Page 51 of Christmas Charms
“Perfect. We’re all in agreement.” Uncle Hugh takes a gulp of his coffee.
“Thank you.” Aidan nods, and the furrow in his forehead makes another brief appearance. He’s clearly uncomfortable showing any sort of vulnerability, even here at the firehouse, his safest haven. “Is there anyone eager to take on the co-chair position?”
Susan raises her hand.Good for her,I think, but then she says, “I nominate Ashley.”
I blink at her. Did she really just say what I think she said? “Um…”
I can’t. I mean, I sort of want to. Actually, Ireallywant to. Wrapping gifts a few nights ago with Aidan was nothing like working the wrap desk at Windsor. It felt good to do something with a greater purpose.
But co-chair? It’s meant to be a training opportunity. Aidan wants someone who’s willing to head up the entire parade next year and I won’t even be here next Christmas.
A weight settles on my heart at this realization, even though it shouldn’t come as a surprise. My life—myreallife—is in Manhattan now, not Owl Lake. It seems that my hometown’s bottomless hot cocoa, a magic bracelet, countless snowmen, and Aidan’s blue eyes have almost made me forget this important detail.
“I second that nomination,” someone says. I’m too shell-shocked to register who it is.
“I third it,” Josh chimes in.
Aidan’s pencil is tapping out an anxious beat on his clipboard. I can’t tell if he wishes I would accept or decline. Where’s a heaping dose of magic when you really need one? Granted, my magic hasn’t been very good about telling me where to go, but it has a solid track record of telling me where not to go, if my failed attempts to reach Manhattan are any indication.
“I don’t know,” I say. “I’m not sure I meet the qualifications.”
This is code for reminding everyone that I no longer live in Owl Lake. Even Sophie and Olivia should be capable of deciphering it.
Uncle Hugh shrugs one shoulder as if my actual residence has no bearing on the matter. “It makes perfect sense. Who better to serve as co-chair than an actual Firefighters’ Sweetheart?”
Firefighters’sweetheart. The words make me feel all sparkly inside for completely nonsensical reasons.
“That was a long time ago,” I protest, but no one seems to care.
“Seems like yesterday.” Uncle Hugh grins at me over the rim of his coffee cup.
As I meet his gaze, my attention snags on Aidan and the sudden flash of dimples in his manly face. That tiny hint of pleasure in his expression is all it takes for my resistance to crumble. I’ll figure out how to deal with next Christmas later. Video conferencing and emaildoexist. Even Santa plans Christmas from miles away.
Aren’t you forgetting something? Santa isn’t real.
I run my fingertips over the delicate charms dangling from my wrist. They’re cool against my skin, like a kiss of winter air.
“I’m in.”
“What’s all this?” my dad asks me hours later as I’m poring over three fat binders full of toy parade paperwork at the kitchen table.
Mom glances up from the peppermint tea she’s preparing at the butcher-block island. It’s part of her nightly ritual and watching her repeatedly dunk her fragrant teabag into her mug as darkness falls and the owls begin gliding over the lake is oddly soothing.
“You haven’t heard?” She arches a brow. “Ashley is the new co-chair of the Firefighters’ Toy Parade.”
Dad shoves his hands into his pocket and rocks back and forth on his heels. “Co-chair, huh?”
“Yep,” I say, pausing from my reading to run a hand over the top of Fruitcake’s head. He’s been sitting patiently beside me since I returned from an early dinner with Susan, Josh and the twins, waiting for his nightly walk. I might as well take him out. My head is spinning with facts and figures. Trying to absorb any more information tonight isn’t going to happen.
But volunteering to be co-chair has made me acutely aware that my time here in Owl Lake is limited. The parade is on Christmas Eve, just four days from now. I’m due back at Windsor the day after Christmas. What was I thinking when I signed on for this?
“That’s a pretty big commitment.” Dad frowns.
I have to be honest, this isn’t at all the reaction I’d expected from him. The toy parade is near and dear to his heart. I thought he’d be thrilled to find out that I’ve taken on a bigger role in the event.
“It is.” I nod, burying my fingertips deeper into Fruitcake’s warm fur. “But Aidan needed the help, and I’ve been enjoying working on the committee so far. It was Uncle Hugh’s idea, actually. He thought I’d be a good choice since I was a parade sweetheart once upon a time.”
My dad nods but says nothing as his gaze sweeps over my pile of binders.
