25. CAMI

25

CAMI

T he Silver Ridge Community Center was nothing short of magical tonight. The whole place sparkled with holiday cheer, from the twinkling fairy lights draped along the walls to the grand Christmas tree standing tall in the corner, its shimmering ornaments and glowing lights casting a warm golden glow across the room. The smell of pine, cinnamon, and freshly baked cookies filled the air, mixing with the soft sound of Christmas carols played by the local band. Everything was perfect.

I would never stop loving Christmas, no matter how old I got.

I could barely contain my smile as Mason and I stepped through the doors, hand in hand. Everyone glanced in our direction, but the news we were together now had spread quickly and they were curious in the way people were to see if something was really true.

Of course it was.

And when they were satisfied, we weren’t a spectacle. We were welcomed with open arms by all who knew us.

This was exactly what I’d imagined a small-town Christmas to be—warm, welcoming, and filled with the kind of joy you couldn’t find anywhere else. And tonight, it felt like I belonged here more than ever.

When I glanced at Mason, he looked a little uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to being around people all the time. The town would grow on him, I knew that. But he stood tall, holding my hand with pride, and I had a feeling he would fit in faster than he expected.

We found Rae and Tanner near the entrance, little Hunter babbling happily in Rae’s arms.

Everyone looked festive, from bright red scarves to cozy green sweaters adorned with reindeer and snowflakes.

“Hey, you two!” Rae called out as we approached, her eyes lighting up when she saw us. “You made it!”

I grinned, giving her a quick hug before turning to Tanner. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I said, squeezing his arm. “How’s Hunter? Ready for his big Christmas debut?”

Tanner chuckled, rubbing his hand over Hunter’s tiny head. He had a baby version of the proverbial ugly Christmas sweater and he was adorable.

“He’s more than ready. He’s been bouncing around all day, I swear.”

We all laughed as Rae gave me a once-over, her brow furrowing slightly. “How are you feeling?” she asked, lowering her voice a little. “After everything…”

I smiled at her. “I’m okay,” I said softly. “Really. I’m just glad it’s over.”

Mason’s hand tightened around mine, and I felt a surge of warmth knowing he was there, standing beside me. I wasn’t alone anymore. None of this would have been possible without him, and as much as the last few days had been filled with chaos, it was light and bright now.

This was my happy ending, the one I’d never seen coming.

Betty Thompson stepped up onto the stage, tapping the microphone to get everyone’s attention. Her face was flushed with excitement, her eyes twinkling under the soft glow of the Christmas lights. “Welcome, everyone, to our annual Secret Santa reveal!” Her voice was filled with warmth and pride. “I hope you’re all as excited as I am to find out who your Secret Santa is!”

A cheer went up from the crowd, and I found myself smiling even wider. I’d been so excited about this part of the evening—the reveal, the surprise, the thoughtful gifts exchanged between friends and neighbors. It was such a simple tradition, but it carried so much meaning, and I was so glad I could be a part of it.

Betty continued, her voice cheerful as she called out the first name. “Gregory Treeve!”

The evening kicked off with Mayor Gregory Treeve taking the stage. “Good evening, everyone!” His voice boomed with cheer. “Welcome to our annual Secret Santa reveal! Let’s spread some holiday magic tonight.”

With that, Betty stepped forward, her warm smile lighting up the room.

“Alright, everyone, it’s time for the big reveal! If you haven’t guessed your Secret Santa yet, now’s the moment to find out!”

Gregory stepped forward with a grin, holding out a beautifully handcrafted wooden jewelry box to Laura Bennett, the innkeeper. “I hope you like it, Laura,” he said, his eyes twinkling as he handed it to her.

Laura’s eyes widened as she opened the box. “Oh, Gregory, this is beautiful! Thank you so much! I would never have guessed you’re my Secret Santa.”

The crowd murmured with approval as the next name was called. “Jake ‘The Snake’ O’Hara!”

Jake, with his signature swagger, stepped up with a custom-made hiking backpack for Ranger Lisa Morales. “For all your adventures in the Whispering Pines Forest,” he said with a grin.

Lisa laughed, clearly touched by the thoughtful gift. “Thank you, Jake. This is perfect. I was just planning a new year’s trek.”

“I don’t know why you would do that when you’re fine right here in town, but to each their own.”

We all laughed, and Lisa squeezed Jake’s arm.

