Christmas in Pine Island: A small town holiday romance

by Christina Benjamin

  Ryan gasps, eyeing the presents beneath the tree. “Santa really came all the way out here?”

  “He sure did!” I exclaim. “Ava, will you take Ryan into the lounge? We’ll be right behind you.”

  “Santa ate all the cookies we made!” Ava says to Ryan as she takes his hand and leads him toward the presents.

  Jake and Stacy make their way over as I start handing out warm mugs of cocoa.

  “We didn't mark any of our presents from Santa,” Stacy whispers. “I'm worried Ryan might notice.”

  Ethan winks and shakes his head. “We’ve got ya covered. Santa always stops by to visit the kids at our lodge.”

  “This place just keeps getting more magical,” Jake chuckles. “You all are the best. Seriously.”

  “Damn straight!” Chloe Martin says from where she’s tucked up against Donovan’s chest.

  I think the biggest change out of all the couples is from those two. It really seems like they were able to break down some walls and reconnect during their stay. Who knew ice-skating could be so therapeutic?

  “Thanks,” I giggle, flushing. “Now, onward to open presents!”

  Clutching their mugs, everyone shuffles forward from the lobby to the lounge. Ava and Ryan are already rushing about the beautiful trees finding presents for one another.

  “Can we start opening them?” Ava asks, eagerly.

  Margot and Owen share a look with Jake and Stacy before all four parents nod.

  “Have at it, kiddos!” Jake says.

  The children squeal and begin to rip into the wrapping paper like a bunch of wild kittens. Ribbons fly everywhere as everyone groups together to watch.

  “How was your night?” I ask Chloe as I take a seat in Ethan’s lap. “Did you and Donovan enjoy ice-skating?”

  “It was even better than we hoped,” Chloe says, shyly. She looks up at Donovan and silly smiles break over both of their faces. They’re looking at each other like two teens head-over-heels in love. It’s enough to make my heart nearly burst with Christmas joy.

  “I told you,” I whisper to Chloe with a wink. “Ice-skating is magical.”

  “Actually, Chloe and I have an announcement,” Donovan adds, drawing every single eye in the room. He gives a nervous laugh and then kisses the top of Chloe’s head. “We’ve set a date for our big day!”

  Everyone immediately starts cheering, Eric perhaps the loudest of them all, though Stacy and Morgan aren’t far behind.

  Chloe giggles and beams at everyone. “Margot, Co-Co, Owen, Ethan—we would really love it if you’d come to our wedding.”

  I can’t help but gasp, eyes going wide. “Are you serious?”

  “Of course!” Chloe answers quickly. “You and your magical lodge helped remind us what’s important.”

  “The day wouldn’t be complete without you,” Donovan adds.

  “Then we’ll definitely be there!” Margot gushes, from beside me.

  “And I want to thank my old friends as well,” Donovan says, looking at everyone else. “If you all hadn't dragged me out to Pine Island this Christmas I never would’ve gotten my priorities straight. You all are my family. And I love you for calling me on my crap when I need it.”

  “Cheers to that!” Eric shouts, raising his mug.

  Everyone swiftly follows suit, laughing together. Once we all clink glasses and take a sip, Eric lifts his glass again. “Well hang on everyone, we’re not done celebrating yet. Morgan and I have a special announcement, too!”

  “We’re not going back on the road!” Morgan beams. “We’re staying home. We’re ready to settle down and start a family.”

  Just then, Ryan and Ava dart by. Ryan has taken the wrapping paper and is holding it behind him like a superhero cape while Ava has some over her face like a mask. They squeal, darting between the trees.

  “And by family, I mean a whole litter,” Eric says, watching the children fondly.

  Everyone laughs again but the sound is quickly interrupted when Margot clears her throat. “Speaking of kids . . . ” She begins with a wily grin. “There’s a reason I haven’t been drinking your spiked cocoa, sis.”

  My heart drops to the floor before skyrocketing again. “No way?!”

  Margot nods excitedly. “We’re expecting again!”

  “We are?” Owen asks, his voice full of disbelief.

