Page 8 of Once Upon a Winter
A thin blanket of fresh snow covered the ground, adding to the magical charm of the Christmas tree farm setting. Bundled up in her parka, Laura found her heart fluttering with anticipation.
As they strolled along the parking area of the driveway, rows of evergreens waited in the distance. The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, mingling with the soft crunch of snow beneath their boots. Inside the gate, evergreens lined the walkway, filling Laura with a surge of delight. There were so many trees, each one more perfect than the last. She couldn’t help reaching out to touch the soft needles.
“First time at a tree farm?” Cooper asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Laura nodded, self-conscious. “It is.” With a sheepish grin, she admitted, “I’m a city girl.”
“We’ll have to fix that.” When he grinned, his blue eyes lit up. But his laughter faded to quiet contentment as they entered the barn. Holiday lights wrapped around the rustic beams lent a soft glow to the space.
“Here.” Laura handed Cooper a mug of steaming cocoa.
“Thanks,” he replied, taking a cautious sip of the rich, velvety liquid. “So, tell me about your life before you moved to Mistletoe.”
Laura hesitated, her eyes drawn to the dancing flames of a nearby lantern. Cooper didn’t make it easy to open up to him, yet the same off-putting honesty that so often repelled her had made her trust him. Still, sharing her story meant revealing her vulnerabilities—something she hadn’t done in a very long time.
“Before I came here, I had a high-stress job in the city,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was all-consuming. My life was nothing but work, deadlines, and never-ending demands—all of which I fulfilled while projecting an air of confidence. I had everything under control—on the outside. Inside?” Laura let out a humorless chuckle. “I barely recognized myself anymore. That’s when I decided it was time for a change.”
As she spoke, Laura saw understanding in Cooper’s eyes. His gaze held no judgment, only empathy. That was something she hadn’t expected.
“I get it.” His voice resonated with sincerity. “I tried big-city life—for a year—but it wasn’t for me. Small towns aren’t for everyone, but I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”
Laura smiled. “I agree. Maybe it’s too early to tell, but I think I’ll be happy here.”
Cooper’s blue eyes filled with warmth. “It looks like you’re well on your way to doing just that.”
Laura’s heart swelled with hope. As she took a sip of her cocoa in the quaint barn and in the company of the intriguing Farley Cooper, she decided her life was trending upward.
Cooper raised his mug in a toast. “Here’s to new beginnings.”
“New beginnings,” she echoed.
As they ventured deeper into the farm, Laura found herself captivated by the sight of families browsing through the trees as well as the sounds of laughter and shouts of delight echoing through the frost-tipped pines. The atmosphere was infectious.
“Which one do you think would be perfect for my living room?” she mused aloud, studying the trees with an artist’s eye.
Cooper tilted his head as if considering the question. “Hmm, I think that one looks right.” He pointed at a full but slightly asymmetrical tree. “It’s a little quirky, like you.”
Laura cast a sideways glance at him, busily brushing snow off the branches while trying not to think about what he’d meant by that. “Quirky?”
“In a good way.” His eyes revealed a hint of amusement.
Laura pondered the good ways one could be quirky while she considered the tree. “Okay. This is the one.”
As they stood in the clearing, surrounded by towering evergreens and a gentle snowfall, Laura glanced at the saw Cooper held, its teeth glinting in the soft light that filtered through the trees. “I’m glad you’re here. I didn’t realize you have to cut your own tree.”
Cooper smirked. “It’s a saw. Anyone can do it.” He stopped sawing and turned to scrutinize her. “Even you.”
Laura wrinkled her face. “I’m not saying I couldn’t if I wanted to, but…”
Cooper raised an eyebrow and handed her the saw. “Here.”
“What?” He couldn’t be serious. He moved the saw closer as if she didn’t know he expected her to take it. She knew. She just wasn’t sure that she wanted to do it. “Unfortunately, I didn’t wear my lumberjack outfit, so…” She shrugged helplessly, but it failed to dissuade him.
“Laura.” He was serious. “Come on. You can do it.”
Her pulse raced as she stared at the saw. The snow crunched beneath her boots as she shifted her weight, fully aware of how far out of her element she’d inadvertently ventured. But Cooper did not look amused. Something within her stirred. She had to rise to the challenge. Although she wanted to attribute that to her competitive nature, she genuinely cared about Cooper’s opinion. She could not let the moment pass without trying.
“All right,” she murmured, taking a deep breath and gripping the saw tightly. She nodded as she bolstered herself. “Okay.”
