by Olivia Miles
Her cheeks burned as she tried to fight off a smile. “Your grandmother isn’t with you?” she asked, shifting topics.
“She’s coming later. I thought I’d get an early start so I can see what this is all about before my shift at the children’s events. Think they’ll get a kick out of having their principal judge the snowman contest?”
She thought back on the way Keira had greeted him at the tree lighting and nodded. “You seem to have a real way with kids.”
And his grandmother. And lately, with her.
She refrained from pointing out that it was a shame he didn’t have the same influence with the school board.
“I guess it’s because of how much the teachers and school experience meant to me growing up.” He gave a modest shrug. “It feels good to give that back.”
She couldn’t agree more. “You haven’t mentioned anything about the carols I selected to your grandmother?”
“Your secret is safe with me,” he promised. He glanced over at the kiosks. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Can I buy you a bag of roasted chestnuts?”
“Oh.” Jenna felt strangely disappointed at the thought of having to run off to carol, which was normally one of her favorite things to do all year, particularly because it usually only occurred once a year, on Christmas Eve. Today was a bonus, and one that she hadn’t thought of before, and now suspected would be a part of every future Winter Carnival. “I’m about to run off and get in costume.”
“I believe a top hat will be waiting for me at the judging table.” Travis grinned.
“For once, your wool coat has a purpose here in Blue Harbor,” Jenna bantered.
Travis laughed. “It may not be practical, but certainly suits the theme of the event. Will you stop by when you’re finished?”
“Better than that, I’ll make sure my group saves the best carol for when we walk your way.”
“And I’ll be saving you a cone of roasted chestnuts, if you’re interested, that is?”
Jenna held her breath, realizing that the moment had come to admit to herself that she liked spending time with this man, and that she wasn’t going to shy away from doing it more.
“It wouldn’t be an old-fashioned Christmas without roasted chestnuts,” she said with a grin.
“It’s a date then,” he said and walked away before she even had time to respond.
She turned, beaming, only to see Candy staring at her with wide eyes. “A date, is it?”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “A date, a time. A…” She couldn’t exactly call it a meeting, which was the excuse she’d attributed to every other interaction she and Travis had over the last few weeks. The Winter Carnival was over, their professional ties would soon be over too, and any reason they had to spend time together after this would be strictly by choice.
Travis checked his watch and decided to explore the kiosks before heading over to the children’s area to report for duty. He was already worried about playing favorites; he was all for healthy competition, but these were children, this was a festival, and well, it was Christmas.
And somehow, that had come to matter to him.
He chuckled to himself as he walked in the direction of the craft kiosks, where he’d helped his grandmother get set up when they first arrived, more than a little relieved to see the ruffle-edged baby blue scarf was being put up for sale rather than being wrapped and placed under the tree in the living room.
“Ah, Principal Dunne!”
Travis looked over to see May Rochet shuffling toward him. Like many of the locals, she had gotten into the spirit of the event and was wearing a long wool coat and a strange sort of bonnet.
“I barely recognized you,” he told the chairperson of the school board. Even though they’d only met once, his first day on the job, he wasn’t quick to forget such an influential face.
May patted her hat. “Too much?”
“Not at all,” he said, laughing. “I have to say that I’ve never spent a Christmas quite like this. And I doubt I ever will again.”
He frowned on that for a moment until she gave him a rueful look.
“Now don’t go buying a return ticket just yet.” May slid her eyes to both sides before stepping forward. “I probably shouldn’t say this even though you’ll know by Monday anyway, but Suzanne won’t be returning.”
She gave him a pointed look, one that didn’t need explanation. “I have to say that the board has been pleased so far with what you’ve done. I think at Monday’s meeting you’ll find that many members, if not most, will be suggesting that you stay on here in Blue Harbor.”
Stay in Blue Harbor? He hadn’t thought it was a possibility; if anything, it had only started to feel like a dream. Or maybe, a wish.
A Christmas wish.
Travis blinked and pulled his chin back, letting her words sink in. “That’s quite an endorsement.”
“Well, you’re quite a principal. The students have already warmed up to you and you have connections to the town.”
“Roots,” he said, catching himself. He’d never put down roots anywhere, never thought he had any, but patting his grandfather’s scarf at his neck now, he knew that wasn’t true. That he could stay in one place, grow a life, make memories.
The opportunity was being handed to him. If he wanted it.
And for maybe the first time ever, he knew exactly what he wanted.
Jenna hadn’t expected the costume to be quite so itchy—or heavy—but it was surprisingly warm, especially given that she had been given the velvet blue dress while Candy stood out in crimson red.
“I think this is the best carnival we’ve ever had,” Candy whispered in between songs. “In fact, I think caroling around the carnival should be made into a formal tradition.”
Jenna couldn’t disagree, and it would be nice to have some new rituals to look forward to, especially since the fate of next year’s pageant was so uncertain.
