Chapter1
Christian
The Uber's door creaked open, and I stepped out into the crisp December air.Holly Ridge lay before me, a picture-perfect postcard of a town.Snow dusted the ground like powdered sugar on a holiday pastry, and the scent of pine mingled with the cool breeze.Christmas lights twinkled from every lamppost and storefront, casting a warm glow against the early evening sky.
"Welcome to Holly Ridge," I muttered under my breath, pulling my coat tighter around me.
Wreaths adorned nearly every door, and garlands draped across window sills.A giant Christmas tree stood proudly in the town square, its branches heavy with ornaments and tinsel.Children with rosy cheeks ran around, their laughter echoing through the streets as they built snowmen and tossed snowballs.
Cavil had been insistent."Holly Ridge is just what you need," he’d said over a pint in that dingy London pub we frequented before we were discharged and moved to the States."A place to clear your head, get away from it all."
I wasn’t so sure.The town’s festivity seemed overwhelming.Every corner screamed cheer and goodwill, two things I felt a stranger to these days.
I adjusted my duffel bag on my shoulder and took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill my lungs.The weight of memories tugged at me—old missions, faces of comrades lost.Holly Ridge felt too bright, too...festive for someone like me.
A small bakery caught my eye, its windows fogged from the warmth inside.The sign above read Sugar & Spice Bakery.Inside, people sat with mugs of steaming hot chocolate, their faces lit with joy.My stomach growled at the sight.
"Maybe a bite wouldn’t hurt," I thought aloud, moving toward the door.
The bell above tinkled as I entered.The warmth enveloped me instantly, and the sweet smell of pastries made my mouth water.
A young woman behind the counter looked up and smiled.
"Welcome!What can I get for you?"she asked brightly.
"Just a coffee," I replied, dropping my bag by a nearby table.
As she prepared my drink, I glanced around.Families chatted animatedly; kids scribbled letters to Santa on napkins.It was a slice of normalcy that felt worlds away from where I'd been.
The young woman behind the counter had long, auburn hair that framed her face in loose waves, pulled back into a high ponytail.Her eyes were a warm hazel, and she wore a green apron adorned with flour and frosting smudges.Her smile was genuine, the kind that made you feel like you'd known her for years.
"I don't recognize you," she said, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
"I'm new," I replied, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.
"I can tell," she said with a grin."I'm Emma, by the way.So… are you from England?"
I smiled but didn't say anything, choosing instead to take in the surroundings.The bakery felt like stepping into another world—one filled with laughter and light.
"Are you visiting anyone?"she asked, her tone still friendly but now tinged with concern.
I shook my head, feeling a twinge of annoyance at her questions.I didn't understand why she needed to know so much about me.
"Do you need a place to stay?"she asked, unfazed by my silence."If so, I recommend the Holly Ridge Inn.It's run by Claire Bennett.She's my best friend.But if you need something more permanent, she has a room for rent above the inn."
Before I could respond, she handed me a steaming cup of coffee.The aroma hit me instantly—rich and robust.
"Thanks," I mumbled, taking the cup from her.
She nodded and returned to her work, leaving me to find a seat by the window.The warmth of the coffee seeped through the cup, grounding me in this new reality.As I sipped, I watched the town's residents go about their evening routines.
I couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place, like an outsider peering into someone else's life.The woman behind the counter had been kind, but her questions left me uneasy.Still, I had to admit—the coffee was good.
A group of children dashed past the window, their laughter rising above the soft hum of conversation inside the bakery.They reminded me of simpler times before life got complicated and filled with shadows.
Emma’s voice broke through my thoughts once more as she called out an order to another customer.She seemed so at ease here, so connected to this place and its people.
Maybe Cavil had been right about Holly Ridge after all.
