Page 36 of Mistletoe and Magic

She paused by a window, watching the townsfolk go about their day, laughter and light chatter floating up to her perch. But the merriment failed to pierce the veil of melancholy that shrouded her heart. She was sleepwalking through these moments, detached from the joy that once sparked at every corner of this magical place.

"Lost in thought again, Felicity?" Ivy's gentle voice pulled her back to the present, the bookstore owner’s knowing eyes reflecting concern.

"Is it that obvious?" Felicity attempted a smile, but it faltered, betraying the enormity of the decision that hung over her head.

"Your heart seems miles away," Ivy said, pulling a book from the shelf and offering it to Felicity. "This one always brings me comfort."

‘Love's Eternal Embrace,’Felicity read aloud, her fingers brushing the embossed cover. The story of two lovers separated by time and circumstance, only to find each other again against all odds.

"Sometimes," Ivy began, her voice tinged with the wisdom that should have belonged to someone much older, "we must part with what we love most, trusting that if it's meant to be, it will return to us."

Felicity's eyes lifted from the pages to meet Ivy's gaze. The words resonated deep within her, echoing the very choice that clawed at her soul. Would leaving Jace now—and the Northwind Lodge—be an act of faith or abandonment?

"Jace has his own chapter to write here," Felicity murmured, the name evoking a surge of warmth and a pang of longing. "But perhaps I'm meant to be the author of our salvation, not a character within it."

"Or maybe," Ivy suggested softly, "you're both. I’m not sure what’s going on with you, but I think you should talk to Jace. After all, love is a story written by two, isn't it?"

Tears threatened to spill from Felicity's eyes; she blinked them back fiercely. Her friend had unwittingly peeled back the layers of fear and doubt, revealing a sliver of hope. Could it be that true love, like the tales nestled in these shelves, would endure beyond separation, beyond the stark reality of ticking clocks and looming deadlines?

With a resolve that surprised even herself, Felicity clutched the book to her chest. She would pen the ending they deserved, even if it meant walking away to secure a future where Jace's dreams, and those of Christmas Valley, could flourish without the shadow of impending loss.

"Thank you, Ivy," Felicity whispered, the gratitude in her voice soft and sincere. “Let me pay you.”

“How about you just take it off my running tab at the bakery.”

Felicity smiled before stepping away from the counter, the bookstore, and the comfortable familiarity that surrounded her, armed with a newfound perspective.

Closing the door behind her, Felicity faced the town square, its beauty no longer suffused with sorrow but with the bittersweet promise of sacrifice and rebirth. She had a story to finish, one that might just save them all.

Snowflakes drifted down from the steel-gray sky, each one a silent witness to the storm brewing within Felicity's heart. She stood in the center of Christmas Valley's town square, her gaze lost to the flurry that kissed her cheeks with cold tenderness. The gentle touch of winter's breath was a stark contrast to the heatcoursing through her veins, the inner fire fueled by the decision that lay heavy upon her.

As the world around her turned white, blanketing the cobblestone paths and frosted evergreens in pristine innocence, Felicity wrapped her arms tighter around herself, as if she could shield her soul from the monumental choice that loomed over her future—and that of the town and Jace.

Her mind spun with possibilities, each as intricate and fragile as the snowflakes that gathered at her feet. Could she truly be the savior of Christmas Valley and its beloved Northwind Lodge? The very thought made her heart tighten, a mix of fear and longing intertwining like the delicate lace of ice on the windowpanes.

With each step she took, the snow crunched beneath her boots, a crisp reminder that time marched forward, indifferent to human hesitation. Her breath misted in the air, visible proof of the life she held within her—a life that could alter the course of many.

Felicity's heart thrummed against her ribcage, a drumbeat urging her towards destiny. It was a rhythm intertwined with Jace's own heartbeat, the man who had unknowingly captured her affection and tethered it to this magical place. To leave him now, after all they had shared, felt like an unraveling of the most intimate tapestry.

Yet a voice whispered inside her, soft as falling snow, suggesting that departure might be the key to their salvation. Maybe the threads of their story were meant to stretch beyond the confines of Christmas Valley, weaving into a narrative that only she could complete.

Determination settled over Felicity like the winter's cloak. She needed to tell Jace everything. Every secret hope, every whispered dream, and the belief that surged within her—that herreturn to her own reality could be the catalyst to save the lodge, the town, and the hearts of those she had grown to cherish.

"Jace," she murmured to the empty square, practicing the confession that would bare her soul. "There's so much I need to tell you."

The snowfall thickened, a curtain drawing closed on one act while setting the stage for another. With her vision made hazy by the wintry veil, Felicity's senses sharpened, attuned to the weight of her revelation. She could almost feel Jace's presence, the warmth of his green-eyed gaze, the strength of his embrace offering solace amidst uncertainty.

She moved forward, propelled by a surge of courage that flowed through her like a river breaking free from ice. Tonight, she would lay bare her truth before Jace, entrusting him with the power to unlock the final chapter of their entwined fates. And as the snow continued to fall, blanketing Christmas Valley in stillness and peace, Felicity Hart steeled herself to face the storm of emotion that awaited her.

21

JACE

Jace waited in the alley under the stairs leading to Felicity’s flat above her bakery, his heart thrumming with a cocktail of excitement and trepidation as he watched Felicity exit her bakery. She locked the door behind her, oblivious to his presence. A mischievous spark ignited within him; he couldn't resist the urge to lighten the mood, to see her smile. It was her smile that often kept him going.

With deft movements, his hands scooped up the powdery snow, packing it lightly into a perfect sphere. His pulse quickened as he aimed and let it fly, watching as it arced through the twilight and playfully exploded against her oversized coat.

"Jace!" Felicity exclaimed, startled, a laugh bubbling from her lips despite the shock. Her eyes danced with mirth, and for a moment, they were just two souls entwined in a wintery spell. "You're going to pay for that."

---