Piper assesses me suspiciously. “If someone gets engaged tonight?—”
“Don’t blame me,” I say, holding up my hands in surrender. “You two started that tradition.”
Piper and Eli look at one another.
“We did, didn’t we?” Eli says to her.
Before the two can head to the animal adoption tent, the music stops and Mayor Patterson calls for them on the stage. Eli grimaces, no doubt wishing he could be anywhere else. He’s one of the humblest people I’ve ever met.
“I’ll go with you,” Piper says, slipping her hand in his.
I continue my stroll through the crowd, but I can’t seem to get eyes on Meg and Aaron. Perhaps I’m wrong, and they’ve snuck off. Thereisa Christmas party at the bakery after the tree lighting tonight. With Meg’s commitment, it wouldn’t surprise me if they headed that way early.
After the mayor wraps up her thank you speech, the crowd begins to count down. Eli and Piper each hold a cord until the crowd shoutsone. The massive evergreen shines to life, nearly blinding everyone at the park. I bet Piper had something to do with the amount of lights on that tree.
A hush falls over the crowd, but I can’t see what it’s all about. I search for a higher vantage point, accepting a hand to help me stand on a park bench. “Thank you, dear,” I say to the strapping firefighter, Gage.
In the middle of a clearing in the crowd, I spot Aaron Montgomery down on one knee before the bakery owner. It took him months to wear her down. But between his persistence, and a little Christmas magic, they found their happily ever after.
When Meg shouts, “Yes!” the crowd erupts.
“Party at the bakery warehouse!”
With a giant grin on my face, I carefully take Gage’s hand and step down from the bench. While applause still echoes around the square, I slip away from the crowd.
My work here is done.
