Page 26 of Magic in Mistletoe
“Sadie,” whispered Rosie, leaning in close. “We’re all in this together.”
Sadie nodded, touched by the strength of their support. “Thank you all so much,” she said, her voice strong. “It’s unlikely our supplier will be able to get through, so we’ll need supplies like sugar, milk, and chocolate. Anything you can spare would be greatly appreciated.”
“Leave it to us,” assured Mrs. Baker, already scribbling a list of supplies on a scrap of paper. “We’ll gather everything we need.”
“Sadie,” said Mayor Evergreen, stepping forward with an encouraging nod. “You may use the town hall as a makeshift candy factory. We’ll do this together. As a community.”
As the townsfolk chattered excitedly about their newfound roles as candy makers, warmth spread throughout Sadie’s body.
“Thank you, Mayor Evergreen,” Sadie said, shaking his hand. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to help save our town.”
Chapter 14
Martinsteeledhimselfashe entered the conference room, his heart pounding against his chest. A meeting called this late in the season made him nervous.
“Ah, Martin, there you are,” his grandfather exclaimed. “Come, sit down. We need to discuss the construction plans for the new toy factory and village.”
Martin nodded and took a seat next to Paul, the head of construction. Paul wore a look of concern on his rugged face, and Martin’s uneasiness grew.
“Alright, gentlemen,” Martin began. “What seems to be the problem?”
Paul grimaced and hesitated before speaking up. “Well, it appears we’ve made a miscalculation with the location of the toy factory and village. We cannot build where we initially planned.”
“But we’ve already begun. Can’t we adjust our plans?” Martin asked, his mind racing to find a solution. “Surely there must be some way to make it work.”
“Unfortunately, no,” Paul replied, rubbing the back of his neck. “While the town of Mistletoe received three feet of snow, we received four. Our spot in the secluded valley apparently pulls in its own weather systems. Not only has clearing the snow been a struggle, the hologenerator is drawing excess power to keep up. That means we are losing power in the rest of the site. Our underground power source is weaker than expected, so we cannot both work and run the hologenerator during inclement weather. Should we stay here, we are at risk of being discovered. After further geological analysis, it appears that the only spot that would work in this region is—” Paul stopped and sighed heavily. “Well, the actual town of Mistletoe.”
Martin’s heart dropped, and he could feel the blood draining from his face. “But we can’t do that. Building close to town is too risky. The toy store is already raising questions.”
“Exactly,” his grandfather chimed in, his voice somber. “We’ve been protecting our identity and operation for generations. We can’t risk exposing ourselves now.”
“Then what do we do?” Martin asked, his mind racing with the implications of moving their operation. He longed to stay put, longed for Nora to have stable years as a teenager. And then, of course, there was Sadie. He’d fallen hard.
“Martin,” his grandfather said, offering a sympathetic smile. “I know you’ve grown fond of the town and a certain young lady, but we have no choice.”
Martin looked down at his hands; his thoughts of Sadie clouded the decision before him. But he knew they had to move. There was no other way. “Alright,” he said, his heart heavy with the burden of their decision. “Let’s start researching a new location.”
Chapter 15
Sadieglancedatherphone. It was nearly six. Martin’s earlier text stated he was back in town and hoped she’d join him for dinner. Yes, she’d replied immediately. Now, excitement bubbled inside her as she stepped outside. Delight lit up her face as Martin’s sleigh, pulled by two magnificent reindeer, came into view.
“Good evening, Sadie,” Martin called out, his grin spreading wide. “Ready for our little adventure?”
“Adventure? Sounds fun,” she replied and climbed onto the sleigh, settling beside him as he clicked his tongue and set the reindeer into motion.
“You look beautiful,” he said, leaning over and brushing her cheek with a kiss.
She flushed. “You can barely see me under my hat and scarf.”
“Your eyes,” he said. “They’re sparkling, like the unwavering light of Polaris.”
Sadie swallowed the emotion that lodged in her throat. “If they are, it’s because of you,” she whispered.
Martin took the harness in one hand, then intertwined his free hand with Sadie’s. “I know we just met, but I feel such a strong connection with you.” He pulled her hand toward his lips and brushed it with the gentlest kiss. “I’m probably coming on too strong, but I can’t help it. In the boundless expanse of my existence, you have become my North Star, a celestial constant amidst the ever-twirling canvas of my world.”
Tears pooled in Sadie’s eyes. No one had ever said anything so beautiful to her.
“I’m sorry. I’ve made things awkward, haven’t I?”
