Page 46 of The Inn at Evergreen Hollow

“Sure.” Nora finished her cocoa, tossing the cup in the trash. “I’ll be right back.”

The music and festive sounds faded into the background as Nora headed over to theGazette. She pushed the door open, heading down the hall to see about reprinting the file for the fliers. She doubted anyone was in today, but she could figure it out on her own.

She heard what sounded like soft sobs from Sabrina’s office and stopped dead in her tracks.

The door was cracked open, so she couldn’t help but see. To her surprise, Sabrina was sitting at her desk, tears streaming down her face. She looked miserable.

Nora didn’t particularly like the woman, but she couldn’t help feeling bad for her. Everyone was out having an amazing time, and for some reason, Sabrina was tucked away here, sobbing.

“What’s wrong?” Nora nudged the door open, and Sabrina looked up, startled.

“I…” Her face flushed, and she looked away for a moment. “I feel so guilty.”

Nora frowned, confused. “For what?”

“For endangering your life last night.” The words came out quick, rushed, as if Sabrina could hardly bear to say it. But it didn’t make Nora any less confused.

“What are you talking about?”

“I canceled the backup generator.” Sabrina dabbed at her cheeks with a tissue. “I meddled with your plans for the festival. If I’d stayed out of it, you wouldn’t have had to venture out in a snowstorm to keep the festival from falling apart. It’s my fault, and?—”

“It’s not your fault,” Nora said gently, walking a little further into the office and stopping at the edge of the desk. “Look, I understand now that I was going overboard with the event. You were right, I was losing sight of the point of it. I understand now why you did what you did, a little better than I did before, at least. But…”

Nora hesitated.Might as well get it all out now.

“I don’t understand why you seemed to have such an issue withmethough,” she continued. “It felt personal, not just about the festival. Even things that shouldn’t have been a problem, like the generator, were still an issue. Do you just not like me?”

It was a blunt question, but it seemed to calm Sabrina down a little. She let out a long breath, wiping at her eyes, before refocusing on Nora.

“I was jealous,” she admitted. “Truthfully? I always wanted to move somewhere like Boston—a big city—and level up my career the way you did. I wanted to work at a big newspaper, have all of those big career goals and meet them. But I didn’t. Some of it had to do with my family, feeling like I needed to be here for them, and some of it was that I guess I just didn’t have it in me. I didn’t have the chance—some of it because of me, and some of it not. But I was jealous of you because you just took the leap and did it. Regardless of what anyone else thought or wanted.”

Nora blinked, surprised. “I had no idea.” She glanced around the office and back at Sabrina. “You do an incredible job, running this newspaper. You could do amazing things if you wanted to try and do exactly that. But?—”

She let out a breath, almost surprised at what she said next. “I wanted nothing more than to get out of here. To break free of Evergreen Hollow. Everyone knows that. But now that I’m back, I’m seeing how beautiful it all really is. And I’ve learned that sometimes chasing after what you think you want doesn’t always lead to the fulfillment that you think it will.”

Nora leaned against the desk, meeting Sabrina’s eyes. “I got really caught up in that chase for something bigger and better, all the time. And I forgot to just look around and appreciate what I already had. It never felt like enough. But since I’ve been here, I’ve recognized the need to share in a victory and work together toward it. You’re a big part of the community here. And you were a big part of the festival’s success, whether you feel like it or not. I might not have seen all of that if you hadn’t forced me to,” she admitted.

Sabrina brightened a little, wiping away the last of her smudged mascara. “I’m sorry for being difficult.”

“This entire Christmas season has been about resetting for me.” Nora smiled encouragingly at her. “So why don’t we reset and start over? I need to print some more fliers, and then let’s go back to the festival and enjoy it.”

Sabrina smiled. “Okay,” she said, standing up and putting a hand out. “I like the sound of that.”

Nora shook her hand, laughing a little. And then the two of them went to get the fliers and head back to the festival that they’d both put so much work into planning, reconciled at last.

A Christmas miracle,Nora thought wryly as they headed outside. But one that she was happy for.

It was shaping up to be the best Christmas she’d ever had.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

It was Christmas Eve, and Nora was sitting by the window in the front room of the inn, looking out at the thickly snow-covered landscape. There was a fire burning cheerily in the fireplace, a plate of snickerdoodle cookies next to her on the small table, and a pile of gifts under the brightly lit tree waiting to be opened the next morning. She felt happier than she had in a long time.

She glanced back at her laptop, re-reading the email that she’d typed up to send to her boss. One more look, and it was ready to send.

She wondered if she was being too hasty, putting in her notice. But the truth was, she didn’t want to go back to Boston. Now that she had come back home, found a burgeoning love and a renewed sense of what was really important to her, she didn’t have any desire to return.

Nora heard footsteps and looked up to see Caroline walking into the living room. Her sister looked less tense. Ever since their conversation, Nora had noticed her actively trying to be less constantly busy, and slowing down to enjoy the holiday a bit more.

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