Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

H utton

"Oh my God, she posted my backdrop." Rae clutches her phone in two trembling hands like she might just pass out if she lets it go.

Henry, awkwardly dressed in a tinfoil toy soldier costume, is zooming between us, hyped on performance-day nerves and hot chocolate with an extra helping of marshmallows.

"Who's she and why is this bad?" I ask, turning in circles until I spy my guitar propped under the coffee table where I left it last night in favor of seducing the pretty woman who's gone pale next to me.

"Mayor Nancy." She gasps again, and I abandon the guitar to bark at Henry to calm down and put my hands on her elbows. "It has over twenty thousand likes!"

I pause, unsure if she's mad because Nancy's post isn't doing well or mad because it is. Twenty thousand likes is low from my point of view. Then again, I wouldn't say my life is normal.

"Well, that's great," I say cautiously. "Twenty thousand people who have now seen your art. I can't believe you didn't let me see it first."

She told me last night about what she'd been doing in the garage each night and how Janna and John had helped her set it up. She'd thanked me for encouraging her to share her art. Though I don't think a social media post is what she had in mind, based on the way she's shaking her head repeatedly.

"It was just for the town, Hutton, and that was bad enough! Twenty thousand people? That's like…like…well, I don't know a town nearby with that many people."

I rub my hands up and down her arms, trying to pull her back from the edge of a meltdown. "Listen, all that can wait. Right now, we owe the town a performance. How about we hop in my truck and head to the theater and just forget about the post, huh?" I'd have to corner Mayor Nancy when we got there and ask her to seek permission next time before she posts Rae's artwork.

Rae's eyes don't lose the dazed look, but she sucks in a deep breath and squares her shoulders. "Okay. Let's do this."

I cup her cheeks and plant a kiss on her, right as Henry loses the battle on being calm and starts zooming through the kitchen. "You look beautiful. Stunning, actually."

Her cheeks heat, and I love that a simple compliment can do that to her. She has on skintight black jeans—no rips this time—a V-neck red sweater that keeps slipping off her creamy shoulder, at least five gold necklaces of varying lengths that dip down into her cleavage, and bigger curls in her long blonde hair. Add in the sky-high black boots and I'm half tempted to drop Henry off at the theater and take Rae right back home for our own Christmas performance.

We get bundled up and head out, Henry tucked in the back with his costume sitting next to him, also in a seat belt. Several boxes of sugar cookies that he and Rae made are tucked in the back seat, ready for after The Nutcracker . Cars are already starting to arrive as we find a parking spot just down the street a bit from the theater. Anxious parents wave hello and kids run back and forth, hyped like Henry, until Rae gets the theater unlocked. Lights flicker on and the rush of heat is welcome. There may not have been another storm, but the snow has stuck around with the dip in temperatures. Looks like it'll be a white Christmas for us this year.

"Oh, Rae…" a mother says as people start to flow into the theater and see the backdrop.

I stop in my tracks and take it in. She's turned the entire stage into a cozy grand parlor with realistic Christmas trees and candlelight. Her artwork is vibrant, making the play come to life.

"There's a Candyland backdrop that we'll slide in later. John installed wheels on the bottom," Rae says, her fingers twisting nervously as she looks at her work.

I pull her into me and kiss her right there in front of everyone. I'm feeling so proud of her I could bust. "It's the best thing I've ever seen on a stage, sugar."

Other parents compliment her too, kids run around half garbed in costumes, and Janna tries to get some semblance of order without much luck. I squeeze Rae one more time and then hop up on the stage. Two fingers in my mouth, I whistle loudly and the whole theater freezes. Every eye is on me, which is what's needed.

"Kids, get your costumes on and take your positions. Parents, please find your seats. Ada." I gesture to the elderly woman hunched over the food table off to the side, munching on a sugar cookie as big as her head. "Quit eating the cookies and let's run through our warmups."

The adults snicker, but everyone takes their places. The volume is finally at a normal level where it won't break anyone's eardrums. Jackson takes a seat behind his drums and gives me a serious head nod. That kid's going to be in a successful band one day, mark my words. Once all the kids have their costumes on, Henry included, I lead them through the wiggle exercise to release nerves. We go extra long and hard on the wiggle since it's almost showtime.

Mayor Nancy runs down the center aisle. "Are we ready to let in the guests? We've sold out every single ticket!"

The kids cheer, I find Rae at the front of the stage to shoot her a wink. The rumor about me being here may have sold some tickets, but I have a feeling it's a combination of quite a few factors. Snowhaven seems like the kind of place to come together over the holidays. And you can't discount the buzz that's been created by Mayor Nancy's post of Rae's backdrop last night. Either way, I'm thrilled for Rae that the show is sold out. She's worked hard with these kids for weeks now.

