Page 44 of Christmas Promises

LANEY

Bundled up in her warm jacket and hat, Laney held Nolan’s hand as they moved through the crowd. It was all so festive, with the decorations and delighted squeals from excited children. As they settled near the front, a choir dressed in robes assembled near the pavilion.

“There’s going to be music,” Laney said to Nolan, excited.

“The choir sings every year. Although there are some new faces. The pretty woman on the end is a new teacher at the school. I think her name is Becca Hawthorne. Luke and Abby mentioned her the other day—said she’s a wonderful addition to the teaching staff.”

Laney took in the gorgeous young teacher with shiny brown hair and big blue eyes. If she’d been with Josh, she might have felt a tinge of jealousy, not with Nolan. He somehow made her feel secure and loved.

This was such fun. She hoped Nolan was all right and not too sad. Because to her, the night was perfection.

Nolan tossed their empty cups into the nearby bin and returned to wrap his arm around her shoulder, bringing her close.

“You, okay?” Laney asked, glancing up at him.

He met her gaze. “I’m good. Really good.”

“Just say the word and we can go.”

“No way. I can’t wait to share this with you,” Nolan said.

The polite crowd hushed as the choir began to sing “The First Noel.”

Laney held her breath as the music washed over her. The choir’s performance was so pure and beautiful that her eyes filled with tears. This was Christmas. The real meaning of Christmas could be found right here in the town square. How lucky she was to be part of it.

They finished singing, and the mayor stepped up to the lectern wearing a fluffy red scarf around his neck and a thick coat. “What a treat to have our choir here tonight. They’re better than anything you’d hear in a city, am I right?”

The crowd cheered and clapped and stomped their feet.

“They were very very good,” Laney whispered, wiping under her eyes with a gloved hand.

The mayor continued. “As you know, we have a tradition in Sugarville Grove to honor a member of the community who’s gone above and beyond to contribute to the well-being of others. This year we wanted to honor Luke Hayes.”

“Oh, how wonderful,” Laney murmured.

“Luke probably hates this,” Nolan whispered in her ear.

“For those of you who don’t know, Luke spends many afternoons every year delivering trees to those who can’t make it out themselves to do so. Now, I for one don’t know how that old truck keeps running, but it sure does. And Luke Hayes puts it to good use. To thank him for his generous spirit, he and his family are going to light the tree this year. Thank you, Luke, for being our Christmas Star this year.”

Luke, Abby, and all three children joined the mayor. Everyone cheered. Jack, bouncing on his toes, yelled out, “Hi, Uncle Nolan. It’s me, Jack.”

Nolan chuckled and waved back at him.

Lily, dressed in a coat with white faux fur around the collar and sleeves, waved to the crowd as if she were the beloved princess of Sugarville Grove. A princess missing her two front teeth. Sophie, in her usual modest fashion, merely stood to the side, looking elegant in a blue coat and more like thirty-five years old than her actual ten. Abby and Luke held hands, both peering out to the crowd as if embarrassed by all the attention.

“Let’s do this, shall we?” the mayor called out.

Luke and Jack knelt near the tree and picked up the plug, ready for the countdown.

The crowd stilled, and everyone seemed to hold a collective breath. Lacey felt like a kid, her heart racing with anticipation.

The crowd shouted together, “Ten…”

"Nine…” Laney found herself leaning forward and joining in.

"Eight…” Children giggled and wriggled, their mittened hands waving in anticipation.

"Seven…”

---