Brewing Up Christmas by Emily Campbell

Author:Emily Campbell [Campbell, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

The Lighting Ceremony

The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and fresh snow as the entire town of Bayshore gathered in the square, their breath rising in small clouds as they chatted excitedly. Children zipped around in brightly colored coats and scarves, laughter echoing through the streets. The square had been transformed into a winter wonderland, with twinkling lights strung up across every building, wreaths hanging from the shop doors, and garlands draped over the lampposts. But the centerpiece, the true showstopper, was the massive twenty-foot tree standing proudly in the middle, its branches full and lush, waiting for the moment to shine.

Eli stood near the base of the tree, bundled up in his winter jacket, his breath coming out in visible puffs as he took in the scene around him. The sense of anticipation in the air was almost palpable, everyone buzzing with excitement for the big moment. Margot had really outdone herself, roping in just about everyone in town to make the night perfect.

Kayla wove through the crowd with practiced ease, balancing a tray of hot chocolate and a basket of freshly baked cookies. She handed them out to the children with a soft smile. “Be careful, it’s hot,” she said to a little girl whose cheeks were flushed from the cold as she reached eagerly for a cup.

Over by the bar set up near the tree, Nolan was pouring mugs of hard apple cider and his signature spiced beer for the adults. The scent of cinnamon and cloves mingled with the crisp air, adding to the festive atmosphere. “This stuff’s stronger than it looks,” Nolan quipped as he handed a mug to a regular, a grin tugging at his lips. “You might need another once the lights are on.”

Eli smiled as he watched, the warmth of the scene spreading through him. This was exactly what the town needed—a reason to come together, to forget about the stresses of daily life and just enjoy the moment. The children were running around, chasing each other through the snow, while their parents chatted, mugs in hand, their laughter mingling with the festive music that played softly in the background.

Margot appeared beside Eli, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she surveyed the scene. “It’s perfect, isn’t it?” she said, her voice full of pride. “I knew this tree lighting would be a hit.”

Eli nodded, his gaze still fixed on the towering tree. “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. The whole town showed up.”

Margot grinned. “Of course they did. This is the event of the season. Now, are you ready to flip that switch?”

Eli glanced at the crowd again, his eyes scanning the faces. He couldn’t help but feel a small pang of... something. Something that had to do with Angelina. She hadn’t shown up yet, and as much as he tried to push the thought away, he couldn’t help but wonder where she was and what she was doing.

“Yeah,” Eli said, snapping back to the moment. “Let’s do this.”

Margot gave him

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