I plant a kiss on top of Henry's head and whisper encouragement before I hop off the stage and sit next to Ada in the pit. The curtain is drawn and the kids disappear behind the heavy velvet material. The volume increases again as guests enter the theater and take their seats. Ada's fingers are sticky from the cookie, but since I'm the one changing out the sheet music, she should be fine.

"You better quit shaking that knee or you'll vibrate me right off the piano bench, boy," Ada grouses, giving my bouncing knee the hairy eyeball. I still it, realizing I'm more nervous than when I take the stage in front of a sold-out arena. Rae rushes into the pit and takes her position in front of the stage. I hop up and pull her back into my chest. No one can see us in here, so I kiss her cheek.

"Break a leg, sugar."

She laughs, but it's not as carefree as usual. "Does that actually work?"

"Every time. Trust me." I kiss her again and take my seat. Ada is giving me a look again. "What?"

"Pretty handsy for a guy leaving town," she says.

"Pretty nosy for a woman eating my cookies," I snap back.

"Pretty ballsy saying you made those cookies when you know good and well Rae and that sweet boy of yours made them."

I press my lips together. Well, crap. She has me there. Then she crosses her eyes and sticks her tongue out at me, cackling as she breaks into a piano number we agreed upon while the final guests take their seats. I shake my head, wondering why I find this impertinent old lady charming. Why Snowhaven is so dang charming. Why my heart wants to stay right where I am for not just the holiday season but for every season.

The lights drop and the show starts. The curtain draws back and the crowd gasps. I'm smiling like a madman, putting new music in front of Ada and pleased to hear how much the audience loves the stage Rae made for them. The kids start their parts and everything goes off without a hitch. I dig my phone out and take pictures of everything, especially when Henry totters on stage in his toy soldier costume. Tears flood my vision and I can't think of a better way to spend my holiday than right here with my son.

And with the magnificent woman in front of me, guiding the kids, supplying their lines when they forget, and orchestrating all of this just because she loves her fellow Snowhaveners so much.

Fuck.

How am I going to leave in two days?

Ada elbows me and I put up the last of the sheet music on her piano. I grab my guitar and hop up on stage as the kids rearrange for the last number. The lights come back up and Janna is next to me with her violin. She surprised the hell out of all of us at the last practice when she said she could play. I thought Rae might actually pull her hair for not telling us sooner.

The crowd cheers and our waltz begins. Janna is aces on the violin, giving this closing waltz the sound it needs and I let her take the lead. The kids spin around the stage in some semblance of waltzing. A little girl from the third-grade class leaps across the stage in her tutu and the boys all miss their steps as they stare after her. It's fucking perfection.

The crescendo builds and finally breaks right as white confetti falls gently from the rafters. The kids all gaze upward, big smiles as we stand together in an actual winter wonderland. I look over at Rae, who has her hands clasped below her chin, a goofy grin on her face. She planned this little surprise and didn't tell anyone, the little minx.

The theater erupts in a standing ovation and then the kids are jumping and dancing and trying to grab the confetti as it flies through the air. It's mayhem and happiness and absolute perfection.

I stare at Rae and see joy radiating from her. Not because her art stole the show, but because her whole town has come together for a holiday she used to love so much and has since found the joy in again. And I can't help wanting to stick by her side, just to see the world the way she sees it right now. She swipes away a happy tear and my fingers itch to do it for her. I kind of think I'd do anything for her.

Holy fucking nutcrackers.

I'm in love with this woman.

Dom: Dude, answer your phone! I got the song you sent over.

Dom: It's a fucking number one song, mark my words.

Dom: CALL ME.

Dom: Okay, so you're back to ignoring me? Fine. But I played it for a few people and the studio wants you to record it ASAP.

Dom: Seriously, I'm booking a recording booth next week, and if you don't show, I'm going to call Caroline.

Dom: Guess you really are ignoring me if threatening your mother doesn't get you to answer your goddamn phone.

Dom: Fine. I give up. Call me when you decide you want to continue your career.

I slide the phone back in my pocket and pull Rae even closer to me. I haven't let go of her since the show ended. The kids, parents, and townsfolk who attended The Nutcracker are making headway on the cookies, cakes, and lemonade that Mayor Nancy's selling as a fundraiser for future theater productions. I'm pretty sure every single person has come by to tell Rae what a great job she did directing and most all had commented on her backdrops too. I'm proud of this woman, prouder than I've been of anyone besides Henry in a very long time. What I don't need is Dom blowing up my phone and disrupting Christmas. I came to Snowhaven to get away and I'm going to do just that.

"Everything okay?" Rae asks, having seen me take out my phone.

I lean down to kiss her nose. "Everything's perfect."

She smiles up at me, without any idea just how perfect she's made these last few weeks. I can't ignore Dom forever, but for tonight I can focus on Rae, Henry, and this little life we've made here together. It might be temporary, but it's the most I've felt at home. Ever. So I push away all thoughts of my career, leaving Snowhaven, and the distance I'll have to put between us. Tonight is for us.