Page 5 of The Christmas List

Imagine my surprise when I walked into Lucy’s classroom and saw that her new teacher was the girl who would always be the one that got away, even if it was my own stupidity that let her go.

It felt like my heart fell out of my fucking chest seeing her standing there, gazing down at my daughter with the sweetest smile and eyes that I used to lose myself in.

Logically, I knew we would run into each other at some point. Strawberry Hollow’s the definition of a small town. I just didn’t expect to see her… yet. I thought I’d have more time to prepare.

I sure as hell never thought she’d somehow end up being my daughter’steacher.And of course, Lucy’s obsessed with her new teacher, our past unbeknownst to her.

It’s been years since I’ve seen Josie, but it did nothing to lessen the effect she’s always had on me.

My gaze moves over Josie’s small frame, the tight green sweater that’s molded perfectly to her body, and the dark jeans that hug her heart-shaped ass. She’s talking with someone, her fuzzy-gloved hand placed on his forearm. Suddenly, she throws her head back and laughs, and my heart squeezes inside my chest.

I miss that laugh. I missedher.

I just didn’t realize how much until I saw her standing there without being able to touch her, kiss her, pull her to me the way that I used to.

I lost that right when I left Strawberry Hollow.

When I lefther.

“Yeah, it is,” I say. “I think the whole town’s probably here, Lu.”

She nods before lifting her eyes to mine. “Could we go say hello?” When I hesitate, she puts her fuzzy pink-gloved hands together in front of her and pleads, “Please, Daddy? I want to tell her that I love her sweater!”

It’s not that I’m actively trying to… avoid Josie. I’m just trying to figure out how in the hell we’re supposed to exist together in this town. It’s not something we’ve had to do before without being a couple, and that was a long time ago. We wereteenagers back then. Now, there’s an awkward tension that I haven’t quite yet figured out how to navigate.

Finally, I nod, heaving a heavy sigh. “Sure, bug, we can go say hi.”

Lucy’s eyes widen as her face lights up, and in a split second, she’s bounding through the crowd in Josie’s direction.

Shit.

I take off after her, my strides cut short by the crowd that’s gathered in front of the gazebo. It was easy for Lucy to push through because she’s so small, but I’m six foot three, and I’m having to shoulder my way through people, barely able to keep my eyes on her.

Her strawberry blonde pigtails bounce behind her, the bright red bows she insisted we tie at the bottoms catching the wind as she runs.

“Lucy.” I blow out a slightly winded breath once I make it to her, staring down at her with a stern look. She knows not to take off where I can’t see her. She’s standing next to Josie now, her small hand tangled in hers as she looks up at me with wide, puppy dog eyes.

“Hi, Josie,” I say.

Josie’s red lips curve into a small smile, and she nods. “Hi, Wyatt.”

Before I can tell her that it was Lucy who insisted on coming over, Mayor Davis taps the microphone before addressing the crowd. “I hope everyone is having a wonderful night. I am so pleased to be here, celebrating yet another holiday season here in Strawberry Hollow. Now, it’s time to announce our seventy-fifth-year Christmas List competition!”

Josie and Lucy look at each other, and Lucy’s eyes are wide with excitement dancing in her irises.

“As you all know, this is one of our town’s most favorite festivities, and this year, we have so many exciting, merry thingsplanned. In case you don’t know the history of the list, it started as a way to help cultivate holiday spirit here in Strawberry Hollow, a simple list of fun things our community could do in town to enjoy the season. But over the years, it has evolved intosomuch more. The activities help make our small town more beautiful and festive and give back to the community in so many ways. And of course, it’s also evolved into a friendly competition. And this year, we have the best list yet!” He pauses when applause rings out in the crowd, chuckling at how excited they seem to be.

“Now, a few rules before we get started. Teams must be a minimum of three people to participate, with a maximum of seven. The goal of the competition is to complete all items on the list—in your most festive fashion!” The mayor smiles, lifting his hand and shaking it in the air, causing the bundle of jingle bells around his suit sleeve to sound. “For every item on the list that’s completed, your team will be awarded a point. And you’ll have additional chances to be awarded points whether your team has completed a task that’s fit the theme and overall festiveness. That’s right, we can’t do anything halfway here in Strawberry Hollow.”

The crowd laughs, and he continues. “Now, you can pick up your official competition document here at the town hall, which includes the Christmas List activities, and I guess I should announce what this year’s prize will be as well?” He pauses for dramatic effect before laughing heartily into the microphone. “This year, the winning team will get to ride on Santa’s sleigh float with none other than the big guy himself to bring Christmas to town in the annual parade!”

My daughter shrieks, bouncing up and down excitedly, clapping. She turns to me with the most serious expression I’ve ever seen her wear. “Daddy… we have to compete. Please, please, please. Ihaveto ride with Santa!”

“Lucy, I?—”

Mayor Davis continues. “Remember, one of the only rules of the competition is that you must have aminimumof three people to participate, and above all… have fun! We want Strawberry Hollow to be the most merry, festive place to spend the holidays, and it’s up to our residents to make that happen. Merry Christmas, everyone!”

Soft tunes of Christmas music replace him as he steps off the stage, and Lucy turns to me once more. “I’ll do anything, Daddy! Please. It would be the best Christmas gift in the whole, whole,wholeworld!”

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