  My eyes dart to my sister’s husband. Owen looks like a strong wind could blow him over. He’s shaking like a leaf as he reaches out for Margot. The poor man is as shocked as I am.

  “Surprise!” Margot says, grinning at her husband through tears. “I know we weren’t planning this but—”

  “But it’s the best news ever!” Owen interrupts, sweeping Margot off her feet. “This is truly the best Christmas gift you could’ve given me.”

  “Me too!” I sob, all but tackling my big sister and Owen, hugging them tight. “Oh, Go-Go! That’s such wonderful news!” I cry, earnestly. I beam at her, clutching her hand in mine. “I can’t believe all this amazing news everyone has to share!”

  Laying his hand on my shoulder, Ethan clears his throat. “Actually, I might have some amazing news for us, too.”

  I turn around to meet his shy grin. His green eyes twinkle with nervous excitement again.

  “What are you talking about?” I ask.

  “Your parents are coming back a little sooner than expected.”

  I gasp in shock as questions rush out of me. “What? Why? When? Is everything okay? Go-Go, did you know about this?”

  My sister looks as floored as I am, but I catch the twinkle of mischief in Owen’s eyes. Just what are the Hall brothers up to?

  “Don’t blame Margot. I kept her out of this,” Ethan says.

  My sister’s hands find her hips. “Um, mind explaining why?”

  “Oh come on, babe,” Owen says. “Everyone knows you can’t keep a secret.”

  “I can so! I kept this a secret,” she says, pointing to her belly.

  “And for how long?” Owen teases.

  Margot throws up her hands. “Okay fine, I can’t keep a secret, but good news is meant for sharing.”

  Ethan laughs. “Then I guess it’s about time I share mine.” He takes my hands, which is a good thing because my whole body is suddenly shaking with anticipation. “Your parents are coming home for a surprise wedding on New Year’s Eve.”

  “Whose wedding?” I ask in a barely audible voice. “Ethan, please don’t tell me you booked a wedding here at the lodge. Do you know how much goes into planning a wedding? It’ll be impossible to pull off last-minute!” Suddenly, I bite my tongue, fearing I may have just put my foot in my mouth. I turn to my new friends. “Chloe, Donovan, this isn’t your wedding, is it?”

  Chloe and Donovan both shake their heads, smirking like they know something I don’t.

  What am I missing?

  Ethan squeezes my hands, pulling my gaze back to him. I stare into his green eyes, letting that calming way of his wash over me before he shifts close enough to kiss me. “The wedding is ours,” he says, quietly. “I'm done waiting for the perfect moment, Chloe. Every moment with you is perfect.”

  “But . . .” I start only to be cut off.

  Ethan shakes his head, still grinning at me. “I’ve taken care of all the details. All you need to do is show up at the altar.”

  “Seriously?”

  He nods. “What do you say, babe? Want to make it official already?”

  “Ethan . . .” I whisper, clinging to him as he kisses me again.

  He brushes my hair back behind my ear, smiling at me warmly, and all I can do is stare at this incredible man who I love beyond words. I’m barely aware that tears are streaming down my cheeks until Ethan reaches up to gently wipe them away.

  “I hope those are happy tears,” he teases.

  I nod vigorously. “Very happy tears.”

  “Well?” Margot cries. “Don’t leave the guy hanging. Say yes, Co-Co! Say you’ll marry him!”

  I leap forward i
nto Ethan’s arms, holding on to him tight. “I’ll marry you! Yes, yes, yes! I love you so much, Ethan Hall.”

  “And I love you too, babe,” he grins back. “Forever and always.”

  Wiping delighted tears from my eyes, I look out over our newest friends. “And please, everyone, consider staying with us a few more days? I’d love it if you were at our wedding.”

  Immediately, they all start nodding and clapping with enthusiasm.

  “There’s nowhere else we’d rather be!” Stacy says. “This is a place full of Christmas miracles. I mean, look around! We’ve all gotten something so special. And Chloe, I didn't even have to threaten Donovan to make your Christmas wish come true.”

  Chloe blushes. “How did you know about that?”

