Chapter 3 #2
"Oh, Holls." Charlie's voice softened. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. He can't help it." Holly traced the edge of the brochure with one finger. "I just... I don't know what to do for Trinity. She's trying so hard to be brave, but I can see it. She misses him. And with everything that's happened with Simon—"
"Then do something different," Charlie said firmly. "Take her somewhere. Get out of Miami for a while. You both need a break."
Holly looked down at the photo of the inn glowing in her hands. "Actually... I found something."
"Oh?" Charlie’s voice held surprise.
"A brochure. For an inn in St. Augustine. On Anastasia Island. It's part of the Nights of Lights festival." She hesitated. "I was thinking... maybe Trinity and I could go. Just for a few weeks. Get away from everything."
There was a beat of silence. Then Charlie's voice came through, bright and decisive. "I'm coming with you."
"Charlie, what about your work?" Holly said, secretly wanting her sister to come with her, as it would be great to have more family around her. It was her first Christmas without… She clenched her jaw, pushing Simon from her mind.
"Don't argue. You're my sister, and Trinity's my niece. I have vacation days I need to use before the end of the year. Besides, when was the last time we had a proper girls' trip? I'm in. When do we leave?"
Holly felt something warm unfurl in her chest. Something that felt dangerously close to hope. "I haven't even called them yet." She sighed. “I just hope they have place as it’s so close to vacation time.”
"So call them. Right now and then call me back right away,” Charlie told her.
Holly shook her head, but she was smiling. "You're impossible."
"I'm persistent. There's a difference. Now call." Before Holly could say more, Charlie said goodbye and hung up.
Holly pulled up the number listed on the brochure and dialed before she could second-guess herself. The line rang twice before a warm, slightly breathless voice answered.
"Christmas Inn, this is Jane speaking. How may I help you?" The female voice was soft, controlled, but friendly.
"Hi," Holly said, suddenly feeling nervous as she really wanted to vacation at the Christmas Inn. "I'm calling about availability. For Christmas. I know it's last minute, but we would need a family room or two bedrooms. There are two adults and a twelve-year-old."
"Let me check for you." There was the sound of rustling paper, a few clicks of a keyboard. "How many guests?"
"Three. Myself, my sister, and my granddaughter,” Holly rattled off.
"And how long were you hoping to stay?" Jane asked.
Holly hesitated. "Three weeks?"
She half-expected the woman to laugh, to tell her the inn was fully booked and had been for months. But instead, Jane's voice brightened.
"You're in luck. We still have our four-bedroom penthouse suite available," Jane told her.
"Really?" Holly couldn't hide her surprise.
"We're undergoing some renovations," Jane explained. "It’s kept a few guests away this year. I can offer you a discount if you don't mind a little construction noise during the day."
"That's perfect." Holly's heart was racing now. "I'll take it."
"Wonderful. Let me get your information." Jane typed away on her keyboard
Holly gave her name, her credit card details, and confirmed the dates. By the time she hung up, her hands were trembling.
She stared at the brochure, barely able to believe what she'd just done.
Footsteps thundered down the hallway, and Trinity burst into the room, a chocolate milk mustache decorating her upper lip. "Gran! I forgot to tell you, Shelly invited me to her birthday party next weekend. Can I go?"
Holly looked at her granddaughter. This bright, beautiful girl who'd been trying so hard to hold it together and she smiled. "Actually, sweetheart, I have something to tell you."
Trinity's eyes widened. "What?"
"How would you feel about going on a trip? Just you, me, and Aunt Charlie. For Christmas." Holly saw her little brows shoot up.
Trinity blinked. "A trip? Where?"
"To St. Augustine. There's an inn on Anastasia Island, right on the beach.
" Holly opened the brochure wider, showing her granddaughter the photos inside.
"Look at this. They're part of something called the Nights of Lights festival.
The entire city is adorned with millions of tiny white lights for the holidays.
They've been doing it for over thirty years. "
Trinity leaned closer, studying the pictures. "It looks like a fairytale."
"It does, doesn't it?" Holly traced her finger along one of the photos showing the historic district draped in lights. "The inn has been there since the 1800s, and it's right on the ocean. The Christmas family has owned it for generations.”
“Their last name is Christmas?” Trinity was intrigued.
“It seems so.” Holly laughed at the look on Trinity’s face. “They do special traditions during the holidays. Carriage rides through the historic district, carol services by candlelight, something called the Wish Light Ceremony."
"What's that?" Trinity's voice held wonder.
Holly scanned the brochure description. "It says guests light special lanterns at sunset and make wishes.
The lanterns stay lit in the garden until midnight.
" She looked up at her granddaughter. "They have horse-drawn carriage tours through the old city, too.
St. Augustine is the oldest city in America, you know.
Founded in 1565. And Anastasia Island is just across this beautiful bridge.
The inn sits right on the beach, so we could walk on the sand every morning, collect shells, and watch the sunrise. "
Trinity's whole body went still, her eyes growing wider with each detail.
Then she let out a squeal that could probably be heard three houses down and launched herself across the room, chocolate milk mustache and all.
She threw her arms around Holly's neck with enough force to nearly knock them both backward.
"Really? We're actually going?" Trinity pulled back just far enough to look Holly in the eyes, her face glowing brighter than any Christmas light. "For real?"
Holly laughed, the sound coming easier than it had in months. She tucked a strand of hair behind Trinity's ear. "For real. Three whole weeks."
"Can we go swimming? Even in December?" Trinity bounced on her toes, barely able to contain herself.
"And collect shells? Oh! Can we see the lighthouse?
I read about it in my history book. It's supposed to be one of the oldest in the country, and you can climb all the way to the top and see forever.
" She grabbed the brochure and studied it with intense focus.
"Look, Gran! They have a restaurant called the Twelve Months of Christmas.
How cool is that? It states that the entire downtown area is lined with shops and cafes, and everything is beautifully decorated.
Can we go on one of the carriage rides? Please? "
"We can do all of that." Holly's chest felt warm, watching her granddaughter's excitement chase away the shadows that had been lingering in her eyes for months. "Anything you want."
Trinity hugged the brochure to her chest as if it were something precious. "This is going to be the best Christmas ever. Way better than staying here." She paused, biting her lip. "Is that okay to say? I mean, I know Daddy can't come home, but..."
"It's more than okay." Holly pulled her close again. "Your dad would want us to have a wonderful Christmas. And we will. You, me, Aunt Charlie, and the ocean."
Holly hoped she was right.
After Trinity ran off to start planning what to pack, Holly sat back down at the desk. The brochure lay open in front of her, the photo of the inn gleaming in the late afternoon light.
Outside, a light rain began to fall, pattering softly against the window. A beam of sun broke through the clouds, cutting through the raindrops and landing directly on the brochure. The inn's photo seemed to glow, warm and inviting, like a beacon calling her home.
Holly's gaze drifted to the bottom of the page, where a tiny line of text caught her eye.
Owned and operated by the Christmas Family since 1899.
The Christmas Family.
A shiver ran down her spine. Not of fear, but of something else. Anticipation. Excitement. A strange, inexplicable certainty that this trip was more than just an escape.
"Maybe this Christmas can be different," she whispered into the quiet.
And for the first time in months, she believed it.
Holly's eyes remained fixed on that tiny line of text, her pulse quickening as the rain drummed a soft rhythm against the glass.
The Christmas Family.
She didn't know why it mattered. Didn't know why those three words sent a thrill of something electric through her chest.
But deep down, in a place she didn't quite understand, Holly had the strangest feeling.
This holiday was about to change her life forever.