Christmas Wishes: A Small Town Christmas Love Story

by Krista Lakes

  In that moment, Nicholas knew what he was going to wish for.

  Or rather, who he was going to wish for.

  Instead of making a proper wish of any kind, Nicholas turned to face Molly with his heart hammering in his chest. His hand went to the back of her hair, his gloves pressing against the bottom of her hat. She smelled of cinnamon sugar.

  He held the moment, not wanting to ruin a good thing. He could feel the magic growing between them, his Christmas wish coming to life.

  Molly then closed the gap between them, going up on her toes and pressing her lips to his.

  Her kiss was better than the best Christmas present he'd ever received.

  Her lips were soft and sweet.

  She pulled back for a second, her eyes flickering across his face. He grinned, and put his hands to her cheeks, kissing her thoroughly this time. Her tongue gentle yet insistent. Her body molded against his, sharing his warmth as the sky overhead flickered with stars.

  If Nicholas were a less logical man, he would’ve assumed that there were sparks flying from them both. He was sure that if someone were driving past them, they might’ve wondered why Nicholas and Molly had wrapped themselves in Christmas lights, not realizing that the glow was emanating from their own, magical connection.

  But his nonsensical thoughts came to a stop once Molly pulled away from him.

  “What? What’s wrong?” Nicholas’ couldn't seem to think straight. All the blood was gone from his head. All he could think about was kissing her. “Molly, I—”

  “One of us has to be the responsible one, Mr. Kerstman.” Molly bit her lower lip as she grinned up at him. “We have a dinner to get to, remember? We're already late.”

  “I don't care.” And he kissed her again.

  She kissed him back, and for a moment, he wondered just how big the backseat of his car was.

  Both of their phones started to ring and they broke from the kiss, but kept their foreheads pressed together. He tried to center himself back on planet Earth, his head feeling somewhere lost in the clouds.

  “We should head back,” Molly whispered, but she didn't move. She was breathing hard.

  “Right. Yes. You’re absolutely right.” Nicholas sighed and straightened up. He touched her cheek with his gloved hand. “They'll wonder where we are.”

  “Yes,” Molly agreed, beaming up at Nicholas. “I'd hate for them to send out a search party.”

  Nicholas let out an airy laugh, as he took Molly’s hand into his own. “You know my mother definitely would.”

  “Maybe we can come back here. After dinner.” The way she looked at him said that she wanted to do much more than just kiss him under the stars out here. “Or maybe we could go to your place.”

  Nicholas' heart trembled. His body heated and he forgot how to breath for a moment at her suggestion. “I think I'd like that, Ms. Molly.”

  “You know, you’re the only person who calls me that. Ms. Molly,” she said, carefully making her way back to where the car was parked.

  “Good.” Nicholas nodded as he walked beside Molly. This time, he felt like he was walking on air. “I hope that makes me harder to forget.”

  “You’re already pretty hard to forget, Nicholas,” she said softly, turning to look at him. “How could I forget a man who turns down a candy cane at Christmastime?”

  “Turned down a candy cane? That doesn’t sound like me. That doesn’t sound like something I would do...” Nicholas told her, shaking his head.

  “Nicholas, what are you talking about? The first day we met, I offered you a candy cane and you turned it down,” Molly reminded him.

  “You’re expecting me to believe that I turned down a candy cane from you? The prettiest girl in the world?” Nicholas scoffed as if he’d been insulted.

  “The prettiest girl in the world, huh?” Molly smiled over at Nicholas as they reached the parked car on the grass. “I think I’ll be holding you to that one, Mr. Kerstman.”

  She opened the car door and paused.

  “How long do you think we have before they send out the search party?” she asked.

  Nicholas grinned. “I'd say we can be ten minutes late before anyone really starts to worry.”

  “Good.” Molly shrugged out of her jacket and tossed it on the front passenger seat. “I've been wondering what the back seat of a Jag feels like.”

  Nicholas spent no time climbing in and joining her for ten minutes in make-out heaven in the backseat of his car.

  Chapter 23

  Molly

  “YOU KISSED NICHOLAS KERSTMAN?” Hannah was screaming on the other end of the phone. “Holy cow! Molly! HOLY COW!”