The night continued on like that, each gift revealing more about the connections and friendships within this tight-knit community. Marty Wilson gifted Mayor Johnson a vintage film projector, and Hank Garrison surprised Dr. Susan Harper with a basket filled with handmade soaps, candles, and a cozy blanket. The smiles, the laughter—it was all so genuine, so full of the spirit of Christmas. It made me emotional.

Betty and Sam Thompson had a special gift for their daughter, Sandra—a personalized cookbook. “We can’t wait to see your creations,” Betty said as she hugged her daughter tightly.

And then, it was my turn.

Betty called my name, and I felt a flutter of nerves in my stomach as I stepped forward. I hadn’t been sure who’d drawn my name, but when I looked up and saw Mason stepping onto the stage, my heart skipped a beat.

“Mason?” I whispered, a smile spreading across my face. “What are the odds?”

“It’s this stupid gift-giving thing that started it all,” Mason grumbled, glancing at Rae, but then his face split into a grin. “Not stupid, though. I thought it was, but this…”

He gave me that slow, heart-melting grin of his as he pulled a small wrapped box from his coat pocket. “I got you something,” he said softly, his voice just for me. “Something I think you might need.”

I unwrapped the gift carefully, my fingers trembling slightly. Inside was a sleek, compact self-defense knife—small enough to fit in my bag but powerful enough to make a difference if I ever needed it.

“Mason,” I whispered. “This is… thank you.”

He smiled, his eyes softening. “I’ll always be here to look after you, but I want you to be safe, Cami. No matter what.”

But there was something else in the box, too—something small and delicate. I reached inside and pulled out a simple silver bracelet engraved with the words, For always .

I looked up at Mason, my heart swelling with love. He’d thought of everything—of keeping me safe, of giving me something to carry with me every day that reminded me of him.

“I love it,” I whispered and pressed my lips against his. “I love you.”

I swear I could hear the whole room let out a collective sigh of happiness for us.

Mason’s smile widened as he reached for my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “I love you, too.”

As we stepped back into the crowd, my heart felt light, full of the warmth and joy of the evening. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had Mason, and I had a community that cared about me. And I had the future I’d always wanted but never would have dreamed of finding this way. It was a future I was excited to face.

I joined Laken next, handing her a beautifully handmade scarf woven in deep shades of blue and green. Rae had helped me pick that out, but along with it was a set of matching jewelry that I’d spent weeks crafting, knowing it was something that would suit her perfectly.

“Oh my God, Cami!” Laken gasped, holding the scarf up to her neck and the earrings against her cheek. “This is gorgeous! Thank you so much.”

I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction settle over me. I’d made something with my own hands, and seeing the joy on Laken’s face was all the thanks I needed. This event had been exciting from the start but it was so much more fun than I’d anticipated.

As the big reveal came to a close, Tanner came over to us, his arm around Rae, and little Hunter nestled happily in his arms. The boy had finally fallen asleep after the weekend’s festivities. “Looks like everything wrapped up nicely,” Mason said, his voice warm. His words held double meaning—he wasn’t only talking about the Christmas event.

Tanner nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It’s over. Time to enjoy the rest of Christmas, man.”

Mason chuckled softly. “Yeah. Time to start thinking about what’s next.” He glanced at me and I grinned up at him. Whatever was next, I was so ready for a life with him.

The crowd began to thin out, and the lights dimmed. Rae turned to us with bright eyes.

“You guys should come to Christmas lunch tomorrow,” she said. “We’d love to have you.”

Mason looked at me, his eyes asking the question without words. I was so glad it came from him—I would have understood if there had been enough people around him for a while. But he wanted to do Christmas with me, and I nodded, smiling at Rae. “We’d love to.”

Rae grinned, wrapping me in another hug before stepping back. “See you tomorrow, then.”

We watched as Rae and Tanner walked off into the night, little Hunter tossed over Tanner’s shoulder with a blanket over him against the cold. Rae pushed the empty stroller and they held each other’s free hand. The love between them was beautiful.

Mason slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me close. “You okay?” he asked softly.

I leaned into him, resting my head against his shoulder. “Yeah,” I whispered, smiling up at him. “I’m more than okay.”

And as we walked through the snow-covered streets of Silver Ridge, hand in hand, I knew that whatever the future held, I’d face it with Mason by my side.

And that was all I needed.

Thank you for reading My Secret Santa Mason: Silver Ridge Christmas !

Keep the Christmas vibes going with your next Silver Ridge mountain man…

My Secret Santa Blake: Silver Ridge Christmas by Lisa Ryan is up next!