Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Holly’s parents are, as expected, wonderful and kind. George and Caroline seem to take instantly not only to me, but to the rest of the Ratcliffe clan, as well. By the time we finish breakfast two hours later, I have a sneaking suspicion my siblings have two new surrogate parents they can count on for life. And that I’m on my way to being part of a truly extraordinary family.
I’ve also learned that chipmunks have excellent taste in pancakes.
The Fall Fest short stack with pecans, raisins, slivered carrots, and enough pumpkin spice to make every bite shimmy on your tongue is by far the best I’ve ever had.
We celebrate Christmas Eve with a buffet of cold cuts, cheese, and fruit, deciding we’re all still far too full of breakfast to warm up the ham and sides Cook left for us in the fridge. Cheeks feasts on sunflower seeds and strawberries before insisting on being tucked into his new bed in an empty guest room to recover from the excitement of the past twenty-four hours.
Once he’s settled, we crack open a few of Grandfather’s best bottles of Bordeaux and play charades by the tree.
Turns out, I’m nearly as terrible at acting as I am at singing.
My team loses—repeatedly, spectacularly—and Holly and Bran laugh so hard at my pathetic attempts to communicate, they give each other the hiccups.
The old Luke would have refused to continue engaging in such pointless tomfoolery.
The new Luke just pulls his sexy girlfriend into his lap as she wipes tears of laughter from her eyes.
Once the three of us have lost our fifth and final round to Elliot and Ashton, we bundle into coats and scarves and make our way up to the widow’s walk, just like when we were kids. The night is clear and bitterly cold, the sky a deep, inky black scattered with stars. Fresh snow covers the trees and every inch of the estate, wrapping the world in a peaceful hush.
Holly tucks herself against my side, and I wrap my arm around her, bending to press a grateful kiss to her cheek.
“I forget how beautiful it is up here,” Ashton breathes, tilting her head back to gaze up at the endless sky.
For a moment, as her lips part in wonder, I suddenly see her as a little girl. That toddler with pink cheeks who clung to my hand as we watched these same stars spin when we were young.
Before my father ripped me away. Before I was forced to numb the part of myself that so desperately wanted to be right here, with the people I loved, pretending to believe in magic so hard that the pretend became a magic of its own.
And just like that, I know what comes next…
“It is beautiful,” I agree. “It reminds me of a night back in business school, when I was cramming for finals with Santa.” I feel my siblings’ gazes snap my way, but I keep my focus on the stars as I add, “We had a statistics test the next day and somehow got to talking about the probability of spotting a man in a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer streaking through the sky. He told me the chances were slim, but not statistically impossible. Not even close.”
There’s a beat of warm silence, then Elliott adds, “I think he told me something similar when we were chatting about the chances of finding true love online.”
“What did he say?” Ashton asks, clearly delighted. “Do we have a shot?”
Elliot nods. “A decent shot, yeah. But only if we’re honest about what we want, who we are, and what dreams we most desperately want to come true.”
Ashton nods. “That tracks.”
“Well, Santa told me he’s thrilled that I’m adding a Vermont lodge to my portfolio,” Bran chimes in. “He’s a big fan of any excuse to spend more time in Silver Bell Falls.”
Holly’s arm tightens around my waist, her voice warm with affection as she adds, “That Santa is a smart guy.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” I murmur.
We stay up on the roof for nearly an hour, talking about Bran’s plans for the resort renovation and Elliot’s intentions to work remotely from the mansion more in the coming year, and my timeline for moving to Silver Bell Falls full-time.
And then we all make a solemn vow to be right here again next Christmas Eve.
Together. No matter what.
Grandfather would be proud, I think, as we finally head down the steps.
He would be so, so proud.
Christmas Day is spent juggling time between Willow’s cozy home—where Cheeks takes control of her tablet, insisting on choosing the music as we string popcorn to hang on her tree—and the warm, chaotic embrace of Holly’s family gathering. Her aunts and uncles and cousins welcome me without hesitation, folding me into their traditions like I’ve always had a place at the table.