  “Hannah, shhh! The whole point of me hiding out in the bathroom was so no one could hear you,” Molly hissed into the phone as she leaned against the bathroom sink of the Kerstmans’ home. “But yeah. He kissed me. Well. I kissed him? Whatever, we both kissed each other.”

  “Where were you when it happened?” Hannah asked.

  “I took him out to Johnston's field,” Molly said with a grin. “There's a meteor shower tonight and there's no light out there.”

  “THAT IS SO SUPER ROMANTIC!” Hannah continued to squeal into the phone. “Oh my gosh! That’s way too perfect! Wait, the bathroom? Molly, why are you calling me from a bathroom?”

  “Because we’re at his parents’ house for Christmas-Eve-Eve dinner,” Molly reminded her friend. “And I had to fix my hair. It got a little messed up.”

  Molly grinned at the mirror and smoothed down her hair. That ten minutes in the car had been hard to stop. She could still feel his fingertips on her skin and the heat of his kisses. It was all she could do not to go out to the dining room table, grab him by that red silk tie, and drag him back into that backseat for more of what he started.

  Ten minutes was not nearly enough.

  “Oh, right. The-Night-Before-The-Night-Before-Christmas. Aw, man. I wish I could’ve gone to that. I love Mrs. Kerstman’s cooking,” Hannah said with a longing sigh. “BakeTown strikes again.”

  “BakeTown strikes again,” Molly repeated Hannah’s phrase, except with a spooky accent, as if she were a vampire on TV.

  Hannah laughed after Molly’s vampire impersonation and Molly was happy to have made Hannah laugh, even in the middle of her friend’s stressful night.

  “So what happens now? Are you two going to walk off into the sunset or what?” Hannah kept her volume lower this time.

  “I don’t know,” Molly answered, looking around the bathroom. “It’s all so new, Hannah. But it’s so weird, because when I kissed him, it didn’t feel like it was new. It felt like he’s the one I should’ve been kissing all along, and it’s like I just remembered.”

  Molly winced as Hannah screamed yet again into the phone’s speaker.

  “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!” Hannah apologized over and over. “It’s just so amazing! Oh, Molly! You’ve never said something like that about anyone before! Not even about you-know-who.”

  “I know. I’ve never felt anything like this before,” Molly admitted, bringing her voice down a few notches, not wanting anyone to hear her on the other side of the door. “It’s kind of freaking me out.”

  “Nope. You’re not allowed to freak out.” Hannah’s words were steady. “You’re going to go back into that dining room, and have an amazing dinner with Nicholas and both of your families. Then you're going to make me a plate of leftovers that I can warm up in my oven, drop off that plate off at the bakery at the end of the night and then voila! The night ends on a perfect note.”

  Molly frowned. That was definitely not a perfect night. A perfect night was getting back in that car and kissing Nicholas some more.

  “Yeah, it sounds like the night will end on a perfect note for you,” Molly replied, rolling her eyes.

  “See? Now, you’re getting it.” Hannah chuckled, before letting out a sigh. “But seriously, Molly. You’ve got this, okay? And if you need anything, just text me or send a carrier pigeon or something.”


  “Carrier pigeon. I’m definitely going to send over a carrier pigeon. Probably in the next five minutes.” Molly bit her lip. “What if he asks me back to his place? Should I go?”

  “Yes. But right after you drop my plate off,” Hannah told her. “Okay, I have to go, I can smell the bread finishing up in the oven. Byeeeee!” Hannah abruptly hung up the phone.

  Molly set her own phone down on the sink so she could fidget with the ends of her sweater, smoothing down its fabric time and again. She looked at the mirror at her pink cheeks and kiss-swollen lips. She found herself wanting to kiss him again and yet incredibly nervous about it at the same time.

  What if he did ask her back to his place? Was she ready for more than just a kiss?

  “Molly? Are you alright in there? Dinner’s ready on the table,” Mrs. Kerstman’s asked from outside the door, concern etched into her voice. “Please don’t tell me you ate one of the candy canes off of the Christmas tree in the den. You know how Howard mixes the candy canes from years ago in with the newest batch. I hope you didn’t forget—”

  Molly swung open the door, putting on a bright smile. “I’m fine, Mrs. Kerstman. Sorry for making you worry.”

