Page 57 of This Christmas

Joe crouched down, ruffling the pup’s fur. “Good choice, little man.”

At the counter, the older cashier gave Charlotte a candy cane while she checked them out. “He’s a handsome pup. I bet he’s gonna be a big help keeping the critters, and trouble, away.” She winked at Ally.

Ally’s smile faltered for a split second, but Joe quickly slipped an arm around her shoulders. “That’s the plan,” he said evenly.

“You folks be safe out there. I heard we’re going to get a lot of snow in the next few days.”

Joe gave her a polite nod. “Thanks, have a good night.”

Outside, the cold air bit at their faces as the snow started falling again, but the town felt different now, quieter, peaceful. Most of the townspeople had returned home or had gone inside after sunset.

Charlotte skipped ahead to the car with Olaf trotting happily beside her on his new leash.

After they loaded Charlotte, Olaf, and their purchases into the car, Ally leaned against the door and looked over at him. “I can’t thank you enough for today.”

He arched a brow. “You don’t have to. I didn’t do anything special.”

“You made all of this feel… normal. After everything last night, then Ted.” Her voice softened. “You make her feel safe.” She wrapped her arms around him. “You make me feel safe.”

He looked inside to Charlotte, who was laughing as Olaf licked her face as she sat in the car. “That’s all that matters,” he said simply.

She smiled at him, that soft kind of look that hit deeper than he was ready for. “Let’s go before it gets too slick to drive.”

As they headed out of town and back toward the lighthouse, the car’s headlights cut through the snow. The puppy snuggled in Charlotte’s lap while she hummed Christmas carols.

He parked next to his car and carried the packages inside and then built a fire.

Ally and Charlotte had gone upstairs to get into pajamas, and Olaf was curled up in his new bed by the fire.

He figured he’d make something warm and comforting for dinner after the fire was going and headed into the kitchen to make grilled cheese sandwiches and a pot of chicken noodle soup.

When they came back downstairs, Ally wrapped her arms around him as he flipped the last sandwich onto a plate.

“I figured something simple,” he said and turned to wrap his arms around her.

She smiled. “It’s perfect. I’m not sure I can forget what happened below our feet, but for now, I can push it aside as long as you’re here with us.”

He kissed the top of her head.

They ate together in the living room, watching Christmas cartoons as the storm outside softened to a whisper against the windows.

When Charlotte fell asleep, he carried her up to bed. After letting Olaf out once more, he crawled into bed beside Ally as the dog jumped up and settled at their feet.

“One night only, buddy,” he said, knowing it wasn’t true.

“Don’t lie.” Ally snuggled against his chest. “He is never going to sleep in that bed in here.”

He chuckled. “Maybe when we’re using this bed for something other than sleep.” He kissed her forehead. “Tonight, however, I think we’re both too tired.”

She nodded and he watched the light from the lighthouse flood the room on its rotation, counting each time it swept across the ceiling until he drifted off.