Page 52 of Once Upon a Winter
Laura’s eyes swept over the scene before her. It was a lot to absorb.
“Real life might not always be Christmas-card-perfect, but the spirit of this town, the way we rally behind each other—that is what makes this town special.”
With a deep breath, Laura whispered to herself, “Life isn’t about perfect moments. It’s about the imperfect moments and how we face them together.”
Cooper smiled gently. “There’s a possibility you and I might have future disagreements.” His eyes twinkled as a smile lit his face. “But we’ll figure it out.”
He gave her hand a squeeze then turned to take the wheel and pull onto the road. “So that’s my hometown, and I’m glad you’re a part of it.”
“Me too.”
New Year’sEve arrived with a flurry of excitement and anticipation as Mistletoe prepared to bid farewell to the old year and welcome a new one with open arms. In the twilight, the town square transformed into a bustling hub of activity as families and friends gathered for a fireworks display.
Laura stood beside Cooper, her hair brushing against his shoulder as they gazed up at the indigo sky, waiting for the first burst of color to announce the new year’s arrival. The surrounding air crackled with energy, a palpable sense of hope and promise that mirrored the emotions in their own hearts.
As fireworks lit up the night sky, Cooper pulled Laura close, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before they sealed their newfound love with a passionate kiss.
“Happy New Year,” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.
“Happy New Year,” she replied, the taste of his lips still lingering on hers.
And as the night sky filled with glittering light, Laura and Cooper stood poised to face the new year. With hearts full of hope and determination, they embraced the unknown, ready to make the most of every moment in the coming new year. They now knew that the true magic of Christmas lasted throughout the year because the true magic of Christmas was love.
Epilogue
Eleven MonthsLater
Christmas cheer was beginning to wrap its festive arms around the quaint village of Mistletoe. In the heart of town, Jessica Carmichael stood behind the counter of her thriving antiques store, her silver hair glinting in the twinkling lights adorning the shop.
“Another magical Christmas season is upon us,” she murmured to herself, a nostalgic glimmer gracing her deep-blue eyes as she thought back on Laura and the enchanting snow globe she’d sold her almost a year ago. It felt like only yesterday that Laura had walked into her store, drawn by the captivating aura of an intricately crafted snow globe. Jessica wondered what the current season would bring. She smiled as she sorted the new inventory that had arrived earlier that day. Her fingers brushed against something cold and familiar. Her face lit up with anticipation when she came to a familiar box containing another unique hand-blown snow globe. It was remarkably similar to last year’s but featured a different house nestled within its glassy confines.
Earlier in the day, the mysterious white-haired craftsman had stopped by as he did once a year with a single snow globe. She still didn’t get very much conversation out of him, but that morning, he’d offered an enigmatic smile and cryptic words that still echoed in her thoughts. “It’s a hobby. I like to think I put a little Christmas magic in each one.”
“Who could this one be for?” she wondered aloud, her curiosity piqued.
The door chimes jingled, interrupting her musings. In walked a petite young woman with short, stylish blond hair and wrapped in a thick green scarf, her cheeks rosy from the chilly winter air.
“Sandra! Hello!” Jessica stopped what she was doing to give Sandra a hug.
“Hi, Jessica.” She offered her usual bright, cheery facade that masked her true feelings, or so Jessica suspected. She sensed the weight of the past year on Sandra’s shoulders—the loss of her job, the year-old breakup with Cooper that she couldn’t seem to get past, and the move home when her life in the city had seemed to crumble beneath her.
“It’s so good to see you!”
Sandra attempted a weak smile. “Thanks.”
Jessica glanced at a stack of boxes. “Look at me, chatting away like I have nothing to do. I’ll let you get on with some shopping while I unpack and shelve these new items.”
As Sandra wandered through the familiar aisles of the shop, her eyes fell upon the snow globe Jessica had left on the counter. Drawing closer, she gently cradled the globe in her hands, charmed by the wintry world it contained. With a wistful sigh, she carefully set it back down and worked her way up and down the aisles until she returned to the snow globe.
She called out to Jessica, who was at the end of the counter, scanning barcodes. “I don’t know why I’m asking. I’m sure I can’t afford it, but how much is this?”
Seeing Sandra’s face glowing with childlike joy, Jessica shocked even herself by saying, “As a matter of fact, it’s on sale.”
“Really? So early? But Christmas isn’t for another couple of weeks.”
“It must be fate.” Jessica had a sudden sense that it was.
“How much is it?” Sandra asked softly, her eyes still fixed on the scene within the glass sphere.
