Chapter 42
CHAPTER 42
PENELOPE
T he familiar warmth of the Kringle house envelops me as Nick and I step through the front door. The scent of cinnamon and pine lingers in the air, a constant reminder of the magical world we now inhabit. I can’t help but smile, thinking of Noelle up at the North Pole, surrounded by her new extended family and reveling in the wonder of it all.
“I can’t believe how much has changed in such a short time,” I muse as I glance at the coat rack. I didn’t wear a coat. I don’t need it even though it’s January in Massachusetts.
Nick wraps his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Good changes, I hope?”
I turn in his embrace, cupping his face in my hands. “The best changes,” I assure him, leaning in for a soft kiss. “I never imagined I could be this happy.”
As we make our way into the living room, my mind wanders to the bakery. It feels bittersweet knowing that Grandpa officially closed its doors on December 31st. The place has been such a huge part of our lives for so long. But the young couple who bought the building reminds me so much of Grandpa and Grandma when they first started out. Their eyes shine with the same excitement, the same dreams of building a family around the business. It feels right, like passing on a legacy.
“I’m glad Grandpa’s taking that trip to Florida,” I say, settling onto the couch. “He deserves some relaxation after all these years of hard work.”
Nick nods, joining me. “And I’m looking forward to our road trip with Noelle. It’ll be a great way to bond as a family before we start our new adventure.”
My eyes land on a package sitting on the coffee table, tied with a red and green ribbon. “What’s this?” I ask, pointing to it.
Nick’s brow furrows. “I have no idea. It wasn’t there when we left.”
Curiosity piqued, we lean forward together to open it. Inside, we find three name tags, each bearing our names and the title “Christmas Ambassador” in the elegant, swirling script.
“Christmas Ambassador?” I read aloud, tracing the letters with my finger.
Nick’s eyes light up with understanding. “I think... I think this is our new title. We’ll move around the world, bringing Christmas cheer to places that need it.”
A thrill of excitement runs through me at the thought. “ I love that idea,” I say, already imagining the possibilities. “Where do you think we should start?”
As if in response to my question, the package on the table gives a little bounce. Nick and I exchange surprised glances before peering inside again.
“That wasn’t there before,” Nick says, reaching in to pull out a rolled-up map.
We unfold it together, our heads bent close. There, in the center of the map, is a red circle around a town I’ve never heard of before.
“Pinehurst, Minnesota,” Nick reads. “I guess that’s our next stop.”
A grin spreads across my face, matching the one I see on Nick’s. “I can’t wait to get started,” I say, feeling a surge of excitement and purpose.
As I look at the map, at Nick, at our new life stretching out before us, I’m overwhelmed by the love I feel. It’s a love that Nick has unlocked inside me, a love too big to keep contained. It fills me up and spills over, and I feel an irresistible need to share it with the world.
“You know,” I say, leaning into Nick’s side, “a few months ago, I was just trying to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in our little town. And now...”
“And now we’re going to spread it across the world,” Nick finishes, pulling me closer.
I nod, feeling a sense of rightness settle over me. This is what we’re meant to do. This is our purpose, our calling. To bring joy, to kindle hope, to remind people of the magic that exists in the world—not just at Christmas, but all year round .
“We should start planning,” I say, already mentally making lists. “We’ll need to figure out what Pinehurst needs, how we can help...”
Nick chuckles, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Always the organizer. But you’re right. We’ve got work to do.”
As we begin to brainstorm ideas, I can’t help but marvel at how perfectly everything has fallen into place. Grandpa is moving on to his well-deserved retirement, the bakery is finding new life with its young owners, Noelle is embracing our magical new reality with open arms, and Nick and I are ready to embark on this incredible journey together.
As I look at our “Christmas Ambassador” badges, I feel a sense of pride and responsibility. We’re not just Nick and Penelope Kringle anymore. We’re ambassadors of joy, of love, of the Christmas spirit. And we’re going to change the world, one heart at a time.