Page 6 of Once Upon a Holiday Vacation
CHAPTER THREE
EASTON
The twinkling lightsdangled precariously from my fingers as I stretched to drape them across the library's main entrance. My tongue poked out in concentration, determined to get the placement just right. One final adjustment and... perfect.
I climbed down the ladder, taking a step back to admire my handiwork. The warm glow of the lights cast a cozy ambiance over the library's stone facade, transforming it into a welcoming beacon of holiday cheer. A sense of pride and accomplishment swelled in my chest. Not bad, Easton. Not bad at all.
“Well, well, look at you, Martha Stewart,” a familiar voice called out. I turned to see Laura approaching, a mischievous glint in her eye and a box of ornaments balanced on her hip. “Looks like the Christmas Elf has worked his magic again.”
I felt a blush creep up my neck. “Oh, you know me,” I quipped back, adjusting my glasses. “I live for color-coordinated tinsel and perfectly aligned fairy lights.”
Her laughter rang out, bright and infectious. “I can see that. You've got the lights spaced exactly...” she squinted, pretendingto measure with her fingers,”... two and a half inches apart. Am I right?”
I gasped in mock offense. “Laura! I'm insulted. It's clearly two and three-quarters.”
She snorted, nearly dropping the box of ornaments. “Of course. How could I have been so careless in my estimations?”
As our chuckles subsided, I found myself marveling at how easy it was to banter with Laura. If only I could be this relaxed around everyone, I thought wistfully. But no, around most people I turned into a stammering, clumsy mess.
“So, decorating genius,” Laura continued, pulling me from my reverie. “What's next on the agenda? Please tell me it involves these baubles. I've been dying to hang them up since we unpacked them this morning.”
I grinned, reaching for the box. “Your wish is my command, m'lady. Let's see what treasures we have here.”
As we began sorting through the ornaments, I couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth. The library had always been my sanctuary, but in moments like these, surrounded by twinkling lights and Laura's easy friendship, it felt like home.
As we hung ornaments on the small tree near the circulation desk, I felt a flutter of nervous excitement in my stomach. I couldn't hold it in any longer.
“So, um, I have some news,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Laura paused, a glittery snowflake dangling from her fingers. “Spill it, East. What's got you all twitchy?”
I took a deep breath. “I'm going on a cruise. For Christmas. To the Bahamas.”
Her eyes widened, sparkling brighter than the ornament she held. “No way! That's amazing! A tropical Christmas? I'm so jealous!”
“It's not just that,” I continued, fiddling with a red bauble. “I'm going with Weston.”
Her jaw dropped. “Shut up! Your dreamy best friend Weston? The one you've been pining over since forever?”
I felt my cheeks heat up. “I haven't been pining,” I protested weakly.
She rolled her eyes. “Please. You light up like these Christmas lights every time he walks into a room.”
I sighed, knowing she was right. “Anyway, it's not what you think. We're going as friends. My parents left town to help my aunt, and he knew I was sad about it. He won the tickets through a radio contest and invited me to cheer me up.”
“Still, you have to admit, it's like something out of one of your books!” she said with a dreamy sigh.
“Speaking of books,” I said, eager to change the subject, “you remember me telling you about the ladies from the Book Nook?” Laura nodded, her eyes still dancing with excitement.
“Well, she told me something interesting about manifesting your future. Like, if you believe in something hard enough, it might come true.”
Laura's face lit up even more, if that was possible. “Oh my god, yes! I'm totally into that stuff. It's all about positive energy and putting your desires out into the universe.”
I chuckled nervously. “I don't know, it sounds a bit far-fetched to me.”
She shook her head vigorously. “No way. This is your chance. You have to embrace it. Imagine yourself falling in love, believe it can happen, and who knows? Maybe the universe will make it so.”
As I hung another ornament, I couldn't help but wonder. Could it really be that simple? Just believe, and it might come true? The rational part of my brain scoffed at the idea, but a tiny spark of hope flickered in my chest.
