The whole town will be here tonight…
Allof the tourists…
Singing and dancing and having a great time…
I grin as I crumble the paper in my fist.
Not if I can help it.
CHAPTER TWO
Veronica
“Wow, this is amazing,” I say as I stare out the van window at the festive town. Everyone looks so excited. So happy. It fills my heart with Christmas joy.
“This was all you,” Leanne says as she pulls up to the roundabout, waiting for our turn to get in. “Your article revitalized this whole town.”
“Well…” I say, grinning as I look out the window at all of the lights and the new businesses popping up.
It all started about five years ago when I was working for a popular travel magazine. I stumbled across this adorable town by chance and instantly fell in love. It was quaint and small and just had so much potential. The beautiful mountains surrounding it and the old cobblestone streets and the gorgeous old-fashioned streetlights. There was just something about it that called to me.
I wrote an article for the magazine, pitching an idea of what it could become. With the three most popular ski hills in the state nearby and the untouched wilderness—rivers, lakes, hiking trails like you wouldn’t believe, I thought this town could be so much more.
Ineverthought it would take off like it did. My article got national attention. The mayor used it as a launching point to pull in investors and bring my vision to life.
Since then, it’s been the hottest growing tourist attraction in the country. Tourist numbers double every year and revenue is flooding in. The local economy is thriving and the locals have been nothing but grateful.Everybodyloves my vision.
“That’s a new restaurant,” I say, gasping when we pass a lively bistro on the end of the main road. “And the hotel is almost complete.”
I’m just so proud of what everyone has done. They took my idea and ran with it, building fast and attracting people from all over the country. They’ve really made this town a better place. And to be honest, I’m proud of myself too. It all happened because of a spark of my imagination. A vision of what it could be. It’s surreal to see it coming to life.
“Look at that bar,” Leanne says. “We should get some drinks.”
“Afterwork,” I say, grinning at her.
“Of course,” she says with a mischievous smile. “That’s what I meant.”
“Yeah, right,” I say, chuckling.
My article wasn’t just the best thing to happen to this town, it was the best thing to happen to me too. I got offered a job in the newsroom of the largest news station in Montana. And from there, after breaking a few popular stories, they promoted me to be a field reporter.
I’m on camera and I can’t believe it. I don’t want to brag, but I’m the most popular field reporter they have. I’ve won three awards!
And now, I’m returning to the town, about to report on the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony tonight, and everything just feels so… right. It’s all coming around full circle. This has been the best five years of my life.
“Think there are any hot single guys in this town?” Leanne asks, looking at the crowds on the sidewalk. “They all look married to me.”
She changes the song with a frustrated huff.
“I hate being single on the holidays,” she says. “I need to get laid.”
I sit a little straighter in my seat. I don’t really like this kind of talk. I’m not a huge fan of being single over the holidays either, but I’m not about to have a one-night stand. Especially not for my first time. I want that to be special. I want that to be with my soul mate.
“We should go this way,” I say, pointing to the right, trying to change the subject. Leanne turns the van and we head toward the town square.
I get so excited when I see the incredible tree and all of the excited people. The stalls selling food and drinks are already set up and there are line-ups of people celebrating already.
Not only is this going to be a great, feel-good story for the viewers at home, it’s going to be a lot of fun for me. I just love Christmas so much.
