Page 11 of A Bright Winter Season

“Perfect.” Hazel glanced at the clock again. “Ahh, I’m late for work. I have to go, but let’s talk more about it soon, okay?”

“Absolutely. I’ll be texting you with ideas about it all day, I just know it.”

“Amazing!” Hazel stood up and started to leave. “Bye, you guys.”

“Bye!” Macey called and waved just as Hazel was slipping out the back door.

CHAPTER FIVE

Alexis lifted her arms for a stretch and was soon overtaken by a yawn. Her body felt stiff and tired, but her mind was active and awake. She glanced at the clock over the mantelpiece in her and Grayson’s cozy living room and saw that it was almost midnight.

But I can’t stop now,she thought, looking down at her laptop and smiling.I’m making such great headway on this.

She inhaled the smoky aroma of the fireplace, which was crackling away merrily. The lights in the living room were on low, and with the snow glowing in the moonlight outside, her surroundings felt peaceful and inspiring.

After dinner, she and Grayson had built a fire in the living room and sat and talked for a while. Then he had read for about an hour before going to bed. Alexis, on the other hand, had started work on a new project on her laptop, and she still felt as though she just couldn’t stop. She was delighted by her ideas and kept coming up with more of them.

Julia and Hazel had told her excitedly about their plans for hosting a community Christmas party at the pub. They’d said that it would be a good way to showcase the redecorating at the pub, which meant that Alexis needed to finalize her designs for the redecorating ASAP. There would be a lot of work to be donebefore the Christmas party, and she knew they would need to start it right away if they were going to be finished in time.

She shook her head, reflecting on how she’d just been thinking that she couldn’t possibly take on more responsibility. She’d been sure that her already-packed schedule couldn’t handle any more projects. This felt like an exception, however. It was something that meant a great deal to her and to her whole family, and she felt passionate about it.

After this, she thought with a playful grimace,I won’t take on anything else. For real this time. I can’t keep pushing myself this hard forever.

She continued to work on her project, her mind racing and her fingers typing and clicking eagerly. She was so wrapped up in her work that she didn’t notice Grayson step into the living room, wearing his pajamas and looking sleepy.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

She looked up, surprised to see him. “Hi, honey! You startled me. What’s up?”

He leaned against the door frame, smiling sweetly at her. “You know it’s almost one in the morning, right?”

“It is?” She looked at the time on her laptop. “Wow. You’re right. I hadn’t realized it was so late.”

“Are you coming to bed?” He stepped into the living room and sat next to her. “Sleep is important, you know.”

She chuckled. “I know. You’re right, it is. But I want to finish this redecorating plan tonight. I also wanted to make sure to launch a couple of ads for my jewelry business tonight. I’m going to do all that before coming to bed. But it’ll be soon, I promise.”

He shook his head at her, chuckling. “If you’re going to stay up, we might as well both have some sustenance. I was going to make myself some hot cocoa. You want some?”

Alexis made an expression so eager that Grayson started to laugh. “Yes please! Hot cocoa by the fire? That sounds amazing right now.”

“You got it.” He stood up and kissed her forehead.

“First let me show you my ideas. Really quick. Look, I’ve created a kind of digital illustration of the pub. Wouldn’t that wall look wonderful with shelves and potted plants and the picture frames arranged like that?”

“It would.” Grayson smiled down at her work. “That looks wonderful, Alexis.”

She smiled proudly and went back to clicking and typing. Chuckling, Grayson disappeared into the kitchen.

Alexis was just finishing plotting out her design ideas when he returned, bearing two steaming mugs of peppermint hot chocolate.

“This is for my hard-working wife,” he said, handing her one of the mugs. “Blow on it, it’s still pretty hot.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.” She gave him a quick kiss and then blew on the mug a few times. “Let me just launch a couple of ads here. It won’t take me long.”

“I’ll just enjoy my cocoa and the fire and getting to sit next to you. Take your time.”

She smiled at him adoringly and took a careful sip of the cocoa. It tasted delicious, and a few moments later she took another sip. Almost immediately she began to feel a surge of nausea.

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