Campbell

Every night in Sweethaven during December, Campbell learned, seemed to have a different festive event scheduled. The Luminary Walk had been pure magic, and tonight, the Christmas concert in the Square would be the same.

Her thoughts rushed back to the ring—the beautiful, too-expensive ring—and then to Luke’s promise that tonight would be the most romantic night of her life.

Nerves bubbled inside her. From the window, she could see where people had started to gather in the town square. The Sweethaven Municipal Band would set up all around the gazebo, which would serve as a stage like it had for the mayor the night before. From a distance, it looked like a scene in a movie—like the perfect place to propose to someone.

Campbell’s hands had turned to ice as she considered what Luke might have planned for her that night, and she willed herself to stop overanalyzing everything.

A knock on the back door told her he’d arrived, and she inhaled a slow, deep breath.

“Calm down,” she said out loud to the empty room. “This could be a good thing.”

It could be. Her. Luke. Marriage. That could be a great thing. But was it what she wanted? If he made his proposal into a public event, how could she possibly say “Can I think about it?” Her indecision would be their undoing.

But marriage was so final.

Luke appeared in the doorway, that lazy grin on his face. “Hey.”

She forced her thoughts aside and walked into his embrace. “Hey yourself.”

He took her face in his hands, leaned down and kissed her, his soft lips luring her out of reality for a brief moment. She inhaled the smell of his aftershave and tuned in to the way her stomach jumped as his thumb brushed alongside her cheek.

When he finally pulled away, Campbell met his eyes, which had a hint of mischief in them.

“You look like you’re up to something,” she said.

He wagged his eyebrows and smiled. “Maybe I am.”

Her heart leaped, a mixture of nerves and excitement. She hadn’t intended to have feelings this strong for him, but she could hardly pretend they weren’t there.

Not responding to his profession of love hadn’t seemed to deter Luke at all. Didn’t it bother him that she hadn’t been able to verbalize her feelings—any of them—to him?

“You ready?”

She nodded, switched off the lights, leaving only the one above the counter on. She had to laugh that she took security precautions in Sweethaven—a town with practically zero crime—but, better safe than sorry.

They walked out into the crisp winter and Campbell pulled on her mittens, exhaling puffs of air.

“I’ve got blankets,” Luke said. “You’ll be warm once we get over there.” He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer.

She didn’t respond but noted the way her heart jumped at the nearness of him. She’d never been in a relationship with someone so selfless and kind. And she’d never been with someone so confident. Luke had such an easiness about him that eliminated the usual awkward feelings. She loved those things about him. She loved everything about him.

There was that word again.

As they walked, Campbell stared at the town square, trying not to dive into all the reasons she hadn’t said she loved him when she knew in her heart she did. Townspeople flocked toward the bustle of activity, many of them greeting Luke on the way. Lawn chairs had been set up facing the stage, and the gentle sound of the band tuning their instruments wafted out across Main Street.

“Does everyone in town come to this thing?” Campbell asked as they started across the street.

Luke put an arm out to stop her as a car rounded the corner. “Careful.”

She glanced up at him and wondered if he had the ring in his pocket. In that moment, she felt sure she’d say yes.

Luke took her hand and led her across the street. “Pretty much. Christmas is such a big deal here.”

“I thought summer was the big attraction here. It’s awfully cold for people to want to be here, isn’t it?” Campbell pulled her coat tighter around her and wished it had a heater inside it.

“People seem to brave the weather for a Sweethaven Christmas,” Luke said. “The town started promoting all their Christmas events a few years ago, and now lots of people take a few weeks here in December. Last year we had a huge snowstorm and a bunch of them couldn’t get out.” He grinned. “Good for business.”

Campbell laughed. Ahead, she saw a few lawn chairs reserved with blankets front and center. Just where someone would sit to be pulled onstage.

Adele chatted with an older woman, and Meghan’s husband Nick tucked a big fleece blanket around their twins. Finn and Nadia grinned when they saw her, and for a moment Campbell imagined that one day she could be more than their art teacher—she could be their aunt.

Nick turned and shook Luke’s hand. “Hey, you ready for this?”

Luke straightened. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Campbell frowned. “Ready for what?”

The two men exchanged a knowing look. “You’ll see,” Luke said. “Here, sit down.”

Her heart raced as she looked around at the crowded Square. A wave of uncertainty washed over her, bringing with it a healthy dose of nausea. “Luke, I have to go.”

He turned to her. “Why? Are you okay?”

“I feel sick.”

Adele bumped her shoulder with her own. “I’ve got some peppermints. That always helps my stomach.” She fished through her purse and pulled out two Starlight mints. “Here you go, darlin’. I’d hate for you to miss out on such a special night.”

Had Luke told Adele too?

She unwrapped the peppermint and put it in her mouth as Adele squeezed her hand.

In the distance, she saw Jane and Graham weaving their way through the crowd with their youngest, Sam. Campbell could barely force a “hello” for the nerves.

Jane situated her family behind them and leaned forward. “Where’s Lila?”

Adele shrugged. “Haven’t seen her yet.”

Campbell looked around half-heartedly, not really searching for Lila so much as searching for a way of escape. Suddenly she thought sitting right next to the stage on that particular night might be the scariest thing she’d ever done.

The music started and the queasiness began to disappear, the sound of brass instruments transporting her back to Christmases past. The Sweethaven concert band had a decidedly jazzy sound, and Campbell closed her eyes to enjoy their rendition of “Winter Wonderland,” wishing her mom was sitting beside her.

