Chapter Twenty-Three
ASPEN
Aspen was surprised to find herself a little disappointed when they looked outside and saw that another snowstorm had blown in shortly after dinner.
She’d really been looking forward to the Cocoa and Christmas Tales event at the Lodge, but with the storm picking up and her knee needing extra care, staying put for the night seemed like the smarter choice.
But Cole, being the greatest person ever—as she was finding out day by day—had brought the event to her. He pulled a few Santa hats from his bag, plopping one onto her head before heading into the kitchen and pulling out ingredients for cocoa.
“When did you go grab that stuff?” she asked, surprised he’d thought of all this ahead of time. Especially since they hadn’t known they wouldn’t be going.
“Eh… I grabbed it just in case. You never know when you’re gonna want to wear a Santa hat while drinking my amazing hot cocoa.” He motioned to himself proudly as he set a pot on the stove and started whipping up a batch of homemade hot chocolate.
Aspen shifted on the couch so she could watch him better as he moved around the kitchen. She could watch him in there all day—his confidence so steady and sure in everything he did.
He turned and caught her looking, chuckling as he shook his head. “A picture lasts longer—I can pose if you want to take one.” He stuck his rear out, and Aspen burst into laughter.
He laughed again, and her cheeks instantly warmed.
"I wasn’t watching you. I was just… um… watching you…?” She groaned and laughed at herself. “Okay, there’s no version of that that doesn’t sound creepy.”
He poured two mugs of cocoa, topping each with marshmallows and a dusting of cinnamon, then carried them to the couch. He handed her one before settling beside her. He took a sip, the marshmallows sticking to his whiskers as he pulled the cup away, leaving him with a marshmallow mustache of sorts.
“You have a little something…” Aspen pointed to her own mouth, then leaned closer and gently wiped a bit from his upper lip.
She froze the moment she realized what she was doing, his eyes flicking down to her lips as her heartbeat hammered in response.
She pulled her hand back and took a sip of her cocoa, pretending not to notice the marshmallow clinging to her fingertips.
She cleared her throat. “So… what else is on the agenda, Mr. Kringle?”
“I’m glad you asked. Wait right there for just one second.” He held up a finger and disappeared into the other room.
“Really, Cole? Where exactly am I going to go?” She gestured to her knee. He chuckled as he returned, a book tucked under his arm.
“Sorry. That probably wasn’t funny. Is it hurting?” He sat beside her, his eyebrows turned down in concern.
“No, it’s fine. And it’s okay—it was kinda funny.” She smiled, and he smiled back. They lingered there, just looking at each other for a few moments, before Cole let out a quiet breath, breaking the moment.
“What’s that?” Aspen moved closer, and he held it close to his chest, hiding the words from view.
“Uh… uh… uh.” He shook his finger at her, and she crossed her arms, holding back a smile.
“Well… what is it then if you don’t want me to peek?” She gestured toward the book, and he cleared his throat dramatically before finally proceeding.
“This, my dear Aspen, is a family heirloom. My mom made sure each of us kids had one before we left home. It’s a Christmas book.
” He hopped up next to her, showing her the front cover and the inscription from his mom inside.
He fanned through the pages, the titles and pictures of all the Christmas stories from his childhood stirring memories inside her.
Also… had he just called her his dear Aspen? He probably didn’t even realize he had, but it sent butterflies fluttering through her stomach anyway.
“Now, which one shall I read?” He skimmed the index, his finger pausing about a fourth of the way down. “Ah-ha. This one. Get comfy. It’s a good one.”
He cleared his throat and read the title aloud. “The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. She had set it aside, one cent and then another…”
Aspen vaguely remembered this one and listened in rapt attention as Cole told the story, sucking in a breath when Della went to Mrs. Sofronie, Hair Articles of All Kinds, and left with money in hand—the money for the gift she wanted to buy for her husband in exchange for her floor-length hair.
As her memories of the tale returned and the end of the story approached, she found herself sniffing back tears, touched by how deeply the two characters loved one another—each willing to give up the thing they cherished most for the person they loved even more.
“And here I have told you the story of two children who were not wise. Each sold the most valuable thing he owned in order to buy a gift for the other. But let me speak a last word to the wise of these days: Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise. Everywhere they are the wise ones. They are the magi.” Cole closed the book, and Aspen wiped at her eyes, touched by the story.
“I haven’t heard that story since I was a little girl.
I forgot how sweet it was. I probably didn’t even realize it at the time, but now that I understand…
it really is the sweetest. Thanks for reading it to me.
” She gave him a shy smile and motioned for the book.
He handed it to her, and she opened it up, clearing her throat dramatically just like he had. Cole chuckled at her imitation.
“Oh… is it your turn to read? This will be good.” He rubbed his hands together and snuggled in close. Aspen smiled as her finger trailed down the list of short stories.
“Ah-ha. I’ve got it.” She held her finger in the air, then flipped to the beginning of the story. Cole shook his head, chuckling as she mimicked him from earlier.
“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even… a mouse.” Aspen gave him a playful wink. Cole bit his lip, trying not to laugh at her antics as she continued reading. She had only gotten a few more lines in when a knock sounded at the door.
She had forgotten her dad was coming. They hadn’t even discussed what to say—or what to do—and now it was too late. Her heart began to race as Cole moved toward the door, and before she could stop him, he was already opening it.
“Who the heck are you, and what are you doing at my daughter’s cabin?” Her dad’s voice thundered through the room.
