Page 13 of Magic in Mistletoe
Nora yawned and laid back down. Martin brought her covers up and tucked her in.
“Read the room, Dad. No. Mom’s been gone a long time. Don’t you think it’s time to move on? I know you won’t forget her, but you have to live your life.”
He leaned down and kissed Nora on her warm forehead. “How did you get to be so wise?”
“My future self has children’s happiness riding on her shoulders. That makes you grow up fast.” Nora rolled onto her side. “And since I can’t go to the light festival tonight, take Sadie.”
“I wasn’t planning on attending the festival. There’s so much to do.”
“The crew is on schedule. Ellie told me so. Now go. For me.” She batted her eyelashes.
Martin released an exaggerated sigh. “You know I can never say no to you.”
As he departed from Nora’s room, an odd sensation struck him, a premonition almost, that one day, he would also find it near impossible to say no to Sadie.
Chapter 8
Thebellabovethedoor jingled merrily as Martin entered the Snowflake Sugar Shop, shaking off a dusting of snowflakes from his scarf. The aroma of chocolate and peppermint swirled in the air, enveloping Sadie as she stood behind the counter, arranging candy canes with meticulous precision.
“Good afternoon, Sadie,” Martin called out, his gap-toothed smile as warm as the lights strung across the store’s windowsill.
“Hi, Martin.” Sadie couldn’t stop the smile that began blossoming on her cheeks. Not with the memory of their sleigh ride under the Northern Lights so fresh in her mind. “What brings you here today?”
“Well,” he began, glancing at the floor before looking at Sadie, “I was wondering if you’d like to accompany me to the opening of the light festival tonight? Nora is still under the weather but insisted I attend, and I’d hate to go alone.”
Sadie hesitated momentarily, her fingers tightening around the candy cane in her hand. She empathized with his reluctance to go solo; she also unliked attending events by herself. Perhaps they, both newcomers in this quaint town, could support one another.
“Sounds nice,” she replied, setting the candy canes down. “I’d love to go to the light festival with you.”
“Really?” Martin’s eyes lit up, reflecting the colorful array of sweets that adorned the shelves of the candy store. “Thank you, Sadie. I promise it will be worth your time.”
“It better be,” she teased.
“Oh, I promise,” he said. “Let’s say I meet you here at six?”
“It’s a date.”
“Ready?” Martin asked, holding the door open for her.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Sadie said, trying to ignore the flutter of excitement that stirred within her chest. She couldn’t explain it, but there was something about Martin that made her feel as if she were stepping into a world she’d long forgotten. “I can’t believe I’m voluntarily spending more time in the cold and snow.”
“Sadie,” Martin said, his hand on the small of her back. “Once you experience some Christmas magic, you’ll forget all about the cold.”
“Is that a promise?” she asked playfully, zipping up her jacket as they stepped out into winter’s frosty embrace.
“It is,” Martin said, his eyes sparkling with what Sadie believed to be mischief.
Once outside, a hastily walking figure nearly bumped right into them.
“Watch where you’re going,” a sharp voice called out as the figure drew to a stop. Sadie sighed. She knew exactly who that voice belonged to.
Eleanor Frost stood on the sidewalk, her eyes scanning the block before settling on Sadie and Martin. Despite the chill outside, she seemed unaffected by the cold, her graying hair pulled back into a tight bun.
“Oh, Sadie. I’m surprised you’re heading to the light festival tonight.”
“And why is that, Eleanor?”
“Well, you’re a big city girl, aren’t you? Surely, our little town’s display will be nothing short of disappointing.”
