Small Town Christmas (Blue Harbor #4) - Olivia Miles Page 0,60

I just didn’t think she actually wanted to spend time with me, if I’m being honest.”

Cora looked at him in shock, and Phil elaborated, “She never liked her visits to my house. Well, my apartment. I tried to make it fun for her, but I guess that take-out food and a movie isn’t exactly what she had in mind.”

“She’s having a wonderful time with you here in Blue Harbor,” Cora said.

“I know,” Phil said, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “It’s given us a chance to connect. It’s made me realize things could be different.”

A lot different, he thought, glancing at Cora.

“It certainly gives you something to think about,” Cora said, giving him a little smile.

His chest tightened on that thought. It certainly had.

12

Cora was especially sad when the Winter Festival came to an end, and not just because it meant she’d have to wait another year for it to come around again, but because now they were just one more day closer toward Phil leaving town.

And maybe not returning.

She didn’t know if it was the freshly falling snow or the sounds of the music playing in the background, or the knowledge that Christmas was now just around the corner, but Cora felt a sense of hope that she knew some more cynical people she knew might call denial.

Things had a way of working out at Christmastime. If there was ever a time for magic, this was it.

It was late Saturday afternoon. There would be a bonfire and carols and an evening skate, but the kiosks were closing for the night, leaving behind only the refreshment stands. Typically she used this time to join her cousins for a much needed glass of wine, and to warm her hands and rest her feet near the bonfire. This was her sister Britt’s first year back, but now she was handing out mulled cider and wine, and of course Amelia and Maddie were selling food, as always. The blessing, she supposed, was that Candy had been asked to help too, meaning there was no chance for her to comment on the time that Cora and Phil had spent together yesterday.

Or what they had discussed.

She finished setting the last of her ornaments into their boxes when she felt someone approach from behind her.

“Need a hand?”

Cora had every reason to be disappointed in Phil, not to mention wary of wanting to get closer to this man, but when she turned and saw the crinkle in his eyes when he smiled, she couldn’t help but waver.

She decided not to let her conversation with Phil dampen her spirits. After all, Christmas was next week, and then it wouldn’t come again for another year. For eleven month she alone would still have Christmas on her mind while the rest of the town started thinking about other holidays, and other seasons.

And Winter Carnival had a way of bringing out the best in people. Even in the Scrooges.

She’d sent Natalie off hours ago—it was the least she could do to make up for her absence from the booth yesterday. Sure, the ornaments were breakable, but technically she could manage. She was used to shuffling home from the grocery store with up to four bags in her hands at once, and the ornaments were considerably lighter. Still, she wouldn’t refuse the gesture. Or the opportunity to spend a little more time with Phil.

“Thanks,” she said, not quite matching his smile as he effortlessly lifted the remaining bags, saving her one trip back to fetch the last of her things.

“I didn’t like how we left things off yesterday,” Phil said, and this time, Cora felt the tension in her shoulders relax.

“I didn’t mean to push you. Your family life is none of my business. I’m sure you’ll make the choice that’s best for you and Georgie.”

“This parenting thing isn’t easy,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

“I wouldn’t know, but I know how it feels to have a single father, and I can tell you that I’m very close with mine. I’m sure you and Georgie will be the same someday.”

“What made things so close with you and your dad?” Phil asked.

Cora thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. “I guess it was the day to day things that I didn’t even stop to appreciate half the time, but I just knew that I could count on him all the same. We never went on any big vacations, but he was there when I came home from school crying over a bad test