“Isn’t this enchanting?” Peyton and Sebastian are captivated by the shimmering lights as they stroll down the main street, each holding a cup of hot chocolate.
“Christmas is just so magical,” Peyton murmurs, and Sebastian’s grip on her shoulder tightens. The road is closed for the evening due to the ongoing festival preparations, and since everyone in town is volunteering, the road isn’t needed.
“I’ve always loved this time of year, but I’ve never experienced it quite like this.” Peyton shares, and Sebastian nods in agreement as they continue their walk to the meeting point. There, they’ll discuss the plans for the festival.
As they walk, Peyton pulls out her phone and quickly checks the messages from her mother-in-law.
The accompanying photos warm Peyton’s heart and make her miss her daughter. One photo shows Sasha making a snow angel, and the next one shows her eating spaghetti. Sasha looks happier than ever, and Peyton is comforted knowing that her daughter is creating such precious memories with her grandmother.
Memories that are far more meaningful than any she could have made with Peyton’s own mother.
Peyton sends a quick reply before checking her messages from Kai for his daily report.
After their unexpected reunion, Peyton felt more comfortable with the idea of Kai handling her parents’ belongings. She and Sebastian had a lengthy conversation with Kai, discussing the arrangements and catching up.
She conveniently left out the fact that Kai was her ex-boyfriend, the one she left behind when she and her brother moved away. She knows that if Sebastian found out, she’d also have to admit that she might have married Kai if they hadn’t left.
That’s a secret she intends to keep.
Kai will handle the disposal of unimportant items like curtains and furniture, and he’ll also work on eliminating the unpleasant odor in the house.
Peyton hasn’t decided when to contact a realtor yet, but she’s been considering the idea of keeping the house and renovating it. Then, she and her family could visit, and Sasha could experience these magical Christmases. The kind where the entire town comes together to spread holiday cheer.
She plans to sort through her parents’ personal belongings herself. Despite their flaws, she doesn’t despise them enough to expose their dark sides to the rest of the town.
Kai will also repair any broken items in the house.
Their catch-up session was enjoyable, and when Peyton expressed her desire for Sebastian to experience a Christmas like this, Kai had some surprising news for her.
Despite her relief, Peyton couldn’t help but feel sorry for Kai. After everything, he was alone again.
“What do you think we’ll be doing?” Sebastian asks Peyton as they near the meeting place. Instead of joining the crowd, Sebastian pulls Peyton close, their foreheads touching.
He gazes into her eyes, overwhelmed by his luck in having her in his life.
“If I remember correctly, it’s like a carnival that everyone helps plan and set up. And there’s ice skating,” Peyton replies, and Sebastian can’t help but smile.
“Okay,” he whispers.
Peyton giggles. “What are you thinking?” she whispers back, biting her lower lip.
“I’m thinking about how much I want to undress you right now,” Sebastian confesses.
Peyton presses herself against him, bringing a gloved hand to his cheek. “And then what?” she whispers back.
Sebastian grins, a giddy feeling washing over him.
But before he can respond, his phone rings, causing him to groan. He pulls it out of his pocket and answers without checking the caller ID. While he’s on the phone, Peyton finishes her hot chocolate and tosses the cup in a nearby trash bin.
When she returns, Sebastian looks frustrated and is typing a message on his phone. “I have to go,” he says.
Peyton raises an eyebrow at him. He sighs in frustration. “There’s a problem with one of the ledgers at work. If it’s not fixed, we could be flagged.”
“Can’t someone else handle it?” Peyton asks, but one look at her husband tells her he has no choice but to leave.
Peyton sighs and nods. He leans down to kiss her forehead. “I just need to arrange my flight, and then I’ll be back. We can still enjoy our evening.”
Peyton stands on her tiptoes to kiss him before he walks away, already on the phone. When she turns around, she sees Kai a few feet away, smiling at her.
She waves at him and walks over. “What are all those papers?” she asks, pointing at the stack in his hands.
Kai smiles at her. “I took over my wife’s job when she passed away. These papers have all the necessary information.”
Peyton hums, her mind on the task ahead. She’s grateful when Kai asks if she wants to help him.
