After the manysuccesses of the Best in Snow Show, Georgia was called to Lana Peter’s office first thing Monday morning and formally offered a job as Director of Marketing for the city of Sugartree. She eagerly accepted, on the basis she could continue helping at the shop when necessary. Her parents, however, insisted that with the help of their new and very capable manager, they’d like to jump back into running Good Start on a full-time basis.
Thanks to Lake’s efforts, the shop resoundingly won the Best in Snow competition, an honor Georgia would carry fully through to the next year’s show. One of Lana Peters’ ornate, and all too life-like, Santa dolls acted as the prize for the winner and took up residence on the mantle over Good Start’s fireplace—left to haunt the shop for three hundred and sixty five whole days. The Colonel and Joan loved all the cotton so much they decided to keep it up year round, too, leaving bundles in the windowsills and a small bunch at each table.
As Christmas Eve approached, Georgia and Lake spent much of their time completing her task list together. They volunteered with decorations for Winter Formal, dragging Blaire and Ryan along to the high school with them for old time’s sake. And when the time came to bring the monetary and gift donations to the Sugartree Foster Care Center, Georgia and Lake delivered them together.
On Christmas Eve, the Remillard family attended service at Living Hope Church. As they walked to the front door, the entire Lovett family greeting each family at the entrance, Georgia caught Lake’s eye. He wore a dark green v-neck sweater pushed up to his elbows and a sweet smile just for Georgia as she approached, dimples popping.
“He’s gazinnnnnng,” Caroline sang in her sister’s ear, unaware of the eldest Lovett brother who hadn’t taken his eyes off of her.
Georgia nearly skipped the rest of the way, saying hello to the pastor and his wife, and bashfully taken aback when they gave her hugs as if she were a part of their family. When she came to rest in front of Lake, he looked her up and down with mischief in his eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, and the entirety of their families, blessedly, acted as if they hadn’t heard the declaration. “Come on, I have something for you.”
“A present?” she asked, excited.
He only turned and jiggled a small box over his head, knowing she’d follow.
“That’s twelve presents, Lake! You gave me the twelve days of Christmas?”
“That was the idea.” He held the box out for her. “It’s a little late, though. I bought it a while ago… from a girl back in high school. I wanted to give it to you at the Winter Formal.”
Georgia opened the small box and found a dainty, silver bracelet with two tiny embossed charms hanging from it. One a peach. The other, a snowflake. “Lake…” she whispered. “I love it.”
He clasped it around her wrist, and she ran her fingers over the metal affectionately, realization washing over her. “This is what you were doing in the hall that day? You bought this bracelet from…”
“Tina Myer. She was taking a jewelry class and was pretty good, as you can see. I paid her for a custom design.”
She shook her head in awe, hardly believing the care Lake had taken, not just recently but years before, with her heart.
“Thank you,” she said, grateful in more ways than one.
Their families joined together for service, taking up nearly two whole rows. Pastor Lovett spoke on the simple, but profound truth of Christmas. Of God sending his Son to Earth, the most precious gift for sinners, the redemption for a broken and weary world. As the church body passed a flame from candle to candle, lighting up the sanctuary and singingSilent Nightwithout instruments or accompaniment—only their voices united in worship—Georgia caught sight of her family’s ornament on the Living Hope Tree. And although the little, glittering globe was a reminder that family in Christ could be found anywhere in the world, she would be forever thankful for the home and family they’d found in Sugartree, and for the gift of His grace she’d received when she’d been so undeserving.
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
BING CROSBY
1 YEAR LATER…
“Please, Lake!”Georgia whined, pulling Lake through the crowd.
“Please, Lake!!” he echoed, tugging her close and wrapping his arm fully around her neck. “Good gracious, you’re exasperating.” He kissed the side of her head all the same.
She’d been trying to convince him to grow out his beard all year. Lake had never known the depths of Georgia’s competitive nature until the mention of a secret grand prize for the beard competition at this year’s Best in SnowShow. TheSanta Babytheme had tipped her right over the edge, straight into insanity. He’d endured at least ninety days of her hounding. Even when the twelve days of Christmas began, Georgia had her own gifts in mind. Many of which revolved around beard combs and oils.
“And you’re impossible!” She stomped her foot. “You would have lookedsooooogood with a beard. I know it. You know it.” She swung her arm in the direction of the crowd. “They alllll know it.”
“It’s true, little bro,” Griffin said, stroking his own impressive beard, while Caroline laughed at his side. They’d spent a little time together the Christmas before and, from the little Caroline let on, had spent the past year exchanging text messages daily. Now that Griffin was back in town for the holidays, Georgia suspected she’d see a little less of her sister if he had anything to say about it. “But you wouldn’t have stood a chance against me regardless. I’m in it to win it.”
“Hush, you!” Georgia said.
Blaire giggled on her other side, arm slipped into Evan’s. They’d been happily dating for about six months, thanks in most part to Lakeland, who gave his brother the head’s up about Blaire’s interest. Evan promptly ended the long distance thing with poor Molly in Utah and asked Blaire out immediately.
Evan stroked his own, red-tinted beard and leaned into his girlfriend. “It’s a shame we’ll never know if you ever stood a chance, Lake,” he said.
Georgia growled and stuck her finger right into one of Lake’s dimples. He grabbed her finger and shook it in her face before pulling her close and, forgetting all about the crowd around them, kissed her heartily. Despite her indignation, Georgia smiled against his lips, but remembered herself and promptly pulled her own into a pinched pout.
“Georgia Snow…” he said.
