Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” he said as he scrambled out of bed. He went to the bathroom and then downstairs, hoping to find his mother. There was a note on the table telling him that his parents were “downtown” enjoying the festivities and that he could help himself to breakfast. Christian felt horrible for not spending any time with his folks the day prior, but mostly, he felt terrible, because he hadn’t called Holly. Under the circumstances of their reunion, the last thing he wanted was for Holly to suspect Christian had used her. That was so far from reality, it bothered him to even think that way.
Christian showered and dressed in a pair of slacks, a gray undershirt, and a sweater—one he’d bought at Macy’s. He grabbed the keys to the Tahoe, pocketed his phone, and headed out the door. He drove less than a block and pulled into the Saints’ driveway. Christian went to the door and knocked, but no one answered. Back in his rental, he pulled his phone from his pocket and scrolled. He hadn’t asked Holly to give him her number, but he’d hoped she had put it in his contracts when she texted his mother the day before.
“No such luck,” he said as he scrolled. Christian started the car and reversed out of the driveway. He drove until traffic became heavy and then turned around to find a parking spot along the street.
The town of North Pole was a mecca of tourists from the middle of November to the end of December. They had a Santa’s Workshop theme park for the little kids, that every teenager in town worked at one time or another. But like any small town, it had its perks and its drawbacks. Outside of the holiday season, everyone in town knew everyone. They weren’t far from Lake Placid, where the winter Olympics were held in 1980, and they could go there for hockey, ice skating or to watch hopeful Olympians practice. In the summer, they played in the AuSable River. The White Face Mountains surrounded their quaint town, but it was the fact that people rarely used the given name for their town—Wilmington—that struck a chord with Christian. It was like Wilmington didn’t exist except for a pin dot on a map, or when taxes needed to be collected. Everything in town was Christmas, Santa, and holiday cheer.
Christian walked along the sidewalk, nodding to people who smiled at him. He jaywalked, feeling confident no one would hit him as he crossed in front of some cars and went into the florists on Main Street.
“Christian,” Cindy Howard said when he walked in. “I heard you were in town.”
“Yes, got home yesterday. How are you? How’s Lou?” Lou was Cindy’s husband. He’d a heart attack last winter when he fell off the roof while hanging Christmas lights. The Howards like to have the most decorated house in North Pole and Lou would go to extremes to make that happen.
“He’s doing well. He’s back up on that damn ladder.”
“Well, I hope he’s careful.”
“Now, you didn’t come rushing in here for nothing. Does your mom need something?”
“No, actually, I’m looking for a bouquet of roses. Red and white, if you have any left.”
“Of course, I do. Are they for someone special?”
“You could say that,” he told her. Cindy walked to the back of the store and returned with a handful of roses. She got to work on the counter.
“Do you want a vase?”
“Yes, please, that would be great.”
“Your mom told me about your divorce.” He already knew this, but let her continue. “I just hate it when you young folks can’t stay together. The world is crazy out there, especially in that big city you live in.”
“Well, I think I’ve found the one this time.”
“Oh, are these for your someone special?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Well, I’ll jazz them up real nice for her. Is it someone I know?”
Christian hesitated. “Yes, but I’m not sure how she'd feel if I blurted her name out. I’m hoping that by tonight, everyone knows.”
“Are you taking her to the Christmas dance?”
“I’m hoping to. That’s what the flowers are for,” he told her.
Cindy finished the arrangement and put a beautiful red ribbon in the front. Christian paid and told Cindy he would see her later. The entire town would turn out for the annual Christmas dance, even if they didn’t have a date or had planned to meet someone there. Last year, he went alone, and left five minutes later. He didn’t want the pity party that came with being recently single and he didn’t want his mom to set him up with any of the eligible bachelorettes. Had he seen Holly there, he would’ve stayed.
With the flowers in hand, he walked to the end of the street and turned the corner. Santa had a workshop set up outside, and Holly was busy taking photos of the kids. Christian watched her for a moment, taking in the scene. Aside from Santa’s elaborate chair, there were lighting umbrellas set up, a fairly big camera on a tripod, a printer, and a computer. Holly took a photo, went to the computer, touched the screen a couple of times, and then the printer started spitting out the photos. Had all of this been in her suitcase? A young girl took money from the mom of the toddler, while Holly handed her the pictures. The process seemed seamless.