Page 19 of Magic in Mistletoe
Kristopher laughed. “They certainly did, my dear. They certainly did.”
“And this is Jack,” Martin said, gesturing toward a tall, lanky man with dark hair tucked under a beanie who was busy untangling a string of Christmas lights.
“Hey,” Jack greeted, nodding at Sadie before returning to his task.
Sadie smiled at what she thought of as North Pole aesthetic meets urban chic, noting Jack’s fitted red hoodie, designer jeans, and a pair of boots that were both stylish and suitable for the snow.
“And this is Ellie, my assistant and good friend. Behind the table, doing goodness knows what, are her two sons, Simon and Erik.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ellie said.
“And you,” Sadie replied, facing a woman in her forties who exuded a sense of gentle authority. She had reddish-brown hair with silver streaks, neatly styled in a bun, and intelligent brown eyes. Her attire was festive, featuring a red velvet dress complemented by a golden belt. A green woolen shawl was draped over one shoulder, adding to her holiday ensemble.
“I’m the only one not dressed for a holiday party,” Sadie whispered to Martin. “Even you’re wearing something festive.”
Martin glanced down at his red and white knit sweater and shrugged. “What can I say? My family enjoys celebrating this time of the year.”
That made Sadie gasp. “Are you having a party? Did I interrupt a family event?”
“Oh, no. Nothing like that. Everyone is leaving soon, anyway.”
“Isn’t it dangerous for them to be out in this storm?”
He laughed, patting her shoulder reassuringly. “Oh, don’t worry. They’ve been through far worse than this. Besides, we’re all used to handling challenging weather.”
“Really?” she asked, her curiosity piqued. “What do you—”
“Sadie!” Nora called from the family room doorway, her golden-brown hair tied back in a loose ponytail. “Dad said you were coming.”
“Hi, Nora.”
“I was about to bake some cookies. Would you like to help?”
“I don’t really do any baking.”
“I’ll show you. It’s easy, and it will get you out of the Christmas-on-steroids room.” She motioned to the chaos.
“Now, Nora,” Kristopher called out.
“Kidding, Great-Grandpa. You know I love it too.” Nora turned to Sadie and rolled her eyes, making Sadie laugh.
“Sure, Nora. I’d love to.”
“Awesome. Follow me.”
In the kitchen, Sadie found herself swept up in the delightful process of cookie-making. Nora chatted animatedly as they measured out ingredients, mixed dough, and cut out festive shapes.
“Your house is so lovely,” Sadie remarked. “And I’ve never seen such beautiful decorations.”
“Dad always goes all out for Christmas, sometimes a little overboard, but that’s okay. It’s our family’s favorite time of the year.”
“So I’ve been told,” Sadie laughed, standing beside Nora as they pressed sprinkles onto cookies, allowing herself to enjoy the moment, let her walls down, and embrace the warmth that radiated from every corner of this magical place.
The cookies were cooling on the counter, their sweet aroma mingling with the scent of pine boughs and cinnamon. Nora scrolled on her phone while Sadie walked around the kitchen. She found herself drawn to the mantel—yes, the Kringle family also had a fireplace in the kitchen—where a beautiful, hand-carved forest scene held a place of honor.
As she studied the intricate details, she felt a presence at her side.
“Ah, you’ve discovered my pride and joy,” Martin said, his eyes shining as he picked up the tiny figure of a moose. “My father carved that for me when I was a boy.”
