Page 65 of A South Hill Christmas Keepsake
Nate lifted the whistle and gave a short blast. “Alright, team. Littles on the left with parents, big kids on the right. Walk up the middle, no crossing. Helmets if you’ve got them. Mittens mandatory. No frostbite on my watch.”
The crowd cheered, and the hill found its rhythm.Kids raced, slid, and tumbled into a tangle of giggles and snow.
Hannah Leigh caught herself watching Nate more than the sleds. He wasn’t barking orders; he was drawing people together. Every nod, every grin, every hand offered to help someone up again. It all looked like love in motion. She could picture them out here with their children one day.
Margaret Jane and the mayor made their run next, both screaming halfway down and landing in a heap. Birdie was already scribbling notes by the cocoa stand. “Headline,” she shouted. “Promises Rekindled in South Hill, literally.”
Hannah Leigh shook her head. “She never quits.”
“Wouldn’t be Birdie if she did,” Nate said, his grin wide.
Later, just as the hill quieted, and the sun started its slow descent, a commotion rose near the LOVE sign. Birdie came jogging toward them, breathless. “A proposal down by the sign. Hurry! The ring’s gone missing. We need everyone’s help.”
Nate and Hannah Leigh ran with her. A small crowd circled a young couple kneeling in the snow, the man’s hands shaking as he sifted through white powder. The woman laughed and cried all at once.
“Everyone, freeze, right where you are,” Nate said calmly. “We don’t want to bury the ring deeper.”
Children dropped to their knees, sweeping gently with gloved hands. A hush fell, and the only sound was the whisper of mittens brushing snow.
Then a glint caught Hannah Leigh’s eye. She crouched, brushed it free, and lifted the ring between her fingers. “Found it,” she said, her voice catching.
The crowd erupted in cheers. The young man raced over to get the ring, turned back to his girl, and asked properly this time.
She said yes, and a ripple of relief rolled through the square, up the hill and spilling into every corner of town. Joy spread like warmth, stubborn and unstoppable.
By the time lanterns came on beneath the gazebo, the square shimmered with gratitude. Aunt Winnie waved from the steps, a thermos in each hand. “Hot cider for the heroes.”
Birdie announced, “This story’s front-page gold.”
Nate got two cups of cider, passing the other to Hannah Leigh. “We didn’t plan a thing for today,” he said, smiling, “but it sure turned into something good, didn’t it?”
She nodded, watching the lights glimmer across the snow. “Maybe that’s what happens when people stop hurrying. Everything just falls where it belongs.”
He looked down at her, his eyes soft. “Like you?”
She smiled, resting her head briefly against his shoulder. “Exactly like me.”
“Excuse me, y’all, I was hoping I’d find you.” Victoria from Harper’s Jewelry stepped between them with cheeks pink from the cold. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t get this done quicker with all the Christmas orders, but I wanted you to be able to return it to Ruthie.”
“You fixed the locket?”
“Fixed and shiny as new, and we upgraded to an even nicer chain. I’m so glad I tracked y’all down.”
“This is amazing.” Nate looked at Hannah Leigh. “We’ve got to take this over to her.”
Victoria bounced on her toes. “Oh my gosh, that’s great. Tell her we said Merry Christmas. I’ve got to run. I still have a few Christmas gifts to get out the door before I can celebrate my own.”
“Merry Christmas.” Hannah Leigh said, then clutched Nate’s arm as they watched Victoria head back to the store. “Now that Harper’s Jewelry fixed it right, do we have time to go get all those printouts and deliver this to her?”
“Definitely.” He grabbed her hand, and they hurried to his truck. “Do you think we need to call first?”
Hannah Leigh waved a hand. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll crawl through her window to get this back to her if I have to.”
“I promise to spot you and post bail if you get caught,” he teased.
It took a bit to print all the documents and get on the road.
“It feels twice as far this time,” Hannah Leigh complained.
