Page 24 of Magic in Mistletoe
“Me neither,” Sadie agreed, rubbing her hands together for warmth. She couldn’t help but think about Martin, wondering what could have taken him out of town so suddenly. Her mind raced with possibilities, but she pushed them aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Soon enough, Caleb arrived, his eyes filled with concern. He quickly set to work, examining the pipes at various points in the store.
“Well, there’s good news and bad,” Caleb announced.
“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Rosie said while putting a comforting arm around Sadie.
“Well, the good news is that there is only one pipe that has burst. The problem is that I can’t find the shut-off valve. You might need the water shut off by the town before I can thaw the pipe and repair it, and I’m not sure how they’d do that under all this snow.”
Sadie’s hope vanished like air out of a popped balloon, and she felt utterly defeated. “Well, thanks anyway, Caleb.”
“Anytime,” he replied. “I’m sorry it wasn’t better news.”
“I know we’ll find a way to make this work,” Rosie said.
“How?” Sadie retorted.
“We need to think outside the box,” Rosie suggested. “Or, more specifically, the candy store.”
Sadie hesitated, her skepticism warring with the faintest glimmer of hope. “What we need is Christmas magic,” Sadie whispered, reaching for her Santa hat and pulling it onto her head. Standing by the window, she stared at the town square while Martin’s words filled her mind:I suppose it depends on what you mean by magic. I believe in the power of love, the strength of friendship, and the joy that comes from giving to others. If that’s magic, then yes, I believe in it wholeheartedly.
They could do this. They could make the magic they needed. With renewed determination, Sadie nodded. “Alright. Let’s see what we’ve got left and get to work.”
“Let me know if I can do anything,” Caleb said as he left the store.
“Thanks,” Sadie said, then to Rosie, “Okay then, let’s get started.”
As they sorted through their remaining ingredients, Sadie’s thoughts drifted back to Martin, wondering where he was and what was so urgent. She shook her head, returning her attention to the task at hand. They needed a new plan, and they needed it fast.
“Hey, what about using these dark chocolate chips and the peppermint extract?” Rosie suggested, holding up the items triumphantly.
“Peppermint chocolate bark?” Sadie mused aloud. “We can add crushed candy canes for some extra crunch.”
“Exactly. It’s perfect for the holiday season, and it’s something we can make quickly.”
“Alright,” Sadie agreed, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Now, we need to find somewhere to work.”
Sadie’s phone buzzed with a text. “Another emergency town meeting,” she called out to Rosie. “How come they can text the invite but not the information?”
Rosie laughed. “Mayor Evergreen does enjoy the theatrics.”
Sadie gave a nod of agreement, her eyes then drifting toward the window. She observed the townspeople outside, engaged in a flurry of activity as they worked to restore order in the storm’s aftermath. She had no doubts about the town’s resiliency. You had to be tough to survive in this climate. Yet, as she watched the cleanup efforts, Sadie knew this storm had been so monumental it had somehow reshaped their very destinies.
Chapter 13
SadieandRosiefiledinto the cramped town hall for the emergency meeting, their winter coats brushing against fellow townspeople as they searched for a spot to stand. The air buzzed with tension, every eye glued to the front where Mayor Evergreen stood tall behind a wooden podium.
“Over there,” whispered Rosie, pointing to a sliver of space near Caleb, who had spotted them and waved them over with a concerned smile.
“Sadie, Rosie, I’m glad you made it,” Caleb said as they squeezed in beside him. Sadie noticed the worry lines that had etched themselves across his usually cheerful face.
“Thanks, Caleb,” she replied. “The mayor sure loves meetings.”
Caleb released a small laugh. “This is more than normal, even for Mistletoe.”
The murmur of hushed conversations suddenly ceased as Mayor Gregory Evergreen tapped on the microphone, his gaze sweeping the room like a hawk surveying its prey. He cleared his throat, and his deep voice reverberated through the hall.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming to this emergency town meeting. As you all know, the storm we experienced was nothing short of disastrous.” Sadie found her thoughts drifting to her candy store. She clenched her fists as responsibility pressed on her shoulders.
