Page 31 of Once Upon a Winter
Cooper heaved a sigh. “It’s not the snow globe. Our timeline is off. The events of the party…”
The kiss?
“Pushed things up. It feels way too early to be discussing our feelings.”
“But are they your feelings?”
“I’m the only one here.” He frowned, looking thoroughly confused.
Laura was really beginning to wish she hadn’t gone down that road, but it was too late. “Come here.” She got the snow globe and showed him the figurine in front of the tiny cottage. “When I first got this, I looked at that guy there. I guess I was in a good mood, maybe feeling a bit silly.” She hesitated. “I wished Santa would drop a hot guy like that down my chimney. And then you showed up.”
With a confused chuckle, Cooper said, “Thanks… I guess. But that didn’t really happen. I’m pretty sure I came through the front door.”
“Close enough! The next thing I know, my roof’s leaking, and you walk in like a knight in shining armor—”
“I don’t have any armor, but I was brandishing a nail gun and a tarp.”
“Close enough.”
Cooper looked off into the distance as if deep in thought. “Okay. Here’s what I think. Christmas is an emotional time. On top of that, you’ve had a major life change since moving here. And I don’t know what you’ve gone through in the past, but by the time we reach thirty, everyone’s got some history and probably baggage. So it’s understandable if—”
“No, it isn’t. Granted, it’s weird. But I wished you into my life, so whatever you feel might not be real.”
Cooper said gently, “What I feel is that you’re sounding a little nutty.”
“Oh, I know! I completely agree!” She collapsed on the sofa and stared at the ceiling.
Cooper sat beside her. “Laura, look at me.” He touched her chin, and she lifted her eyes.
“It’s okay. I don’t blame you.”
“For what? Oh, for losing my mind.”
Looking barely patient, he said slowly, “No.”
Laura nodded, insisting. “Oh yes. You think I’m a partridge short of a pear tree? A soprano short of a caroling quartet? A reindeer short of Santa’s sleigh team? A—”
“Got it. But that’s not what I think!”
“What do you think?” she asked, knowing the snow globe would make him tell the truth because she’d asked it to.
“I think you should take that thing back to the store where you got it.”
She hadn’t expected that. “Really?”
Thirteen
Laura sat gazing thoughtfullyinto the fire, absently turning the snow globe over in her hands. She watched the miniature snowflakes twirl while she considered all that had transpired since that fateful day she’d bought the mysterious object.
Cooper believed they were coincidences. If she were in his place, she might think the same thing.City girl moves to a small town with dreams of an impossibly perfect Christmas. When a home mishap disrupts her plans, she fixates on a cherished depiction of her shattered holiday dream.It made sense, except that didn’t happen.
With a deep breath, she placed the snow globe on the mantel. Its true nature no longer mattered. Whether it was ordinary or extraordinary, she was taking it back. The only magic she needed was her connection with Cooper.
She held the globe close. “Cooper was right. You need to go back to the store. It’s time to find a new home.”
Laura sighed.And for me to stop talking to you.In an effort to dispel her last bit of doubt, Laura said, “Anything that’s happened has done so by chance, and to prove it, I’ll make one last wish. Bring me coffee and doughnuts—plain glazed, please.”
In silence, the swirling snow slowly settled as if indifferent to her challenge.
