Chapter 5
5
T he late afternoon sun cast long shadows across Mistletoe Hollow as Emily finished her shift at the hardware store. The warmth of the day was fading into a crisp evening chill, and the buzz of activity around the town square had settled into a soft hum.
Her thoughts wandered to the events of the past week—the fundraiser planning, her unexpected alliance with Noah, and the growing sense of belonging she felt in this quirky little town. But as much as she wanted to bask in the progress, the lingering ghost of her past refused to stay silent.
She didn’t expect to see Derek when she locked up the store that evening .
Emily’s ex-boyfriend stood on the sidewalk, leaning casually against a lamppost. He hadn’t changed much—still clean-cut, wearing a suit that screamed "big city lawyer."
“Emily,” he greeted, his tone warm but cautious.
She froze, her fingers tightening around her keys. “Derek? What are you doing here?”
He stepped forward, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I was passing through and thought I’d stop by. See how you’re doing.”
Her stomach churned. Passing through? In Mistletoe Hollow? It seemed unlikely, but Derek always did have a knack for twisting the truth into something palatable.
“I’m fine,” she said, her tone clipped. “But I’m guessing you didn’t come all this way just to say hi.”
Derek chuckled softly, brushing off the edge in her voice. “You always were quick to the point. I just… I’ve been thinking about you. About us.”
Emily blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. “Us?”
Derek nodded, his expression turning serious. “I made a mistake, Em. Breaking up with you was the biggest mistake of my life. ”
The words hung in the air, heavy and unwelcome. Emily’s heart clenched, not with longing, but with anger. How dare he show up here, uninvited, dredging up wounds she’d spent months trying to heal?
“You made your choice,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. “You don’t get to walk back into my life like nothing happened.”
“I know,” Derek said quickly. “And I’m not expecting anything. I just… I wanted you to know that I regret how things ended. You deserved better.”
Emily stared at him, searching his face for sincerity. Part of her wanted to believe him. But the stronger, wiser part knew better.
“I’ve moved on, Derek,” she said finally. “You should too.”
Before Derek could respond, the sound of heavy boots on the pavement caught Emily’s attention. She turned to see Noah approaching, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene.
“Everything okay here?” Noah asked, his tone neutral but firm.
Emily hesitated, glancing between the two men. “Everything’s fine,” she said quickly .
Derek raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking to Noah. “Friend of yours?”
Noah crossed his arms, his stance subtly protective. “Something like that.”
Emily felt a flicker of gratitude for Noah’s presence, even as the tension between the two men crackled like a live wire.
Derek gave a tight smile, clearly sensing he was out of place. “Well, it was good to see you, Emily. Take care of yourself.”
As he walked away, Emily exhaled, the weight of his visit finally lifting.
“You sure you’re okay?” Noah asked, his voice softer now.
“I will be,” Emily replied, offering him a small smile. “Thanks for stepping in.”
Noah shrugged. “Anytime.”
As they walked toward the square together, Emily felt a quiet sense of relief. For the first time in a long time, she realized she wasn’t facing her ghosts alone.
The walk back to her apartment was quiet, the kind of quiet Emily normally found comforting. But tonight, it felt heavy, as if the air itself were pressing down on her. Derek’s sudden reappearance had dredged up feelings she thought she’d buried—feelings she wasn’t sure she wanted to face.
She let herself into the apartment and immediately lit her favorite cinnamon-vanilla candle, hoping the familiar scent would ease the tightness in her chest. Tossing her keys onto the counter, she sank into the couch, her mind racing.
Derek’s words echoed in her head. I regret how things ended. You deserved better.
“Yeah, no kidding,” she muttered, running a hand through her hair. She’d spent months piecing herself back together after their breakup. Moving to Mistletoe Hollow, finding her footing at the hardware store—it had all been part of her plan to rebuild. She wasn’t about to let him waltz back in and unravel everything.
And yet, a small part of her couldn’t help wondering. What if he was being sincere? What if he really had changed?
Emily groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Why does my life suddenly feel like one of those rom-coms I swore I’d never star in? ”
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and was surprised to see Noah’s name.
“Hey,” she answered, her voice still a little raw.
“Hey,” Noah said. There was a pause before he added, “Just checking in. You seemed… off earlier.”
Emily hesitated, caught off guard by his concern. “I’m fine,” she said, though the words felt hollow.
Noah didn’t press, but his silence spoke volumes.
Finally, Emily sighed. “It’s complicated. Someone from my past showed up today, and it threw me for a loop.”
“An ex?” Noah guessed, his tone careful.
“Yeah,” Emily admitted. “He said all the right things, but… I don’t know. It’s hard to tell if he means it or if he’s just trying to ease his own guilt.”
Noah was quiet for a moment. “Sounds like he’s the one who made the mistake. Don’t let him make it your problem.”
Emily blinked, his words sinking in. “That’s… good advice. ”
“I have my moments,” Noah said, and she could hear the faintest hint of a smile in his voice.
For the first time that evening, Emily felt the heavy blanket of emotion begin to lift. “Thanks, Noah.”
“Anytime,” he said simply. “Get some rest, okay?”
“I’ll try,” Emily replied, ending the call with a small smile.
The next morning, Emily woke to sunlight streaming through her window and a renewed sense of determination. Derek’s visit might have unsettled her, but it also reminded her how far she’d come—and how much she valued the life she was building in Mistletoe Hollow.
At the hardware store, Grace was already buzzing with her usual energy. “Morning, boss!”
“Morning,” Emily replied, grabbing a clipboard. “Anything urgent today?”
“Not unless you count the guy asking for you by name,” Grace said, wiggling her eyebrows.
Emily’s heart skipped a beat. “Who?”
Grace grinned. “Relax. It’s Noah. He’s out back loading up some supplies.”
Emily exhaled, her nerves easing. “Got it. Thanks, Grace.”
She made her way to the back of the store, where Noah was hefting a bag of concrete mix into his truck.
“You’re here early,” Emily said, leaning against the doorframe.
Noah glanced over, his expression calm. “Thought I’d get a head start on the day.”
“Appreciate the business,” she said lightly, crossing her arms.
As they fell into an easy rhythm of conversation, Emily couldn’t help but notice how steady Noah seemed—like an anchor in the middle of her storm.
By the time Noah left, Emily felt lighter, more grounded. As she turned back to the store, Grace caught her eye from behind the counter, her grin unmistakable.
“Not a word,” Emily warned, though she couldn’t help smiling.
Grace laughed. “I didn’t say anything!”
Emily rolled her eyes and got back to work, feeling, for the first time in days, like everything might just be okay.