Page 96 of The Holidays with Mr. Mitchell
We stepped out into the softly falling snow, and that’s when I saw it waiting just outside the lodge.
A horse-drawn sleigh.
It sat beneath a canopy of lights strung through the trees, black lacquer gleaming beneath the snowfall. Two snow-white horses stood harnessed to the front, their manes brushed to silk, their tack threaded with tiny golden bells that chimed as they shifted. The seats inside were lined with fur, and a bright red wool blanket was folded neatly across the bench.
“Jim…” I breathed. “Oh my God…”
He grinned, slipping a gloved hand around my waist to help me up. “I wanted you and the girls to see it the way everyone elsewill tonight. We’ll take the sleigh through the forest, and then through the main entrance of the village.”
“This is just beyond me,” I said, staring at him with a smile that I knew wouldn’t leave my face for the rest of the night.
“I was hoping you’d feel that way,” he answered, his emerald eyes gleaming.
After Jim helped both girls up into the second row of the sleigh, he stepped in to sit with me. Once we were all settled, the driver tipped his hat, and with a soft flick of the reins, the horses began to move.
The sleigh glided soundlessly through the snow, bells jingling in time with the soft clip of hooves. Lanterns hung from the trees, their golden lights glimmering against the frosted branches, casting everything in a dreamlike shimmer. The chilly air smelled of cedar and cinnamon, and faint music drifted through the forest, blending with the whisper of wind.
Izzy leaned forward, eyes wide. “It’s like we’re inside a movie.”
“Mom, look!” Addy pointed to a glowing sign just ahead. “It says,Evergreen Trail — Where Every Magical Journey Begins.”
“Well, aren’t you just adorable,” I said, looking at Jim.
“It was actually Addy’s idea to give our village a fun trail,” Jim’s mouth curved. “She gets the credit for that.”
I turned back to where my daughter sat in awe of how her dad brought her cute little vision to life. “You have a brilliant imagination, Addy,” I said. “I love this idea.”
“Thanks, Mom, but Dad made it allreal.”
The path wound deeper into the woods, and every turn revealed another layer of enchantment. Carved snowmen waved from beside lantern posts. Tiny woodland cottages glowed through the trees, each one dusted in snow. A small bridgearched over a frozen pond, lights reflecting in the ice like stars blanketing the sky on a pitch-black night.
I glanced at Jim, warmth swelling in my chest. “I love that you made all this happen with the girls and for them.”
“Well, all I know is that it wouldn’t have happened without their magical minds seeing Christmas so much more differently than we boring adults do.”
The sleigh rounded one last bend, and the trees began to thin. Beyond them, a soft golden glow spread across the snow—the lights of Jim and the girls’ brilliant Santa village known asEvergreen Hollow.
From this angle, the view was even more breathtaking than from the helicopter. The village opened before us like something out of a dream. Every rooftop glittering, the main lodge radiating warmth and light, garlands and wreaths draping every railing and archway. The music grew louder, blending with the laughter of guests arriving by the main gate.
The sleigh passed under a massive archway twined in garland and lights. Snowflakes shimmered in the glow as we entered the main square, where a towering Christmas tree glittered in gold and crystal.
I thought my tree was going to blow minds, but Jim’s was something out of the fucking Polar Express. It was surreal.
The sleigh slowed as the music swelled, the scent of roasted chestnuts and cocoa filling the air. Jim’s hand found mine beneath the blanket, warm and steady.
“This is like Christmas just swallowed us up,” I whispered with a laugh. “It’s just unbelievable that you created all of this, Jim.”
“Well, I wanted everyone to be filled with thefun magicof Christmas,” Jim turned to me, eyes soft and certain. “Lately, the world is a different place. It seems every year wears us alldown a little more. I just wanted this to be something that felt rejuvenating.”
“Well, you certainly landed this in the best way possible. I think a lot of people, whether they celebrate the holidays or not, would love this enchanting escape from life for a night,” I smiled at him. “Leave it to your CEO ass to figure out everything that radiates joy and happiness.”
He shrugged. “Tinsel and twinkling nights and a little bit of Santa’s white magic dust,” he laughed at his own silly joke.
“Cocaine?”
“Snow, gorgeous,” he ran an index finger down the center of my nose. “Though I do wonder if Santa needs that dust to hit every single house in one night,” he laughed.
The horses stopped at the center of the square, and laughter and music surrounded us. Addy and Izzy hopped out, spinning in the snow, their joy lighting up everything it touched. This was the most enchanting and thrilling experience, and I was so thankful that even if Jim kicked my ass with his party, we made this fun little competition together.
