, and there's gifts on the table - some have tags, some don't (because Raleigh's got boxes of cookies for the people she doesn't know that well), but there's also just piles of baked goods around for the having.

It's a party, and she's surprised when Corry hugs her because she'd been checking to make sure there was still coffee, but the moment when she realises who it is, Raleigh hugs her back tightly, smiling brightly. "Merry Christmas! Do you like cider?" It just sort of pops out of her mouth, because she's got mulled cider and while she definitely means well, Raleigh's always a wee bit awkward, just kind of across the board. "And hi! I'm so glad you could make it!"

[starsfallen]

Corrine's Christmases over the past few years have been a study in contrasts. From the grand elaborate Hollywood festivities, to somber rehab the year past, and now - perfect wife to perfect husband with the perfect tree and hypothetically perfect future.

"So am I. And yes, I would love some cider."

Raleigh's party, on the other hand, is the perfect middle of it. Low key, but delightful, full of festivities and low key on expectations.

"You've got quite the set-up here. It's delightful."

[callmeemily]

Raleigh laughs. "Quite the set-up. You realise that makes it sound like I'm running some sort of mobster ring or something, right?" She guides Corry to where there's mugs and a pot full of mulled cider on a hot plate, and ladles her out a mug before passing it to her. She doesn't trust herself to really carry it right now - her gait's a little worse than usual today, because she's been burning the candle at both ends, right now. "But thanks. How're things? How's Will?" She's so glad that Corry'd been able to make it - they have this very weird sort of friendship, but Raleigh's really happy they have it.

[starsfallen]

"You mean this isn't a mobster front?!" Corry lets our a scandalized gasp. "Well then. This is a fine bakery if I have ever seen one. Congratulations. I hope my Waterhouse can find anything near this success."

The cider is a gift, not just for the hot apple cinnamon warmth, but because the sip gives her a chance to pause before responding.

"Things are good." She shrugs. "Always eventful. And Will is - Will. Siren Cove's very own Prince Charming. He has his eye on finding us a new castle." Corry is something far less than enthusiastic about that.

[callmeemily]

Raleigh sort of makes a face at the praise, just because she's not quite sure how to accept it - although she definitely appreciates it.

She's not just asking about Will because she's talked to Les, but now that she has...

It's weird, the way Corry talks about Will. She doesn't talk about him the way Spencer talks about Joel - well, not unless Spencer's annoyed at something, which is pretty rare.

"You're looking for a new place?" Her brows furrow. "Is there something wrong with where you live now?"