Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

Author:Teri Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Published: 2020-08-04T20:35:41+00:00

After the tree lighting, Susan invites me out for gingerbread lattes with her family. I’m consciously aware that Susan’s family includes Aidan, so I do my best to bow out. I’m still feeling distinctly floaty from the look that passed between us as he placed the star at the top of the tree, but I have no idea what it actually meant, if anything.

Maybe I simply imagined it. Or maybe it was quite literally the product of wishful thinking, brought to life by the magic bracelet. The jingle of the charms as the lights came on was unmistakable, and to be honest, the sound made my heart sink. I want Aidan to smile at me because he wants to, not because a vintage piece of jewelry somehow ordained it.

“I should probably get home,” I say, glancing at my parents and silently pleading with them to agree.

Clearly, they’re oblivious to my reluctance to join the Susan and her family on their quest for hot holiday beverages, because they urge me to go out with my friends and have a good time.

“Please come with us,” Olivia pleads. “Pleeeeeease.”

Even Fruitcake turns his melting brown eyes toward me. It’s hopeless. There’s no way I’m getting out of this.

“Okay, sure,” I relent. “So long as I’m not intruding.”

Susan rolls her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you’re not.”

My parents hug me goodbye and within minutes, I’m seated in a comfortably worn leather booth at a cozy bistro called The Owl’s Nest. It sits directly opposite the Owl Lake Inn, overlooking the grand town Christmas tree on one side and the frost-covered frozen lake on the other. The lights from the majestic tree reflect off its icy surface, making the lake look like liquid gold.

“Sorry I’m late,” Aidan says as he joins us about fifteen minutes after our gingerbread lattes arrive. “I had to get the ladder truck back to the station.”

He presses gentle kisses to the tops of his nieces’ heads before taking a seat beside Josh, across from me. If he’s surprised by my presence, he hides it well.

“Hi, Ash.” He reaches for a drink menu.

“Hi.” I gesture toward the mug sitting in front of me, towering with whipped cream and a little gingerbread man cookie balanced on the rim at a jaunty angle. “Do you really need to look at the menu when you can order this sugar-laden work of art?”

“Point taken.” The corner of his mouth quirks into a half grin.

“Another gingerbread latte, coming right up,” the server says.

“It looks like someone has found her Christmas spirit,” Aidan says after the waiter is gone. He takes in all the shiny bits and bobbles of my glaringly green Christmas sweater and arches a brow.

“Isn’t it the fanciest sweater you’ve ever seen?” Olivia bounces in her seat.

“Fruitcake has one just like it,” Sophie adds.

“Does he, now?” Aidan’s brow creeps even higher.

I nod. “So do my mom and dad. It’s a whole thing.”

Fruitcake chooses that moment to rouse himself from the floor, where he’s been sleeping beneath the table, and plant his head in Aidan’s lap.

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