Chapter 30
Three days pass at a snail’s pace. Never in the entirety of my life have I anticipated something so much. Not to mention the amount of time it took me to string up the lights on the library.
Ms. Aberdeen directed me to a basement that I swear is Steven King’s writing cave, and I am not ashamed to say I called Davis to go down there and make sure there weren’t any murderers lingering in the shadows just waiting to kill me off.
Logically, I know no one hid down there lying in wait, but it’s now one of the top ten places I never ever want to visit again.
Which is unfortunate, because I work here now, and I’ll have to go down there. I understand that, but I swear it’s haunted, which only feeds my love of all things creepy.
And the box of dolls…
I shudder at the thought of seeing those things again.
By the time Wednesday rolled around, not only was the B&B decorated, but so was the library.
Arlo assisted me inside and out, and now the kids’ side is an official winter wonderland—see what I did there?
We had to take a day trip for more lights to the nearest city, because the last time Ms. Aberdeen did anything with the lights that I risked my life to obtain—really, the basement is that scary—was the seventies.
New lights and new candy canes hang from the trees surrounding the library and even the fruit trees, which make me think of Bloom every time I see them. She flounced from tree to tree, and Arlo and I took pity on her and helped her out yesterday.
Now we all wander around town in anticipation, with the fresh scent of snow swelling in the air.
Most of the town braves the cold with their carts sitting outside their stores while the air hums with magic.
No one really watches said carts, since everything runs on the honor system, which just blows my mind.
Where I grew up, most of that would have been stolen.
“Here you go.” Arlo catches up to me, handing a hot chocolate to Lark and a coffee to me.
“What do you have there?” I point to the brown paper bags I know came from Lori’s Bakery.
“It’s going to cost you.” He holds the bag just out of reach as we pause on the sidewalk, and he leans into me with that devious smile of his.
“What’s the price?” I whisper.
“Ew,” Lark complains. “You two are disgusting.” Yet there isn’t an ounce of heat in her voice. More like amusement.
I kiss Arlo anyway, tasting his own hot chocolate on his lips.
“Pastries.” He wiggles his eyebrows before giving a bag to Lark and pressing the other into my hand.
“You do know the way to my heart.” I pretend to swoon, making him catch me, which is all a part of my devious plan.
“You’re an easy read, Birdie.” His soft lips press against my forehead before he pulls out a pastry for himself.
Digging in the bag, I find a cream cheese Danish and I nearly do swoon. Glancing over at Lark, I see cherry smeared across her face while her dimples dent as she smiles up at me.
“What’s the plan?” I hop from foot to foot, almost unable to contain my excitement.
“Well, sundown is a couple hours away, and I figured we’d grab something more substantial than a pastry.” His head dips just a little as he gives me that look I know I deserve, because I do live on pastries.
Or I used to until his mom got a hold of me and started feeding me real meals before giving me dessert. The strangest thing happened during that though, I was almost too full to consume all the baked goods.
I still manage eventually though. Not much can get between me and sugar.
“I’m hungry for pizza,” Lark says, making Arlo hang his head.
“That’s still dough.” He side-eyes her, but I already see him softening toward my girl. Honestly, he’d do anything for her, and that warms the icy ventricles of my heart, especially when all she had to rely on for so long was me.
“With tomatoes,” she counters.
“And cheese,” I add. Arlo wrinkles his nose, but this is a battle he won’t win, so I steer him toward the pizzeria while they banter.
“Cheese is a food group,” Lark argues.
“Yes, but—”
I pat his arm, drawing his attention, and whisper, “Some battles just aren’t worth it.”
“Noted.” He loops his arm in mine, and we head down the street, watching as everyone finishes up their decorations for the lighting ceremony. Laughter wraps all around me, and as we enter the pizzeria, the fresh scent of breadsticks makes my stomach rumble, despite consuming dessert before dinner.
Arlo and I slide into a booth while Lark drops into the seat across from us, drumming her fingers on the counter.
Before Paris can even get to us, the door opens and Christian walks in, shivering from the cold. His eyes find mine from across the room, and for a moment, I’m stuck, unsure what to do.