She glanced at her watch, knowing that she could only put in a few more songs before she’d need to slip away to help assemble the children. Everything was riding on this. The crowd had come out, parents and board members would witness the beauty of the children’s voices, and all she could hope for was that it swayed their minds about the fate of the music program. Or at least, softened their hearts.
“Let’s do ‘Deck the Halls’ next,” Candy announced, and seeing as no one quite belted out “Fa-la-la-la-la” like Candy, Jenna knew there was no room for argument.
They stopped every few feet, to sing directly to a family warming near one of the bonfires, or near the kiosks, where the crowds were already lined up for hot chocolate, spirits, or some of Maddie’s fragrant baked goods.
The group knew each song by heart, of course, but still, it was more fitting with the style to hold a songbook, splayed in their palms. It was also a convenient excuse to hide her face when Candy got a little too enthusiastic.
Jenna noticed the brows of the passing Mr. Bradford shoot up when Candy hit a particularly high note. It wasn’t enough that she was by far the loudest of her three fellow carolers. Her voice quivered on the note that she dragged out seconds longer than necessary, and there was a moment where every person at the nearby kiosks stopped what they were doing to stop and watch.
Jenna tried to flash her a look, but Candy didn’t pick up on subtleties and instead used the encouragement to reach even higher in the next line. A crowd was now gathering, larger than the one even for the mulled wine, and Jenna flashed a glance over to the snowman building competition to see Travis staring at her from the judges’ table, donned by a top hat and a rather handsome-looking scarf.
“I think that one was quite a hit,” Candy announced afterward.
“It was something, all right,” muttered poor Leonard Schultz, who had been with the choir for years, and who wasn’t used to having his baritone overshadowed.
“I should get the children set up.” A flutter of nerves went up inside her, and she was grateful when Candy clas
ped a hand on her wrist.
“They’ll be wonderful. You’ll be wonderful.”
“How do you know that?” Jenna whispered.
Candy beamed. “Because you already are, honey. Don’t let one person’s opinion get you down. You just go and do what you do best. Bring music to those children and to this town.”
Jenna knew that she should hurry, but she also knew that there was one thing more important to her than music, and that was her family. She pulled Candy in for a long hug, and Candy, loving hugs as she did, whooped with delight and swayed Jenna back and forth until they were both laughing.
“I’ll be watching front and center!” Candy promised as Jenna pulled away.
Jenna was laughing as she hurried away toward the gazebo. There was no doubt about that, and she couldn’t be more grateful.
As she helped the children to line up in their assigned positions, the crowd gathered around, and Jenna was relieved to see that Travis had made sure his grandmother and Mr. Pritchard were stationed in the front. She had considered making a small speech as a way to honor the man who had inspired her so much, but music spoke for itself, and with that, she raised her hands, the crowd fell quiet, and the children began to sing.
They sang all three songs without interruption, catastrophe, or accompaniment. This wasn’t about her, this was about them, and she wanted their voices to float over the park until they sank into the hearts of every person in attendance.
When they reached the end of the final verse, Jenna gave them a broad smile, clasped her hands to her chest, and turned to face the crowd, who stood in silence for a moment before bursting into applause that lasted longer and louder than probably any other audience in the venues that she had once dreamed of performing in.
There was only one face in the audience that was not smiling, and that was Mr. Pritchard. Instead, tears streamed down his cheeks as she made her way over to him and clasped his hands in hers, noticing how warm they were, despite his lack of gloves.
“Thank you, my dear, thank you.”
She smiled at him, holding back tears of her own. “No, thank you. I hope I made you proud.”
“You have always made me proud, but this…seeing you carrying on my life’s work, well, that is the greatest gift of all.”
She gave him a firm squeeze, knowing that despite all the uncertainty right now, they had this moment. And it was perfect.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I could do with some of that wassail,” Mabel said, giving Mr. Pritchard a suggestive glance.
“You two go on ahead,” Jenna said, eyeing Travis as he stepped closer to her.
“That was very impressive,” he said.
“Impressive enough to influence the board members? Or some of the parents to put pressure on them?”
“I hope so, Jenna. I really hope so.” He stopped walking when they reached the row of stands. “I still owe you those chestnuts. I’m a man of my word.”
A man of his word. Yes, she had started to see that this was true.
“I suppose I’m off the clock until my next round of caroling, but it will take a while to come down from all the anticipation.” She looked around the snow-covered square; it was their best turnout that she could recall. “It looks like these past few weeks were a real success.”
She looked up to feel Travis’s eyes on hers. “I’ll second that.”
Jenna had the distinct impression that Travis was referring to more than their fundraising efforts.
“This has all been fun. Unexpected, but fun.”
“Ah, so you have found your Christmas spirit!” She nudged him with her elbow, slipping on a hidden patch of ice in the process.
Travis grabbed her by the elbow, righting her, but he didn’t drop his hand once she’d found her footing. She looked up at him, and higher, at the ball of greenery that hung down from the tree branch (Candy’s touch—she’d scattered them all over and at random).
“It looks like we’ve encountered another holiday tradition.” She nudged her chin until he followed her gaze. “Unless you haven’t heard of that one either?”