“I… uh… sir…” Cole stammered as Aspen pushed herself up from the couch. She hopped as carefully—and as quickly—as she could toward the open door.
“Aspen, no. Let me help you.” Cole stepped away from the door and moved to her side. Together, they approached the threshold, where her dad’s angry, red face greeted her, fists clenched tight.
She needed to diffuse this—fast—before Cole ended up on the receiving end of one of those fists.
“Hi, Dad. This is Cole. He’s… uh… my friend.” Aspen motioned toward him. Her dad’s eyes followed her hand as it landed on Cole’s shoulder—and then tracked Cole’s hand wrapped around her middle.
“Friend, huh? Looks a little more than friendly if you ask me. I told you not to let a pretty face get in your way, and here… you… are?” His last word trailed off, his face falling, and his hands slowly relaxed as he took in the porch lights around them.
Aspen’s dad stepped back, eyes widening, his voice barely above a whisper. “Aspen… you decorated for Christmas?”
She glanced at Cole, then back at her dad, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It was actually Cole’s idea,” she admitted, nodding toward him.
As if caught in a dream, her dad moved from one pillar to the next, brushing each bow with his fingers.
When he reached the last, misty-eyed, he returned to the front door and discreetly wiped his eyes, then motioned toward the inside of her cabin.
“Can I come in?” His voice was softer, smaller than she’d ever heard before.
“Y-yeah. Sure.” Aspen motioned toward the couch, and he stepped inside, taking a seat and looking uncomfortable sitting there alone.
“Why don’t I make some more hot cocoa?” Cole shut the door behind him and helped Aspen settle on the couch, gathering the empty mugs from the side table before heading to the kitchen.
“So… to what do I owe this unexpected visit?” Aspen asked, poking him in the shoulder.
“You already know that, Aspen. But I have to say, I’m relieved to see you were telling the truth.” He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at her.
“Dad, I’m not some sixteen-year-old girl anymore.
I’m twenty-six, and I can make my own decisions.
Live my own life. I know that’s hard for you to believe, but you need to start believing it.
Someday, I’m going to meet a really great guy and…
well… live a great life, just like you and Mom did.
” Her eyes drifted to Cole for a moment before fluttering back to her dad, whose own eyes were misty as he watched her closely, an inquisitive look lingering on his face.
“Here, Mr. Sterling. You can wear my hat.” Cole came up behind Aspen’s dad and plopped the hat on his head. She bit back a smile as he reached up to jiggle the little bell on the tip.
“I made some more cocoa.” He handed a mug to her dad, then another to her, before going back for his own.
Cole settled back onto the couch on Aspen’s other side, and she reached over to find his hand.
Her dad watched the display, the corner of his mouth turning up into a half-smile before he tamped it down.
“Well, what did I interrupt?” Her dad took a sip of the hot chocolate, eyes going wide as he whistled and lifted his mug. “This is some good stuff, son.”
Cole smiled and nodded toward the book Aspen held in her hands. “We were reading Christmas stories.”
Her dad coughed, hot chocolate teetering close to the edge of the mug. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, what?”
“We were reading Christmas stories, Dad. Didn’t you hear me the first time?
” She chuckled, opened to the page she had started, and began to read.
“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even… a mouse.” Aspen gave her dad a wink, and when she looked up expecting laughter, she found misty eyes instead.
She cleared her throat, gathering herself, and continued reading as Cole and her dad sat silently, listening to the tale her mother used to read to her as a child.
Aspen yawned, covering her mouth as she finished the story. It was getting late, and Cole had to be at work early the next morning.
Her dad pushed up from the couch. “Well, I should be getting back to the hotel. You need to rest that knee of yours.” He started toward the door, pausing as Cole stepped in front of him.
“Sir… er… Mr. Sterling… you can stay here. I’ve been sleeping on the couch anyway—just in case that jerk Chase shows up—but I’m sure you’d be more comfortable staying with your daughter instead of at a hotel.
” Cole gathered the empty mugs and moved toward the kitchen.
“Let me take care of these first, then I’ll grab my stuff. ”
Her dad stopped him with a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. “Nah. I trust you’ll be a better guard dog than me, son. Besides, I hear the rooms at the lodge are pretty fancy.”
Cole’s eyebrows scrunched together as her dad gave his shoulder a squeeze. “I won’t let you down, sir.”
Her father extended his other hand, and Cole shifted the mugs into one hand so he could shake it. When her dad let go, Cole continued on his way to the kitchen.
Aspen’s heart lurched at the friendly way her dad was treating Cole, and she couldn’t help but smile at their manly exchange.
Her dad guided her onto the porch, but she couldn’t wait to speak. As soon as they stepped outside, she blurted, “So, what gives, Papa Bear? Why are you being so friendly toward Cole?”
Turning to her, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Neve, I see a change in you, and I think that change has everything to do with that man inside. The happiness he’s helped grow in you…
well, I would have done anything to see that happen sooner, and there’s no way I’ll ever stand in the way of seeing it continue to grow.
” He pulled her into his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before letting her go, wiping the mist from his eyes while she discreetly did the same.
“Hope I’m not interrupting anything,” Cole said as he stepped onto the porch and wrapped his arm around Aspen’s back to steady her.
Her father reached out once more, pulling Cole closer and whispering something that sounded like, “Helping his girl,” before letting go and trudging down the steps.
Aspen and Cole stood on the porch, the peace of the night settling around them as they watched the one person Aspen had thought would never approve of any man she liked walk down the pathway, disappearing into the darkness.