He stumbled over the question because it wasn’t close to what he’d expected. “Uh…” He’d been sure she would bring up the whole kissing thing. “No. She didn’t write a letter last year; our parish cared for her. And before that, I think she was too young to really think about it.”
Charlotte bit her lower lip, deep in thought. “Well, there has to be something.” She turned around, and they started up the steepest part of the climb. “A doll house? A rocking horse? A four-wheeler?”
He chuckled. “You think I’m going to let her loose on a four-wheeler?”
Charlotte shrugged and then grinned. “A bike? A video game? What about a mermaid hair color set? They were huge last year.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You think I’m going to let her loose with hair color? What kind of parent do you think I am?” he feigned offense.
She laughed even as she struggled for air. His thighs burned, and his calves wanted to shut down for the day. Two times up the hill would do him in.
“A learning robot best friend? That sounds like it’s in your wheelhouse.” She shoved him, and he threw his arms out to keep his balance on the uneven terrain.
“That would be epic. But I don’t think it’s on Lizzie’s list.” He wracked his brain to think of something she wanted more than the house on the corner.
“Okay, Aubrey got Jenny a play dough ice cream truck thing. They have a kitchen version that makes hamburgers and such. I bet she’d love it if you showed it to her.” She hugged her hands to her chest.
“Don’t have room in our apartment,” he just managed to huff out. Seriously, why did they have to go so high to slide down? “My equipment takes up most of the space.”
“Oh. Hmm. I need to think smaller, then,” she replied.
“Thanks for caring. But I assure you I have gifts for her. I can provide for us.”
Charlotte blinked. “That wasn’t where I was going with all that.”
“Oh? Where were you going?” he asked. Because if she wasn’t worried about him buying gifts for Lizzie, and she wasn’t secretly planning for the local pastor to take them on as a holiday project, then what was she getting at?
“We made it!” She threw her arms up and got a cheer from the other adults standing at the top of the hill. They were a little way off and chatting easily. He held back, unsure of his place in the group.
Charlotte paused, her breath coming in short bursts. “I think you should know before we join the others…” She looked over her shoulder at him, her hair falling down her back in long waves and her cheeks flushed in the most attractive way. “ … I intend to kiss you too.” She winked and turned toward her family.
Micah’s knees buckled, and he just managed to catch himself. Had he really wondered where he belonged? Because he suddenly had an obvious understanding, like light flooding his whole soul, that his place in the group, in Moose Hollow, and in the world, was right next to her.
He jogged to catch up to her and nudged her with his elbow, a small smile playing at his lips.
She giggled as their eyes met, and they shared a private conversation. When it should have become awkward, it didn’t. She introduced him to everyone present. It wasn’t long before he was deep in conversation with Jenny’s dad about his job as a writer for several online magazines. He and Charlotte made several more trips down the hill, and Lizzie even allowed him to ride with her once. But that was only because Charlotte and Jenny challenged them to a race.
It was the perfect snow day in the middle of the perfect Christmas–just like he’d told that Santa that he wanted.
If he believed in Santa, he would think this had something to do with the magic of Christmas. Since he didn’t, he gave the credit to Charlotte. Everything she touched seemed to have new life— including him. He hadn’t taken a day off and had not thought about all he had to do in a very long time.
There had to be a way he could date Charlotte. He’d figure it out as soon as he woke up from a long winter’s nap because this day in the snow had worn him out in all the best ways.
When he dropped Charlotte off at her store, Lizzie was wide awake and full of stories from the day–which meant they didn’t get a private moment under the mistletoe. He didn’t need the kissing plant to make his move, but it would have been smooth–and something Charlotte would appreciate because she loved all things Christmas.
He grinned. Maybe he’d start carrying it around so he was ready when the moment presented itself.
ChapterEleven
Two days after the official snow day, Moose Hollow was back on track. The kids returned to school the day before–much to their dismay. Businesses on Main Street opened, but foot traffic was slow compared to other Christmases because residents hesitated to venture out.
It wasn’t that they were scared–oh no! Twelve years ago, Old Man Winter had snowed them in for over a week. The whole town shut down and came together to help one another survive. Neighbors pulled sleigh-loads of firewood to their elderly neighbors. People shared food without asking for payment. The town gathered in the square to sing on Christmas Eve. When it came time to dig themselves out, all able-bodied individuals helped. It was one of those moments that brought the community together and made them family.
Every year, Mr. Pryor claimed they were due for another big storm that would bury them. He seemed disappointed that it hadn’t happened yet.
She had to admit being snowed in with the right guy didn’t sound all that bad.
With Mark Hiverson running the plow through town like the snow personally offended him, she decided to walk to work again instead of risking parking her car on Main Street.
