Chapter 6
Chapter six
Ben
Iran my fingers over the cracked veneer of Holly's ancient counter at the Apothecary, already mapping out the restoration in my head.
Fairy lights twinkled in evergreen garlands along the shelves, their glow reflecting off countless glass bottles like captured stars.
The scent of crushed candy canes and fresh pine mingled with her herbal remedies, creating that uniquely Yuletide Valley blend of Christmas magic and practical wisdom.
The wood told its story through each scratch and dent—generations of elbows leaning while confiding troubles.
It held countless rings from hot tea cups placed without coasters and even a few scars that looked suspiciously like potion ingredients gone wrong.
Near the register, someone had carved a tiny Christmas tree, its edges softened by decades of fingertips tracing it.
"Don't even think about fixing that counter," Holly called from behind a towering display of glass jars that caught the afternoon light. "That wood has earned every battle scar. I even count the questionable chemical burns from 1987."
"Admiring the craftsmanship. These joints are still perfect after all these years. The way they're cut—someone understood how wood shrinks and expands with the seasons."
"Mmhmm." Holly emerged carrying two steaming mugs that smelled of cardamom and nutmeg. The scent reminded me of how my grandfather's workshop smelled before Christmas when he was secretly working on presents.
"And what brings you here today, Ben? I hope it's nothing to do with avoiding a certain former Broadway dancer who makes your eyes light up like the town Christmas tree?
" Holly's eyes twinkled. "You know, the same one who keeps finding reasons to ask about traditional woodworking techniques while pretending not to watch you work? "
"Who said I'm avoiding? I needed a breath of fresh air away from the theater, but the show needs his expertise." I focused on a particularly interesting whorl in the wood grain. "And with the hospital fundraiser being so important this year, we can't afford any weak spots in the production."
Holly's bracelets jingled as she set the mugs down. "And I suppose his expertise is the only reason you've been at every rehearsal? Even when there's no set work to do?"
Before I could respond, the shop door opened, bringing a swirl of winter air. Alex stepped inside, snowflakes dusting his shoulders. He had rosy cheeks from the cold, and his dark hair held tiny snow crystals that caught the light from Holly's fairy lights.
Despite his designer sweater showing a few markings of stage chalk, Alex somehow managed to look both rumpled and elegant. He was like a prince who'd wandered into our quirky fairytale town by accident and found himself enchanted.
"The romantic leads are actually starting to look... romantic." He crossed his arms over his chest, looking proud, and then accepted a mug Holly thrust into his hands. "Though Jack still occasionally forgets and slips into his lawyer voice during emotional moments."
"Like when he proclaimed his undying affection while presenting evidence?" I grinned at the memory of Jack dramatically pulling out a legal pad during rehearsal. "I thought Charice was going to object on the grounds of excessive metaphors."
Alex's laugh was real this time, not his stage-perfected chuckle.
It filled the shop like music, making the bottles on Holly's shelves vibrate in harmony.
"She threatened to call a recess if he didn't stop treating their big scene like a closing argument.
Still, there's something utterly charming about how earnest he is, even the moments when he gets it completely wrong. "
"At least they're finding their way to something authentic." Holly's gaze darted between Alex and me as she arranged jars of cinnamon bark.
Alex's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around his mug. "Jack's getting better at letting his guard down. Today, he managed to look at Charice instead of performing at her."
"There's a difference?" I raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious.
"A huge one." He set his mug down and turned to face me.
"When performing, you're always aware of invisible walls.
" He gestured grandly toward an imaginary audience, every movement calculated for effect.
Then, he turned to me, and something shifted.
The polish fell away, leaving only Alex—vulnerable and authentic.
"But when you're really connecting, you forget anyone else exists. "
Holly's bracelets jingled as she bustled past. "Sometimes the best connections happen when we stop trying so hard to protect ourselves. Look at how Noel's grown into his role as Santa since accepting his heritage. He didn't want anything to do with it at first when his father passed."
"Speaking of Noel," Alex's professional mask slipped back into place as he stepped back. "He's captured his father's spirit in the role. The children believe in him. Marcus especially—he's been telling everyone at the hospital that Santa is coming to see him."
