Chapter 20
20
NEW YEARS
T he week between Christmas and New Year’s dragged on at a snail’s pace, as if time itself were savoring the last days of the year. Mother Nature, however, was in no such rush. Seven inches of snow fell in a single night, blanketing Mistletoe Hollow in sparkling white. The town buzzed with activity as neighbors helped one another clear sidewalks, shovel driveways, and dig out cars.
Emily spent the better part of Thursday bundled up in layers, wielding a snow shovel as she cleared the café’s entrance alongside Evie. Every so often, she’d catch a glimpse of Noah across the street, helping an elderly neighbor push their car out of a drift. He didn’t notice her watching, but she couldn’t help smiling as he gave a triumphant fist pump when the car finally rolled free.
“Think you’ve got a little crush, huh?” Evie teased, her breath puffing in the icy air.
Emily threw a snowball at her, laughing when Evie shrieked and dodged behind the mailbox. “I think you need to mind your own business.”
“Uh-huh,” Evie said, peeking out from her makeshift fortress. “I’ll mind mine when you admit yours.”
Emily didn’t respond, but her cheeks burned as she turned back to her shoveling.
By the time New Year’s Eve arrived, the streets had been cleared, and Mistletoe Hollow was ready to celebrate. The Holly and Hearth Café was the heart of the festivities, its transformation into a glittering wonderland the talk of the town. Strings of fairy lights twinkled in the windows, and gold and silver streamers hung from the ceiling, casting the room in a warm glow. A karaoke machine took center stage, promising a night of hilarity and, hopefully, a few decent performances.
Emily arrived early, her sparkly navy dress swishing against her legs as she stepped inside. The café was already buzzing with activity. Evie was arranging platters of snacks on the counter, while Mrs. Hart supervised the hanging of a giant disco ball above the stage.
“Emily, thank goodness!” Mrs. Hart called, waving her over. “Can you please make sure those noisemakers don’t get into the hands of the children before midnight? We don’t need a repeat of last year’s fiasco.”
Emily grinned. “On it.”
She set to work, weaving through the crowd as more people arrived. Lila and Jack walked in together, Jack looking mildly terrified as Lila handed him a microphone.
“You’re going up first,” she announced, her tone leaving no room for argument.
“Me?” Jack sputtered. “I don’t even sing in the shower.”
“That’s why this will be fun,” Lila said, her grin mischievous. “It’s good practice for embarrassing yourself in front of your future child.”
Doug arrived next with Nurse Nancy, who was a vision in a glittering green dress. The pair immediately drew good-natured ribbing from Martha and Grace, who demanded to know when the wedding was. Doug blushed furiously, but Nancy just laughed, linking her arm through his.
Emily smiled at the scene, her heart swelling with the warmth of the community. But that warmth turned to butterflies when Noah walked in a moment later. He wore a dark shirt and jeans, simple but somehow perfect, and his gaze immediately sought hers across the room.
He smiled, his eyes lighting up in a way that made her stomach flip. She raised a hand in greeting, then quickly busied herself with repositioning a tray of cookies.
The evening unfolded in a blur of music and laughter. Jack was roped into singing “Livin’ on a Prayer” with Lila, his voice cracking in all the wrong places, but the crowd cheered him on anyway. Doug shocked everyone by getting up to perform “Ring of Fire” with surprising gusto, his deep voice earning an enthusiastic ovation.
Evie, encouraged by Grace, sang a soulful rendition of “Someone Like You,” her voice stunning the room into silence. Even Noah took a turn, his deep baritone tackling “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and sending a ripple of delighted whispers through the crowd when he dedicated the song to Emily.
“You’re up next,” Evie said, nudging Emily .
Emily shook her head vehemently. “Absolutely not.”
“Oh, come on,” Noah said, appearing beside her with a playful grin. “You’ve got to at least try. It’s tradition.”
“Tradition for who?” she asked, arching a brow.
“For everyone who’s ever had the courage to make a fool of themselves,” he replied, his grin widening. “I did it.”
“And you were amazing,” she admitted with a sappy smile, before she could stop herself.
Noah’s smile softened, and his gaze lingered on her a beat too long. “Now it’s your turn.”
Emily hesitated, but when the crowd started chanting her name, she groaned. “Fine. But if I embarrass myself, it’s on you.”
The room erupted in cheers as Emily took the stage. She selected “Dancing Queen” —a safe crowd-pleaser—and launched into the performance with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. By the second verse, the audience was clapping along, and Emily found herself laughing despite her nerves.
When she finished, Noah was the first to applaud, his grin wide as she stepped off the stage. He picked her up and tossed her around to celebrate. “See? What did I say? I told you you’d be great.”
“Great might be a stretch,” she said, as her cheeks warmed from his presence. “But it was fun.”
The night flew by, the atmosphere growing more electric as midnight approached. Emily found herself standing next to Noah when the countdown began, the crowd’s energy reaching a fever pitch.
“Ten! Nine! Eight!”
Emily glanced at Noah, her heart racing as the noise around them seemed to fade.
“Seven! Six! Five!”
He leaned closer, his gaze steady and warm. “I’m glad I’m here with you.”
“Four! Three! Two!”
“Me too,” she whispered.
“One!”
As the ball dropped on the screen, cheers erupted, and Noah leaned in, and kissed her. In front of the town, their friends, and darn near everybody she knew. Emily threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
“Happy New Year, Emily,” he murmured huskily, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
Her breath hitched, her cheeks warm as she smiled. “Happy New Year, Noah.”
Around them, the café buzzed with celebration, but Emily hardly noticed. In that moment, the noise, the crowd, even the year ahead—it all faded away, leaving just the two of them and the quiet hope of something new.