Michelle tucked the letter back under the mailbox where they’d found it, for safekeeping. So, it was Henry’s. That made sense, too. Ruth had always done such a wonderful job with the Christmas Festival. This town still missed her.
Lisa had the same kind of energy Ruth had been blessed with. She brought a breeze of happiness with her wherever she went. People loved to be around her.
Michelle was over the moon that this store now belonged to Lisa. It was the best news. The best Christmas present for Evergreen. Lisa was the perfect person to reopen Daisy’s Country Store and carry on the traditions that have made Evergreen extra special for so many years. She had no doubt in her mind that friends and neighbors would frequent the store often, finding joy again in having a single place to shop, share news, and be an active part of the community.
What a crazy holiday this had turned out to be. Meeting Lisa. And meeting Thomas. Just thinking about him put a smile on her face.
She glanced out the store window and saw him across the way. He wasn’t hard to spot, as tall as he was; he stood out in the crowd.
“Allie, can you hold down the fort?”
“Sure.”
“Hannah’s brother Thomas and his son, David, are in town.”
“Do I hear the sound of interest in your voice?” A sly grin spread across Allie’s face. “I could see you and Thomas getting along. How cool is that? Are you? Interested, I mean.”
Michelle beamed. “Yes. Definitely interested. Allie, he’s so nice. I can’t wait to tell you all about him.”
Her mouth dropped open. “That’ll teach me to leave at the holidays. I’ve missed all the good stuff!” She shooed Michelle out of the store. “Go catch up with him. I’ve got this.”
Michelle pulled on her coat and hurried out the door just as Hannah, David, and Thomas walked up.
“Hey, are you guys having fun at the festival?” Michelle asked.
“Yeah.” David waved the key in the air. “I still wish we’d figured out where the key went though, but no luck.”
From a distance, Nick called out. “There you are!” He bounded over, fully dressed as Santa Claus.
“Hey, Nick! Merry Christmas!” Michelle said.
“Merry Christmas, everyone!”
David took the old tin car Nick had given him from his pocket. “Thanks for the car, Nick, I really—”
“That’s why I was looking for you,” Nick said. “On my way here, I reached into my pocket and I found this!” Nick held out the key that winds the car.
“What is that?”
“I forgot to put it in the box with the car. This toy has a wind-up key that makes the mechanism inside it turn.” Nick took the red and white car from David, and inserted the key into the slot under the car. He twisted it three times, then handed the key back to David to hold. Then he turned and crouched low, releasing the car and sending it racing down the street with a “Ho-ho-ho.”
David ran down the street and picked up the car. As soon as he picked it up, his eyes widened. He held the key in one hand and the car in the other. “Hannah? Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” He turned and looked toward the church.
“I am. I think we’ve been looking in the wrong place the whole time.”
David and Hannah’s faces lit up.
“Dad, can I—”
“Yeah,” Thomas said. “Yeah. Go!”
Hannah and David ran toward the church. “We’ll see you at the festival later,” Hannah yelled.
“Okay, we’ll see you in a bit,” Thomas said.
“We’ll catch up with you,” Michelle said.
Thomas put his arm around Michelle as they watched David and Hannah rush off, hoping to solve the mystery of that old key. “Come on, Aunt Hannah,” David said. They ran directly into the church.
Thomas turned to Nick. “Merry Christmas, Nick. Would you like to walk over to the festival with us?”
“Actually, you two go on ahead,” Michelle said. “I’ll catch up. I just have one quick thing I want to do.”
“Okay. We’ll see you in a few.”
She watched Thomas and Nick leave. When they cleared the corner, she walked across the street and went inside the Kringle Kitchen. The place was packed and Carol was busy with customers.
Michelle approached the snow globe. The last time she’d picked this up it was to wish for help with this festival a year ago when everything seemed to be falling apart. This wish was much bigger, and much more important.
She looked around to make sure nobody was watching, then picked it up and closed her eyes. She shook the snow globe, and made her wish.
“Please,” Michelle whispered.
She gave it one more good shake, and then placed the snow globe carefully back on the counter. She’d wished her heart’s true wish. Work your magic, snow globe. She left the cafe to catch up with Thomas, hoping for that wish to become a reality.