“Yeah, well, we’ll cross that bridge when we need to. In the meantime, thank you for not saying anything about seeing me. I appreciate the invisibility.” I offer him a wave. “It was good to see you, Arden, but I need to go help my grandma before she orders a hot chocolate for her cane.”
“Hold on one second, missy. I was actually looking for you.”
“Oh? Why?” I ask.
“When I finished my mail route, I was packing up for the day and found an envelope stuck in the cracks of my console. It’s for you.” From his back pocket, he pulls out a green envelope and hands it to me.
“Oh, thanks.” I take a look at the envelope. My name is scrawled across the green paper, but there is no address or return label. “How did you know you were going to see me here?”
“Just a hunch.” He winks. “And I heard you lost a bit of Christmas spirit ... maybe this letter will help you.”
“Do you know who it’s from?” I ask, completely confused.
“I know everyone in our town, Nola.” He winks again and starts down Main Street toward the Lobster Landing. “Merry Christmas.” He offers a wave, leaving me perplexed but interested at the same time.
How odd.
Who could it be from?
“Merry Christmas, Arden,” I call out while heading into Snow Roast.
As I step inside, I find Grandma Louise in deep conversation with the shop’s owner, Ruth, who is standing behind the counter, her husband, Brig Knightly, taking orders next to her. Sinceshe seems to be on her best behavior for once, I step to the side and open the envelope, curious about what the letter might say.
I pull out the crumpled paper, and I read it to myself.
Dear Christmas,
I despise you ...
This is supposed to bring back the Christmas spirit? Not so sure how, but the letter does have my attention, and who knows, this could very well be someone to commiserate with.
When I finish reading the letter, I smile to myself, pleased to have found a kindred spirit in whoever this “Resting Scrooge Face” might be. The sentiment is real, because why do we get so excited about a Christmas tree lighting up when there are trees all around town decked out in twinkle lights? I feel seen. When I then glance up, I come face to face with Grandma Louise.
“What’s that?” she asks.
I quickly fold the letter and tuck it into my purse. Don’t need Grandma sniffing around. “Just a letter that Arden found for me, nothing to worry about.” I clear my throat. “Actually, would you mind if I run over to Wicks and Sticks for a second?”
“Not at all, dear. There is an open table by the fireplace, so I’m going to take a seat.”
“Okay, sounds good. Be right back.”
I step out onto Main Street again, where flurries have started to fall from the sky. Thankfully Wicks and Sticks is across the road, so I quickly make my way to the other side, grab the gold handle to the door, and open it up. A wave of scents hits me all at once as I take in the rows and rows of candles for sale. Although tempting, a new candle is not why I’m here. I head to the back, right where I know the owner keeps stationery sets. Because it’s Christmas and becauseit’s Port Snow, my non-Christmas options are limited to two. A watercolor-bird stationery set, or shiny golden paper, which would require me to write in black.
Gold isn’t so bad—better than a jolly Santa sucking on a candy cane—so I pick that up and head to the cashier.
Maybe I’m lonely. Maybe it’s the holidays, or maybe it’s the way that letter spoke to me, but Resting Scrooge Face caught my attention, and for some reason, I want to write back.
Now, if only I can get Arden to deliver the letter for me.
Chapter Two
**CALEB**
The door to the hardware store rings, and my eyes dart to the front, where Arden is walking toward me, decked out in his postal uniform.
“Hey, Arden,” I say as I turn back to sorting screws. Some kids came into the store earlier this morning and thought it would be funny to mess around with the “Scrooge.” Little do they know, I caught them on camera, reported them to their parents, and quickly turned their holly jolly Christmas into a stocking full of coal.
And guess what? I don’t feel bad one bit.
