Page 19 of Evan

I sigh, unable to resist the hopeful look on his face. "Alright, buddy. You win. I'll be there."

Chad lets out a whoop of joy, fist-pumping the air. "Yes!"

I can't stop myself from laughing, his excitement contagious. And as I watch him scamper off to tell Molly the good news, I feel a flicker of something warm and bright kindling in my chest. I marvel at his innocent joy. Even after having his home broken into, and his gifts stolen, he still sees the good, feels the excitement of the season, and smiles through it all.

Maybe Chad is right. Maybe this will be the best Christmas ever, not because of the presents or the decorations, but because of the people I get to spend it with. The people who are starting to feel more and more like family with each passing day.

* * *

Later that night, I find myself standing in the middle of the town square, surrounded by what seems like the entire population of Benton Falls. The air is frosty and cold, the scent of marshmallows and spiced apples permeating from the vendors selling hot cocoa and cider.

I tug at the collar of my coat, feeling oddly nervous as I scan the crowd for Molly and Chad. We'd agreed to meet here, but as the minutes tick by and the caroling gets underway, I worry that maybe they've changed their minds.

But then I see them, weaving their way through the throng of people, Chad's hand clasped tightly in Molly's. She looks beautiful, her chestnut hair spilling out from beneath a knit hat, her cheeks flushed from the cold. And when she spots me, her face lighting up in a smile that makes my heart skip a beat; I feel like the luckiest man in the world.

"Evan, hi," she says, a little breathless as they reach me. "Sorry we're late. Someone had to hurry and finish their homework before we could leave."

She shoots Chad a mock-stern look, but he just grins up at her, unrepentant.

"I'm here now, aren't I?" he says, bouncing on his toes. "And look, Mr. Evan is here, too. Just like he promised."

I chuckle, ruffling Chad's hair. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, buddy. Not when I've got you to keep me in line."

Molly rolls her eyes, but there's a warmth in her gaze that makes me feel like I'm standing in a patch of sunlight, even in the middle of the winter night.

"Come on, you two," she says, herding us towards the group of carolers. "Let's go make some joyful noise."

As we join the crowd, the sounds of "Deck the Halls" ringing out into the frosty air, I find myself marveling at the sense of community, of belonging that washes over me. Everywhere I look, people are smiling and laughing, their faces aglow with the spirit of the season.

And as I glance around, my gaze landing on the familiar faces of my neighbors, my customers, the people who have become such an integral part of my life here in Benton Falls, I feel a sudden rush of gratitude, of appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of this place.

Maybe the adventure I've been searching for has been right here in front of me, waiting to be discovered in the laughter of a child, the touch of a woman's hand, the quiet magic of a Christmas spent with the people I love.

As the caroling continues, the voices of young and old blending together in perfect harmony, I let myself get lost in the music, in the moment. And as I do, I feel a sense of peace settling over me, a rightness that I haven't felt in longer than I can remember.

I reach out, taking Molly's hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her fingers even through our gloves, and I know that I'm finally ready to take that leap, to open my heart to the possibilities of the future.

She looks up at me, her bright eyes shining beneath a fringe of dark lashes, and smiles. I'm so lost in my thoughts, in the swelling emotions that fill my chest, that I almost don't notice when the carol comes to an end, the final notes lingering in the air.

Molly turns to me. "That was beautiful," she murmurs, her voice soft and filled with wonder. "I can't remember the last time I felt so... so..."

"Peaceful," I finish for her, understanding flickering between us like a flame. "Like everything is exactly as it should be."

She nods, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Yes. Exactly."

We stand there for a moment, lost in each other's gaze, the rest of the world fading away. But then Chad is tugging at my sleeve, his little face eager.

"Mr. Evan, can we go get some hot cocoa now? I'm freezing."

I laugh, the spell broken, but the warmth still glowing in my chest. "Of course, buddy. Lead the way."

As we make our way towards the cocoa stand, weaving through the crowds of carolers and onlookers, I catch a glimpse of a familiar face in the throng. Betty, bundled up in a bright red coat, her eyes twinkling with a secret sort of joy as she watches us.

For a moment, I swear I can feel the weight of her gaze, the unspoken encouragement and understanding that passes between us like a current. And then she's gone, disappearing into the crowd as quickly as she appeared.

But the warmth of her presence lingers, a reminder of the countless little moments of guidance and support she's offered me over the past couple of weeks. The way Betty always seems to show up just when I need her most, with a kind word or a gentle nudge in the right direction.

I don't know how she does it, how she always seems to know exactly what I need to hear. But as I stand in line for cocoa, Chad chattering away at my side and Molly's hand still clasped in mine, I feel a rush of gratitude for her friendship, for the quiet strength and wisdom—she’s kind of like my own Christmas angel.

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