Page 21 of Magic in Mistletoe
“Sadie, what made you decide to move here and work at the candy shop?” Nora suddenly asked.
“Oh,” Sadie said, surprised, her fingers tightening around her cup. Moving to Mistletoe was supposed to be a fresh start, with no one knowing about her recent past in Miami. But there was something about Nora’s innocent gaze that made her want to open up. Besides, how hypocritical would it be if she, a hater of secrets, continued to hide a big one of her own?
“Before I moved here, I...I was on a reality show,” she admitted, biting her lip. “Have you heard ofSingle to Wed?”
“I have,” Nora gasped. “What happened?”
“Things didn’t end well,” Sadie said, trying to keep her voice steady. “I thought they did. Technically, I won, selected in the final episode as the bride-to-be. I got so caught up in the fantasy of it all I convinced myself we were in love.” Sadie sighed. “He lived in California, and I lived in Miami. After the big proposal, I thought he’d want me to move to California after the show ended so I could meet his family and start building our future. He convinced me to stay in Miami since we needed to keep things quiet until the show aired.”
Sadie stood and walked to the fireplace. The pain and embarrassment from that night caused her chest to ache. “I thought, fair enough. But as Christmas approached, and he hadn’t invited me out to meet his family—I know, red flags everywhere—I thought screw it, I’ll go surprise him. So, with the help of the network, I flew to California and surprised him at home, all while the cameras were rolling. And, let’s just say he wasn’t alone.”
“That’s awful,” Nora said.
“It was, and I wish it ended there, but no. Pulling me aside, he told me off, wondering how on earth I thought it was real when it was nothing more than a game and that I should have known better.” Sadie resisted the urge to run out of the room. “I was so hurt and humiliated, I snapped. I walked around his apartment, smashing everything I could, and the camera crew captured it all. It aired after the finale, and it was the most watched episode in the show’s history.” Even after a year, the humiliation stung. “I got fired. My so-called friends ghosted me, and strangers on the street would laugh if they recognized me, or worse, pretend not to see me at all. If he’d only told me, it would have hurt, but my life wouldn’t have imploded. And yes, before you say anything, I know that part of it was my fault.”
Martin opened his mouth to speak, but Sadie held up her hand to silence him.
She collapsed onto the couch. “So when a lawyer called me to say I’d inherited a store in a town I’d never heard of from a grandmother I never knew I had, I jumped at the chance for a fresh start.”
“Wow,” Nora said, running over and giving Sadie a hug. “Sometimes people suck.”
“Thank you,” Sadie replied, finding comfort in Nora’s support.
“Sadie, I’m so sorry,” Martin added, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand. “You deserve so much better than that.”
Sadie’s heart swelled with gratitude as she looked at the pair before her. “Thank you both,” she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.
As the fire crackled, Sadie felt a weight lift off her shoulders. The hurt from her past stung a little less. She’d taken a leap of faith, and it felt freeing. Surrounded by the genuine support of Martin and Nora, she shivered with the sensation that she had found a place where she truly belonged.
She caught Martin’s eye, and in that moment, something profound shifted within her. Sadie’s gaze lingered on Martin’s face, tracing the contours of his expression, seeking clues in his earnest eyes. Each line, each subtle shift of his features, seemed to whisper secrets of a future she dared to hope for. Her heart, wrapped in layers of caution and past hurts, began to break free. As she looked into his open, inviting eyes, something unspoken passed between them—a silent understanding, a tender promise. With a hesitant breath that felt like the first step into a new world, Sadie decided to take the risk. She slowly, tentatively placed her fragile, guarded heart into his waiting hands, a silent offering of trust, hope, and the budding possibility of love.
The warmth from the fire danced across their faces, casting shadows on the walls as the room settled into a comfortable silence. Martin could feel the emotional toll that confessing her broken engagement had taken on Sadie. Her slumped shoulders and bowed head were like silent, poignant testaments to her vulnerability.
Yet, their exchanged glance had been a beacon of unspoken understanding, a silent communion that transcended mere words. It was a seismic shift that resonated deep within his heart. It was as if, in that moment, they shared a silent language, a deep, empathetic connection that bridged their souls.
Feeling a surge of bravery and an overwhelming desire to comfort her, Martin gently wrapped an arm around Sadie. The simple act felt monumental, a protective embrace against the harshness of the world and a declaration of his intention to move beyond friendship. When she leaned into him, her head finding solace on his broad shoulder, it was as if a piece of the universe clicked into place. In their closeness, he felt a profound sense of rightness, a calming assurance that, at that moment, all was as it should be in their small corner of the universe.
“Excuse me,” Nora chimed in, startling Martin out of his thoughts. “I think I’ll go upstairs and read for a while.”
“Sure, honey,” Martin said, surprised by his daughter’s subtle head tilt toward the door, indicating that she wanted to talk in private.
“I need to talk to Nora for a second. I’ll be right back,” he said to Sadie.
“Sure,” Sadie said, curling her feet underneath her.
Martin walked into the hall, finding Nora lingering at the bottom of the staircase, concern etching her young features. “What’s going on?"
“Dad, you have to be careful with your Santa secret,” she whispered. “Secrets have hurt Sadie.”
Martin nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of her words more than Nora realized. Both of Sadie’s parents had kept secrets, and now this awful fellow. No wonder Sadie hated them so much. “I know, sweetheart. I’ll be cautious. But telling her is an enormous risk.”
“Dad, come on. It’s a bigger risk not to. At least think about it,” Nora insisted, her serious eyes searching his face.
“I promise.” He hugged his daughter tightly, sealing his vow with a tender kiss on her forehead.
As Nora retreated to her room, Martin returned to the couch, resuming his position beside Sadie. They sat in a tranquil silence, enjoying each other’s company as the fire continued to burn, casting a warm glow over the scene that unfolded before them. Sadie had opened up because she trusted him. Martin knew that. Was he brave enough to trust her? He longed to but hesitated. He’d never told anyone before, and now his secret loomed over them like a rain cloud. He felt ill.
Martin reluctantly pulled away from Sadie and, with a sigh, rose from the couch and retrieved his heavy winter coat.
