Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

By the time the roads were clear in the late afternoon, it was just in time for the Holiday Stroll, Blowing Rock’s celebration of the winter and Christmas season. All the shops stay open late, Santa and Mrs. Claus make a special appearance, and carolers sing holiday songs on every corner.

And this year? The whole town seemed to be gathering outside the Maplewood Inn, which had somehow turned into the epicenter of Blowing Rock’s holiday charm. I mean, it might’ve had something to do with a certainHollygracing the place—wink, wink.

All jokes aside, the inn looked like a full-blown Christmas wonderland. Twinkling lights sparkled in every window, garlands draped over the entrance, and the giant Christmas tree I’d decorated stood tall in the front yard, gleaming with ornaments. I should’ve felt proud. I should’ve been standing there, patting myself on the back, basking in the glow of my hard work.

But instead? I felt hollow.

The tension with Ethan had cast a shadow over everything, and even though I tried to put on a happy face, the idea of leaving, of saying goodbye to Mae, to the inn, and to Ethan—felt like a weight pressing down on me.

I stood by the fireplace, adjusting the stockings for the tenth time, when I heard Mae’s excited voice. “Daddy! Daddy, look! Holly’s back!”

I turned, my heart skipping a beat as Ethan walked into the lobby, looking, well, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. His eyes met mine, and I forced a smile. “Hey,” I said, trying to keep my tone light.

He gave a curt nod, his expression guarded. “Glad you made it. Mae wanted you to come. She’s been talking about it all day.”

I glanced down at Mae, who was clutching a small wrapped gift in her hands. She looked up at me, her eyes shining. “Holly, I made this for you!”

My heart melted right then and there. I knelt down to her level, taking the gift gently. "For me? Mae, you didn’t have to do that!"

She beamed, her face lighting up. “It’s because you made everything so pretty! And you’re the best at telling stories.”

I blinked back the sudden rush of emotion that hit me, my throat tightening. "Thank you, sweetheart," I whispered, pulling her into a hug. As I glanced up, I caught Ethan watching us, his face unreadable, and it was like the air between us was full of unspoken words.

Mae pulled away, looking between me and her father, and then her little face scrunched up with determination. “Daddy, aren’t you gonna give Holly a present too?”

Ethan’s eyes widened a fraction, and I couldn’t help but laugh, though it came out a bit shaky. "Oh, I think your daddy’s all out of presents, Mae."

But then Ethan cleared his throat, stepping closer. “Actually...I do have something.” He hesitated, his gaze locking with mine, and for a moment, the whole room seemed to fade away. “Can we talk?”

I nodded, my heart pounding as he led me out to the front porch. The air was crisp, with that distinct, electric scent that always hangs right before it snows—cold and sharp, like the sky itself was holding its breath. A faint hint of pine lingered in the breeze, and the lights strung across the porch cast a soft glow, waiting for the next snowfall to blanket the world in white.

Ethan turned to face me, his eyes dark and filled with emotion. “Listen, Holly, I...I was wrong.”

I blinked, caught off guard. "About what?"

“About you,” he said, his voice rough. “I thought, you know, when I heard you talking to your boss, I just assumed...I assumed you didn’t want to stay. That this was just something to pass the time while you were helping your mom, and that once it was over, you’d go back to your real life.”

I swallowed hard, my breath catching in my throat. “Ethan, I didn’t know what I wanted. But being here, with you, with Mae...it made me realize that maybe my real life isn’t what I thought it was.”

His gaze softened, and he took a step closer, his hand reaching out to brush against mine. “I don’t want you to leave, Holly. I know I don’t have the right to ask you to stay, but...I want you to. For Mae. For me.”

My heart felt like it was going to burst. “I want to stay, Ethan,” I whispered, tears pricking at my eyes. “I just...I didn’t know if you wanted me to.”

He let out a shaky breath, and then, finally, he smiled. A real smile. One that lit up his whole face, making him look younger, less burdened. “I want you to stay. I want to see where this goes. If you do.”

A tear slipped down my cheek as I smiled back at him, unable to hold back the emotion any longer. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him close. "I do."

And then he kissed me. Soft at first, almost like he was afraid I might vanish, but then it deepened. All the tension, all the doubts melted away, leaving only warmth, only us. The world around us disappeared as we stood there under the twinkling lights of the Maplewood Inn, the scent of pine in the air, and the soft sound of carolers singing“Silent Night”in the background.

It was perfect. And for the first time in forever, I knew that this was exactly where I was meant to be.