Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
NICK
T he jolly jingle of bells announces our arrival as Gail, Harvey, Hazel, and I step through the rustic wooden doors of Seaside Grocers. A wave of warmth envelops us, chasing away the chill of the crisp Founder's Grove air. The store bustles with pre-holiday activity, and I’m immediately struck by how little has changed in the years I’ve been away.
Twinkling fairy lights cast a soft glow over displays of festive treats and local specialties. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the sweet aroma of cinnamon wafting from the bakery corner, instantly transporting me back to cozy mornings in the Kringle kitchen. Pine garlands adorned with cheery red bows line the walls, their fresh, woodsy fragrance a familiar comfort.
“Alright, troops,” Gail says, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she pulls out a long list. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover. Harvey, Nick, you’re on produce. Hazel and I will handle everything else.”
I nod, taking the list from her hands. The paper is soft and worn, covered in Gail’s neat handwriting.
As Harvey and I make our way down the aisles, my fingers trailing over bags of chocolate chips and bottles of food coloring, I can’t help but feel a bit lost. The last time I was here, shopping for holiday supplies, Penelope was with me. We were planning our first Christmas together, full of hope and dreams for the future. She bought a large turkey—too big for the four of us to eat but she was adamant about having leftovers.
I’m so lost in thought that I almost miss the gentle tug on my shirt. Startled, I look down to find a pair of familiar blue eyes staring up at me. My heart lurches in my chest as I take in the sight of Noelle, her blonde curls framing a face that’s the perfect copy of Penelope’s.
“Nick!” she exclaims, her little face lighting up with recognition. Without warning, she throws her arms around my leg, squeezing tight. “I missed you!”
For a moment, I’m frozen, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions. Then, without hesitation, I kneel down and scoop her into my arms. She smells of sugar cookies and strawberry shampoo, and her tiny arms wrap around my neck with surprising strength.
“I missed you too, sweetheart,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.
Over Noelle’s shoulder, I see Harvey watching us, his face soft with a warm smile. There’s a knowing look in his eyes that I’m not quite ready to decipher .
“Noelle!” A familiar voice calls out, tinged with worry. I look up to see Henry Caldwell rushing around the corner; his face flushed and a light sheen of sweat on his brow. “How many times have I told you not to wander off?”
His scolding trails off as he spots me, his eyes widening in surprise. I stand up, still holding Noelle in my arms, and before I can say anything, Henry envelops us both in a bone-crushing hug.
“Nick,” he says, his voice gruff with emotion. “It’s good to see you.”
Noelle giggles, squirming between us. “Grandpa, you’re squishing us!”
We all laugh, the sound echoing through the aisle. As Henry steps back, I get a good look at him. He’s aged since I last saw him; he has more white in his hair and less of it. There are new lines around his eyes, and his shoulders are rounded.
“Do you remember me?” I ask Noelle, suddenly doubtful. She was just a baby when I left. There’s no way she could remember the time we spent together.
Noelle nods, her expression serious. “You’re Nick. You love me.”
Her simple statement hits me like a punch to the gut. I blink rapidly, fighting back the sudden sting of tears. “That’s right,” I manage to say. “I do love you very much.” I hold her close, fighting the tears. I can’t believe she remembers. That is a bit of magic I wasn’t counting on.
“Oh, what a sweetheart,” Harvey coos, coming to stand beside us. His eyes are misty as she smiles at Noelle .
Henry puffs up his chest proudly. “That’s my great-granddaughter for you. Sharp as a tack and twice as sweet.”
He turns to Harvey, extending his hand. “Henry Caldwell,” he introduces himself, though we all know who he is. “And this little escape artist is Noelle.”
As they exchange pleasantries, I find myself at a loss for words. I can’t imagine what story Penelope told Henry about my leaving. I’m certain it had nothing to do with a wishing coin, and I look every bit the cad in his eyes. Or, maybe she was a bit kinder. “Henry, I’m so sorry-“ I start, but he holds up a hand, cutting me off.
“Don’t you start apologizing, Nick,” he says firmly. “I know you’re a good man. You were good for Penelope, and whatever happened between you two, well, that’s your business.”
His understanding only makes me feel worse, but before I can say anything else, Henry fixes me with a penetrating gaze. “But I have to ask... Have you come back for her?”
The question catches me off guard, and my chest tightens. Have I come back for Penelope? The truth is, I’m not sure. I came back for my family, to help stabilize the magic, to support Hazel. But Penelope... she’s been in my thoughts constantly since I returned to Founder's Grove.
“I... I don’t know,” I admit, the words feeling heavy on my tongue. “I came back for family reasons, but...” I trail off, unsure how to continue.
Henry looks me over carefully, his eyes searching my face as if trying to read my true intentions. Then his gaze drops to Noelle, who is still clinging to me, her head resting comfortably on my shoulder.
Something in his expression softens. “Well,” he says, his voice warm, “you’re always welcome, you know that. You and your family,” he adds, nodding to Harvey. “Stop by the bakery anytime. There’s always a fresh pot of coffee and warm cinnamon rolls waiting.”
The sincerity in his voice touches me deeply. “Thank you, Henry. That means a lot.”
Henry nods, then gently takes Noelle’s hand as I set her on her feet. “Come on, sweetpea. We need to finish our shopping before your mama gets home.”
