Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
CLAIRE
I inhale a deep breath, savoring the comforting aroma of pine and fresh earth. The cold nips at my cheeks and seeps through the seams of my coat, but I don’t mind. There’s a kind of magic in the crispness of the December air that’s always invigorated me.
Across the lawn, the Holley Ridge Christmas tree towers above everything, a giant Norway spruce that’s become the center of the annual Christmas festival.
With the tree-lighting ceremony mere days away, the Sycamore Falls Fire Department is currently hard at work decorating it with thousands of twinkling lights.
I’m not the only one watching them, either.
It seems like every single female within a fifty-mile radius has decided to stop by Holley Ridge today for coffee or hot chocolate.
Instead of cozying up by the fireplace inside the beautiful lobby, they’ve opted for seats on the large wraparound porch where the view of the tree and the firefighters is unobstructed.
“It’s definitely the most wonderful time of the year,” a familiar voice croons.
I smile as Grandma Estelle sidles up beside me, her cherry-red coat buttoned to the neck, a matching shade painted boldly across her lips.
Her eyes, however, are fixed on the tree.
Or more accurately, the broad-shouldered firefighter in dark blue pants and a thermal Henley whose muscles flex with every movement.
There was a time I found firefighters universally hot, apart from my future brother-in-law, Finn. Sure, he’s attractive, but he’s always been my sister’s best friend, so I never really saw him that way. Not like I did the other guys in the department.
But now?
I feel nothing. Not even a flutter. Not even for Murphy, who looks like he stepped off the cover of a firefighter charity calendar — perfect smile, dark hair, strong physique.
Because no matter who I look at, I find myself comparing them to Declan.
I try not to. God knows I’ve tried. But nothing has been the same since Boston. Since him.
I haven’t told a soul about the night I allowed myself to give in to my desires. I thought about telling my sister. Or my best friend and roommate, Dylan.
In the end, I decided it didn’t matter.
Or maybe I didn’t want it to matter.
But the truth is, that one night has left a mark I can’t scrub clean.
I still have the note Declan left, tucked away in the back of my desk drawer like a secret I can’t let go of. I’ve certainly read that note more times than I care to admit.
But I never texted.
Never called.
I’m not sure what’s stopped me. Maybe I’m scared the magic won’t be there. That it won’t be like I remember.
Or maybe I’m scared he’ll have changed his mind now that the fog of our incredible night together has faded.
I’m not sure I can handle that sort of rejection.
“I hope you enjoy the show today, Grandma Estelle,” I say with a smile.
“You know I will.” She gives me a waggle of her brow before returning her attention to the firefighters, pulling out a pair of binoculars from her purse with zero shame.
I simply shake my head and laugh as I continue walking through the grounds.
Contractors and volunteers bustle around like elves, erecting rows of stalls for the Christmas festival where locals will sell handmade ornaments, sugar cookies, and piping hot cider.
The North Pole cabin is nearly ready for Santa’s arrival, and the ice-skating rink already gleams beneath strings of lights.
In just a few days, this place will be a winter wonderland.
And I need everything to be perfect.
“Claire!” Parker’s voice cuts through as I snap photos with my phone to use in social media posts promoting the upcoming festival. My boss approaches, her cheeks pink from the cold, her smile bright. “This place looks amazing. Seriously. You’ve outdone yourself.”
A warmth blooms inside of me. “I learned from the best.”
I grew up coming to Holley Ridge every year with my mom and sister, watching in awe as Parker’s dad transformed the ranch into something straight out of a snow globe. After he passed, Parker made it even bigger to honor his memory.
Now I get to be a part of it, too.
It means a great deal that she’s put her trust in me to continue the tradition her parents started, and I want nothing more than to prove myself.
“Don’t sell yourself short, Claire. I’ve seen the ticket numbers.
Not to mention, this place is booked solid from now until after the new year.
I wasn’t sure that would happen with all the new rooms we’ve added during the renovation.
But thanks to the marketing and influencer outreach you’ve done, this is shaping up to be the biggest year ever for Holley Ridge.
” A hint of nostalgia twinkles in her eyes.
“Dad would love to know his love for Christmas is now being shared with all these people. Thanks for that. For being part of this family.”
