Page 41 of Once Upon a Winter
They continued browsing the market, sampling roasted chestnuts and admiring a colorful array of knit scarves. As the day wore on, Laura could sense her mother’s disappointment still lingering beneath the surface, but neither of them spoke of it again.
When they finally parted ways, her mother handed Laura a small, beautifully wrapped package. In a voice thick with emotion, she said, “Since you won’t be home for Christmas Eve, here’s your Christmas Eve present to open.”
“Thanks, Mom. But why don’t you take it, and I can open it on Christmas Day?”
Her mother bristled, making Laura regret her words.
“It’s a family tradition! We always open one gift on Christmas Eve. This is yours,” her mother insisted.
“Thanks, Mom.” The gesture touched her. As she gave her mother a hug, the scent of her familiar perfume enveloped Laura in a wave of nostalgia.
As they said their goodbyes, Laura clutched the gift bag and went to her front door. With a last wave as her mother drove off, Laura walked inside and glanced at the empty space on her mantel. With the move, the repairs, and her Christmas plans settled, maybe now she could build her new life.
Sixteen
Laura stood backand admired her handiwork. The Christmas tree sparkled with twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments, each carefully chosen to represent a cherished memory. Candles flickered in the dim room, casting warm, dancing shadows on the walls. She pulled a lasagna out of the oven, packed a tote bag with a bottle of wine, and added a stack of her all-time favorite Christmas movies and a couple of gifts.
With a few minutes to spare before leaving for Christmas Eve at Cooper’s house, she settled down on the couch and wrapped a soft blanket around her shoulders. Outside, falling snow was beginning to blanket the town with wintry magic. It was just the sort of Christmas Eve she’d dreamed of—simple and serene. Laura sighed.
Then the power went out, plunging her home into darkness.Her heart sank as the festive atmosphere vanished.
“It’s okay,” she muttered, rubbing her temples. “I’ll just light some more candles and a fire and read until it’s time to go. With any luck, the power will come back on by then.”
She was about to light another candle when a knock sounded at the door. She opened it to find Cooper standing on the doorstep, his sandy blond hair dusted with snowflakes. In his hands was a white cardboard box.
“Come in.” As Cooper stepped inside, a gust of wind blew out her candles and left them in darkness.
While Laura fumbled around for some matches, Cooper pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight.
After the candles were relit, Cooper set down a white cardboard box tied with string. “These are for you.”
Laura smiled. “Oh! Something smells good!” She gestured toward the box. “Shall I?”
Cooper nodded. “They’re homemade cookies.”
Surprised, she asked, “Did you make them?”
Cooper laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh, no. Trust me, you wouldn’t want them if I had. No, they’re from the bakery.”
“Thank you.” Their gazes lingered in the warm candlelight. Then Laura drew in a breath. “Wasn’t I supposed to come to your house?”
“Yes. Sorry. I should’ve explained. When the power went out, I thought you might need some help over here. Let’s load up and head to my house. I’ve got the generator running, so we can carry on with our Christmas Eve plans.”
As Laura put the lasagna pan in a casserole carrier, she said, “I’ve had this carrier for a year with no occasion to use it. It was a gift from my mom. Apparently, she had a notion that my life involved a series of potluck dinners for singles.” She looked at Cooper. “It doesn’t.”
They packed up and arrived minutes later at Cooper’s, where the table was already set, complete with candles and wine. Over plates of lasagna and salad, they reminisced about past Christmases, joyous gatherings with friends and family, and the simple pleasures of exchanging gifts and sharing meals. The conversation was flowing easily, filling the room with a gentle and romantic ambiance, when a sudden gust rattled the windows, reminding them of the stormy reality outside.
The wind howled as if voicing a warning to stay inside for the night. Cooper said, “You might want to think about spending the night in my guest room.”
While she appreciated the thought, she wasn’t ready to surrender to the weather yet.
Cooper added, “I can’t send you back to a home with no heat.”
He had a point. “I should look into getting a generator, shouldn’t I?”
Cooper tilted his head. “They come in handy.” He stood and started clearing the table. “In the meantime, the offer stands.”
When the dishes were cleared and the dishwasher loaded, they settled down in the living room by the fire. Laura gasped. “Oh! I almost forgot. My Christmas Eve gift.”