  “The wish tree,” Stacy says, matter-of-factly.

  Donovan looks confused until Chloe explains. “Stacy and I added Christmas wishes to the wish tree while you were snowmobiling. I wished we’d set a date.”

  Jake tugs Stacy against him. “And what’d you wish for?”

  “For our baby not to have a giant football helmet-sized head.”

  Jake snorts, pulling Stacy closer as he puts a protective hand over her belly, causing Margot and me to gasp.

  “Oh yeah,” Stacy says, sheepishly. “We’re expecting, too.”

  “I knew it!” Margot shouts as we rush over to congratulate Stacy and Jake.

  It’s a while before the room settles from all the exciting news. Honestly, I think it’ll be weeks before I come down from this exhilarating joy. And as I look around at all the smiling faces surrounding me, I know my friends and family feel the same way.

  Stacy sighs as we settle in to watch the kids play with their new presents. “I’m so happy right now,” she says. “I just have this feeling that the surprises aren’t over, and that I won’t be the only mom for long. Everything is working out the way it’s meant to.”

  “I guess that’s what happens when you’re with the one you’re meant to be with,” Ethan says, wrapping his arms around me.

  All of the happy couples seem wrapped in their own private joy as the Christmas music lifts around us.

  I close my eyes, snuggling closer to my almost-husband, knowing that every Christmas from here on out will be just as extraordinary as this one, if only because we have some extraordinary new friends.

  Donovan Dunn

  Eric’s deep voice fills the lodge’s lounge as everyone gathers close to listen to his strapping rendition of O Holy Night. Morgan leans against his side, her head on his shoulder as he skillfully strums his guitar.

  The hours have slowly passed between sips of spiked cocoa, watching the children play, and singing Christmas carols together. Even another batch of Christmas cookies has been baked and scarfed down.

  “You’re sure you’re alright with staying through New Year’s?” Chloe asks, leaning into my chest as she gazes at me.

  “More than alright,” I assure her. I pull her close, kissing her before resting my forehead on hers. “There will always be business waiting. But from now on, you’re the only business I care about.”

  She smiles brightly and nods.

  “Donovan, Chloe,” Co-Co suddenly whispers, lightly tapping me on the shoulder.

  Behind her, Ethan grins at us. “We were both hoping we could chat for just a second.”

  “Oh?” I ask, curiously exchanging a look with my own Chloe.

  My fiancée nods. “Sure. What’s up?”

  Ethan and Co-Co share a glance before Ethan begins to speak. “Well . . . now that you’ve had your stay here, we were wondering if you’d still be interested in partnering with us. I think we could do great things together.”

  “Seriously?” Their timing couldn’t be worse. I’ve decided I’m dedicating all of my focus to my fiancée, not work. That very same fiancée however, is suddenly leaping up and down with joy.

  “Yes! We’d love to,” Chloe says, enthusiastically.

  “Obviously we’ll work out the details later,” Co-Co says happily, “but we just wanted to let you know that you’re the only people we’d trust with our business.”

  “It’ll be so amazing working with friends,” Chloe says leaning against me. “What do you think, Donovan?”

  I grin down at her, and then back at Co-Co and Ethan. “I think you’ve got something magical here in Pine Island and that Chloe and I would be thrilled to help you share that with the world. Plus, I think I can learn a lot from you about the importance of small scale, family-owned businesses. You’re where the magic comes from.”

  “I see a great future for us,” Ethan says with a grin as the four of us shake hands.

  “But first,” Stacy calls from the couch, “let’s talk about wedding plans!”

  Everyone laughs, grinning as we pass around some more of Co-Co’s special cocoa.

  I press a kiss against Chloe’s forehead, gazing out over our sea of friends. Never again will I forget the magic of Christmas or just how much these people mean to me.

  Businesses may come and go, but the Christmas spirit can burn as eternally as true friendships do. Thanks to this trip to Pine Island, I know it’s a lesson that I will never forget.

  Epilogue

  Chloe Price

  “You look so beautiful, sweetheart,” my mother gushes as she helps me with the glittering broach keeping my fur shawl closed.

