Page 27 of Magic in Mistletoe
“No, not awkward,” Sadie replied, leaning her head on his shoulder and squeezing his hand. “But being with you feels too good to be true. Like one day, I will wake up from this beautiful dream and be heartbroken.”
“Not if I can help it,” Martin replied, his tone surprisingly serious.
Sadie sat up, laughing, and gave him a playful shove. “You’re too much, Martin Kringle.” When he turned to face her, she grabbed him by the collar and gave him a deep, passionate kiss. She may not have the heart of a poet like Martin did, but at that moment under the velvety night sky, she knew wholeheartedly that Martin was her star too, burning with an unfading glow and illuminating her every step with light and certainty.
As they glided through the snow-covered streets, Sadie couldn’t shake the feeling that something extraordinary was happening—not only between her and Martin but also within herself. For the first time in years, she was opening up and letting people in. And oh, how cathartic that was. Expressing to Martin her pain over the secrets her parents had kept loosened their hold on her, and watching the town pull together to help the Snowflake Sugar Shop restored her belief in the goodness of people. Then there were Rosie and Caleb, and the whole town, who stood by her even after her public meltdown on the reality show. This was friendship. This was trust. This was what it meant to be part of a community. She was both terrified and exhilarated. And this awakening, this understanding of belonging, had all begun because of the man by her side.
“I don’t know if I ever told you how beautiful the sleigh is,” Sadie said, breaking the cocooning silence they’d become enveloped in. She ran her fingers along the intricately carved wooden rails.
“Thank you. I made it myself,” Martin replied, a hint of pride in his voice. “It’s a Kringle family tradition. Like a coming-of-age type of thing.”
“You’re not serious?”
“I swear.” He placed his hand on his chest.
“Your family is unique, that’s for sure,” she said, laughing.
“That we are,” Martin agreed.
The sleigh came to a gentle halt outside Martin’s snow-covered cabin. The warm glow from the windows cast a welcoming light on the frosty ground, inviting them in. Sadie’s heart raced with anticipation.
“Ah, here we are,” Martin said as he helped her down from the sleigh. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Inside, the cabin was cozy and charming, with a roaring fire in the hearth and the aroma of freshly baked bread filling the room. The table was set for two, adorned with flickering candles and a bouquet of vibrant red roses.
“Martin, this is...it’s beautiful,” Sadie said, her voice soft.
“Nothing but the best for you,” he replied, pulling out her chair with a flourish. “And it’s just the two of us. Nora is helping Ellie prepare for our Christmas Eve event. That night is typically a bit hectic, but I’m hoping, unless you have other plans, that you’ll celebrate Christmas Day with us.”
“I’d love to,” Sadie replied. “What can I bring—and don’t say candy.” They both laughed.
“Just yourself. We have it all covered.”
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.”
They sat and shared a delicious meal, the conversation flowing effortlessly between them.
“Again, I’m sorry for having to take off so suddenly the other day. We had a crisis I needed to deal with,” Martin said.
“And everything’s worked out?”
Martin shrugged. Something washed across his face then disappeared. “It’s handled. Not the best solution, but the only one we could come up with. But enough about work. Tell me what happened in town while I was gone.”
“We had a bit of a crisis, too,” Sadie exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement. “Have I got a story for you.”
“Tell me,” he urged.
Sadie explained everything, from the burst pipes to the town hall meeting to the donations of her profits from the candy order.
“That’s incredibly generous of you,” Martin said, admiration clear in his voice.
“Thanks, but wait until you hear what happened next.” She paused for dramatic effect. “Eleanor Frost stood up in front of everyone and questioned my sincerity. Can you believe it?”
“Sadly, I can,” he replied with a knowing smile.
“Then she announced how I made a complete fool of myself on that reality show,” Sadie continued, her face turning a shade of crimson at the memory. “I thought they’d laugh me out of Mistletoe. Instead, the entire town stood up for me. In fact, they already knew about the show.”
