Page 52 of Christmas Treasures

Town square sparkled under a net of twinkle lights, the soft snow from earlier adding that much more magic to the scene. Like all of the tree lighting ceremonies though the years, it seemed as if every family in town was there, bundled in coats and hats.

As they made their way toward the crowd already gathering around the tree, Bianca skipped ahead in her little boots, her red hat slightly crooked, her mittened hands swinging at her sides. Max kept one eye on her and one on Charlie, who walked beside him wrapped in a deep green wool coat, a soft ivory scarf looped around her neck. She looked so pretty, it made his knees weaken every time he glanced at her.

“Is it like this every year?” Charlie asked. “It’s packed.”

“Yeah, Sugarville tends to show up for sugar and lights. My mom calls it our version of Times Square.”

Bianca raced back toward them. “Hot chocolate?” She pronounced the words carefully. They’d worked together that afternoon on English words of things she would see that night.

“Hot chocolate is a must,” Max said.

They made their way to the cider and cocoa stand, where Max bought them each a steaming cup and Bianca procured a gingerbread cookie shaped like a reindeer. The air was thick with the scent of hot dogs from a cart and kettle corn.

They found a spot near the giant spruce in the center of the square, still dark and towering, waiting for its moment.

“I heard they added two hundred new lights this year,” Max said. “Mayor Fontaine doesn’t want to be outdone by any other towns in Vermont.”

“Two hundred more?” Charlie asked. “I remember it being very well lit last year. I mean, when I saw it the next day, after the lighting.”

“There are never too many lights when it comes to Sugarville Grove.” He took her hand in his. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”

“I’m glad I came.”

Bianca stood in front of them, clutching her cocoa with both hands and craning her neck toward the tree.

Just as the choir started singing “Silent Night,” Lily, Jack, and Sophie appeared. Luke and Abby followed slightly behind, clearly discussing something important. He hoped everything was all right.

Lily shouted Bianca’s name, and the two girls hugged and then held hands as they listened to the singing.

Luke and Abby glanced down at his hand in Charlie’s at the same exact moment. Neither of them said anything, other than to greet them.

“Good to see you out here,” Luke said to Charlie.

“Thanks,” Charlie said. “It’s my first time.”

“So I’ve heard,” Luke said.

His brother had a big mouth. He didn’t have to call her out.

Abby smoothed it over, though, by saying it must be areally busy time of year at Sugarville Slice and wasn’t it great she could make it this year.

If Charlie was offended by either comment, it wasn’t obvious.

Mayor Fontaine, as cheerful as ever, wearing a matching green scarf with his wife, stepped forward, speaking into the microphone. Before the lighting, as was tradition, he announced the recipient for the holiday volunteer award. His brother had gotten it last year but this year it went to Mia, the chef who had moved to Sugarville Grove a few years back to open a restaurant in the mountains. She’d organized the food drive that he and Charlie had participated in. Although Max didn’t know her well, he’d been impressed by the small woman’s capacity to do big things by her sheer force of will.

“They’re about to start,” Sophie said, excitedly.

“Ten…nine…”

Max looked down at Bianca. She was bouncing on her toes, whispering the numbers under her breath. They’d worked on those earlier too.

“Eight…seven…six…five…four…three, two, one!”

The lights exploded to life. The crowd gasped. Children cheered. The choir began to sing “O Christmas Tree.”

Charlie turned to look at him, eyes wide. “That was really cool.”

He didn’t think. He just leaned in and kissed her. Soft. Sure. Familiar and new all at once. And she kissed him back.

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