Chapter 19
nineteen
ENCHANTED LETTERS TO LAILA
NOVEMBER
Dear Laila,
The cookie boxes really took off!
No Play-Doh frosting for my customers. I consider that a win. You’re probably wrinkling up your nose at me, but you know how I feel about them. I know you love them…
I saw the first package of Reese’s Christmas Trees in a store today, and I grabbed it. I don’t know when you’re coming back, but just know—when you get home, you’ve already got a nice collection of them going. There was one package of pumpkins left, so I grabbed that, too.
Speaking of pumpkins. Kenna keeps acting like her job here is temporary, but she swapped out the Halloween display for some turkeys, and it looks ridiculous.
The farmers’ market crowd has been asking if I’ll do another gingerbread-decorating weekend like last December. I told them maybe. The bakery is staying really busy, and you’re a part of that. You and your ideas.
Love always,
Holden
Dear Laila,
Ella told me you packed up all your things and got a storage unit. I wish I could’ve helped—and yes, I know you can do it by yourself.
But that doesn’t mean you have to.
I’m proud of you, though. You’re taking control of your life like you wanted to, and not everyone can do that.
I keep thinking about everything you’ve told me about Henry and about rituals.
How they’re emotional anchors—how we translate faith, love, and hope into physical acts.
That’s probably why I love baking so much, and why you love September through December.
Enchanted Hollow does the same thing year after year. It’s safe and predictable.
But you know what’s also amazing? The response to disrupting a ritual. These gingerbread bouquets that Violet and I make have blown up. Annie showed me a couple of videos people put on social media. I bet you can find them.
I’ll have to make one just for you when you get back.
Love,
Holden
Laila,
Remember how I told you I wanted us to live life unfiltered? I’ve had to learn to embrace that, too.
Kenna is helping me film behind-the-scenes videos for the bakery because that’s apparently what people enjoy watching in their free time. (Who knew?) It’s a lot harder than it looks, and I have a whole new respect for all the work you put in.
But you know what else? I get it now.
You needed to find yourself, but maybe I did, too. I told you that stories don’t have to be perfect to matter, but everything I make is done with perfectionism in mind. I’ve been so scared to disrupt the rituals because I’m the one who keeps this place grounded.
If I changed things, would it still be okay? But I think it was more than that, La. I think I needed to know that my opinion mattered. That if I told people what I wanted, it would make me look less...everything. Especially if they didn’t agree.
But that’s not true at all.
And in the meantime, I’ve learned that waiting for you and giving you space doesn’t mean I should stand still. Kenna yelled at me a little about that.
I figured out that it means building a life sturdy enough for two people. So, I’m going to keep figuring things out and working on that.
This letter is a little rambly, but I just want you to know, honey, that I’m here. I’m building our future. And hopefully you’ll find the breadcrumbs I’m dropping along the way—like these letters.
You don’t have to tell me where you are—I know you’ll be home soon. December is right around the corner. It’s our time, Laila.
And I’ll see you soon.
Love Always,
Holden