Page 19 of Healing Hearts at the Christmas Inn
The landscape began to shift as she drew closer to the coast. The flat stretches of highway gave way to clusters of buildings, their lights twinkling in the darkness. And then, suddenly, the city opened up before her.
Charlie's breath caught.
St. Augustine glowed.
It was after eight now, the sky a deep velvet black, and against that darkness the city sparkled like something out of a dream. Millions of tiny white lights draped from every surface, outlining the Spanish colonial buildings, wrapping around balconies, cascading down walls. The historic district stretched before her, its narrow streets lined with centuries-old structures that seemed to pulse with golden warmth.
Charlie slowed the car, her eyes wide, taking it all in. The Bridge of Lions loomed ahead, its twin marble lions standing sentinel at either end, their forms outlined in lights that reflected off the water below. The bay sparkled beneath them, the surface rippling with a thousand dancing reflections.
She drove across the bridge slowly, almost reverently, her hands light on the wheel. To her left, the city continued to glow, its rooftops and church spires lit like something out of a fairytale. To her right, the bay stretched wide and dark, dotted with boats whose masts were strung with lights.
It was breathtaking.
The road curved as she reached the other side of the bridge, and the landscape shifted again. The buildings grew sparser, replaced by dunes and sea grass that swayed in the ocean breeze. The scent of salt filled the car, sharp and clean, and Charlie rolled down her window to let it in.
Anastasia Island.
The GPS guided her down a side road, and within minutes, the Christmas Inn came into view.
Charlie eased off the gas, her mouth curving into a smile.
The inn was gorgeous. Even more beautiful than the photos Holly had shown her. It sat perched on the edge of the shore, a sprawling white structure with wraparound porches and balconies that faced the Atlantic. Every railing, every window, every column was wrapped in strings of golden lights that glowed against the night. Palm trees flanked the entrance, their trunks spiraled with more lights, and the sandy pathway leading up to the front door was lined with luminarias that flickered softly in the breeze.
It looked like a postcard. Like something too perfect to be real.
Charlie pulled into the small parking area and cut the engine. For a moment, she just sat there, staring at the inn through the windshield. The sound of the ocean filled the air, a constant, rhythmic crash of waves against the shore. The breeze was cool and damp, carrying the scents of salt, pine, and something else. Something she couldn't name but that made her chest feel light.
She climbed out of the car and took a deep breath, letting the sea air fill her lungs. It was fresher here. Tangier. Like the ocean had scrubbed the world clean, leaving only the essentials behind.
Charlie moved to the trunk and popped it open, reaching for her suitcase. She'd packed light, just one bag and a carry-on, but even so, she was looking forward to dropping them off and finding Holly and Trinity. Maybe getting some food. Her stomach had been growling for the last hour, and the thoughtof a hot meal and a cold drink was almost enough to make her weep.
She grabbed her bags and turned toward the inn.
A blur of movement caught her eye.
A blue pickup truck swerved into the parking lot, headlights cutting through the darkness, and swung into the space beside her car with enough speed to make Charlie jump back.
The truck's tire came within inches of her suitcase.
"Watch it, you maniac!" Charlie shouted, her heart pounding.
The truck came to a stop, and through the glare of the lights reflecting off the windshield, she saw the driver raise a hand in apology. She couldn't make out his face, just the silhouette of broad shoulders and the vague impression of someone tall.
Charlie shook her head, her jaw tight, and took a deep breath. She was not going to let some reckless idiot ruin the start of her vacation. Not after the day she'd had. Not after the year she'd had.
This was her first time disconnecting from work in forever. Her first real break. And from the look of the town and the island, they were going to have a magical Christmas.
The thought filled her with a strange, uplifting feeling she couldn't quite explain. It was warm and bright, like sunlight breaking through clouds, and it made her smile despite her irritation.
Charlie shook it off, chalking it up to excitement, and headed for the inn.
The moment she stepped through the door, the feeling intensified.
It hit her like a wave, warm and electric, and for half a second, she stopped in her tracks. The sensation was impossible to describe. It wasn't quite happiness, though there was joy in it. It wasn't quite hope, though there was promise in it. It was something deeper, something that hummed in her chest and whispered in her ear.
This is going to be a Christmas you'll never forget.
Charlie blinked, her hand still on the door, and glanced around the lobby. The space was beautiful. Polished wood floors, a roaring fireplace, vintage photographs lining the walls. A massive Christmas tree stood in the corner, its branches hung with handmade ornaments that sparkled in the firelight.
