And itissomething.
Holley Ridge has the kind of charm you see on the covers of puzzle boxes or seasonal cookie tins. The kind of place you don’t believe exists until you see it with your own eyes.
And it’s not just Holley Ridge, but the entire town. It’s exactly like I imagined a small town would be. Friendly. Inviting. Accommodating.
I shouldn’t have been able to find a place to stay on such short notice, especially this time of year. Not only is it the annual Holley Ridge Christmas Festival, but Sycamore Falls sits at the foot of a few mountain ranges popular amongst skiers. Short-term rentals are booked over a year in advance.
But Joshua made a few phone calls and, within hours, I was getting settled in my temporary home for the next month.
“It’s probably not as classy or sophisticated as the holiday displays in D.C. but?—”
“I think it’s incredible,” I tell him.
He gives me a small smile that mirrors my own. I’ve only spent a handful of hours with him, but even in that short amount of time, I’ve seen pieces of myself. Like the square shape of his jaw. The somewhat crooked tilt of his nose. The color of his eyes.
It makes me wonder about other ways I would have influenced him if I’d been a part of his life sooner. And not just genetics, but life lessons. Things I never got from my own father.
“Want something to drink?” Joshua asks. “The local vineyard here is fantastic. Every year, people line up for their mulled wine.”
“If it’s that popular, I’d hate to miss it.”
“This way.”
We walk down a path lined with vendor stalls, each one decked out in fake snow and twinkling lights. With each booth I pass, all I can think about is Claire and the role she played in all of this. I wouldn’t know where to start planning something like this. Between the vendors, the decorations, not to mention thelogistics of parking for the thousands of people here, it’s mind-boggling.
Especially since she’s so young.
“Did you come here when you were growing up?” I ask in the hopes of getting my mind off the one woman I need to stop thinking about.
“Every year.” A small smile tugs at Joshua’s lips. “It wasn’t nearly this big back then. It all started when Mr. Holley would decorate the house and barn for the holidays, and would allow locals to come walk on their property to see the lights. Mrs. Holley would have hot chocolate for the kids and Irish coffee for the grownups.”
“When did it turn into this?”
“It wasn’t overnight. Each year, it got bigger and bigger. Now it’s one of the most popular Christmas festivals on the west coast. Mom would often volunteer in the craft tent and help little kids make their own ornaments to take home, since she was an art teacher.” He laughs under his breath. “I still have every single ornament I made here.”
I nod, swallowing the regret that rises in my throat over the reminder of everything I missed. His first word. His first steps. His first day of school.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t around for any of it.”
A nostalgic gleam fills his gaze. “Do you know what Mom would say to that?”
I don’t remember much about Joshua’s mom, Hannah. Just that she was a stunning brunette with gorgeous legs and no inhibitions. She was the type of girl that every guy would kill to spend a few minutes with. And for one night, I was the lucky guy.
“What’s that?”
“She’d say you weren’t supposed to be around for it. Not because she wouldn’t want you to be,” he adds quickly. “Mom was a big believer in fate. Said everything happens for a reason.She always felt bad she couldn’t tell me more about you, but she was grateful for you. Said you came into her life when she needed you most. Or, I guess, when she neededme. Even though she was young, she said having me gave her the direction and structure she needed to get her life on track.”
She must have done something right since she managed to raise such an even-headed kid all on her own.
“I still wish I could have been there,” I offer.
“You’re here now,” Joshua offers. “That’s all I care about.”
It’s more grace than I deserve, but I’ll take it.
A radio squawks from his jacket pocket, and a muffled voice comes through. Something about a support beam issue in one of the stalls.
“I need to check on that.”