"The North family has a gift for Christmas magic." Holly looked from me to Alex and back again. "Though sometimes even the strongest traditions need fresh energy to keep them alive."
"I suppose." Alex's shoulders tensed slightly. "Though I should probably head back to New York soon. My best friend Jared would kill me if I missed our traditional Christmas Eve skate at Rockefeller Center."
The shop's temperature suddenly dropped several degrees. Holly's hands froze on the jar she was organizing, though she pretended to be absorbed in straightening her shelves.
I focused on a display of pine cone ornaments, trying to keep my voice neutral. "New York does have impressive skating. Here, it's not the same, but our little rink has its own charm."
"I'm sure it does." Alex fiddled with the handle of his mug. "Everything here has... unexpected magic. Seeing how Noel connects with the children as Santa is like watching a fairytale come alive. I avoided most of that when I was growing up here."
Holly abandoned all pretense of organizing and moved to her front window, her patchwork skirt swishing against the ancient floorboards.
"Weather's peculiar today. The kind where unexpected things tend to happen.
" She adjusted her glasses and studied the sky.
"Though in my experience, winter has its own wisdom about bringing people to where they need to be. " Her smile had a mysterious edge.
A sudden yelp from outside punctuated her comment, followed by a loud "Whoa!" that could only belong to Noel North.
I spotted Holly's barely suppressed grin as we rushed to the door. Noel lay in an almost-perfect snow angel formation, his father's iconic red coat spread around him like wings. A group of caroling children across the street paused mid-song, their "Silent Night" hanging in the frost-sparkled air.
"My leg!" Noel declared. "I hope it's not broken since the play's coming so soon." He clutched his knee with one hand while the other somehow produced a candy cane from his coat pocket and offered it to a worried-looking little girl who'd crept closer.
Alex reached him first. "Can you move it?"
"Maybe? But carefully." Noel winced. "I was heading to rehearsal to work on the hospital children's scene. Marcus has been practicing a song to sing for Santa tonight..."
Holly and I exchanged glances.
"You're not working on anything until we get that leg checked out." Alex's protective instincts kicked into overdrive. "Ben, help me get him up?"
As we lifted Noel between us, our hands brushed beneath his coat. Alex's fingers were warm despite the winter air, steady and sure against mine. For a moment, I forgot about Noel's groaning, lost in how natural it was to work in tandem with Alex.
Holly appeared with a small crystal bottle that caught the winter light like diamonds.
The liquid inside shifted colors like the aurora borealis—first pine green, then holly berry red, finally settling into a shade that matched Alex's eyes perfectly.
It smelled of wintergreen, with undertones of witch hazel.
"My special Winter Wishes blend." She winked. "Very effective for helping people find their true path. Particularly around Christmas."
"I'll drive him to the clinic." Alex shifted his body to support Noel's weight better.
His way of stepping in to help reminded me of how naturally he worked with the children during rehearsals—especially Marcus.
"It's the least I can do since I have personal experience with that particular patch of ice. "
"Such a dangerous spot." Holly shook her head. "Though sometimes a stumble is the same as a step forward."
I caught Noel trying to suppress a smile as he leaned heavily on Alex, though real worry creased his forehead. "The show's just over a week away. What terrible timing. And Marcus tonight..."
"Almost like it was meant to be," I mumbled, earning a sharp look from Holly.
"Ben." Alex's voice had a new urgency. "Would you mind looking in on rehearsal later? Someone needs to tell Jack and Charice what happened, and maybe you could work with them on that scene transition we discussed?"
The request caught me off guard. "Of course, I'll do my best. I'm not exactly qualified to give performance notes."
"You see things others miss." His free hand brushed my arm, the touch whisper-light but electric. "And you understand how pieces fit together."
Holly bustled around us with suspicious efficiency, holding out a thermos. "Special blend for the rehearsal."
"Let me guess—guaranteed to cure everything from winter sniffles to chronic bachelorhood?" I examined the thermos with exaggerated suspicion. "Should I be worried about spontaneous bursts of caroling?"