Page 8 of Christmas with Holly

“Some people—very practical, scientific people—say that the shell captures outside noise and lets it resonate inside the shell. However, other people”—Maggie gestured to herself and gave the girl a significant glance—“believe there’s a little magic in it.”

After considering this, Holly returned her meaningful glance and touched her own small chest.

Maggie smiled. “I have an idea. Why don’t you take this shell home with you and practice making noise in it? You could sing or hum into it like this….” She sent a wordless tune into the empty shell. “And someday maybe it could help your voice to come back. Just like the little mermaid.”

Holly reached out and took the shell with both hands.

At that moment, the door opened, and Mark Nolan walked back into the store. His gaze went to Holly, who was staring intently into the aperture of the conch. He froze as he heard the girl begin to croon a few soft notes into the shell. His face changed. And in that one unguarded moment, Maggie saw a flashing succession of emotions: concern, fear, hope.

“What are you doing, Holls?” he asked casually, approaching them.

The girl paused and showed him the conch.

“It’s a magic shell,” Maggie said. “I told Holly she could take it home with her.”

Nolan’s dark brows lowered, and a shadow of annoyance crossed his face. “It’s a nice conch,” he told his niece. “But there’s nothing magical about it.”

“Oh, yes, there is,” Maggie said. “Sometimes the most ordinary-looking things have magic in them…you just have to look hard enough.”

A humorless smile touched Nolan’s lips. “Right,” he said darkly. “Thanks.”

Too late, Maggie understood that he was one of those people who didn’t encourage flights of fancy in their children. Heaven knew he was not alone. More than a few parents believed that children were better off with a strict diet of reality, rather than being confused by stories of made-up creatures, or talking animals, or Santa Claus. In Maggie’s opinion, though, fantasy allowed children to play with ideas, to find comfort and inspiration. However, it wasn’t up to her to decide such things for someone else’s child.

Abashed, Maggie retreated behind the counter and busied herself with ringing up the items in the basket: the fairy book, a puzzle, a jump rope with wooden handles, and a fairy ornament with iridescent wings.

Holly wandered away from the counter, humming softly into the conch. Nolan stared after his niece, then turned his attention back to Maggie. He spoke in an edgy undertone. “No offense, but—”

Which was the way people always started a sentence that ended up being offensive.

“—I prefer to be honest with kids, Miss…”

“Mrs.,” Maggie said. “Conroy. And I prefer to be honest, too.”

“Then why did you tell her that’s a magic shell? Or that a fairy lives in that house on the wall?”

Maggie frowned as she tore the receipt from the register. “Imagination. Play. You don’t know much about children, do you?”

It was instantly apparent that the shot had hit its target far harder than she had intended. Nolan’s expression didn’t change, but she saw a band of color burnish the crests of his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. “I became Holly’s guardian about six months ago. I’m still learning. But one of my rules is not to let her believe in stuff that’s not real.”

“I’m sorry,” she said sincerely. “I didn’t mean to offend you. But just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not real.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “Do you want your receipt with you, or in the bag?”

Those mesmerizing eyes stared right into hers with an intensity that caused her brain to do an abrupt control-alt-delete. “In the bag.” They were close enough that his scent reached her, an amazingly good smell of old-fashioned white soap, and sea salt, and a hint of coffee. Slowly he extended a hand across the counter. “Mark Nolan.”

His grip was strong, his hand warm and work-roughened. It awakened a subtle pang of awareness that started deep in the pit of her stomach.

To Maggie’s relief, the shop door jingled as someone else came in. Instantly she tugged her hand free. “Hello,” she called out with artificial cheer. “Welcome to the Magic Mirror.”

Nolan—Mark—was still staring at her. “Where are you from?”

“Bellingham.”

“Why’d you move to Friday Harbor?”

“It seemed like the right place for the shop.” Maggie gave him a little shrug, to indicate that there was too much to explain. That didn’t appear to dissuade him. The questions were gentle but persistent, nipping at the heels of her every answer.

“You got family here?”

“No.”

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