Here is a man who hurt me deeper than anyone ever could have, and he’s now residing in a town that fast became my safe space. I know what I should do, invite him over, but my tongue swells in my mouth and all I can do is stare at him.
“Christian!” Arlo breaks the spell and calls him over.
Unsure, he shuffles across the tile floor. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Paris giving him a once over with pursed lips. No doubt my brother gave her all the down and dirty details.
“Hey.” Christian slides his hands in his jean pockets, his eyes warming a bit at the sight of Lark.
The two of them had their meeting with Kenzie, my new lawyer, who charged me only a library card—library cards are free.
She just shrugged and drew up paperwork to tell me that’s what friends were for.
It was a weird feeling, to say the least. Since the entire town shuts down at seven, we aren’t meeting until Friday. Thursday is a rest day, apparently, because there will be endless celebrations tonight, and I’m excited about that as well.
Someone mentioned dancing in the street, which I’ve always wanted to do, but it was always way too dangerous to achieve.
“Sit.” Lark perks up, pointing to the seat beside her. “Join us.”
Arlo holds back his laughter, and I wonder just who this strange creature is sitting across from me. She’s suddenly turned into a diplomat, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
Curious, that is how I feel.
“How’s rooming with Robin?” I ask as Paris still stands near the corner, slowly making her way across the room toward us.
Christian visibly relaxes, his shoulders droop, and a half-smile plays on his lips. “I forgot how cunning your brother could be.”
“Ah.” I snicker a little. “What did he do?”
“Gave me the small room, which was a given, but he’s taken to calling me Harry.” He actually smiles at that reference with warmth.
“Maybe he sees there’s hope for you yet,” I whisper.
“Did Kenzie talk to you?” Christian’s throat bobbles at the words, and Arlo’s hand drapes across my thigh in comfort.
“Not until Friday.”
“I want this to come from me.” Shifting uncomfortably, he wipes sweat off his brow. “I told my parents no.”
Shock rings through me once more, rendering me speechless. There are few things in this world I expected Christian to say, and that was not one of them.
“That’s…” Even Arlo tries to articulate his thoughts, but he can’t, though pride shines in his eyes. “I don’t know you well, and Birdie is more inclined to let me make my own opinion” —we both know that’s a lie— “but that was not an easy choice for you to make.”
“You chose me.” Lark twists in her seat to look at the man who shares her DNA, surprise etched across her features. I worry he might hurt her, and I can’t prepare for that, but I can hope that Christian makes the right choices at the end of the day.
Christian looks down, sadness on his face, one so like Lark’s.
“I made some terrible decisions in my life I will regret for the rest of my days. I want to make the right choices, and I realize that there is no amount of money in this world that can make the right choices. Only I can do that.” He taps his heart.
“Don’t hurt me,” she warns, making him blink a few times.
“I think Kenzie took care of that one for me.” He winks at her.
Paris chooses that moment to walk over, though I know she was eavesdropping the entire time. “What’ll it be?” Her eyes miss nothing, and I know she will grill me about this later.
“Oh, you know,” I tease, “the usual.”
Paris nods and walks away, leaving the guys to stare at me in mock horror.
“What did you just order us?” Arlo doesn’t sound impressed.
Then Christian’s face falls. “No.” He shakes his head, groaning. “You didn’t.”
“What’s the matter, Christian?” I can’t hold back my laughter. “Not a fan of pineapple on pizza?”
“Paris!” Arlo hollers through the pizzeria. “I want a normal meat lovers!”
All we hear from the back is Paris’ maniacal laughter.
After stuffing my face with a whole pizza, I nearly bounce as Paris announces it is closing time.
Like a rocket, I shoot out of my seat, Arlo laughing in my wake.
“Lark!” I hop from foot to foot at the door.
“Mom, they are just Christmas lights.” She rolls her eyes.
“No, they aren’t,” Arlo counters as we head outside into the cool night air, anticipation humming all around us.
All the stores close, while people bundle themselves up and head toward the town square. Arlo squeezes my hand as we follow the throng of people.
I glance back, finding Lark’s elbow linked with Christian’s. Though we may have a long way to go before either of us feels comfortable with the other, I’m excited for the future.
When Arlo first told me how many people lived in this little town, it astonished me that there weren’t that many, but now walking downtown, it feels like a city.