An unexpected wave of emotion washes over me. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
Before Parker can say anything else, I spot Joshua walking toward me, his stride purposeful, his face a little more serious than usual.
“Hey,” he says, tucking his hands into the pockets of his fleece-lined jacket. A few tufts of dark hair sprout out of his beanie, and some scruff dots his jawline.
Joshua is nothing like Declan, but the dark hair and scruff reminds me of him.
Then again, everything seems to remind me of him these days.
“Got a second?”
I hesitate, glancing toward Parker to make sure she doesn’t need me for anything else.
“I’ll talk to you later,” she says, obviously sensing whatever Joshua needs isn’t work-related. “I should go make sure Grandma Estelle doesn’t turn into an ice cube from spending all day in the cold ogling those firefighters.”
“It is the most wonderful time of the year, as she says,” I reply with a laugh.
“She’s not the only one who thinks so.” She gestures at the dozens of women sitting on the back porch.
“Gotta love small towns.”
“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” Parker sings as she heads toward the towering Norway spruce, leaving me alone with Joshua.
At one point, I may have felt a bit awkward being around him like this, considering our history. But we worked through it. Realized we were always better off as friends than romantic partners.
Now I can’t imagine not having him as a friend.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, noticing his nervous expression.
He glances around, as if he wants to be sure we won’t be overheard. “Do you remember that ancestry kit we did a while back?”
“Of course. You were so excited when you learned you were Scottish. Started saving money to go one day.”
“I still am.” He gives a soft laugh, but it fades quickly.
“I made my results public a few months ago. Just on a whim, I guess. Since I don’t know much about my father, apart from my mom telling me he was a guy she had a one-night stand with back in college, I thought maybe I’d match with a distant cousin or something. ”
“Did you?” I ask, all too familiar with his desire to learn more about his family, particularly after losing his mother to cancer early this year.
“I did. Only it wasn’t a cousin.” He pauses, drawing in a small breath. “It was my father.”
“Are you serious?” My eyes widen. “Did you reach out?”
He nods. “Honestly, I didn’t expect a response.
If I were in his shoes and a random person messaged me after an ancestry kit claimed we had a close familial DNA match indicating he could be my father, I’m not sure I would have answered.
But he did. We messaged back and forth, and he said he remembered my mother, but never knew she was pregnant.
He was in San Diego on shore leave from the navy, had a few drinks at a bar, and one thing led to another… ”
“Wow. That’s… That’s incredible.” I wrap my arms around Joshua. “I’m so happy for you.”
This time last year, I never would have been able to hug him like this. Not after he’d proposed. But it was obvious he only did so out of grief due to his mother’s decision to enter hospice. For a brief moment, I nearly agreed, scared to lose him as a friend.
Now we’re back to being the friends we were before we overcomplicated things. Hell, these days, he’s more than just a friend. He’s family. Someone I can’t imagine my life without.
“Thanks, Claire.” He pulls back, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “He’s in San Francisco for business next week and has agreed to meet up for dinner before heading home. I was sort of hoping you’d come with me.”
“Me?”
“I just thought it’d be nice to have someone there with me. Plus, you’re so good with people. You always know what to say. Having you there might help with my nerves.”
Of course he’d ask me. Joshua and I have always understood each other in ways most people don’t. We both grew up without fathers. The difference is that I knew mine chose to walk away, while Joshua never even had a name.
I give him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be there.”
Relief washes over his expression. “Thanks. It means a lot.”
He wraps me in a hug, and I hold him tightly before pulling back with a smile. “Now go salt the walkways before someone breaks a leg.”
He mock salutes. “Yes, ma’am.” Then he walks off in the direction of the large garage on the edge of the property that’s essentially his home base as the head groundskeeper of Holley Ridge.
I get back to work, shooting videos and photos of all the behind-the-scenes stuff going on to make this year’s Christmas festival the best yet. I’m not too proud to admit I capture several minutes of the firefighters working on the Christmas tree. They’re social media gold.
“That boy is lucky to have you,” Grandma Estelle calls out as I zoom in on a few of the firefighters.
I grin, shifting my gaze to meet hers. “I’m lucky to have him, too.”
We may have made more than our fair share of mistakes when we were younger. But we grew out of them. Learned from them. What’s left is something stronger. Steadier.
I wouldn’t trade my friendship with Joshua for anything in the world.