Page 123

I cranked it until it couldn’t go any further and let go. The closing song from the movie, “Auld Lang Syne,” filled the space between us as the tears finally fell down my cheeks.

“It’s perfect,” I said, looking up at him.

He smiled and stepped forward. “I know we came together as part of a greater plot, and I know I kinda screwed up when I fell for you—”

“James…”

“But I realized I didn’t fail. We didn’t fail.” He pointed to the inscription. “Because at least I got a friend out of it.” He shrugged as his own eyes turned misty. “I don’t have many of those.”

I sniffed and threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly around his waist. “Well, you’ve got one now and forever, James Bailey.”

He rested his chin on top of my messy hair. “So, what now?”

I stepped back. “What do you mean?”

“Operation Ho Ho Humbug.” He crossed his arms. “What’s our next move?”

I blinked. “You still want to go through with it?”

“Of course.” He cocked his head. “My dad came home last night humming Christmas songs after working on those candle things with you, and then he asked if I wanted to go for a drive to look at lights like we used to. He even left his phone behind at the B&B.” He raised his eyebrows. “I’d say whatever you’re doing is working.”

He left his phone behind?

Holy crap. It’s a Christmas miracle.

I spun the snow globe a couple times in my hands. “I mean, we really only have two events left: the caroling tomorrow night, and the, um…Mistletoe Masquerade the following evening.”

“Ouch.” James put a hand to his chest. “That’s still fresh.”

I frowned. “I’m sorry—”

“Stop.” He grinned and hit my shoulder. “It’s good. Okay? We’re good.” He straightened himself up and then opened the front door. “I’ll see you tomorrow for the caroling, then. And in the meantime, I’ll think of something else, too.”

“Thank you, James.” I held up the globe and leaned on my front door as he stepped onto the porch. “For, um…everything.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” He tugged his hat over his head. “We’ve still got a Market to save.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Just like honesty needs a little plus, fate needs a little push.”

—White Christmas

Later that same day as the sun hung low in the sky, I stood nervously on a ladder held by Nico, while stringing up more lights outside of Bud and Bloom. Apparently, he had told his boss, Peggy, that her store was the only one lacking in the “decoration department.” One trip to Hal’s Hardware later, and she had put Nico to work on fixing the place. He didn’t mind, though. Something inside the store had been making him sneeze more than usual, so he preferred being outside anyway.

I stretched and clicked the staple gun against the icicle lights, but no staple came out. “I’m empty,” I called down to Nico, handing him the gun.

“I’ll go ask Peggy for more. Back in a sec.” Nico stepped around the ladder and went inside the shop, the bell sounding on his way in.

A flash of red across the street caught my eye, and my stomach somersaulted as Sam parked his truck outside of the church. He stepped out and waved to someone down the road before pulling on a pair of work gloves, his red hair fluttering in the wind.

My Christmas wish came floating back to me: Hope for love.

And before I could talk myself out of it, I stepped down from the ladder and hurried across the street.

Did I know what I was going to say to him?

Nope.