Page 35 of Magic in Mistletoe
“So maybe this isn’t the best time to bring this up, but what the heck were you thinking, asking Sadie to move with us?” Nora asked.
Martin’s mouth fell open, and he looked at Sadie, who shrugged.
“Dad, you’ve only known her a few weeks. Way to freak her out. Haven’t you ever heard of Facetime? Or if that fails, your magical sleigh?”
“Nora—”
“No, Dad, seriously. I like Sadie, and there you are, scaring her off. Good thing you have me for damage control.”
“Damage control?” Had he blown it?
“Yeah. And good thing your girlfriend here is an out-of-the-box thinker. She’s come up with an amazing idea to keep the village here.”
“She has?” He turned to Sadie. “You have?”
“We think so,” Sadie said, with Nora beside her, nodding in encouragement. “So here it is: you move the village to Mistletoe.”
The room fell silent as Martin’s eyes widened at the suggestion. He hesitated, unsure of how to respond to their well-intentioned plan.
“Move the factory to Mistletoe,” he repeated, his mind churning with doubts. “That’s quite a bold idea.”
“Think about it,” Sadie urged. “With your power source under the town, it makes practical sense.”
“I don’t understand. We can’t have all those people leave town. It’s their home. I thought you wanted to save it?”
“What? No,” Sadie said. “That’s not what we mean.”
Nora rolled her eyes. “We simply integrate our village into the town.”
“You’re not serious. It’s not that simple,” Martin said. Or was it?
Sadie paced in front of the fire. “First, we approach the mayor and city council with the proposal to move your toy factory and staff housing to Mistletoe. Then, we suggest that Mistletoe keeps the Christmas Festival running all year. I’m talking about perpetual garlands and twinkling lights, craft booths, a Christmas tree in the town square, parades, and an amusement park. The elk and reindeer can live in plain sight, maybe like a petting zoo. And then there’s the economic boom from all the new housing for your staff. As you said, they’re not elves, and Nora told me your team can secretly access the power source. Think of it as turning Mistletoe into a company town. It just happens that the company is Santa Inc.” Sadie stopped pacing and faced Martin. “It will be a huge draw for those who seek the joy of the holidays regardless of the calendar. Mistletoe will be saved, and you won’t have to move.”
Sadie continued, her voice soft yet persuasive. “Instead of hiding Santa’s Village, Mistletoe could be a beacon of Christmas spirit, a place where the joy of Christmas never fades, not even in the heat of July.”
Martin walked to the window, watching the snowfall. Could it be that easy? Integrating the village with Mistletoe. “You speak of dreams that twinkle like stars.”
Nora made a gagging noise. “Please don’t tell me he always speaks to you like that, Sadie.”
“Watch it, kid,” Martin said jokingly, while a blush that rivaled Rudolph’s nose spread across his cheeks.
“Let me just say this, and I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone,” Nora said, turning to her father. “You’ve dedicated your life to spreading happiness, Dad. Take this opportunity to enjoy some of your own.” And with that, Nora ran upstairs, leaving Martin wondering how he was lucky enough to have a daughter like her.
Then he turned to Sadie, catching the hope emanating from her and making his heart beat a little faster. This town, with its perpetual Christmas spirit, could indeed be the perfect backdrop for a new chapter...one where the magic included a touch of love.
He let out a laugh that nearly shook the garland off the walls. “How can I say no? I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard in a long time,” he said, and suddenly, Sadie was in his arms. He held her close and silently vowed to never let her go.
Martin’s fatigue vanished. Excitement charged the air as they discussed the merging of their worlds and their lives. As the night wore on, a shared vision for Mistletoe was born, woven with the promise of love and the timeless magic of Christmas. Their dreams and their hearts intertwining like the ribbons on a Christmas gift.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
MayorEvergreen,donningafestive holiday-themed suit, tapped on the microphone to gather everyone’s attention.
“Good evening,” he said. “I’d like to welcome you all to the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new and improved Mistletoe Village. A place where the holiday spirit never ends.”
After the cheers died down, Mayor Evergreen continued. “It’s hard to believe that it was only six months ago when Martin Kringle and Sadie Wexford—let’s have a hand for Martin and Sadie.”