Noelle goes willingly, but not before giving me one last squeeze. “Bye, Nick!” she calls, waving as Henry leads her away. “See you soon!”
I watch them disappear around the corner, a confusing mix of emotions swirling inside me. Relief at their warm welcome, guilt over my absence, and an overwhelming sense of longing for what might have been.
“Well,” Harvey says softly, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “That was... unexpected.” He smells of peppermint, and I can’t help but wonder that Noelle hardly noticed Santa was standing right here—but she noticed me.
I nod, still staring at the spot where Noelle and Henry vanished. “Yeah. It was.”
“You okay?” Harvey asks, concern evident in his voice.
I take a deep breath. “I’m fine. Just... processing, I guess.”
He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It’s a lot to take in. That little girl is,” he draws a breath, “strong. She has a strong and true heart. Her Good List tendencies about bowled me over.”
I smile. “She’s always been on the Good List.”
“Come on,” Harvey says, his jovial tone cutting through my brooding thoughts. “We’ve still got a lot of shopping to do, and I know Gail gave us less than ten percent of the stuff to grab. I do not want her to beat us to the checkout.”
I manage a small smile at his attempt to lighten the mood. “We can’t have that now, can we?”
Seeing Noelle, hearing her say she remembers me, that I love her... it’s like no time has passed at all.
I missed her. The realization hits me with startling clarity as I absent-mindedly place a bag of oranges in our cart. I miss Penelope’s laugh, the way her eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles. I miss the weight of Noelle in my arms, the trust in her eyes when she looks at me.
But it’s not just them I miss. I miss the sense of belonging I felt here in Founder's Grove. The Kringles are my family, and I love them dearly, but there was something about the life I was building here, something that felt right in a way I can’t quite explain.
We make it back to the house and unload groceries. Hazel is baking in the kitchen. She may not have Robyn’s magical baking abilities, but she has her own set of skills in the kitchen.
“Something smells amazing in here,” I tell her as I set down a gallon of milk.
Hazel’s eyes light up. “Oh, I’m trying out a new recipe for cranberry orange scones. Want to be my taste tester?” She’s wearing an apron, though it’s nothing like the ones Robyn wears. Robyn likes ruffles, pictures of gingerbread men, and candy canes. Hazel’s look more like what you’d see on a chef in a fancy restaurant—although she buys them in red, so there’s still a splash of Christmas in there.
Before I can answer, the back door bursts open, letting in a very excited Oliver. “You guys have got to see this!” he exclaims, his cheeks red. “I’ve finally got the prototype for the new robot goldfish working. It can live underwater for up to three years.”
“How do you know that if you just invented it?” Hazel asks him.
He gives her an incredulous look, which makes him look a lot like his ex-military father when he’s in drill sergeant mode.
Not that I’m going to tell him that.
“I just know. Come on outside and see. I put them in Rudy’s tough. They’re so realistic he’s mad at me and walking on the ceiling.” He chuckles.
His excitement is contagious, and soon we’re trudging through the snow to the barn. Oliver throws open the doors with a flourish.
Rudy bleats at us and comes to stand by me. He bumps me from behind: Get them out of my water!
I cannot laugh at a reindeer—especially one that’s upset. I manage to school my features. “I’ll talk to him,” I promise.
The fish swim around the trough, acting just like goldfish. They look like them, too, except for one tiny screw on the top of their head; I would have no idea they were robots.
“It’s amazing, Oliver,” I say, genuinely impressed. “I bet you could make koi and sell them to adults for their ponds.”
Oliver beams with pride. “That’s a great idea. The best thing is that they are impervious to temperature changes. They’ll work in any climate. I could sell test them out at the Bazaar.”
As he continues to explain how the fish are programmed to swim so naturally, my mind wanders to the Bazaar itself. Will Penelope be there? Will she bring Noelle? The thought sends a mixture of anticipation and anxiety coursing through me.
“Nick?” Hazel’s voice breaks through my thoughts.
I shake my head, trying to clear it. “Sorry, just... thinking about the Bazaar.”
Hazel gives me a knowing look but doesn’t press the issue. Instead, she links her arm through mine as we head back to the house. She doesn’t have to say anything for me to know she’s on my team.
We walk into the house to find Rye double-fisting her scones. “So good,” he mumbles, spraying crumbs.
Hazel brushes them off the front of her apron. “Napkin,” she reminds him.
“How was the job hunt?” I ask.
“Unbelievable. I had no idea what people went through to find a job these days. I was told I was over qualified, under qualified, too educated, not educated enough, too serious, too fun, too energetic, too optimistic, too old and too young.”
“Really?” Hazel’s eyes are wide. “I do not want to get a job.”
I chuckle at her digging her heals in over a non-issue. That kind of critique would break her heart. She’s a tender-hearted soul with a side of sweetness thrown in.
Rye regales us with tales of his job hunt in the city, his animated gestures and dry wit keeping us in stitches.
“And then,” he says, ready to deliver the punchline, “the interviewer asked me where I see myself in five years. I was so tempted to say, ‘Running Santa’s workshop just to see what he would do.”
We laugh, the sound filling the room with warmth and joy.
I’m the older one out of the two of us, but Rye knows who he is, what he’s good at, and where he belongs. He’s lucky that way. The only time today that I felt as good as he seems to feel is when Noelle wrapped her arms around my neck.
That was the best I’ve felt in three years.
That has to mean something.