Christmas in Evergreen Tidings of Joy - Nancy Naigle Page 0,75

of lights.” He was happy to be standing here in front of this tree with her. It was a greeting-card moment of beauty.

“I hear it’s decorated with, like, five miles of lights,” she said.

He let out a long whistle. “Glad I’m not the light guy for this one.”

“That would be a job. It’s one of my favorite parts of living here.” Katie smiled. Neither of them said anything else.

I could imagine living here. With Katie. He rubbed his hand on her back. There was that little voice again. Tell her. He wished the night didn’t have to end. “Well, here we are again, about to say goodbye, outside a train station.”

“Yeah. Should we say some confusing things about our feelings before we walk away again?”

Ben closed his eyes. That last goodbye had been so awkward. “Sorry about that. I was caught up in enjoying my time with you.”

“It’s okay. Me too. I guess, in a lot of ways, no matter where you are, some people just feel like—”

“Home.” He moved just as she did.

She reached up and kissed him.

Her lips were soft and warm against the chill of the night. Her hair silky in his hands. In that moment the noise of the city fell away, and it was as if it was just the two of them kissing in front of a huge Christmas tree with a ten-foot star. He’d never felt so off balance. So in love. He looked into her eyes, wishing this night could continue. “Are you sure you won’t come back with me?”

“I can’t leave my mom for Christmas.” But the tone was apologetic. She was feeling it too. Besides, he knew how much she loved the city. She’d made no secret of that. Her words softly tickled his cheek. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”

Oh, I want to. I want to so much. But he had people counting on him back in Evergreen. He knew he had to go back tonight. He understood the disappointment in her eyes. “As much as I can see myself here, I haven’t missed a Christmas in Evergreen yet.”

Katie kissed him again, and by the time she pulled away, it was hard to let her go. Flummoxed, Ben backed away with his pulse still racing. Breathing in her scent, every moment they’d racked up in their brief time together felt like more than some couples enjoyed in a lifetime together.

Her smile said one thing, that she wanted to be with him. He wanted that too, but neither of them could. Another time. Another place. His heart ached.

Katie backed up, the braver of the two. “Merry Christmas, Ben.” She turned and walked away as powdery snowflakes began to fall.

He cleared his throat. At least it wasn’t goodbye this time. “Merry Christmas, Katie.”

His heart hung heavy in his chest as she walked away. Her long blond hair bounced against the back of her coat, and with each step away from him, he felt lonelier.

Ben boarded his train. He sat in the same seat he’d been sitting in when he’d met her the first time. Ahead of him, the seat where she’d sat remained empty.

Come back, Katie. Just walk right through that door.

But no one else boarded. The train conductor announced, “All Aboard for Evergreen,” and the train pulled from the station.

Chapter Thirty

On the morning of Christmas Eve, it was pretty clear no one had tired of the new tradition of the advent calendar. People lined up four and five deep to see what was going on.

Booths were already in place for all the crafts and games for the festival, and the food vendors were already starting to cook, sending a mix of salty and sweet into the air. Later, the choir would sing from the gazebo, and local performers would take their turn entertaining everyone.

Ben crossed the square as the biggest crowd yet gathered around for the opening of the Christmas Eve box. The last one on the calendar. The choir singers, dressed in their burgundy Christmas Eve robes, sang “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

He mused about how they’d all sung that while at Barbara’s Country Inn baking cookies.

“And a partridge in a pear tree.” The choir sang loud and clear and held that final note all the way to the release, when Hannah swung her hands in a circular motion and pinched her finger and thumb together.

Everyone applauded wildly.

Michelle took the microphone. “Thank you for joining us this morning. It’s hard to imagine this is our fiftieth Annual