“I asked for a sparkly ballerina dress,” the younger one, Angela, says.
“And I want a new bike,” her sister chimes in. “I’ve been extra good this year!”
Georgia laughs, ruffling their hair affectionately. “They’ve been counting down the days. I swear, Christmas morning can’t come soon enough.”
I nudge Cam with a playful elbow. “It’s not just the kids who are eager for Christmas morning, right, babe? I seem to recall someone getting pretty giddy about presents last year…”
Cam ducks his head, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. “Guilty as charged. What can I say? I’m a big kid at heart.”
We all laugh and chat a little more until Georgia’s nieces start to get antsy.
“They want to explore,” Georgia says, “so I’d best get moving. I promised we’d try to find Santa.”
As they wander off, Cam slides an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “What do you say we check out the Christmas cookie competition? I want to give Donna some support.”
“Lead the way,” I reply. “I’m up for anything.” And I am—with Cam by my side, I’m guaranteed to have an amazing time.
At the door to the town hall, we run into Felix and Kit, who are coming out.
“Hey, Kit. Felix. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you guys too. Are you just heading in?” Felix asks. “Make sure you check out the Christmas sculptures. Someone made a life-size mosaic reindeer that’s covered in mirrored tiles.”
Kit huffs a laugh. “I think Felix was half-tempted to climb on its back for a photo op.”
“I was not! Although now I think about it, it would look pretty cool on my Insta.”
Kit and Felix banter back and forth, until Mrs. Hendricks appears, a bright woolen cap pulled down low over her gray curls. “Ah, Kit, just the man I was hoping to run into. I was hoping you’d sign a copy of ‘Peril in the Mountains’ for me to give to my friend Betty for Christmas. She’s one of your biggest fans, and she’ll be joining me and Grandpa Ellis for the holidays.”
As Mrs. Hendricks fills us in on her Christmas lunch plans, I notice a group of kids eyeing the large red and white candy canes hanging from a nearby stall.
Cam follows my gaze and smiles. “Hey, I’ll be right back,” he says, giving my hand a quick squeeze before ducking away.
He returns a moment later, arms laden with candy canes. The kids’ faces light up as he passes them out, their delighted giggles filling the air. My heart swells with affection as I watch Cam interact with them, his easy warmth and generosity on full display.
“You two are naturals with children,” Mrs. Hendricks says, her eyes twinkling behind her oversized glasses. “Ever think about starting a family of your own?”
The question catches me off guard. I glance at Cam, who’s wearing a thoughtful expression.
“It’s definitely something we’ve talked about,” I admit. “We both love kids, and the idea of fostering or adopting someday feels right.”
I look back at Cam, who now wears a smile a mile wide.
Mrs. Hendricks pat my arm. “Well, if you need a personal reference for your application, or a babysitter, you give me a call, you hear?”
We linger a bit longer, catching up on each other’s lives. Through it all, Cam’s hand remains firmly clasped in mine and he shoots me little glances and smiles. Eventually, we make our excuses and head into the town hall. A group of singers has gathered near the entrance, singing “Winter Wonderland.” We pause to listen for a moment before following the aroma of gingerbread and spices. The baking competition is in full swing, with contestants bustling around a white-clothed table, putting down plates of their creations.
“Look, there’s Donna,” Cam says, pointing to where she’s carefully arranging her entry. “And Sue’s right next to her. This is going to be a close one.”
We make our way over, weaving through the crowd of onlookers. Donna glances up as we approach, her face breaking into a wide smile.
“Cam, Greg! You made it!” She dusts her hands on her apron before pulling us each into a quick hug. “What do you think?” She gestures to her gingerbread creation, an intricate replica of CC’s Coffee Shop.So much for humble gingerbread cookies.
“It’s incredible, Donna,” I say, marveling at the detail. She’s captured each and every aspect of the storefront, right down to the old, faded sign. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
Cam nods. “Sue better watch out. I think you’ve got a real shot at taking the crown this year.”
Donna laughs, her eyes sparkling. “I don’t know about that, but I’m giving it my best shot.”