  “Ah, you know that worrying is never a waste to me,” Mrs. Kerstman said with a smile. She wrapped her arm around Molly’s shoulders. “Now, come on. Dinner's ready.”

  * * *

  “Nicholas Kerstman Enterprises? Ooh, that sounds like serious business,” Mrs. Carmichael said, placing a bit of salad onto her plate. “What kind of work do you do there?”

  “I help local businesses in New York City stay afloat. For the most part my company’s concerned with wealth management, sponsorship opportunities, and other things like that,” Nicholas explained. “We’re basically the ones who keep the wheels turning.”

  Molly was having a hard time not staring at him. He kept sneaking glances over at her and grinning, which gave Molly giddy shivers all down her body.

  “Too modest, he’s much too modest,” Mrs. Kerstman said, grinning over at her son. “He’s the owner of one of the fastest growing business management companies in the city. He’s been thinking about buying an entire Manhattan building by next year, all for Nicholas Kerstman Enterprises.”

  “Oh, wow. You can afford to buy an entire building in New York City?” Mr. Carmichael appeared to choke on his glass of wine. “You know our beautiful Molly is single, yes?”

  “Dad!” Molly glared at him and considered kicking him under the table.

  Just because she liked kissing Nicholas didn't mean she wanted her parent's meddling. She didn't need her dad helping her with this.

  “It’s not so much about buying the building, but when the business gets to a certain point, I’ll need all the space I can get,” Nicholas explained. “I typically work hands-on with my assistant, conferencing with the rest of the team when I absolutely need to, but if we grow any bigger, we’ll need more and more staff on-site.”

  “More staff, eh? Our beautiful Molly is pretty good with admin work, aren’t you, Molly?” Mr. Carmichael winked back at Molly.

  Molly sank into her chair. “Please just pretend I’m not here, Dad. Please.”

  “You sound like a very busy man, Nicholas. What brings you to our little town?” Mrs. Carmichael asked, changing the course of the conversation to something a little bit safer.

  “That’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about,” Nicholas said after a moment.

  Molly's stomach twisted and she stopped eating. This was the moment Nicholas shared his plans. Thoughts of kissing her boss left her mind.

  “Mom. Dad,” Nicholas began, taking in a shaky breath. “I know this may not be the best time, but I think I need to be honest with the both of you.”

  “Oh, no. Nicholas, did you elope? Is there some woman you’re trying to introduce us to?” Mrs. Kerstman asked, soundly like she might be close to tears. “I knew you wouldn't come here without a reason. Oh, Nicholas, please, tell me you didn't get married without telling me!”

  “Are you bankrupt?” Mr. Kerstman’s tone was serious, but not critical, his face softening into one of genuine concern. “Did you need help getting back on your feet, son? We’ll do anything we can to help, Nicky.”

  “No, I’m not married, and no, I’m not bankrupt,” Nicholas told them, sounding exasperated. He exhaled again, his face taking on the confident look of a businessman. “I’ve been thinking of selling the rights to the store.”

  “Selling the rights? What does that mean?” Mrs. Kerstman asked, sounding confused. “Are you planning on kicking us out and replacing us with your own people or something?”

  “No, nothing like that. I would never do that,” Nicholas insisted, shaking his head back and forth. “But it would mean that none of us would be responsible for any of the big picture stuff anymore. No more worrying about running the website in the off-season or balancing the books or checking on inventory. You two would solely handle the day to day, the hiring and firing, the current going-ons of the shop. And someone else would handle all the rest.”

  “All the rest...” Mr. Kerstman repeated. Molly couldn't read his tone as to how he felt about that. She swallowed hard on nothing, watching the Kerstmans and their son intently.

  Nicholas leaned towards the table, resting his palms against it. “It would mean having actual vacation days that you wouldn’t have to schedule yourself. It would mean that you could even retire, whenever you wanted, and you’d still make money from the shop, because you’ll always have a percentage of the sales. It would mean that you two could finally just breathe.”

