Lucas was waiting outside the inn, bundled up and grinning.“Ready for a little holiday chaos?” he asked, handing her a pair of mittens.
“Chaos?” Holly raised an eyebrow.
“You’ll see,” he said mysteriously, tugging her toward the square.
Their first task: helping decorate the massive town Christmas tree. Holly grabbed a box of ornaments, only to trip over a stray string of lights, sending a cascade of baubles clattering to the snow-covered ground.
“Oh no!” she exclaimed, cheeks flaming.
Lucas quickly crouched beside her, helping pick up the fallen ornaments.“Don’t worry,” he said, laughing softly.“It happens to the best of us. Plus, it’s kind of cute watching you try to juggle decorations in snow boots.”
Holly laughed, snow crunching beneath her feet.“Cute, huh? I’ll take that as a compliment.”
As they worked together, more mishaps followed — tangled garlands, slipping on icy patches, and even a small snowball landing unexpectedly on Lucas’s shoulder, courtesy of amischievous child nearby. But each slip, each stumble, only made them laugh harder, their hands brushing repeatedly as they straightened lights and hung ornaments.
At one point, Lucas handed Holly a string of sparkling lights.“Here,” he said, eyes twinkling.“I think you should place the star on top. You’re clearly the luckiest one around today.”
Holly blushed but accepted the challenge, balancing carefully on a step stool as Lucas steadied her from behind. When the star was finally in place, she turned to see Lucas’s beaming smile.“Perfect,” he said softly.
Holly laughed, feeling warmth beyond the cold air.“We make a pretty good team, don’t we?”
“The best,” Lucas agreed, brushing a strand of snow-dusted hair from her face.“Mishaps and all.”
By the end of the day, the town square was glowing with festive lights, laughter, and the scent of cocoa from nearby stalls. Holly and Lucas stood together, snowflakes falling around them, their cheeks red from laughter and the cold.
“Today was… unforgettable,” Holly admitted, her voice soft.
Lucas took her hand, holding it gently.“Unforgettable, yes… and I’m not done making memories with you yet.”
And as the tree lights flickered on, illuminating their smiles, Holly realized that this holiday, with all its chaos and charm, had become something magical — not just because of Maplewood, but because of Lucas.
Chapter 6:
Under the Festival Lights
That evening, the festival had quieted down, leaving the streets twinkling with fairy lights and the soft crunch of snow underfoot. Holly Mason pulled her coat tighter around her and glanced at Lucas.
“Shall we?” he asked, holding out his hand.
“For a walk?” she asked, smiling.
“For an adventure,” he replied, guiding her toward the ice rink in the town square. The rink was smaller than the main festival area, but perfectly lit with strings of golden lights and the soft glow of lanterns lining the edges.
Holly hesitated for a moment, then stepped onto the ice, gripping Lucas’s hands tightly.“I haven’t skated in years,” she admitted.
Lucas smiled warmly.“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
Hand in hand, they glided across the ice, slowly at first, then with a little more confidence. Holly laughed as Lucas twirled her gently, careful not to let her slip. Their laughter echoed through the rink, mixing with the soft music playing from the nearby speakers.
At the edge of the rink, Lucas pulled her close, their hands still intertwined.“Holly…” he said softly, looking into her eyes.“I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but… these moments with you… they mean more than I expected.”
Holly’s heart fluttered.“I feel the same,” she whispered, her cheeks warm from both the cold and his words.
For a long moment, they simply stood there, the world around them fading into a blur of lights and snow. Then Lucas leaned just slightly closer, his forehead resting against hers.
“You make this holiday… unforgettable,” he murmured.
Holly smiled softly, closing her eyes.“And you make it magical.”
