Christmas Witch: A Jagged Grove Short Story

by Willow Monroe

  “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, but he turns and walks away.

  “Angelo, wait.” My voice is a whisper. What did I do?

  All of the ladies are staring at me now. Gabby reaches out a hand, maybe to comfort me, but then she pulls away again, as if she’s afraid any touch at all will set me off. I give her a shaky smile, but my heart isn’t in it - I’ve embarrassed Angelo, made a fool of myself, and lost our chance to save Christmas.

  So I do the only thing I can think to do. I run.

  Eleven

  It takes a while to get home, because I take the series of meandering lanes that run along the outskirts of Jagged Grove. I don’t want to see anyone. I don’t want to stop and chat. I just want to curl up in my bed and forget about Angelo, cookies, and everything else.

  I’ve failed because of my stupid reaction to Angelo, and Christmas is ruined for everyone.

  My feet pound loudly on the concrete sidewalk, and I find the rhythm soothing. Not soothing enough to forget my little outburst, or what I’d done to poor Angelo, but still nice - like I’m getting somewhere. I come through the tiny gate and up my walkway without even slowing down.

  I am almost to the porch steps when the first snowflake lands on my nose.

  I would have missed it if it had landed anywhere else - my sleeve, my hair. But it landed, soft as cotton, right on the tip of my nose.

  I stop running and hold my breath, standing very still to see if I can spot another one.

  I do, a moment later. It sails onto my eyelash and holds there for a moment before I instinctively blink it away.

  That’s OK, though, because I refocus my eyes to take in the whole lawn and realize that there are more flakes falling, all around me. They’re everywhere. I turn in a circle, an unexpected grin spreading across my face as I watch. It’s snowing.

  “I promised you snow,” Angelo says from the top of the steps.

  I stop spinning and look at him.

  “You did.” I nod and walk to the bottom of the stairs. “Angelo, I’m sorry.”

  He grins. “Don’t be - you were perfect. A little freaky there for a minute, but still perfect.”

  Confused, I stop, one foot on the lowest step. “What do you mean?”

  “You distracted everyone in the place, Trinket. That little outburst of yours saved Christmas.”

  “It wasn’t that little,” I mutter, embarrassment heating up my face.

  “It was perfect, like I said.” He comes down the stairs and stands in front of me. “Can I have a hug?”

  I pause, then say, “Yes.”

  Because I do want his hugs. Angelo gives fantastic hugs. I just have to be prepared. I have to keep my mind straight - we are only married by necessity, and soon I’ll need to work on breaking the spell that binds us.

  I don’t have to do that today, though. Today I can just have hugs in the snow.

  He wraps his arms around me. I breathe him in. “Rain made the switch while everyone was paying attention to you - wasn’t that brilliant of her?”

  I nod. It was, and even I didn’t notice her doing it. “So Christmas is saved?”

  “Yep, and it’ll even be white just for you.”

  I glance at the snowflakes falling softly onto his hair and smile. “Merry Christmas, Angelo.”

  “Merry Christmas, Trinket.” He hugs me hard and kisses me on the lips, and this time I let him.

  Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this story set in Jagged Grove world. It was a lot of fun to write, and I hope it gave you a few moments of fun and relaxation during the busy holiday season.

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  Have a Merry Christmas and a fabulous New Year!

  Love,

  Willow

  The Jagged Grove Series

  The Gemma Stone Mystery Series