“No, he was great.”
Holly’s warm expression instantly made him feel better about his day.
“So,” Ash said, shifting in the booth a bit and trying not to look uncomfortable. He had thought about his plan again on his drive home and had committed to going for it. Though he had recently convinced himself to stop spending time alone with Holly, some unknown force seemed to be directing him to do exactly the opposite.
He cleared his throat. “There’s this tradition I do every year. My dad started it when I was growing up. A couple of weekends before the Christmas faire kicks off, we go hiking to our favorite mountain lake. Just to clear our heads. We also cut down a tree for the lobby. I’m super late this year, but I’m finally doing it tomorrow. I was just thinking that—since you’re new in town and haven’t gotten to see all the surrounding beauty—you might want to come with me.”
His heart rate sped up, and he watched her face with trepidation. A Christmas-tree cutting was more involved than a dinner, and he didn’t know if that type of thing would interest her. But for some reason, the idea of her coming with him had caught on that morning, and he hadn’t been able to shake it since.
“Is that an invitation?” Holly asked, her eyes sparkling.
As always, he was completely taken aback by the constant flush in her cheeks and the air of quiet calm yet total uniqueness of presence she brought whenever she was in the room. He realized why he wanted her to go with him. She made everything feel magical, and he needed a little magic at the moment.
“Sure is.” He cleared his throat again and tried to draw on some of his casual confidence, which seemed to falter when he was around her. The look on her face was encouraging, so he relaxed, his chest expanding.
“Then yes, I’d love to.”
“Great! So we’ll leave around eight, if that’s okay. And I’ll pack lunch. Do you have some comfortable hiking shoes?” He thought she might not have any hiking clothes at all.
“Yep, I’ll be good to go.” Holly seemed bursting with energy that evening, and he wondered what she had done after walking Comet.
“Hey, Ash. Got a moment? I wanted to ask you something about the vendor booths.” Ash was startled to see Jordan, an Emerald Hollow local, standing by the booth. He’d barely registered anyone else in the restaurant after he’d spotted Holly. The day felt like it would never end, and he was suddenly eager to get to the next one.
“Jordan, hi. Sure thing. Just a moment.” Jordan nodded and stepped away.
“Okay, then.” Ash slapped his hands on his thighs and rose from the booth. He studied Holly again, wanting to rest in that feeling of whatever joy seemed to be coming from her. “See you in the morning.”
“See you then,” Holly replied, her eyes meeting his one last time. They still sparkled, but there was an almost imperceptible squint as if she were trying to analyze something about him. He’d never noticed anyone else looking at him that way. Sometimes he wondered if she could see right through him.
Then her face relaxed, and she picked up her mug and took a sip. Sure it held hot cocoa, he tried to suppress a knowing grin as he went to talk to Jordan. Dinner would have to wait a little longer.
ChapterThirty-Two
Ash and Holly met early the following morning, both of them decked out in comfortable winter hiking clothes, and Ash sporting a large gray backpack. Holly watched as Ash carefully double-checked that they had everything they needed. Once he seemed satisfied, he opened the back door of the truck for Comet to jump inside, and they climbed into the front seats. Holly was secretly excited about riding in a vehicle again.
“How far is it to the trailhead?” she asked as Ash shifted the prewarmed truck into drive. The heated seat was already warm beneath her.
“The drive’s about thirty minutes, then the hike to the lake is about forty minutes from the trailhead.”
As Ash navigated out of the parking lot of the Emerald House, Holly studied him. He was wearing a gray-and-blue beanie, a puffer coat that seemed thin but Holly was sure was well insulated and warm, and some comfortable-looking dark-gray pants. The whispers of a beard were forming a hint of a five-o’clock shadow. He’d packed them each a thermos, his with coffee, hers with hot cocoa. She picked up the cup, which she had been balancing on her thighs, and took a sip.
“And you’ve been going out here since you were…?”
“For as long as I can remember. Probably three or four. There’re pictures of my parents taking me up there in a backpack.”
“I love traditions. People don’t always appreciate their power, but they hold memories, hope, and the promise that some things will always be there, even if everything else changes over time.” Holly took another sip of her hot cocoa and looked out the window at the thick green forest.
She was in a great mood that morning and looking forward to their outing. She’d barely resisted telling Ash about all the Christmas decorations she had made when she saw him at the restaurant the previous night. The town was in for a surprise when they saw their updated streetlight baubles, overhead garlands, maze decorations, and of course, Santa’s sleigh.
Besides, they were on their way to get aChristmas tree. That was one of her favorite human Christmas traditions and one they’d emulated at the North Pole. She’d never cut one down before, though. All Christmas trees at the North Pole were living. Being part of the tradition for the first time had her almost giddy.
“I’ve never thought about it that way, but you’re right. For me, it’s a chance to reset. Remember where I came from and why I’m doing all this.”
“It’s therapeutic,” Holly suggested.
Ash nodded. “Yeah, I guess it is. My dad had to stop coming a few years ago when he started having some knee issues, but I’ve kept it going myself.”
They drove on in comfortable silence for a little while, enjoying their hot drinks. Ash obviously knew the road well, and he took every turn expertly. Before long, they turned onto a dirt road Holly would never have noticed and rattled down the bumpy path until they reached a small oval clearing.
