Layla threw open the door, and Ethan did a double-take at the beautiful woman. “H-hey there.” He leaned against the doorjamb.
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Nice game, bro.” She nudged him aside with her elbow and headed for the waiting sleigh. Hopefully, at the end of that sleigh ride was the man she’d loved her whole life through–the man she wanted to love for the rest of her life too.
“Hey! Where’d they go?” Ethan yelled.
Lauren’s hand was still on the doorknob. “Try the chimney!” she called as she threw open the door to her future and stepped boldly into a repeat day that was unlike any she’d experienced before.
CHAPTER22
Jacob waved at neighbors, who stopped to stare at him as Nick drove him through town in a sleigh. He’d gone home to change into something more groom-ish only to discover a garment bag hanging on his closet door with a note that read: wear this or else face the wrath of Frost.
He wasn’t going to argue with that one even though he had no idea who this Frost person was or how he or she would release their wrath.
While he was being stared at–because who wouldn’t stop to stare at two men in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, he stared at the town that had gone through a massive holiday renovation.
Garlands hung from lamppost to lamppost, stretching across the street. Wreaths brightened every doorway and business. Decorated trees lined the sidewalks like soldiers, and between them stood life-sized nutcrackers, each with a different theme. There was a skiing nutcracker, a Santa nutcracker, and several dressed in native costumes from different countries.
On the corner of 2nd and Main, four carolers in turn-of-the-century costumes sang Hark the Herald Angels sing in perfect harmony. A group of people from town had gathered in to listen. There was a tall man in a cowboy hat, his tiny wife tucked into his side as if he was her source of warmth on this wintery day. He was tapping his cowboy boot along with the beat. Pastor Seth and his wife Evie joined in with the group on the chorus–Seth playing his guitar in the Christian country style that drew so many people to the church on Sundays.
“Looking good, Brody, Oliver,” called Nick.
The middle-aged man singing bass lifted a hand in greeting.
On top of all that, the snow continued to fall. Piling up in fresh, crisp mounds of pure white. The storm was closing in, and the gray clouds overhead churned in warning.
They whooshed on and were soon enveloped in the heavenly scent of candied Christmas nuts roasting over an open fire.
Mayor Owens stood near the food cart, both hands holding paper cones full of walnuts. “These are heavenly! Here, try some.” He shoved a bag at Old Man Martin, who actually smiled in response.
“Don’t mind if I do.”
“Smells divine, Robyn, Gabe. Save me a bag.” Nick didn’t slow down.
Jacob turned in his seat and called, “Me too!”
The beautiful auburn-haired woman adding the candy topping winked at him.
Up ahead, children clogged the street with more streamed in from every direction. Jacob lifted out of the chair in order to see over their heads as Nick wove through the crowd.
A couple, dressed in full Santa suits–red velvet and white fur trim–handed out gifts. They pulled them from seemingly empty bags hanging over their shoulders, calling each child by name.
“Have you seen Frost and Layla?” Nick called to the couple.
“Not yet.” answered the man.
“Kristopher and Stella are already at the church.” The woman waved them on.
“Who are all these people?” Jacob asked. They’d turned his already Christmas-loving town into a snow-globe scene.
“They’re Kringles,” said Nick. They pulled up to the church, and on the steps stood a man wearing a Sunday suit complete with a pastor’s collar. Next to him was a woman in a red leather skirt with a fluffy white sweater and Santa boots only Prada could make. He stepped forward and grasped Jacob’s hand, shaking it even as he pulled him from the sleigh.
“Hi, I’m Kristopher Willis, and I’ll be your officiate today.” His kind eyes sparkled in that magical way Jacob was beginning to associate with the Kringle family. “This is my wife, Stella.” He lifted onto his toes. “Our daughters are around here somewhere.”
“They went to build snowmen in the park,” Stella told him.
“All three?” he asked, his eyebrow raised in question. The look told Jacob that Kristopher worried about where at least one of his daughters would wander off to.
Stella smirked. “All three. Emma and Sophia promised to keep an eye on Isabella.”