  “Thanks, Mom. I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” she says, beaming at me through fresh tears.

  “Mom!” Margot scolds. “No more crying. I just fixed your makeup.”

  “I know, I know,” she says, dabbing her eyes with a tissue before returning to the broach. “Now this is your something old and borrowed. It was your great grandmother’s. She wore it on her wedding day, her mother wore it on hers and I wore it on mine.”

  “Me too,” Margot says.

  My mother nods. “One day, I’ll pass it down to you girls. And your children can wear it on their wedding days.”

  “Oh Mom,” Margot sniffles.

  Now all three of us are crying, but I don’t even mind. I’ve never been this happy and I haven’t even seen Ethan yet. I’m just so blown away that he did all of this for me. The man knows my heart so well. He thought of everything, probably even details I would’ve missed or deemed unimportant.

  From flying my parents in early, to my favorite flowers and even hiring a string quartet—my wedding day is perfect. But the best part of it is that I didn’t have to expend one ounce of stress planning it. He even ordered my dream wedding dress from my Pinterest board!

  I still can’t believe Ethan pulled off this incredible surprise. I’m marrying the man of my dreams today! It still hasn’t fully sunk in. A fresh wave of excitement ripples through me. I absolutely cannot wait to be Mrs. Ethan Hall.

  From the moment we shared that first cup of hot cocoa I knew I was done for. There would be no other man for me. And somehow, beyond all reason, this incredible man who could do anything, have anyone . . . he chose me.

  I truly don’t know how I got so lucky.

  And today, I’m marrying him on my family’s Christmas tree farm, at midnight on New Year’s Eve, so we can start our new life with the new year.

  I mean, who thinks of that?

  Ethan . . . that’s who.

  And I’m crying again, because I’m without a doubt the luckiest woman in the world.

  “Co-Co,” Margot scolds. “Your makeup!”

  “I don’t care,” I say, grinning at my sister. “I’m marrying Ethan today, Go-Go!”

  Margot and my mother squeal, each of them grabbing my hands as we pull each other into another bone-crushing hug.

  “Okay, okay. We better get you out there,” Margot says. “Your groom planned the perfect day and I’m gonna make sure it happens on time. Now, here’s your something new and blue.”

  I unwrap the tiny gift my sister has given me to find a stunning silver bracelet. On the ban
d are two tiny charms, each with an engraved name and a sapphire stone in the setting—our birthstones. I read the names on the charms. Go-Go and Co-Co.

  Margot leans in close. “We might be married, but we’ll always be the Price sisters.”

  “Oh, Go-Go! It’s perfect!” I throw my arms around her and hug her tight. “Thank you so much.”

  “Now let’s go get you married!”

  Ethan Hall

  Shaking more from nerves than the cold, I stand on the tiny dock at the frozen pond behind the lodge. Each time I think I hear the faint jingle of sleigh bells my head snaps up with anticipation as I look for my bride.

  I glance at my watch. In a few minutes, it’ll be midnight. And I can’t think of a better way to usher in the new year than with Chloe as my wife. That is if Margot can get her here in time.

  I check my watch again and Owen catches my eye. “Take a breath,” my brother whispers from his spot on the bank. “Margot will get her here in time.”

  I know he’s right. Margot may not be known for her punctuality, but my sister-in-law is almost as excited as I am that this day has finally come.

  To distract myself from the ticking hands of my watch, I look out at the winter wonderland my new friends and family have helped me create for our wedding. It’s pitch black outside, but the white lights hung throughout the new growth of Christmas trees lead a clear path to where I wait by the pond. The dock has been covered in a deep green velvet that reminds me of soft forest moss. It glows like a living thing in the ambient light flickering from the hundreds of lanterns lining the dock.

  In the very small crowd that’s gathered to witness our ceremony, I see nothing but smiling faces. Family and friends—new and old. I wouldn’t want it any other way. And it warms my heart to see them all decked out in the lodge’s famous ugly Christmas sweaters. I’m even wearing one under my suit jacket.

  Some might find the sweaters tacky, but to me, they mean family. And being part of this one means the world to me.