Chapter 18 Jack
JACK
Jack pulled the inn's shuttle into the parking lot and killed the engine, his palms slightly damp against the steering wheel. Which was ridiculous. He was fifty-eight years old, not some kid picking up his date for prom.
Except that's exactly how he felt.
He'd spent the last hour getting ready like he was preparing for something momentous instead of just a trip into St. Augustine to see Christmas lights.
He'd changed his shirt twice. Actually brushed his hair instead of just running his fingers through it.
Even considered cologne before deciding that was taking things too far.
The passenger door opened, and Jane stuck her head in. "Dad? Are you going to help me open this silly back door that sticks, or are you going to sit in there all night meditating?"
"Coming," Jack said, climbing out and moving to jiggle the temperamental lock and slide open the side door.
Trinity and Maddy piled into the back row, already chattering about the tree lighting ceremony. Jane climbed in next to them, her face more animated than Jack had seen in three years. The sight made his chest tight with gratitude and something that felt dangerously close to joy.
Logan approached next, Charlie at his side. They were careful not to touch, Jack noticed. Almost too careful, like they were working hard to maintain distance. Interesting.
They settled into the middle row, leaving a noticeable gap between them that somehow made their awareness of each other more obvious.
Julie appeared last, heading straight for the back row.
"Julie, sit up front," Holly called out. "You'll be more comfortable."
"Nonsense." Julie waved her off, settling in beside Jane and the girls. "I'm perfectly comfortable back here. Additionally, you and Jack organized this outing. Seems fitting you should be the guides." She gave a knowing smile that made Jack's neck heat.
He closed the back door and opened the front passenger door for Holly, trying to ignore his mother's expression. She saw too much, always had.
Jack turned and waved to Isabella, who stood in the inn's doorway.
She'd offered to take the front desk for the night, and Jack had accepted gratefully.
Isabella picked up extra shifts at the front desk and some administrative work at the office to earn a few more dollars.
Jack wished he could pay her what she deserved.
Isabella had been so good to them, so loyal despite everything.
He didn't know what they would have done without her. It was her cooking that had kept them going. While the inn wasn’t drawing as many guests, the dining room/restaurant was nearly always full.
Jack’s gaze shifted back to the shuttle, to the people inside. His family, his oldest friend, and these new friends who'd become important in just a few days. He didn't know what he'd do without any of them.
Jack shook off the emotion and climbed into the driver's seat.
Before he could start the engine, Trinity leaned forward. "Can we play Christmas music?"
"Please?" Maddy added. "It's not really Christmas without carols."
Jack glanced at Holly, who smiled and shrugged. "Why not?"
He turned on the radio, found a station playing nothing but holiday music, and pulled out of the parking lot to the sound of "Jingle Bell Rock." Within seconds, the girls were singing along, Jane joining in with surprising enthusiasm.
The drive into St. Augustine took about twenty minutes, the conversation flowing easily. Jack pointed out landmarks as they went. But the only one who was really listening was Holly; the rest of the vehicle was trying to out-sing each other.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Holly breathed, her head moving from side to side. “It really is as beautiful and historical as the brochures say.”
"It is," Jack agreed. "The Nights of Lights is one of the oldest and largest light displays in the country. Been going on for over thirty years now."
"How many lights are we talking about?" Charlie asked from behind them.
"Over three million," Jane called out. "Covering the entire historic district." She grinned at Jack. “I did some light reading.”
Trinity and Maddy gasped in unison.
Jack found himself smiling as he drove, the nervousness from earlier melting into something warmer. He glanced at Holly, catching her looking at him. She smiled, and his heart did that stupid flip thing again.
"The tree lighting ceremony is at seven," Jack said, checking the clock on the dashboard. "We're right on time."
They found parking near the plaza, and Jack maneuvered the shuttle into a spot. As everyone started to climb out, he hurried around to Holly's side.
He opened her door and held out his hand. "Careful, it's a big step down."
Holly took his hand, and that same jolt of electricity shot through him. She stepped down, but the seat was higher than she'd anticipated. She stumbled slightly, falling forward.
Jack caught her instinctively, his arms coming around her to steady her. She looked up, her hands pressed against his chest, her face inches from his.
The world faded. The shuttle, the parking lot, and the distant sound of Christmas music all disappeared. There was only Holly, her eyes wide and dark in the lamplight, her breath catching as his gaze dropped to her lips.
They started to lean toward each other, drawn by that invisible force neither of them could resist or explain.
The back door slid closed with a loud clunk.
They jerked apart, both slightly breathless and more than a little shaken. Trinity and Maddy seemed to already be bounding along, followed by Jane and Julie, all of them talking and laughing, completely oblivious to what had almost happened.
Jack stepped back, running a hand through his hair. Holly smoothed down her sweater, her cheeks flushed.
"You two coming?" Julie asked brightly, her knowing look telling Jack she'd seen exactly what had almost happened.
They fell into step with the crowd heading toward the plaza, and Jack found himself swept up in the magic of St. Augustine at Christmas.
Millions of tiny white lights draped every building, every tree, every lamppost. The historic architecture glowed against the night sky, transformed into something from a fairy tale.
And beside him, close enough that their hands occasionally brushed, walked Holly.
Jack felt more excited about showing her family the lights, about sharing this night with them, than he had about anything in years.
Maybe impossible things really were possible after all. Like finding romance at his age? His thoughts startled him for a few seconds. But instead of shaking them off, he turned to look at the beautiful woman walking beside him and decided not to fight whatever was happening between them.
Just let what happens happen! Jack decided as he walked happily with the group, leaving his stress and worry behind for the night.