All those years it had been just the two of them, but she never once felt lonely or let down. They bought a few really special gifts for each other and spent Christmas week baking, watching old movies and playing board games. It had always been one of her favorite times of the year.

“Hey, are you okay?” Luke leaned in closer, and only then did she realize she was crying.

“My mom loved Christmas.” She wiped her cheeks dry as Adele shoved two tissues into her hand without looking away from the stage. Luke wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer.

“I’m sorry, Cam.”

The song ended and Campbell forced herself to stop being so emotional. It turned out she really did miss her mother. She hadn’t expected her first Christmas without her mom to be this difficult, but when she wasn’t wondering about the ring she’d found, she was thinking about Mom. How much she missed her. Her mother always had a way of making her feel special. Luke did that for her now, but it wasn’t the same.

The mayor appeared on the stage and Adele groaned. “Always with the mayor,” she said.

Campbell laughed.

“He’s everywhere,” Adele continued. “We can’t get away from him!”

“I’ve got a very special surprise for you all tonight.” The mayor paused. A slow grin spread across his face as he looked back and forth across the crowd. Campbell’s pulse quickened.

“I’d like to welcome to the stage, someone you all know and love . . .”

Luke sat up straighter, as if he was preparing for something.

“Someone we sure are proud of around here . . .”

Murmurs passed through the crowd as people began to speculate, but the mayor remained silent in front of the microphone, allowing the anticipation to build.

Finally, he raised a hand. “Ladies and gentlemen, help me welcome to the stage Sweethaven’s own Meghan Rhodes!”

Cheers erupted through the crowd, followed by whistles and shouts of “We love you, Meghan” as Luke’s sister emerged from the back of the gazebo, guitar strung around her neck.

Jane leaned forward. “It’s been so long since I’ve heard her sing.”

Adele sprang to her feet. “Me too. Too long.”

Campbell stood alongside Luke, applauding, because while Meghan had become something of a fixture in Sweethaven again, it wasn’t every day the famous singer performed for them. For free, no less.

Meghan waited for the crowd to quiet and then cleared her throat in the microphone. “Thank you, everyone,” she said. “I’m so happy to be back in Sweethaven for the holidays.”

In the distance, Campbell saw the camera crew, lenses pointed at Meghan. The Christmas special. They must’ve wanted footage of Meghan doing what she did best—performing.

“This is the first stage I ever sang on.” Meghan’s words were met with more cheers and applause. “So when I found out they wanted to film a Christmas special at my house, I told the producers all about you guys and about Sweethaven and about how special it is to be here during this time of year.”

Luke squeezed Campbell’s hand, and just like that she didn’t feel lonely anymore. Meghan spoke the truth—it was a special place to be for the holidays, and for the first time in a long time, Campbell felt like she was a part of a community, and she savored that moment.

“Before I begin, I want to ask someone to join me up here on the stage.” Meghan winked in their direction and Campbell’s eyes widened. “You may not know it, but I’m not the only musical one in my family.” Meghan grinned. “My brother Luke—the guy who serves you your coffee—is a man of many talents, so he’s agreed to sing one of our favorite Christmas songs with me tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, Luke Barber!”

The crowd erupted and Luke stood. He glanced down at Campbell and smiled and then jogged to the stage. He took his place behind a keyboard.

“I haven’t heard them sing together in ages,” Adele said.

“Luke sings?”

How had she not known? What else didn’t she know about him? Was this what all the secrecy was about? A song?

She’d been worried about him proposing while he’d been nervous about performing in front of the entire town.

“My little brother hasn’t done this in a while,” Meghan said to the audience. “So, be gentle.”

Luke leaned toward the microphone. “I can keep up with you, Meg.”

Laughter dotted the crowd, and Campbell shook her head. How had she not known Luke was a musician? He had a piano at his place, but he’d never played it for her. He’d never even sung along with the radio.

“When we were kids,” Meghan said, “we sang together as a family, but we haven’t had the chance to do that in a long time. I wanted to share a little bit of my family with the town I love so much.”

Luke started playing, the melody of “O Holy Night” hovering overhead, and then the band joined in as Meghan began singing, her deep, raspy voice the perfect complement to one of Campbell’s favorite songs.

One of Mom’s favorite songs.

When Meghan reached the second stanza, Luke joined in, his surprising baritone the perfect harmony. Together, the two of them mesmerized the entire audience—Campbell included. They sounded like they’d been singing together forever, and the power of their voices filled Campbell with so much emotion the tears sprang back to her eyes.

For a fleeting moment, she imagined her mother at her side, arm wound through hers, blinking back tears as the song moved on.

“You love him, don’t you, Cam?” Mom would say. She’d come right out and say what she thought—it’s the way she was. She always had a way of helping Campbell realize her emotions.

“But it hasn’t been long enough to know I love him,” Campbell would say, certain her feelings were something less real. Love was too scary.

Mom would shrug then and purse her lips like she did when she was deep in thought. “When you know, you know.”

Campbell watched Luke as the passion of the song filled him. He seemed to forget anyone could see him at all. As they went in for their big finish, the crowd started to stand, as if the music had driven them to their feet. As the song ended, Luke opened his eyes and smiled at her.

And for the first time, she realized her own disappointment that Luke hadn’t stood on that stage to propose to her.

Because what Mom would’ve said would’ve been true.

In only six months time, Luke Barber had won the key to her heart. Campbell Jane Carter was truly, madly, deeply in love.