Coming back to Snowflake from the city should be comforting, but it feels frustrating. I worked so hard at Daring Designs, we all did. But the little start-up ran out of funding and I couldn’t find another job before the holidays. So, here I am, crunching over the snow, back in my hometown, and doing whatever I can to make ends meet. And I’m definitely not dressed warmly enough. Despite growing up in this small town, my time in the city has made me underestimate just how cold it gets out here at sunset.
My friend Sienna waves as I approach the rink.
“Cold enough for you?” Her nose is pink.
“Perfect skating weather!” I walk over to where she’s standing. The company she works for helped to build the rink and she has a clipboard in one hand and a pen stuck behind her ear.
She shivers, wrapping her arms around her body and stamping her feet, then winks. “Beach,please.”
I laugh. “I see what you did there. Don’t worry, you’ll be back in your toasty warm office soon enough, planning your next vacation, while all of us holiday minions stand outside and freeze.”
“At least you can take advantage of the rink to practice your skating. I still remember us all watching you in the regionals when we were young. I thought you were a real-life fairy princess in that pink dress.”
“I loved that costume. I wasn’t ever going to be a world class skater, but I liked the dressing-up part. Oh, Christa is waving at me. See you later!” I walk over to the Candy Cabin stand. Piles of sweet treats are laid out on a red tablecloth and gleaming in big glass jars.
“You’re all set here, hon. Cocoa’s on the burner, take it off if it gets too hot. And remember to put your cute cards up on the display. There’s something I need to tell you. Nope. It’s gone. I’ll text you when I remember. Need to get back to the store. Give me a call if you need anything. Oh and put this sweater on under your jacket. You look freezing.” Christa pats my shoulder, picks up a box, and dashes away.
I put on the sweater, which is bright red with a reindeer playing an electric guitar on the front, and busy myself arranging my cards on the display. Sienna walks over and picks one up.
“These are amazing! This is Peppermint Lodge, am I right?” She pulls her black-framed glasses down from the top of her head and inspects the card.
“Yes. And this one is the Christmas tree in the square. You can see the Candy Cabin on the left.” I hand it to her. “My brother thinks Santa looks like he’s got three eyes.”
Sienna laughs. “Your brother needs to wearhisglasses.”
I roll my eyes. “Tell me about it. He’s too vain. Mom bugs him about it all the time. Does he ever wear them at work?”
She shakes her head. “Not to my knowledge. I saw him wearing them in the car once, but he took them off when he saw me.”
“That sounds like Rhys. Are you back here tomorrow?” I put the cards back on the display.
“Yes, we’re checking the fire safety checklists. Rhys is too.” Her cheeks have a pink tinge.
“Oh,great. He’s going to give me a hard time about finding a real job. That’s the last thing I need right now. I just want to chill and soak up the holiday atmosphere. They don’t do it like this in the city.”
Sienna looks down at the candy-strewn table. “Yeah, your brother is super ambitious. He’d work twenty-four-seven if he could.”
“I’ll tell him not to give you a hard time. God, I’d hate to have him as a boss. He’s so annoying.”
She smiles and pushes her hair back with her glasses until they’re resting on the top of her head again. “He’s not so bad.”
After Sienna leaves, I pour myself some cocoa and idly sketch the skaters circling the rink. I’m just as ambitious as my brother, but I’ve taken a less conventional route. I’m not going to let the failure of the start-up dent my plans. I might need to start from scratch with my illustrations, but I just need a few clients and I’ll be on my way. Back to the city, back to full speed. It’s not that I don’t love Snowflake, especially during the holidays, but it feels like I’m taking a step backward. I worked so hard and now I’m right back where I started.
The rink is starting to get full and I’m kept busy serving cocoa with all the trimmings and the Candy Cabin’s legendary Christmas cookies. A rowdy group starts singing along toAll I Want for Christmas is Youas they try to push each other over on the ice.
There’s a lull while most people are out on the ice and I pour myself some cocoa, wrapping my hands around the warm red cup and dancing around to warm up. I have the sensation that I'm being watched.
A large golden retriever with baleful amber eyes and reindeer antlers is staring at me. It’s sitting inside the stand, sniffing the air.
“Awww. Aren’t you the cutest?” I can’t resist animals dressed up for the holidays.
The dog inclines his head as I walk over and starts wagging his feathered tail as I crouch down next to him.
“Now, who do you belong to? Are you lost?” I check the bone-shaped tag on his festive red collar, clutching the cocoa with my other hand so it doesn’t spill. “Max?”
He perks up his ears as I pet his soft fur and gives his tail another thump.
“Don’t you worry, boy, we’ll find your owners.” I stand up, step forward, and collide with the padded belly of a hugely tall Santa Claus.
