All around them, Christmas music echoed down the streets, intermingling with the sounds of children’s delight.
This was Christmas to Holly. This was joy and wonder. The spirit of hope and community.
And then it started to snow, just like magic.
Chapter 35
Nathan
Nathan couldn’t remember the last time he was this happy.
He couldn’t remember the last time that his mind had felt this unfettered and his soul didn’t feel like it needed to escape his body.
And it was all because of Holly.
She was magic. She was everything he wanted. And right now, he had a glimpse of a beautiful future.
He would continue to work on Elements. She would come and visit him in California, and he would show her everything the state had to offer. For once, he was excited to share his wealth with someone and not be worried that they would try and take advantage of him. He knew Holly would never do that.
Then he would purchase a house here in Devonsville. They would move in together after an acceptable amount of time, but sooner rather than later because her apartment was tiny. They would build a life together. They would live happily ever after.
He could see it all coming together like something out of a fairy tale. He was Prince Charming and she was his snow bunny princess.
And so, he threw candy to children and hummed along to Christmas carols. He thought about attending the candlelight service for Christmas Eve at the local church. It seemed like he should thank some higher power for this happiness in his life.
He could see community everywhere he looked. People were being helpful and kind to one another. The Christmas spirit of kindness and generosity was everywhere he looked. As he gazed out from the parade float, he could see it.
And he actually could feel it. He was a part of it for the first time in a very long time.
The parade ended and the float returned to its spot behind the bookstore. Nathan helped Mark down from the platform. Mark thanked him and started bringing in the decorations from the float. Holly sat on the edge, her feet hanging off and swinging.
“That was great,” he told her. “Thank you for letting me be on the float.”
She grinned at him. “You looked like you were having a blast. I was afraid we were going to run out of candy there for a while.”
He chuckled. “I did too,” he admitted. “I was a little overzealous at first.”
“You figured it out,” she told him, pride in her smile.
He went over and put his hands on her waist, intending on helping her down, but instead she leaned forward and kissed him. Her hair spilled around him and she tasted like candy. Snow sparkled in the air around them.
She grinned at him and he helped her down, his knees shaky with emotion. How did she do this to him? She made him feel things. She made him happy.
“I just need to check on a few things with the parade, and then we can go grab some lunch,” she told him.
“Okay. Ill be in the bookstore.”
>
He went in through the back door and wandered the shelves. It smelled of ink and paper, mixed with a hint of coffee and fresh baked goods. The quiet chatter of the coffee shop filled the air as he made his way to the front and ordered a cup of coffee. He sat by the window and watched the last of the parade goers meander around the streets.
Holly wore a bright red knit hat that made her easy to spot. She was talking to a police officer and smiling as she helped him take down the road blocks for the parade. He loved watching her.
His phone pinged and he looked down. It was an update on the stock market.
Normally, he would open it and read it, checking his accounts and seeing how his money was doing. His money was the first thing on his mind and these alerts were important to keeping track of just how much he had made for the day.
His hand twitched, his fingers moving to open the app that would tell him what he was worth. But he paused. He looked out the window at Holly and she waved to him.