HOLLY
Holly was still lightheaded from what had almost happened in the parking lot. She and Jack had nearly kissed. Would have kissed if the girls hadn't slammed the door at exactly that moment.
Her lips still tingled with the anticipation of it. Her heart still raced.
Jack stayed close to her side as they walked through the historic district, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him, smell the clean scent of his soap. Every accidental brush of their hands sent sparks racing up her arm.
It wasn't until they'd walked several blocks that Holly realized everyone had naturally paired off.
Charlie and Logan walked together a few paces ahead, Logan pointing out architectural details Jack might have missed, his hand hovering near Charlie's back but never quite touching.
Jane and Julie flanked the girls, adding their own favorite spots and stories to the mix.
Maddy pointed out things she loved about the lighting display, and Trinity kept catching sight of Christmas stalls and vendor carts, asking if they could browse later.
Holly let herself be swept up in the magic of it all.
The lights were breathtaking, transforming the entire city into something otherworldly.
Every building glowed. Every tree sparkled.
The air smelled of hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, and cinnamon.
Christmas music drifted from storefronts and street performers.
They reached the plaza where the tree lighting ceremony would take place, and Jack guided them to a prime spot near the front. Trinity and Maddy were both tall for their age, but this position meant they'd have an unobstructed view.
A small stage had been set up in front of an enormous Christmas tree, easily forty feet tall, covered in unlit lights and decorations. City officials and local dignitaries stood on the stage, along with a children's choir dressed in red and green.
The mayor stepped up to the microphone as the crowd quieted. "Welcome, everyone, to St. Augustine's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony!"
The crowd cheered. Trinity and Maddy bounced on their toes with excitement.
"For over three decades," the mayor continued, "this ceremony has marked the official beginning of the Nights of Lights celebration. Tonight, we gather as a community to light up the darkness, to celebrate the season, and to remember what truly matters: family, friendship, and hope."
The children's choir began to sing "O Christmas Tree," their young voices sweet and clear in the night air. Holly felt tears prick her eyes at the beauty of it.
"And now," the mayor said when the song ended, "let's count down together. Ten... nine..."
The crowd joined in, voices rising in unison. Trinity and Maddy were shouting the numbers, their faces bright with anticipation.
"Three... two... one!"
The tree exploded with light.
Holly gasped along with everyone else. Thousands of lights blazed to life, transforming the tree into a pillar of brilliance. Red, green, gold, blue, white—every color imaginable sparkled and glowed. The star at the top shone so brightly it seemed to capture actual starlight.
The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. The choir launched into "Joy to the World," and people began singing along.
Holly felt Jack's hand find hers in the darkness, his fingers lacing through hers. She looked at him, and he smiled, his eyes reflecting the lights from the tree.
Neither of them let go.
They stayed for the rest of the ceremony, through three more songs and the mayor's closing remarks about community and togetherness. When the crowd finally began to disperse, Logan suggested they get hot chocolate, and Jack’s hand fell away from hers.
They found a vendor cart near the plaza and ordered drinks for everyone. Holly wrapped her hands around the warm cup, grateful for something to do with her hands now that Jack had reluctantly released her.
"Look!" Trinity's voice cut through the chatter. She was pointing down a side street. "What's that shop? It looks amazing!"
Holly followed her gaze and saw a storefront that seemed to glow from within. The windows were decorated with intricate displays, and through the glass, she could see what looked like every Christmas decoration imaginable.
"That's William's shop," Julie said, her voice warming. "He's been here forever. His staff make the most beautiful ornaments and decorations. Everything handmade." She grinned teasingly. “By staff, I mean elves.”
“Oh come on, Julie!” The girls chorused, laughing.
"Can we go in?" Trinity asked, already tugging on Holly’s sleeve. "Please?"
Holly glanced at the girls' hot chocolate cups. Both were already empty. "We need to finish our cocoa first," she said, lifting her still-full cup.
"I can take them," Jane offered. "I wanted to say hello to William anyway."
"I'll join you," Julie said, smiling. "It will be nice to sit for a few minutes. These old bones aren't what they used to be."
Holly nodded, and Jane led the girls toward the shop, Julie walking beside her with a spring in her step that suggested her "old bones" were doing just fine.
As they walked away, Holly watched Trinity's animated gestures, the way she and Maddy walked so close their shoulders bumped, the happiness radiating from both of them.
"She's so happy," Holly said quietly, not even realizing she'd spoken aloud until she felt Jack's attention shift to her.
"Trinity?" Jack asked.
Holly nodded, her throat tight. "I haven't seen her like this in... I can't remember when."
"Maddy's the same," Logan said, surprising Holly. She'd almost forgotten he and Charlie were standing there. "I've never seen her so happy. It seems the girls bonded over being kindred spirits."
Charlie smiled, glancing at Jack. "I'm really glad Trinity found two friends here." She paused meaningfully. "It seems they've included your daughter, Jack, as an honorary tween." Her eyes sought Jack’s.
Jack laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Yes, I see that. And I'm so glad because it's the first time I've seen Jane actually smile or seem so light in three years."
Three years. Holly's heart squeezed at the weight those words carried and three years made her think of her son as that’s how long she hadn’t seen her son.
Holly sighed, looking back toward William's shop, where the two generations of Christmas women stood with Trinity and Maddy. "This Christmas seems like it's going to be so perfect."
She felt three sets of eyes turn toward her, and heat crept up her neck, making her embarrassed by the emotion in her voice. Tears burned at the back of her eyes, and she couldn't stop them.
"I just wish Gabe were here." The words came out barely above a whisper, but they carried the weight of months of worry, loneliness, and missing her son.
Jack's hand found hers again, squeezing gently. No words, just that quiet support. Holly held on tight and let herself believe, just for a moment, that wishes could come true.