  “Oh.” Mrs. Kerstman tilted her head. “Breathing sounds good...”

  “But what would happen to you, Nicholas? What happens to your ownership in the shop?” Mr. Kerstman asked. Molly couldn't tell what he thought of this idea yet.

  “I’d be giving up my ownership, completely,” Nicholas said simply. “If that’s okay with you two.”

  A silence fell over the table.

  Molly held her breath, waiting on the response from Mr. and Mrs. Kerstman. A part of her was pleased with Nicholas telling everyone here at the dinner table. She hoped that it meant that she’d get her answer about the future of Christmas Wishes by tonight.

  Because she was hoping that the Kerstmans would reject Nicholas’ suggestion outright.

  Mrs. Kerstman was the first one to break the silence in the room. “Well, I always dreamed of Christmas Wishes being a family shop... something we passed down from generation to generation...”

  Molly's hopes lifted. Maybe the store wouldn't be sold after all...

  Mrs. Kerstman then sighed before she continued on with her thoughts. “Well, you’re the businessman in the family now, Nicholas. If you think you wouldn’t be able to run the shop after we’ve retired, then you should do what’s best. I’d rather have Christmas Wishes still up and running than ever see it have to close its doors.”

  “I completely agree with your mother, Nicholas. If you really believe that you wouldn’t be able to keep up with the shop and your business in Manhattan...” Mr. Kerstman frowned and took a deep breath. “Then you do whatever you have to do. We trust you, son. We trust you.”

  Molly's heart sank. The store was still going to be put up for sale. She stabbed her turkey but didn't eat it.

  Nicholas gave both of his parents a smile. “Thank you. That makes me feel so much better.” He then breathed out a quiet sigh. “I actually have some investors coming to look at the shop tomorrow, if you two wanted to be there for that—”

  “Wait, I’m sorry, tomorrow?” Molly broke into the conversation, her confusion evident in her tone. “On Christmas Eve?”

  “Christmas Eve is just another day on the work calendar, Ms. Molly,” Nicholas replied, but he didn't meet her eyes before turning his focus back to his parents. “Now, as I was saying...”

  Molly wasn't hungry any more. Purpose and determination filled her. If the Kerstmans weren't going to say no, the
n it was up to her to save the store. She needed to ramp up her plans. It was time to save Christmas Wishes.

  “Excuse me. I'm so sorry, but I have to go,” Molly announced. She rose up from the table, offering everyone seated a curt wave goodbye as she went for her coat. “I’m sorry to run like this, Mrs. Kerstman, but I need to go work on something right away.”

  Mrs. Kerstman shrugged, but she was fairly used to Molly running off for all sorts of school projects and town events.

  “It’s fine, dear. We’ll see you soon enough,”she told her.

  “And we’ll see you at our house tomorrow,” Mr. Carmichael reminded Molly. “If I don’t see my daughter on Christmas Eve, I’m going to riot.”

  “He’ll do it, too, I’ve seen a few of his one-man riots in my day. Awful, awful stuff,” Mrs. Carmichael said, gravely shaking her head. She grinned up at her daughter. “Be safe, sweetie, with whatever you’re doing. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Molly began to rush away from the table before she hastily stepped back into the room. “Right. Sorry. Do you guys have any takeaway plates?”

  “We have some in the den,” Mrs. Kerstman told her, motioning in that direction.

  “Okay. I’m gonna’ make a takeaway plate for Hannah, and then I’m gonna’ go,” Molly said aloud, more to herself than the others. She raced back and forth between the den and the dining room, stuffing a takeaway plate full of various, delicious things.

  And then she was out the door to save Christmas Wishes and the spirit of Christmas with it.

  Chapter 24

  Molly

  “Molly! Molly! Wait!” Nicholas called out, running out the door behind Molly to try and catch with her. “Wait!”

  Molly turned towards Nicholas on the sidewalk, the takeaway plate held in her hands. “Yeah, Nicholas? Is something wrong?”

  “Don’t be mad at me,” he whispered. He breathed hard in the cold night air, creating tiny clouds with every breath. He didn't have a jacket on despite it being freezing out. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about the investors. Please, come back inside and—”