Page 37 of Healing Hearts at the Christmas Inn
As they worked, Charlie learned bits and pieces about Maddy's life. Her father wasn't in the picture and had left her mother before she was born in London. They had returned to Anastasia Island, where her mother was from, and moved in with Isabella’s grandmother, who had passed away a few years ago. They still lived in her great-grandmother's old house, which her mom had inherited, but Maddy still called it Grandma's.
The loneliness in the girl's voice when she talked about her great-grandmother made Charlie's chest ache. She caught Holly's eye and knew her sister heard it too.
By the time judging rolled around, their gingerbread house was impressive. Not perfect, but charming. Maddy and Trinity had created a winter wonderland scene, complete with candy cane fencing and a gumdrop path.
When the judges announced third place, the girls screamed and jumped up and down, hugging each other. Their prize was a small trophy and a gift certificate to the candy store, which they immediately decided to split.
"That was so much fun!" Trinity said, still bouncing as they cleaned up their station.
"Can we do more stuff?" Maddy asked hopefully. "There's a snowman building competition starting in like twenty minutes."
Charlie exchanged a look with Holly, and in that moment, something passed between them. An understanding. An agreement.
They weren't ready to go back to the inn yet. They weren't ready to let this perfect day end.
This place, these people, were already becoming important.
And Charlie realized with a start that the three weeks she’d thought were going to be long suddenly seemed too short for this vacation.
12
CHARLIE
“Snow?” Charlie’s brows rose as she looked at Maddy. “This is Florida!”
“Yes, and we have very big snow machines,” Maddy told her with a big grin, pointing in the direction of one currently filling an area.
Charlie glanced at Holly, who shrugged and smiled. "Why not? We're here to explore and have fun." Her eyes held a challenge. “When last did we participate in Christmas activities like this?”
“You’re right!” Charlie agreed. “Now I can say I saw it snow in Florida!”
They migrated toward the snowman building area, where artificial snow had been piled into large mounds. Teams were already forming, gathering supplies from a central station that offered scarves, hats, buttons, carrots, and various other decorating materials.
Charlie, Holly, Trinity, and Maddy approached the registration table and signed up. As they finished, a familiar voice called out.
"Holly! Charlie!"
They turned to see Martha from the ornament workshop, waving enthusiastically. She hurried over, her face bright with excitement.
"I was hoping I'd run into you again," Martha said. "My usual partners all teamed up with their grandkids, and I'm left flying solo." She looked hopefully at Holly. "Any chance you'd want to be my partner? I promise I'm better at snowmen than I am at painting angels."
Holly glanced at Charlie, who shrugged. "I don't mind. I'm content just wandering around in the snow. Even if it is fake, it's still snow in Florida."
"Perfect!" Martha beamed. “We should go get some snowman supplies before all the good ones are gone.”
“I’ll catch up, Martha,” Holly said and turned back toward Charlie, and was about to say something when Maddy caught their attention.
"Uncle Logan!" Maddy suddenly squealed.
Charlie's stomach dropped as she followed Maddy's gaze. Sure enough, Logan from the Christmas Inn was walking toward the ice cream vendor, his attention on the cart's colorful display. He looked relaxed in faded jeans and a work shirt, completely at ease.
Before Charlie could react, Maddy was already rushing toward him, Trinity hot on her heels as Logan had changed course and was walking to meet the girls hurtling toward him.
"I found you a partner, Charlie!" Maddy called over her shoulder.
"No, wait—" Charlie started, but it was too late.
Charlie turned to see her sister staring at her with one eyebrow rising as she took in Charlie's tense posture. "Do you know him?" Holly asked curiously.
