Goldie came in humming a new Christmas tune, which died on her lips the moment she had seen Missy. Whatever news she must have received must have been bad, really bad.

"Missy? Are you alright?"

Missy was sitting at one of the tables. Nothing had been prepared. The usual smells that greeted Goldie had all gone stale.

"I don't think we'll open today."

"What happened yesterday?"

"The roof can be fixed although it will cost more than half of the profits I earned these last few months, but that's not my problem."

Missy thought that was quite a blow and wondered what could be worse. "Anything I can do to help?" she offered.

"I don't think so?" Missy supplied.

Sitting across from her friend and soon to be sister-in-law Goldie said, "Why don't you tell me about it and let me decide."

Missy shrugged. "I blew it. I had a date with a really great guy and I just blew it."

"A date, huh?" Goldie wondered when Missy had a chance to socialize as far as she knew Missy only went from her house, to the bakery and back to her house. Rarely did she do anything in between.

"With Tino Webber."

"Whoa, wait... what?" Goldie asked, totally shocked. "Tino? The regular who comes in here 2 to 3 times a week?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I grant you he's adorable. You've got great taste. I just... well... I just don't think he's the right guy for you."

Missy looked up with a sad look in her eyes. "It would seem he agrees with you, but for argument's sake, may I ask why?"

Goldie thought the answer obvious, but knowing Missy to be sensitive about the subject she said, "You know..."

"Know what?" Missy asked, "Is he gay?"

"Good Heavens, No!" Goldie laughed though she knew this was no laughing matter.

"Am I not cute enough?"

"NO! You're adorable, and he'd be lucky to have someone like you interested in him."

"Well then what is wrong with ME?" Missy demanded.

A thought occurred to Goldie, that hadn't before. "Has he told anything about his schooling?"

"He told me he has PhD in Biology? Why?"

He left out some important information, Goldie thought. "Missy, Tino is a Biologist, but his field of expertise is... spiders."

Suddenly the lights came on and everything made sense, from his understanding towards her, to his disappointment. He must have come to the same conclusion as Goldie once she screamed in his face.

"How did you meet anyway?" Goldie asked.

"He's the gutter guy."

"Really?" Goldie couldn't believe it. What were the odds?

"Actually no, not anymore. Once he's done fixing my roof he's been fired and will be out of work."

"He was fired?"

"I know right. By his own Uncle. Poor guy nearly lost his life when he was launched off my roof."

Goldie didn't know which to respond to first. "And somewhere in all of this you managed to have a date?"

"Yeah, I asked him back for dinner. I felt so bad, he was seriously hurt when he hit the ground, and he was completely washed out when the dam broke on the roof. He was soaked and then needed to change clothes... I just thought the least I could do was offer him a good meal."

"What went wrong?"

"I screamed in his face when he tried to kiss me."

"That would do it. Was he getting grabby? You know a little too hands on?"

"No, no nothing like that. He leaned in to kiss me and closed his eyes and I leaned in and right before I closed mine I'd seen a spider about to land on our faces. I screamed bloody murder and calmly, he captured the spider and placed it outside.

That last part totally makes more sense now. Bear usually doesn't waste time smashing the things and disposing of them. Ugh, this sucks! I really like him and to make matters worse... I think he really likes me too."

Missy laid her head down on the table. "Life is so unfair."

"You're not going to let an itsy bitsy spider stand in your way of love are you?" Goldie asked.

Missy put her chin on the table and looked up at Goldie, "Yes?"

"Oh NO, you don't!" Goldie said, "You're coming with me."

Before Missy could protest she was being dragged out of her bakery. Apologizes were made to the disappointed customers who were waiting outside, and she was shoved into Goldie's car.

"May I ask now that you have kidnapped me where we are going?"

"To the zoo."

Out of all the responses Missy was expecting that was not even on the list. "The zoo?"

"Yes, I am going to give you an "in" with Tino that he will have no choice then to ask you out again."

Intrigued Missy sat up a little straighter in her seat, "How?"

"I have thought of this before but never said anything because I don't like butting in when not asked, but I have a friend at the zoo that may just be able to get Tino a job... a job doing what he loves."

"Really?"

"Yes, and if this works out the way that I hope it does, I'm expecting you to take full credit for the idea. I was never here, understand?"

"No." The only thing Missy understood was how little she understood.

"You'll see."

They got to the zoo and it was packed even with the cold and snow. They were holding their annual Noel Days. Kids and parents alike were coming by to see how the Zoo was celebrating the holidays, with special decorations and a special place to visit Santa Claws, the zoo's mascot, a Tiger that was dressed in a Santa suit.

Goldie waved her hand for Missy to follow her.

"I just texted my friend Mary Shepard. She's the director of the zoo, and she's agreed to meet us over at Kid Zoo U. Come on!"

Missy picked up her step. They made it to the children's zoo, which recently built an education center. Mary was giving a talk about how the zookeepers care for the animals, and the group of children watching her kept giggling. Which Missy not only found odd but slightly rude until she realized why.

As Mary walked back and forth a small lamb followed behind her. No matter what direction she chose or how many times she changed direction the little lamb would stay right in step.

Mary looked down at the snowy white puffball and said with a grin, "You know you're not supposed to be here. The least you can do is not interrupt my talk."

The children were full out laughing now and so were Missy and Goldie. Mary gave up and let the children play with her lamb under the supervision of a zookeeper. She then came over to Goldie and Missy, giving Goldie a hug hello.

"It's great to see you. Ever since you've gotten yourself that cuddly teddy bear of yours I don't see you anymore," Mary complained. "We so need a girls night out before you get hitched."

"Sounds like a plan," Goldie said, "This is Bear's sister."

"Oh, hello! It's a pleasure. Your brother has made Goldie very happy, and I'm in love with your niece. I'm hoping she will volunteer for our summer program this year."

"She'd love that," Missy said.

"So, Goldie tells me you have a problem I may be able to help you with," Mary prompted.

Missy looked to Goldie unsure as to what to say. So, Goldie jumped back in.

"We have a bug expert for you. Do you by chance have any job openings?"

Mary wasn't sure where this was going but thought for a moment. "Well, I was planning on going to the expo this weekend, to pick up some new species for Kid Zoo U. I could use some advice on which would be the easiest and most durable to care for. What are your credentials?"

Missy suddenly realized Mary was looking back at her. "Oh, it's not me but a friend of mine he has a PhD in Biology and his specialty is spiders."

"An arachnologist, intriguing indeed. Tell him to meet me at the zoo tomorrow around 9 am. I'll take him with me to the expo. I'll get to see first hand how much he knows and if he passes the test. He can start Monday."

"Seriously?" Missy said, shocked.

"Absolutely, there are many biologists, even more entomologist... bug scientists..." Mary added at Missy's blank look, "but a biologist who is an expert in the field of arachnology now that's really something."

Mary was nearly taken out at the knees as the little lamb butted its head up against them. "Whoa, there you. Alright, I'm coming," she said with a giggle. "Since she was born she's been following me around. Well, that's my signal... back to work I go."

"Thank you!," Missy yelled after her, and Mary said goodbye with a wave of her hand.

"Now what?" Missy looked at Goldie.

"Now you get two cups of your delicious peppermint mocha coffee and something sweet from the bakery case, and go tell Tino the good news."

"But where will I find him?"

Goldie giggled, "It may just be a guess but I would check somewhere near your gutter?"

Missy's smile grew. That's right. He would be fixing her gutter today. The sun had come out and Missy felt it warm her with a new hope of renewal for her and Tino.