Page 29 of Saved By Noel
Still, my stomach churns as I turn off the highway onto the road that will lead me into Noel. I’d decided to get together with Sydney this time around—I even texted her before hitting the road so I couldn’t chicken out upon entering the Noel city limits.
Pulling into the driveway, a peace settles in my chest as the cabin comes into view. It’s as quaint as I remember it, nestled among the bare trees. I take my Tineke from the front seat and hurry to unlock the door and get her inside. I’m grateful that the previous owners had installed a smart thermostat, enabling me to turn up the heat prior to my arrival.
Two months’ worth of dust provides a misty coating on the furniture, but otherwise, everything looks undisturbed. I make my way to the sunroom, and my heart drums with displeasure as I notice the bare evergreen trees in the back. Not only did McScrooge go against his promise not to unplug my lights, he’d removed them completely.
How dare he?!
I unlatch the sliding door and step outside, nearly tripping over a plastic storage tub. A note taped to the top reads:
I swear I didn’t take these down until January 1. All of Noel beheld the twinkling glory of your lights the whole season. I didn’t want you falling off a stool trying to unwind them from the trees, so I took the liberty of removing them for you.
Syd will confirm my story.
Clark
P.S. Seemed like you needed a place to sit to properly enjoy the backyard.
Jerking my head up, I notice a beautiful wood rocking chair to my right. I step closer to run my fingers along the back of the chair, smooth to the touch. I brush a few leaves off the seat and ease myself into it, settling in to the effortless rocking motion.
There’s a new splash of color on the Clark Noel Magic Eye image, and I’m more confused than ever.
Who are you, really? The charming, thoughtful hero I thought you were the first night, or the ruthless, grumpy Grinch from the mayor’s office?
It’s the mystery I’d equally love to solve and love to avoid.
SYD
Yes please! I’d love to see you tomorrow!
Could you come to my house late afternoon to chat for a while? Then my parents are coming over to watch the kids so Davis and I can go out to dinner. You can join us!
ME
Coming to your house sounds great, but I don’t want to intrude on your date night!
SYD
Nonsense. I see Davis all the time. I’d love for you to come. Pleeeeeeeeease
ME
lol well if you’re begging. Just send me your address.
After a quick supply run to Noland’s—complete with a huge welcome-back hug from Emily—I spend the evening holed up in my cabin. Christmas may be officially over, but I still queue up my "Christmas Piano" playlist, hoping it will provide inspiration for a perfect movie script.
I’ve imagined countless couples falling in love at Christmas over the years, dreamed up innumerable fictional holiday settings—you’d think everything would overflow right out of me. But maybe the plethora of options floating around in my mind is precisely what keeps the blank screen staring back at me.
Just start something, Clara. Write something bad. Something bad is at leastsomething.
I pause to make a cup of hot cocoa, adding a dash of cinnamon to the whipped cream. But even my festive drink does nothing to squeeze the creative juices out of my brain.
I give up and run hot water in the bathtub instead. Soaking in suds, pumpkin spice scent filling my nostrils, I’m transported back to my first night here. The warm bath, the broken door, the broken-downdoor. The magnetic man who stumbled into me.
“Ughhh,” I sigh before plunging my head below the bubbly water.
I follow the directions to Sydney’s, pulling up in front of a two-story house that’s far more modern than the rest of the town. Syd flings open the front door before I can knock, a miniature version of Sydney peering from behind her leg.
“Clara! I’m so happy to see you again!” She beams, pulling me into a hug. She gestures me inside. “This little angel is Addie, and somewhere around here is Davis Jr. We call him Junior. He’s probably dismantling furniture or training an animal he snuck into the house. You’ll meet him when he comes out in search of food.”
