Page 3 of Lone Wolf in Lights
Aubrey agreed with a nod. “Totally. Super cozy.”
Willow couldn’t suppress the flutter in her chest. Christmastime always warmed the chill in her bones. “Let’s grab a few boxes.” They had bought The Naked Moose, Jaxon’s old dive bar, when they’d first moved to Timber Falls and modernized it with a little big city flair turning it into a cocktail lounge. Charly handled the business end. Aubrey was a chef and created the cocktails. Willow handled the marketing, and she couldn’t wait to sprinkle the place with Christmas magic.
While Willow and Aubrey added the boxes to the cart, Charly moved further down the aisle. “What about these?” She held up a set of hand-painted ornaments that captured the rustic charm of Timber Falls. “Imagine them hanging around the bar.”
“Yes. Love them,” Willow agreed, and Charly placed them in the cart.
They continued on, stopping at the garlands of pine and holly.
“Oh, and these are a must-have.” Charly looped one around her neck, pretending it was a feather boa, and flung a grin over her shoulder.
Aubrey snorted, always the most sensible one of them.
Willow chuckled. The happiness in Charly’s eyes was a soothing balm, a striking contrast to the last year where Charly’s heart had been broken by her cheating ex-fiancé. She’d left him behind in Phoenix. But his passing away three months ago had been unexpected and difficult, and Willow was grateful Jaxon, Charly’s boyfriend, had been there for her.
“How about instead of wearing decorations we can drape these along the top of the bar?” Aubrey asked, selecting a garland that shimmered with tiny frosted berries.
“Always no fun,” Charly grumbled, setting her garland back down. “Fine. But don’t forget the mistletoe.”
Aubrey begrudgingly tossed one into the cart.
Willow shook her head at her friends before stopping at the end of the aisle. Her breath caught in her throat. Row after row displayed unpainted wood ornaments, ready to be made into something beautiful. “Now this is exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Charly and Aubrey joined her, their expressions softening. “These are perfect for your Empowerment Elves group,” Charly said.
The idea had come to Willow a month ago, while talk of the annual Timber Falls Christmas market hit the town. Empowerment Elves was a support group for women who needed a safe space and a friend, where they could heal their battered hearts while making crafts that they could sell at the Christmas market to raise money for the local women’s shelter, Haley’s Place.
“You’re right,” Willow said, her emotions thickening her voice. “These are exactly what we need.” This group she envisioned would be more than a gathering; it would be a lifeline—a place where women could stitch their wounds closed with threads of friendship and understanding. And it gave Willow a purpose she’d needed to move forward from her trauma.
Charly wrapped a comforting arm around Willow’s shoulders, determination lacing her words. “Let’s get enough for the first night and then we can go from there.” She gave a reassuring smile. “The bar will cover the first night.”
“You sure?” Willow asked. She’d planned on doing some fundraising but hadn’t gotten that far yet and had dipped into her savings.
Aubrey took Willow’s hand, squeezing tight. “We’ve got your back, Willow. Always.”
Willow leaned into their warmth. “I never doubt that. Thank you. I love you guys.”
“And we love you,” Charly said, kissing Willow’s cheek.
Aubrey gave a firm nod. “Even more than margaritas.”
Willow laughed. That was saying a lot. They all had a slight addiction to a good margarita.
With every item they added to their cart, Willow felt another piece of her armor shatter. And even though her ex-boyfriend Niko’s shadow and the trauma of the abuse still lingered in the corners of her mind, she hoped the light she was building here was strong enough to keep the darkness away. Because that was better than hiding away at home.
“You know,” Aubrey said after placing a few ornaments in the cart. “You should talk to Walt.” He owned the hardware store that had been in his family for a couple of generations. They’d gotten to know him very well since they’d moved to town, always in the store for one thing or another for both the bar and their house. “I bet he’d be willing to help out with the craft nights.”
“You think?” Willow hesitated, studying Walt, who stood behind the counter.
“Absolutely,” Charly chimed in. “He’s nice, and it’s for a good cause. Go talk to him. You’ve got this.”
With a deep breath searching for all her courage, thinking of the money they could raise for the shelter and all the women they could help, Willow stepped forward. “Okay,” she said, more to herself than to her friends. When she reached Walt, she cleared her throat. “Hi, Walt.”
“Hi there, Willow!” His response came easy. He was in his early seventies and had the warmest smile. “Can I help you find something?” he asked.
“No, I’m okay thanks,” Willow said, nibbling her lip. She’d never been good at asking for favors. “I actually have this idea, and I’m hoping you might be interested in being a part of it.”
Walt leaned forward, his expression open, an encouraging nod prompting her to continue.
