Page 5 of Once Upon a Winter
“Yeah, but—”
“How did your second opinion work out?”
“Jessica at the antiques shop said you’re the best person for the job.”
His confident smirk annoyed her, but she reminded herself that she wasn’t hiring him for his congeniality. He was fixing her house. “Okay. You’re hired.”
Three
After a nightof trying to sleep to the sounds of industrial fans and dehumidifiers and a full day of unpacking boxes, Laura needed a break, so she headed to town. A few people strolled down the sidewalks, ducking into shops or heading home after a day of work or errands. A balsam fir tree towered over the town square, filling the air—and her heart—with the essence of Christmas. From the bakery came an aroma of cinnamon and cloves, so she doubled back and went inside to pick up some holiday treats.
Twilight was falling as she headed home with renewed hope for a magical Christmas—even if it wouldn’t look that way inside her house for the next week or two. Compared to her former home with city traffic and her stress at having to chase promotions, she could endure a couple of weeks of repairs.
The first stars were winking into view when Laura unlocked the front door, stepped inside, and took off her coat. If she ignored the fans and the damaged corner, the house already seemed cozy and lived in. Even her apartment furnishings and decorations looked better there.All I need is some music.
Laura turned on the gas fireplace and lifted the snow globe. The miniature village caught the firelight and glowed as she wound the key. Tinkling music filled the room with holiday cheer as she sank onto the sofa and sighed. Her cottage might be torn apart at the moment, but her walk through the village had renewed her love for her new community and strengthened her resolve to make it work, home repairs or not. If she had any doubt, she needed only to gaze at her snow globe, a symbol of her new beginning.
The morning sunfiltered through the sheer curtains and shed soft light on the scattered boxes and unpacked clothing that filled Laura’s new bedroom. She stretched her arms overhead and rose to tackle a new day of unpacking.
As she fell into a rhythm of tearing tape and rustling paper, her phone vibrated on the windowsill. Cooper’s name appeared on the screen. “Hi, Cooper!”
“Morning. I’m calling to give you a heads-up. I’ll be over in about twenty minutes to work on your roof.”
“Okay. See you then.” As she ended the call, Laura stared at the half-emptied box before her. Cooper’s call had stirred up a swirl of emotions she couldn’t quite pin down. Ever since she’d brought home that snow globe, an irrational part of her wondered if it really did have the power to make wishes come true. After all, she had jokingly wished for a man like the one in the figurine, and soon after, Cooper showed up to fix her roof. Because stuff like that happened all the time. No, enchanted snow globes were the stuff of fairy tales, not real life.
And yet, doubt nagged at the corners of her mind. The roof was an inconvenience, but it had brought Cooper into her life, a man who both intrigued and flustered her more than she cared to admit. He was also a man who bore an uncanny resemblance to the man in her snow globe. Who knew she could wish in such vivid detail? Because Cooper was her idea of perfection.
Laura shook her head, laughing softly to herself. “Girl, you are losing your mind.” The whimsy of the holiday season was playing tricks on her logical brain. She had to stop fixating on the snow globe and focus on what was real—unpacking, enjoying the holidays, then starting the new year with a new job.
With renewed determination, Laura picked up another box and resumed unpacking. But a lingering seed of doubt over the snow globe’s connection remained in the back of her mind, refusing to be ignored.
Three boxes later, she paused and glanced toward the kitchen. “I think I’ve earned some caffeine.” She headed to the kitchen to put the kettle on. While instant coffee was a poor substitute for the real thing, it would have to suffice. She breathed in the rich, comforting aroma which filled the room as she stirred the granules into the steaming water. Nestling the warm mug close to her chest, Laura leaned against the rough stones of the fireplace, enjoying its warmth.
She took a sip and grimaced. “What I wouldn’t give for a decent cup of coffee!” An inexplicable shiver rippled over her skin. From the mantel, the snow globe flickered briefly, its miniature world ignited by a fleeting, magical spark. She shook her head.It’s just the flickering firelight playing tricks with my vision.
A firm knock at her door startled her. She set down her mug and went to answer the door. There stood Cooper holding a cardboard tray containing two cups of steaming coffee and a white box tied with string. Whatever it contained smelled delicious.
“I had a craving for some coffee and muffins from the bakery in town, so I brought extras.” His blue eyes made contact for a fleeting moment then flickered away.
“Wow!” Laura exclaimed, her face lighting up with genuine gratitude. “You know, I was just wishing for coffee, and then you showed up.”
“It’s just coffee,” he replied as though she were making too much of a fuss.
“And a muffin!” she added enthusiastically. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw a glimmer of light in Cooper’s eyes and the slightest hint of a smile.
“Have a seat,” she said warmly, gesturing for him to join her by the fireplace. “You can’t hammer roof tiles, drink coffee, and eat a muffin at the same time.”
“Oh, believe me, I’ve done it—although not very well.”
They settled into the comfortable armchairs, angled to face the crackling fire. Laura caught sight of the snow globe and thought back on the last several minutes. She’d wished for decent coffee, then Cooper showed up with the best coffee in town. It had to be a coincidence, except she couldn’t quite dismiss it so easily. She recalled the shop owner’s words. “It’s got a touch of Christmas magic in it.”It couldn’t really, though. Could it?The snow globe flickered as if in reply. Unsettled, Laura looked out the window, hoping to find an explanation.It was a reflection. That’s all.
As they sipped from their mugs, Laura searched for a distraction. “So, you don’t go by your first name?”
“No, it’s always been Cooper. The only one who dares call me Farley is my mother.”
“It’s an unusual name.”
“Yeah, well, my mom loves old movies, so she named me after a movie actor.” He shrugged helplessly, like a man long since resigned to a name he clearly wasn’t fond of. “So, why Mistletoe?”
