Page 42 of Christmas Cove

It didn’t take America long to pull her mental notes together in a makeshift narrative and send them off. She made sure to include the history of Christmas Cove and the tragedy of the dam breaking. But one question lingered in her mind. Why would the mayor want a travel magazine to do a story about a place on its death bed?

“Ahem.”

She tossed her head around, and her breath caught at the sight of a terribly upset Leo standing at the top step. His eyes narrowed, and he sucked shallow breaths through his pursed lips.

“Leo, what are you doing here? Are you okay?” she said and didn’t even attempt to mask her concern. She was on her feet and walking towards him.

“Pa told me where to find you,” he said and took both of her hands in his.

“You’re not sick?”

He shook his head. “Sorry I lied to you. I just needed—”

“It’s fine,” she reassured, knowing his lie was half her fault. “What’s going on? You look as though you just ran a mile.”

“I did,” he said. “Do you remember when I told you that there was more going on in the Cove than just the lake being gone?”

She nodded and searched his expression for understanding.

“There were rumors that we, Christmas Cove, would be incorporated into a bigger township if the population numbers dipped too low. And . . . they did, they have. I thought we had another year, or at least a year once the population dropped below the threshold, before the incorporation would take effect. I’ve been at the county lawyer’s office for hours now, trying to figure out if there’s any way to stop it.”

“What does this mean? No more Christmas Cove?” America asked.

“Not as we know it, no.”

“Unless what? What do you need to do?”

“I’ve filed an appeal, which means the state will perform a formal head count. We have until Christmas Eve to have a population of one hundred fifty permanent residents. Or else, the state law automatically kicks in and the town becomes part of Elizabethtown.”

“Oh,” she said and dropped his hands. “I see.” Guilt dripped off of her. Only a moment earlier, she had dreamed of covering an Elizabethtown Christmas for the magazine and how much more interesting it looked than the Cove. “How can I help?” she said, but not out of guilt, out of a genuine desire not to see Leo in pain.

“Want to move in?” he said with a chuckle and roll of his eyes. “I can’t believe I just asked you that.”

She paced around the table and ducked a little on the far side where the roof slanted downward, though she wasn’t in danger of hitting her head. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“Really?” he said, crimson lighting his cheeks.

“Not me necessarily, but maybe other people would move here if they knew,” America said and rubbed her hands together as though they were cold. She checked her watch and saw the date. “We don’t have much time, but I’m sure there are others who, like you, have fond memories of coming to the Cove. Maybe they would move here.”

“In a week? The week before Christmas?” Leo questioned her idea and ran his hands back through his hair. “There’s no way!”

“So, that’s it? You’re giving up on the town that you love?” Her words sounded harsher coming out than she had intended. How he flustered her so much, she would have to think about later.

“I’m not giving up. I just don’t know what to do. And plus, would it be so bad after all? It’s not like the town is thriving, if you know what I mean,” he said, and his phone rang. He looked at the screen. “It’s the lawyer. I need to take this. Will you meet me downstairs in a few?”

America nodded. She had a few items to put away properly, and a phone call to make of her own.

CHAPTER23

Though the chanceof her mother or father answering the phone was low, America hoped they had called it an early evening in whatever Italian city they were currently exploring. The phone rang a fourth and then fifth time before beeping over to voicemail.

“Hi, Mom. I hope you’re having a good trip, and I can’t wait to hear all about it in a few days when you get back,” America began in a shaky voice. She cleared her throat and continued. “Things here have been crazy, and I could really use your advice about something. I’m fine. So, don’t worry, but you may not be able to contact me if you try and call me back.

“I’m not in the city. The magazine sent me on assignment to a little place called Christmas Cove, up north. I’m supposed to draft an article about the idyllic holiday vacation spot, but things aren’t going well here. Anyway. The town is in some legal trouble since there aren’t enough residents, and the neighboring town will incorporate the whole area if they don’t have enough people by the twenty-fourth.

“To complicate things more. I’ve become somewhat invested in the outcome here. It’s probably a good case study on why I should not be a writer, and stick to editing.” America looked at her watch. The message had already gone on for too long and she would likely be cut off at any moment. “Anyway, Mom, I was hoping Dad might have some legal advice or know someone who could help. Email me back if you get this, since I don’t have much reception here. I love you.”

The phone beeped and cut out.

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