His mouth curved into a slow smile. “I do know what mistletoe is, even if I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing it firsthand.”
“This has been the Christmas for trying new things,” she pointed out, well aware that both of his hands were still on her waist.
“And I have been enjoying all the Christmas activities,” he said, pulling her a little closer. “And you do look awfully cute in this costume.”
“Don’t get too used to it,” she warned.
He leaned down until his lips were almost brushing hers. “Oh, I intend to get very used to this. To this town. To Christmas. To you.”
Jenna closed her eyes as her mouth met his, and despite the chill in the air, she’d never felt warmer, or more sure, that somehow, despite everything, this might just end up being the best Christmas ever.
Chapter Fourteen
By Tuesday morning, a fresh blanket of snow had covered the town square, erasing all evidence of the weekend’s festivities, the sparkling Christmas tree returning to its position as the main attraction.
It was Christmas week, school was out of session, and Jenna was all too happy to give Keira an extra thirty minutes of lesson time so she could work on her song. It kept her mind from trailing to the thought of the board meeting, and what the outcome could be.
“That was wonderful!” Jenna told her, turning from the window. “I can tell you’ve been practicing.”
“Only when my dad isn’t home,” Keira said, giving her a toothy grin. “It’s going to be my Christmas present to him. I saved up my allowance to buy him a pair of Santa socks, but he told me he prefers homemade gifts.”
Jenna managed not to laugh at the thought of Robbie Bradford in Santa socks. “Homemade gifts are the best. And of course, music is the greatest gift of all. I’m sure he’ll love it.”
“He’d better.” Keira pushed back the bench and began gathering her music books. “I already spent my allowance money on a gift for Britt instead. Do you think she’ll like Santa socks?”
“If they come from you, absolutely,” Jenna said honestly. “Now what do you say we go get a treat from the bakery? Britt will pick you up there in half an hour.” And after that, Jenna had accepted Travis’s invitation to lunch, something that she’d been looking forward to ever since the carnival weekend had come to a close.
“Can I get the peppermint stick white chocolate cupcake?” Keira looked at her hopefully.
“We both can.” Jenna winked, and they hurried to the hallway to grab their coats.
Jenna kept the conversation on Keira’s wish list as they walked down the snow-covered sidewalks, but her mind was on the school, the board meeting that was taking place this week, and all that it meant for the music department. She told herself that regardless of the outcome, she’d tried her best. She reminded herself as she listened to Keira’s happy chatter that she could still share her love for music with the children of this community, even if the school didn’t support it. That next year, she could do another children’s choir, one that she’d have time to prepare for, one that could rival the pageant that they might never have again.
Inside the bakery, the warm smell of chocolate greeted them, and Keira ran to the display case to study her options. Jenna wasn’t surprised in the least that by the time they reached the front of the line, Keira had changed her mind and asked for an eggnog cupcake decorated like a snowman.
“Make that two,” Jenna told her cousin.
“Hello, Keira!” Maddie carefully plated the treat so the frosting wasn’t disrupted. “Have you finished your list for Santa?”
Keira nodded. “I have a few last-minute additions, though. You don’t think it’s too late?”
Maddie and Jenna exchanged a glance. “You should ask my sister that. Britt will be here soon, right?”
Jenna noticed a woman getting up from her table and motioned for Keira to gra
b it. “She’s on her way. She told me the wassail was a big hit and that they might make it an annual holiday limited edition item.”
“Some of my treats were well received too!” Maddie motioned to the chalkboard menu. “My Victorian Christmas cake cupcakes are available all week! A lot of good came out of the festival this year, and it didn’t stop with the library fundraising.”
No, Jenna thought, it didn’t.
“And the look on your face confirms what I already know.” Maddie waggled her eyebrows.
Jenna couldn’t fight her smile, and she didn’t want to, either. “You’re just as bad as your stepmother, you know.”
“Nothing wrong with wanting to see you happy.” Maddie handed her the bakery bag. “Besides, you picked a pretty good guy from what I can see.”
Jenna wasn’t so sure that she’d picked him. More like, stumbled upon him, and in the most surprising way.
“I guess that good things sometimes come from tough situations,” she said, thinking of how this related to other things in her life, too. How many times had she asked herself what her life might have become if she hadn’t choked at her audition for the music college? It had set an entire chain of events into motion, and ultimately, one that had led her right to this moment, standing in the festive bakery, talking to one of her favorite cousins about a man who had just kissed her, at Christmastime nonetheless.
She’d almost say that this topped any New York City performance fantasy that she’d once entertained.
“Come join us when Britt arrives, although I can’t stay long.”
“Oh? More Christmas shopping, or something a little more…romantic?”
Jenna knew her expression would give the truth away. “I’m meeting Travis over at the Carriage House Inn for lunch. School’s out on break, and I’m eager to hear how the board meeting went.”
Maddie registered her anxiety and didn’t tease her further about Travis. “Well, good luck. You know you have my support. And most people in town, too.”