Unlike the city, however, there are warm smiles, pleasant nods, and a pause here and there to ask how we are or how they are. Nothing in this world could have prepared me for this moment. We make our way over to Arlo’s garage, then to the middle of the street.
In front of us, the large tree sits in shadow, while the sun sinks below the horizon. A man I’ve never met steps up to a podium. He’s older by a few dozen years, and his smile is warm. Beside him stands Kenzie, and I imagine this must be Ernie. He doesn’t look like the weasel she described him as.
Saffron and Arlo’s sisters stand next to us, smooshing us into a little ball of warmth.
Wrapping me in his arms, Arlo squeezes me into his side before brushing a soft kiss across my forehead.
Not too far away, I find Paris with my brother, and Kayden riding on his shoulders while chomping on cotton candy.
“Welcome! Welcome!” Ernie speaks, gathering everyone’s attention.
“Welcome to the one hundred and seventy-fourth lighting ceremony.” He pauses dramatically.
“Welcome to Wonderland. Many of you grew up here, some of you got lost and found a home, but no matter how you ended up here today, know that you are home and you are loved.”
“I didn’t think there was electricity then,” I whisper in Arlo’s ear.
Instead of answering, Arlo just winks at me.
Suspicious.
In the background, Ernie carries on about unity and home and family, while I note that everyone in town watches him with rapt attention. Their faces are full of excitement and something more, something I thought only existed in a fairy tale.
Gram and Eric would have loved this.
I only hope that wherever they are, they witness something just as incredible.
That’s when all the lights go out just as the sun disappears behind the horizon.
I startle and gasp, making Arlo chuckle a bit. I feel Lark sneak in between us. Everything remains quiet. Even a pin drop would cause a ruckus.
That’s when it begins. Behind the tree, a spot of light twinkles to life. A lone light in the night.
Then another.
And another.
One by one, the lights flicker on. Somewhere in the background, music plays, and chills race up and down my arms.
A light sparks across the way where they strung the lights over the street.
I inhale the crisp air, the promise of snow now a reality as its cool touch wets my face. Lark’s hand slips into mine as we watch the town light up.
It’s hard to describe beauty, to put a second so profound that it rocks the very foundation that I’ve lived upon until that moment into words.
As the music plays and the tree illuminates, tears fill my eyes and I press a hand to my lips.
It’s as though I’m in the middle of Santa’s workshop, where lights twinkle above and all around me.
The building fronts light up with scenes of elves baking or tossing pizza, cherub-like children reading books, and an elf stuck in a truck—Arlo’s garage.
The music increases, as do the voices of the townsfolk.
“You’re right.” I turn to Arlo as Lark darts off with her friends.
“Why am I right?” He pulls me closer, staring down at me with an emotion so sweet that I willingly fall into his gaze.
“Wonderland isn’t something you can describe.” My smile softens as I continue. “It’s a feeling.”
“I have a gift for you.” He pulls back and reaches into his pocket. For a moment, his face tenses as the twinkle lights sparkle in his eyes.
“I love gifts.” I eye his hand stuck in his pocket.
Arlo raises a brow, not buying it. “Close your eyes.”
Trusting him, I close my eyes, allowing the drifting of snowflakes to rest on my lashes. He grabs my hands and presses something cool into them.
“Okay, open them.” His warm lips kiss my temple before he pulls away.
Opening my eyes, I find my keys in my hands, cool and foreign. “Arlo?”
“I figured out why it wouldn’t start yesterday.” He pauses as I look up at him. “Now you aren’t stranded here anymore. You have the freedom to go wherever you wish.” Nerves make his voice shake.
“Where would I go?”
“To find home,” he whispers.
“What if…” I lick my lips, pressing my keys back into his palm. “I’ve found home?”
Hope surges in his eyes as they dance between mine. “Where?”
“You, Arlo. You and Lark are my home. Where you go, I go.” I blow out a nervous breath. “I love you, Arlo Larson.”
“I hoped you’d say that, Birdie. I love you too.” His lips crash onto mine, stealing my breath in a devastating kiss.
As we stand together in the snow with lights surrounding us, my heart soars.
I’m home.