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“It’s such a special time of year,” Grant continued, unaware of Annie’s silent lament. “It’s just nice to be back home. There’s no place I would rather be than right here.” Grant concluded, and Nick nodded.

“Really, Grant? I feel like I could think of a few places you’d prefer … oh, and I’m dying to know what happened after the party. Did you take Santa home with you?” Annie prodded, committed to cracking him. Grant gave her a puzzled look, but Annie was determined to poke a hole in this man’s costume if he insisted on wearing Grant as his disguise.

Chris broke Annie’s investigation, swinging a full tray of steaming hot chocolates and sugar cookies in their direction.

“I got some for you too, buddy,” Chris told Grant affectionately.

“Are you trying to butter me up?” Grant asked playfully. “Hey, y’all, Chris is trying to butter me up!” Grant said loudly, grinning.

“Y’all? We’re in Connecticut,” Annie said, wondering why everyone seemed so eager to weave in and out of stereotypical Southern charm. “You know Grant’s imagining Chris rubbing butter all over his chest,” Annie told Nick.

Chris reached for a sugar cookie and took an enormous bite; the sound of sugar cracked and echoed in Annie’s ear. Her stomach flipped in response, desperately wishing for anything other than the current offerings. Not because she was especially hungry, the made-for-TV Christmas movie haze must be delaying her usual voracious appetite, but because the thought of only existing on hot chocolate and sugar cookies made her uneasy. Where was Marsha with her purse always full of snacks and quick dinner options when you needed her? The thought of her best friend made Annie ache. What she wouldn’t give to have Marsha nearby, for so many reasons, and instead she was stuck with Nick and a bunch of weird pod people.

“I’m going to finish setting up,” Grant smiled. “You better clear those ears out, because our first trivia question involves music lyrics,” Grant winked and mimed locking up his mouth and throwing an invisible key into his cup of hot chocolate. He grabbed a pair of reindeer antlers and welcomed another group of participants.

“Don we now our gay apparel …” Annie murmured.

“Annie, we haven’t started yet!” Bailey laughed, appearing by Nick’s side.

“You’re a natural at this,” Chris told her reassuringly. Annie sighed and took a sugar cookie to dip into her hot chocolate.

“Fa-la-la la-la la-la-la-la!” Annie sang, directing her voice at Nick, her mouth now crammed with cookies. Nick grabbed a cookie, keeping strong direct eye contact, and gingerly placed the entire thing in his mouth.

“Troll the ancient yuletide carol,” Nick grinned back with small bits of cookie across his front teeth, and despite herself, Annie smiled.

Grant’s voice, which was now mic’d and coming from multiple speakers surrounding the town square space, directed everyone’s attention to the small stage where he waved a large flag on a pole. Annie couldn’t quite make out the mass of text on it.

“Welcome to the Annual Simsbury Snowman Shaping, Sculpting, and Styling Spectacular Showcase Soiree! Yippee!” Grant managed to get out the tongue twister without stammering and all within one breath. “The Annual Simsbury Snowman Shaping, Sculpting, and Styling Spectacular Showcase Soiree is a true town favorite, and I’m thrilled to be your master of ceremonies.” Grant bowed proudly as the crowd cheered.

Once they had finally calmed, Grant continued in a softer, more serious tone, “I know how important the Annual Simsbury Snowman Shaping, Sculpting, and Styling Spectacular Showcase Soiree is to our festive community. This truly is the most magical time of year. Teams of four will compete to create a unique design capturing the joy of the season, but I already consider us all winners of the Annual Simsbury Snowman Shaping, Sculpting, and Styling Spectacular Showcase Soiree for simply being here tonight. When I ring my golden Christmas bell, one member of your team will be sent to grab four props from a designated table. Some things will be bundled and others will be single items. And the other team members can handle the balls.”

Annie let out an involuntary small choke of laughter at Grant’s earnest usage of “balls.” Nick shot her a warning stare before rolling his eyes, and Chris looked on quizzically, unsure what that sound was or why Annie had made it.

“Remember, every five minutes, I’ll ring the bell with a new question, and if your team answers correctly, you’ll win another prop to use in your design! How is everyone feeling? Are we ready to have ‘a ball’?” Grant asked and the crowd let out more cheers. “Have an ‘ice’ time and I wish you blizzards of success! Ready! Set! Snow!” Grant chanted, rapidly waving the flag and a bell in unison.

Holly squealed in delight, and Chris wrapped an arm around her. Nick glanced at Annie as if waiting for her direction.

“Do you want to start on the snowman, and I can get the props?” Annie suggested. It’s not that she had any real interest in participating in this absurdly titled event, but she did have an appreciation for accessories and a deep curiosity about what she could uncover. More importantly, she knew her talents did not lie in snow construction.

Her team nodded, and Annie set off for the tented prop area and its tables at a steady pace. Somehow, though, she wasn’t quick enough. When she walked in, the space was empty and most of the items were already gone. How everyone else had managed to secure their items before Annie had walked in seemed suspicious. “Snowman sabotage,” Annie muttered, trying to quickly assess her very limited options.

She saw a basket of large pieces of sheer cloth and grabbed it. Next, she saw a ginormous tub of cellophane and white wire, and placed the basket on top, planning to carry out her four items in one go despite their size. She couldn’t find a traditional black top hat, but she found a red beret and put it on her head before snatching a lonely orange carrot that had fallen off a table and shoving it in her mouth to bring back to their spot.

Annie knew she must look ridiculous carrying the basket on top of the tub while wearing a beret and lightly keeping a carrot steady between her teeth. But the current of competition raced through her veins. Annie shuffled forward, unable to see much before her and trusting she’d get where she needed to be without much fuss. It should have come as no surprise when her body and all of the items she was carrying collided with three large balls of snow in the process of being transformed into a man, and all of the props went flying into the air.

In the nanoseconds before she went down, Annie saw the sheer fabric pieces escaping in different directions, and for one glorious moment, she was performing an elaborate ribbon dancing routine at the Olympics. She also made out the blur of a rogue, medium-sized, shaggy dog wearing a green bandana who caught the carrot midair in its mouth before immediately bolting from the scene. Just when Annie thought she’d finally found the ground, two arms grabbed for her jacket and softened her landing. The beret slid forward and covered her eyes, momentarily taking away Annie’s sight, leaving her blindly unaware of her rescuer.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Fancy meeting you here,” Chris said, lightly moving the beret upward on Annie’s forehead with a warm thumb as he held her close. Annie stared up at him open-mouthed (and carrot-less), unable to speak or move.

“Finish this lyric!” Grant’s voice sang out around them, “I don’t want a lot for Christmas—”

“There is just one thing I need,” Chris finished, his unblinking eyes still locked on Annie in his arms.

“Yay, Chris and his team win a special prop from our trivia winner’s collection!” Grant cheered as Chris guided Annie back to her feet.

“You saved me,” Annie breathed out.